MANUFACTURER Tigercat is celebrating a significant milestone after producing its 30,000th machine. 

The Canadian firm reached the landmark total this month, just 30 years into its existence. Having begun life in April 1992 with the 762 feller buncher, Tigercat is now better known in the UK for its range of harvesters and forwarders that are designed for steep-slope sites. 

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A Tigercat statement read: "Today, Tigercat has the most complete full-tree product line-up in the industry, along with a growing range of CTL harvesters, forwarders and harvesting heads. Tigercat launched a new brand, TCi in 2022 and put the TCi badge on its first dozer, the 920. 

Forestry Journal: Tigercat is maybe best known for its skidders and feller bunchers Tigercat is maybe best known for its skidders and feller bunchers (Image: FJ archive)

"In the last four years, the company has been developing a line of material processing products with two launches to date – the 6500 chipper and 6900 grinder. 2024 will see a slew of new and exciting products introduced to the market.

Forestry Journal: Tigercat also offers a range of harvesting heads, such as the 570 Tigercat also offers a range of harvesting heads, such as the 570 (Image: Supplied)

"Tigercat recently opened a new facility dedicated to the material processing product line and is currently building an additional facility. When complete the company will have over 1.4 million square feet of manufacturing capacity. That's 130 000 square metres or 32 acres under roof. Over 160 dealer locations in 25 countries represent the Tigercat and TCi brands, along with an extensive factory support network. The company employs over 2,000.

"One thing that hasn't changed over the years is Tigercat's dedication to the customer base and its relentless pursuit of innovation and improvement." 

A few quick facts on Tigercat: 

  • Tigercat debuted the 726 feller buncher in April 1992 at a forestry equipment show in Quitman, Georgia.
  • By 1995, Tigercat had two drive-to-tree feller bunchers, two track feller bunchers, and two bunching shear models with distribution in Canada and the United States.
  • By 1997, Tigercat had a full product line to offer southern US dealers with the addition of a knuckleboom loader and the industry's first successful, serial production hydrostatic skidder.
  • In 2000, Tigercat was well on its way to becoming the dominant player in steep slope harvesting applications, offering a six-wheel drive skidder and the L830 feller buncher. Both were destined to become flagship products for the company. In addition, Tigercat entered the vegetation management sector with its first mulcher carrier. The range of carriers and attachments that have followed are crucial inputs to wildfire mitigation strategies in many regions globally.

Forestry Journal: Tigercat has developed a range of forestry machines during its three decades Tigercat has developed a range of forestry machines during its three decades

  • By 2005, Tigercat was present in Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK and Sweden among other countries.
  • In 2012 Tigercat had grown in 20 years from two to 1,000 employees and introduced the 880 logger, the first in a series of versatile, forest duty swing machines.

The UK dealer for Tigercat is Treetop Forestry.