IT'S the biggest forestry event in the UK. And this year, the APF Exhibition has more than its fair share of machines you won't want to miss.
Nearly 300 exhibitors and thousands of showgoers will head to Warwickshire’s Ragley Estate this month for a celebration of all things forestry and tree care.
With a wealth of machinery on show – including some products that will be making their UK debuts – and a wide variety of products on display, it promises to be a fantastic three days.
To get you in the mood, here is a look at five machines you will definitely want to check out during the event.
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Farma’s LF8
Known for its trailers and cranes, Farma is finally entering the forwarding game – and it’s doing so with an impressive product that pays tribute to its founder.
The LF8 is an 8.5 tonne machine, named after the manufacturer’s first CEO Leif Fors, who passed away in the spring of 2015 shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Farma’s first forwarder, it features a loading ratio of 1:1, meaning the weight of the forwarder should be the same as the loading capacity, something that is currently only achieved by the smallest 3- to 7-tonne machines.
With several parties in the UK already having expressed an interest in the LF8 – due to be in the hands of its first customers early next year – the forwarder is sure to be a star attraction at APF 2024.
Find the Farma LF8 on the brand’s G11 & G12 stand.
Jas P Wilson’s Mantis
When a local tree surgeon had his face cut open when his chainsaw kicked back, it was the moment Billy Wilson realised there must be a safer way. When, just a few years later, that same tree surgeon was climbing a tree and it split, pulling him in and almost cutting him in two, Billy knew he had to do something.
And so sparked the chain of events that led to Jas P Wilson’s Mantis tree-pruning attachments.
Unlike anything else on offer at this year’s APF, the Mantis is available in three sizes – the 300, 400 and 500 – to suit different base machines. The hydraulic attachments each feature a cutting head and grab for methodically dismantling trees from the safety of the cab.
“With this system, one man can do the work of two or three people, safely and in half the time,” said Billy.
“I truly believe it’s the way forward.”
The Mantis can be found on stand 1310–1400 OUT.
Alstor’s 850 Combi
Earlier this year, Forestry Journal was given an exclusive first look at the very first Alstor 850 Combi to arrive on UK shores. Now, you can experience the small-scale star for yourself.
Dealer Home Forestry will be putting the forwarder-cum-harvester through its paces in a dedicated demonstration area, which promises to be one of the highlights of APF 2024.
Building on the foundations of its 840 predecessor, the 850C – also available as a dedicated harvester – features a variable hydraulic working pump producing twice the litre-per-minute oilflow from the engine.
“When you get into the wood, you see that it is amazing what it can do,” Nathan Home, founder of Home Forestry, told FJ. Don’t miss out on the chance to test Nathan’s words for yourself.
The Alstor will be on Home Forestry’s 1790–1840 IN stand.
Clark Engineering’s Cranab Crane on a Valtra
The Dark Knight rises …
This is how Clark Engineering introduced its UK-first Valtra forestry tractor with Cranab forestry crane and Jake kit, and we’d be hard pressed to disagree with that moniker.
Featuring a stunning all-black design, the machine boasts a Cranab EC10 double-extension crane with 10m reach, Jake 904 kit with full chassis protection, and can even be remotely controlled.
“This installation demonstrates our expertise in providing adaptable solutions tailored to industry needs,” is how Clark Engineering put it in a statement. “As the sole UK importer for several high-quality Scandinavian products, we are delighted to showcase the top-spec Cranab crane complete with arb-spec felling head, installed on a Valtra tractor using a Jake kit.”
View it for yourself on stand 1215–1240 IN.
Vosch’s 50 Series
One of the highlights of the recent KWF Tagung, Vosch’s new 50 Series grapples are sure to generate plenty of interest on the Richard Court Forestry Engineering stand.
Only requiring standard proportional hammer/crusher circuit with a case drain line, the grapples are fitted with the Vosch control system to the base machine with a can-bus line to the grapple. The manufacturer also controls many types of tiltrotators with this control system by simply selecting a different option on the Vosch control screen.
The 50 Series runs a much higher pressure to the rotator, giving it much more power than previous 00 models. The saw can be used in many different ways, for example bar out without the chain spinning, bar out with chain spinning whilst the bar is returning.
Vosch’s range can be viewed on the Richard Court Forestry Engineering stand at 835–875 IN.
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