Felling trees is messy work, and before replanting can begin, the site needs to be cleared. With that in mind, Forestry Journal takes a look at some of the latest mulchers on the market, which can help make light work of vegetation and roots.

JAS P WILSON
FAE BL1 FORESTRY MULCHER

Forestry Journal:

WITH the BL range, FAE introduces a new line of professional mulchers for 4–7.5-tonne excavators equipped with bite-limiter technology. Special steel profiles limit the depth of blade action, reducing the demand for power, guaranteeing speed and exceptional performance.

The BL1/EX has an 800 mm (31”) working width and can mulch logs up to 12 cm (5”) in diameter. The piston motor (with manually controlled variable displacement) makes it easy to use this mulcher on different excavators with different oil flow rates. The BL1/EX has a rotor equipped with a heat-treated forged steel tooth holder, together with Type E reversible blades. This light, yet robust, compact mulcher is easy to manoeuvre and perfect for various types of forestry work.

The FAE range also boasts another model which has been a longstanding favourite – the UML/HY 125. This unit has seen a number of updates, including recent adaption to further improve its already renowned strength and durability. The addition of the variable-torque motor option has made the UML/HY/VT one of the most productive units in its class. The automatic variable displacement hydraulic motor of the VT version ensures the best performance, increasing productivity while reducing fuel consumption.

The FAE range also includes stump grinder attachments for excavator mounting, and a range of PTO mulchers, tillers and stone crushers for tractor or skid-steer mounting.

Jas P Wilson, through its ‘one-stop forestry shop’ ethos, is always happy to consider any used forestry or firewood machinery as a trade-in for its new equipment. Fast and competitive finance options are also available, subject to status.

For full details, please contact FAE product specialist Kris Wilson on 01556 612233, or email kris@jaspwilson.co.uk. See the full range at www.jaspwilson.co.uk

SPALDINGS
TMC CANCELA FORESTRY MULCHERS

Forestry Journal:

HEAVY-duty build, individual features and a wide range of products to suit different applications are among the factors underpinning the growing reputation of TMC Cancela’s mulching machinery in the forestry sector.

Since 2017, the machines have been distributed in the UK and Ireland exclusively by Lincolnshire-based Spaldings Forestry, a division of the direct-sales specialist Spaldings focused on tools and equipment for forest managers, contractors and arborists.

Hefin Evans, forestry equipment sales, explained TMC Cancela’s pedigree: “The company is based in the heavily forested north-west of Spain and has many years’ experience producing this type of machinery.

“They also have a very accessible engineering team; when a contractor in Scotland had ideas for a bespoke machine, TMC Cancela was the only manufacturer to respond positively by arranging a meeting with the design engineers who came up with the two-speed MPK-225 mulcher he operates today.”

Aberdeenshire-based Roger Glennie uses it for clearing spent Christmas tree plantations and pockets of land after felling; situations in which it leaves a clean, firm finish, ready for sowing or replanting.

“After our prototype was returned from the factory following a strip-down inspection and rebuild, it’s been used pretty much non-stop, not only on land and plantation recovery but also for track renewal, which it handles very well,” said Mr Glennie.

The MPK-225 is just one model in a wide range of TMC Cancela forestry mulchers supported in terms of service, parts and repairs by the Spaldings after-sales team or local service agents.

Hefin Evans highlighted the strategic use of high-strength steel for durability without excessive weight, the hard-wearing Hardox steel used for the double-skin hood structures, and the different tungsten tooth designs.

“The mulching teeth, which are all secured by two bolts set into deep recesses to protect them from wear, work in conjunction with up to six rows of Hardox steel counter blades to thoroughly shred and mulch vegetation.”

Bi-rotation PTO on selected models provides the versatility to operate on the front or back of a tractor, while oil-filled hydrodynamic couplings on the biggest machines provide load-free PTO start-up, vibration damping and shock/overload protection.

Another feature – the pivoting gearbox and parallel-linkage hydraulic top link on selected models – ensures that the correct PTO shaft angle is maintained at all times for reliable power delivery.

There are mechanical-drive versions for all sizes of tractor up to 400 hp, and hydraulic-drive models for skid-steer and other compact loaders, excavators, radio-controlled vehicles that work in sites with challenging access and other prime movers.

For more information, contact 0800 4715075, email forestry@spaldings.co.uk or visit www.spaldings.co.uk

HOME FORESTRY
NEW XYLOR RANGE OF FOREST MULCHERS FROM RABAUD

Forestry Journal:

HOME Forestry, UK agent for Rabaud Forestry and agricultural machinery, has launched a new range of forest mulchers and mowers. The Rabaud Xylor range of forest PTO mulchers offers four fixed-teeth mulchers with a power requirement from 80–300 hp with helical rotor design and changeable counter knives.

Working widths range from 2.0–2.2 m. The Rabaud Xylor cutting capacity varies from 200–400 mm diameter material depending on the model. Other features include a hydraulic folding rear door and anti-wear adjustable-height skids, as well as front and rear chain protection. There is also the option of a hydraulic clutch to offer protection to the two larger models and hydraulic branch pusher with or without rake teeth.

Home Forestry took delivery of a new Xylor 2200/250 T for 175–250 hp tractors in June and has it available for demonstrations.

There are also three heavy-duty mowers requiring 80–125 hp. Helical rotor with swinging teeth, designed to mulch material up to 150 mm, they come with one set of counter teeth as standard with an option for an additional set. Working widths range from 1.8–2.2 m. Front and rear chain protection are standard, with a fixed scrub-pusher frame as an optional extra.

The range is completed with excavator-mounted mulching heads designed for excavators from 8–15 and 14–21 tonnes. Both have the helical rotors with fixed teeth. The mulcher heads have a capacity of 14 cm on the smaller unit to 25 cm on the larger head. Working width of the head is 140 cm.

For more information and prices, visit Home Forestry at www.homeforestry.co.uk, call 07966 365157 or 01746 718456 or email nathan@homeforestry.co.uk

PAUL VIDGEN FOREST MACHINES
AHWI PRINOTH RAPTOR RANGE

Forestry Journal:

PAUL Vidgen has been involved in the mulching, land-clearing and forestry business for 30 years, both as a contractor and as a supplier of specialist equipment. Moving away from rake-and-burn clearance work in the late ’90s, Paul imported and ran the first tracked self-propelled mulcher in the UK. Soon afterwards he became the sole dealer for Ahwi equipment in the UK, and sales took off. In recent years, Paul has added other equipment to the company’s range, including many items designed and built specifically for land-clearing work.

One thing Paul also strives to provide is a level of knowledge unrivalled in the industry. He still carries out some contracting work and he always likes to keep his hand in operating the latest offerings from his manufacturers.

Ahwi Prinoth machinery remains at the forefront of mulching technology and the latest offerings from the company are no exception. Having to embrace new exhaust emission standards, the latest Raptor 800 and Raptor 300 have Caterpillar Tier V engines using AdBlue, offering excellent reliability and very good fuel economy. Like all Ahwi carriers, they feature efficient mechanical drives with a turbo-clutch. The Raptor 300 can also be had with a rubber track system for short trips on the road. The 800 has a dedicated heavy-duty drive line to the 900 mm-diameter rotor, making it one of the largest self-propelled mulchers available.

Replacing the industry standard RT400, the all-new Raptor 500 is Cummins powered and is also Tier V-compliant.

Prinoth is still manufacturing a full range of mulchers, stump grinders and rotovators for mounting on tractors, including units with turbo-clutch drives, excavators and special carriers, including a new range of smaller units for remote-control carriers.

Complementing the Ahwi machinery, PVFM can also supply stump grinders and tree sheers for skid-steers and excavators, root rakes, timber trailers, as well as chippers and shredders. It can supply spare parts and tools for its own and other manufacturers’ machines at very competitive prices. Used and reconditioned equipment is often available.

For more information, visit www.paulvidgenforestmachines.co.uk, email info@pvfm.co.uk, or call 01344 873499

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