Forestry machinery and equipment have a very significant role in the forestry industries as they are very useful in clearing and logging processes, as well as in conservation and management. Understandably so since they are made to handle the heaviest tasks, especially in the wilderness where the environments can be very rugged.
While these beasts are designed to weather against the toughest and the most demanding jobs, all different types of forestry machinery are not immune to wear and tear and breakdown. Hence, it is crucial to familiarise and understand their attachments, parts, and accessories, as well as the brands to be able to use them properly to get the desired result and to be safe at all times. You should also be able to know where these machines and parts can be sourced in case they encountered a breakdown or some parts were damaged and needed replacements.
Forestry Equipment Attachments
Forestry Mulchers
Mulchers are responsible for clearing land by turning vegetation into mulch from grinding trees and bushes. They can be mounted on different equipment such as tractors, skid steer loaders, or excavators, which makes them more efficient and flexible.
Logging Equipment
The three most important logging equipment out there are the feller bunchers, log loaders, and skidders.
- Feller bunchers are for cutting trees and also gathering logs for trouble-free transportation. They are equipped with a cutting head which is a chainsaw attached to an arm.
- Log loaders take care of loading and unloading materials. They are equipped with grapples that tackle logs, which makes transporting them way easier.
- Skidders handle the jobs in between which is transporting these logs from the cutting area to the loading section. These attachments have many configurations depending on the specific need, but they are all designed to carry or drag logs to where they intend to be.
Top Brands
The top brands for forestry machines and equipment are as follows:
Barko Hydraulics, LLC
Established in 1963 and the headquarters is located in Wisconsin, USA, Barko Hydraulics manufactures heavy equipment for forestry, material handling, and site preparation. Its premium fleet includes industrial wheeled tractors, knuckleboom loaders, rough terrain carrier loaders, stationary electric loaders, the advanced line-up of harvesters, and feller bunchers, among others.
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and has headquarters in Texas, USA. It is considered one of the biggest companies in terms of manufacturing construction and mining equipment, diesel-electric locomotives, industrial gas turbines, natural gas engines and off-highway diesel, and many others.
Deere & Company
With a base in Illinois, USA, John Deere was established in 1837, with a portfolio that includes 25 brands that provide ingenious solutions for a wide variety of end-user sectors. Its equipment boasts to have intelligent applications and technology so advanced that it intends to revolutionise both the agricultural and construction sectors.
Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
A well-known Japanese brand based in Tokyo and founded in 1970, Hitachi Construction Machinery is well known for its production, sales, and service of different machinery for forestry, construction, and transportation, among others. One of its achievements is being involved in the manufacturing of the country’s first mechanical excavator.
Komatsu Ltd.
With a centre of operation based in Tokyo, Japan, Komatsu was established in 1921 and has since been manufacturing machinery and equipment used in forestry, construction, utility, and industrial applications. Komatsu also has 76 manufacturing sites around the world.
Rottne Industri AB
Rottne Industri headquarters is located in Smaland, Sweden, and was established in 1955, the company is currently one of the most sought-after manufacturers of modern forestry equipment and machinery worldwide. In fact, it is the fourth largest manufacturer of the powerful wheeled forest machine for the short timber method worldwide.
Where to Buy Forestry Machine Parts
Purchasing parts and accessories for your forestry equipment isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment, whoever-comes-first type of decision. The first order of business is to ensure that the quality of the replacements can be comparable to the first time you have purchased the machine and attachments and you can only achieve this by making sure that you only deal with reputable manufacturers and suppliers.
For this option, going to authorised dealers or original equipment manufacturers is the best way as you can ensure to only get genuine replacement parts and accessories. This eliminates the possibility of not getting the perfect match for your equipment, especially so for specific models, which can affect its functionality and longevity.
Another option is to look for reputable suppliers of repossessed and used equipment and machine parts and accessories. However, be sure to find the ones that sell items that are in good condition. While going this route saves you a lot of money, refurbished parts often create more harm than good in the long run by compromising operation and safety if bought from untrusted sources.
Choosing the Right Parts and Accessories
Your choices in sourcing the correct parts and accessories for your forestry equipment decide their performance and durability as well as the safety of your operation on site. So, how do you ensure that you are getting the right items? Here are some guides
Always Check the Manuals First
Equipment purchased from reputable manufacturers always comes with comprehensive manuals where you can find specific part numbers and specifications for a particular machine model. When the need for parts replacement arises, you can refer to these for guidance about the exact accessories to look for.
Consult the Experts
It’s good if you have resident experts in your team that you can always rely on during equipment or machine breakdown or malfunction, especially those with extensive knowledge about them. If none, you can outsource experienced equipment operators. This ensures that you get the best advice, whether it’s about the specification of the parts or accessories to get or if you really need them at all or not.
Inspect Parts Before Buying
This may be unnecessary when buying from OEM outlets as you can rely that they only provide authentic parts and accessories. But of course, unintentional mistakes can happen so it doesn’t hurt to double-check the specifications. What’s good is that reputable companies provide warranties and guarantees, whether you are buying OEM parts or used ones.
However, when purchasing used parts from refurbished equipment and machines, inspection is always advisable. Since you are purchasing second-hand items, make sure to check for signs of damage and if they really are compatible with the equipment you are buying the parts for.
