This new skidder has been designed for very challenging conditions and high volume logging.
Tigercats impressive line-up of machines at Demo gave customers a good idea of the latest developments at Tigercat. Besides the new 632E, there were many more Tigercat machines that had been released over the past few months. Bobby Goodson of “Swamp Logger” fame was on hand at the Tigercat stand during the show to chat to loggers and other members of the public, and share some of his logging experiences. The sales and technical expertise at the show was very impressive, with all questions being answered in either great technical detail for the logging expert, or in simple lay-man’s terms for the ordinary members of the public. Tigercat staff were pulled in from around the globe to ensure that customers (or potential customers) needs could be met, regardless of their origin. Tigercats owner, Ken MacDonald, and the senior executive team were all on site and available to any person visiting the stand. It is understandable why Tigercat has a reputation for being very sensitive to the client’s real requirements.
Back to the skidder! Similar in appearance to the Tigercat 630E grapple skidder, the 632E contains some key differences which demonstrate its tough pedigree. It uses Tigercats FTP N67 Tier 4 final engine, which produces 213 kW (285 hp) of power versus the 195 kW (262 hp) of the 630E. The 632E can also be fitted with an optional Tier 2 engine for relevant markets. One of the key differences is the very heavy duty OB20 rear axle on the 632E. It makes use of four filters in the hydraulic system compared to the two for the rest of the grapple skidder product line. All four arch cylinders have 4.5 inch bores compared to the 4 inch bores of the other grapple skidders, while the steering and blade cylinders of the 632E also have greater a greater bore than their Tigercat stable mates.
The standard tyre size on the 632E is 35.5 x 32,24 compared to the 30.5L x 32.26 of the 630E. Owners also have the option of a 73 x 44 – 32,16 tyre. The skidder comes with a dual arch as standard and has continuous rotation functionality. The standard grapple is 1.76 m2 (19 ft2), which is the largest standard fitted grapple in the Tigercat range. This gives the grapple a 3,710 mm (146 in) opening. The 1.95 m2 (21 ft2) and 2.14 m2 (23 ft2) grapples are optional. When configured with all standard equipment, the 632E weighs 18,710 kg (41,250 lb), which is over 1,000 kg (over 2,000 lb) more than the 630E, which weighs 17,575 kg (38,750 lb). When examining the 632E with the next largest four-wheeled Tigercat grapple skidder (the 630E), it becomes clear that the extra weight is additional strength and robustness which will make this a very capable four-wheeled skidder for very demanding terrain. Keep your eyes on the Tigercat website as all relevant information on the new 620E will appear there soon - www.tigercat.com