Logging-on recently introduced the Komatsu 951XC 8-wheeled harvester; we now provide more detail.
Demand for an eight-wheeled harvester for final logging has been high, resulting in the new Komatsu 951XC, a machine that combines tried and tested innovations with new solutions. The Komatsu 951XC is a final logging specialist and the third addition to Komatsu’s eight wheeled harvester range.
The challenge was to design a machine for harvesting large trees without making it too cumbersome. The 951XC combines the strength of a 951 with an extremely compact design. It has almost the same dimensions as a 931XC and so can even be used in denser stands.
The Komatsu 951XC is optimized for use with the Komatsu C164 – a harvester head specially designed for logging large trees. However, it also works just as well with the C144 head. This makes it a versatile machine with the capacity to harvest extremely large trees.
Thanks to the eight-wheel design, the 951XC delivers lower ground pressure, meaning less impact on the forest floor. It is mainly intended for final logging in hilly terrain and on soft ground. Another important factor when working in steep terrain is stability. The Komatsu 951XC has a number of features that make it one of the most stable harvesters on the market. The eight-wheeled XC series harvesters have a bogie on the rear frame with two suspension systems – comprised of the swinging rear axle and a bogie – giving the machines completely unique handling characteristics. As well as increasing stability by lowering the machine’s centre of gravity, the machine follows irregularities in the terrain in a forgiving manner while delivering good manoeuvrability in challenging terrain conditions.
The 951XC has a comfortable operator environment with a spacious cab, good visibility, and a pleasant cab climate. Thanks to the machine’s stability and levelling cab, the operator is always seated level without the need to stretch and strain to maintain a good seating position. A relaxed operator can keep their energy level up as well as maintain their focus and a high production rate for longer. If one chooses the Smart Crane option, one gets an even more easily maneuvered crane that delivers amazing precision. The parallel crane is fast in its outward movements, when the head is unloaded, and powerful in its return movements, when the head is heavily loaded. Source