The applicable machines are the skid steer, multi terrain and compact track loaders.
The new RemoteTask system enables operators to precisely control the machines from outside the cab—as far away as 1,000 ft (300 m) and at a safe distance from potentially hazardous tasks and environments. The RemoteTask controls feature virtually no lag in machine response time. With RemoteTask, the remote operator’s performance is as fast and smooth as an in-cab operation. The intuitive remote control interface is designed to closely mimic in-cab machine controls, creating an easy operator transition from manual to remote operation. Transforming a machine is simple. It only takes about an hour for a Cat dealer to install the RemoteTask system. With the system installed, the machine can transition from manual to remote mode at the turn of a key switch. The system is completely transferrable between units.
The portable console allows the operator to move as needed for good lines of sight. RemoteTask can be integrated into 16 models of Cat D Series Skid Steer, Multi Terrain and Compact Track Loaders and can control more than 200 work tools with all hydraulic functions controlled via the remote system. The RemoteTask remote control system will be available for purchase in North America in January 2016, followed with availability outside of North America later in the year.
TORC Robotics is a leading provider of unmanned and autonomous ground vehicle solutions for the defence, mining, automotive and agricultural industries. TORC components and technology have been integrated on over 100 unmanned and autonomous ground vehicle platforms ranging in size from 5 pounds to 240 tons. TORC’s robotic systems provide customers with rapid solutions by leveraging proven commercial-off-the-shelf technology to ensure customer solutions are provided on time and on budget. Source: http://www.cat.com/en_US/news/machine-press-releases/caterpillar-and-torcroboticslaunchremotecontrolsystemforcatskids.html
Read MoreThe first three week forest engineering summer school was successfully presented in South Africa.
CMO’s first-ever, fully international forest engineering course was presented in George, South Africa between 23 November and 12 December 2015. The course covered the management of integrated mechanised harvesting, roading and transport operations. The feedback from delegates has been exceptionally positive. The course covered the full scope of harvesting, roads and transport activities and targeted practitioners, researchers, academics, and staff employed by equipment manufacturers from all over the world. The course was presented by a team of 7 world class lecturers. Students attended from 6 different countries, namely: USA, Australia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa. Some of the feedback received is as follows:
- “Excellent learning experience from well-travelled lecturers. Really worth the time to attend this Summer School”
- "The mechanical harvesting knowledge that was part of the course content was excellent. The lecturers and guest lecturers from Ponsse, Tigercat and John Deere were very enriching. All was fantastic. The content covered all that is part of the mechanical harvesting as I expected."
- “There was balance between theory and practical and this course being for field operators and supervisors.”
- “The course empowers us as managers/supervisors with tools and knowledge to manage harvesting operations in a holistic, effective and efficient manner from planning, doing, checking and appropriate action to take.”
- “This was a very enjoyable, well-worthwhile course to attend. The material presented was interesting and stimulating, and the presenters were passionate about their subjects. It was a privilege to meet with like-minded people from different parts of the world and learn from everyone’s experience and comments. I would recommend it to any forest engineering practitioner who is serious about his job and self-improvement.”
- “Was a great experience learning with other passionate forest managers to develop key understandings and gain clarity in dealing with risks and challenges through the teaching approaches. It is always good to incorporate team building into the program. Kloofing was great!”
The course will be presented again 21 November to 09 December 2016, and the maximum number of delegates is 20 people, so register soon. Logging-on will also provide more information in the January 2 newsletter. The numbers are again limited to 20 delegates. To register, please mail michal@cmo.co.za and for more information see http://www.cmo.co.za/international-forest-engineering-summer-school/
Read MoreCase brings us the third part of the series on hydraulic system maintenance.
In the second article (December 2015 issue of Logging-on), we examined filtration, leaks, and fluid sampling and analysis. In this issue we cover operator behaviour, attachments and scheduled maintenance.
- Operator behaviour and duty cycles: A well-trained operator knows how to operate a machine smoothly, so they aren’t powering the cylinders all the way until they bang against the stock, or bottoming out the pistons. High-pressure spikes caused by reckless operation can severely damage a machine, and causes unnecessary wear on hydraulic pins, cylinder pins, bushings and other components. Not to mention the pump system and release valve — if that release valve is going off again and again due to poor operating habits, that valve is going to eventually fail. Additionally, a machine used for loading logs in a forestry application is going to work the hydraulic system differently than an excavator digging a trench on a pipeline job. Repetitive wear on a hydraulic system will be different for every application, so always keep that in mind when planning maintenance schedules. An important practice that gets overlooked all the time is the basic cleaning of a machine. Dust and dirt accumulate on this equipment daily, and if they aren’t kept clean it is much more difficult for operators and technicians to diagnose leaks or other issues with hydraulic systems.
- Attachments: Every time you hook up a different attachment to your machine, you are potentially introducing contaminates into an otherwise closed system. Always be sure that your attachments are properly maintained, and that the couplers are thoroughly cleaned and looked after. The attachment itself must be well maintained. A hydraulic breaker attachment has many components that can fail due to careless operation. A worn piston or compromised valve on a breaker will introduce dirt, debris and other contaminates into an otherwise healthy hydraulic system.
- Scheduled Maintenance: We can’t always follow recommended maintenance schedules perfectly, but if you miss or are late with a scheduled service, it will benefit you in the long run to try to get back on track. It is very important to keep up with the maintenance schedule recommended by manufacturers in order to get the best performance out of your equipment. It’s also important to keep up with later services. Early maintenance intervals are typically kept up with in order to keep a new machine in good shape, but the later scheduled services are just as important, as they can really keep a machine performing at its best as it approaches the end of its life cycle.
Source: http://casece.com/en_us/News/Pages/A-Primer-in-Hydraulic-Systems-Maintenance.aspx
Read MoreIt is best suited to work on midsize thinning carriers with long reach as well as smaller in stand thinning carriers.
The new 461 is a more robust and reliable harvester head that is built for good productivity, reliability and accuracy of measurement today. SP lists the highlights of the new SP 461 LF as follows:
- New optimised hose routing between the tilt unit and valve provides the maximum service life for the hoses.
- New stronger frame structure for longer service life.
- Robust, full cover, guard for wheel motor hoses gives increased reliability.
- New improved diameter measurement with shaft-free sensor provides increased accuracy of measurement and increased reliability.
- New length measurement unit with more powerful bearing and shaft free sensor provides increased accuracy of measurement and increased reliability.
- New cutting control with shaft-free sensor provides increased reliability.
The SP 461 LF is described as a fast, nimble high performance harvester head. It is designed according to SP´s Low Friction principle for minimum friction and maximum productivity. High feed speed combined with low weight and very compact measurements ensures good productivity even in dense small diameter thinning. In larger diameter thinning, the SP patents LogHold and proportional angled feed rollers gives the SP 461 LF good handling and capacity. The head performs best in stands with a diameter of 10 to 25cm (4 to 10 in) dbh, but can operate in larger trees due to the LF principle. Source: http://www.spmaskiner.com/?ID=NYHET&Newsid=397&sLang=en-gb&db=1
Read MoreDo you only grind woody biomass? Rotochopper shares some of the strangest things they have been requested to grind!
Rotochopper started when a Midwestern farmer wanted to turn paper and wood waste into animal bedding. Twenty five years later, Rotochopper grinders are at work in diverse and sometimes bizarre settings across the world. In honour of the 25th year of Rotochopper, here are some of the most interesting raw materials ever processed with Rotochopper grinding equipment (compiled by Vince Hundt, International Sales Manager):
- A dead full grown sperm whale that washed ashore in Halifax
- Uranium contaminated trees in Ontario
- Pallets of unopened beer cans in London
- Confiscated marijuana in California
- Blobs of Big Red® chewing gum the size of refrigerators in Iowa
- Millions of mink carcasses in Nova Scotia
- Contraband cigarettes in Ontario
- Dead pigs in Indiana
- Thousands of Vietnam War ammunition boxes in Nevada
- Fiberglass windmill blades in South Dakota
- Millions of dead quarantined turkeys and chickens in Iowa
- Blobs of licorice waste in Minneapolis
- Reject McDonalds® Happy Meal toys (by the truckload) in Pennsylvania
- Hospital mattresses, hospital gowns, and operating room medical waste in Minnesota
- Pen manure (compacted straw and calf manure)
- Entire mobile homes in Indiana
- Tumbleweeds in NevadaRoadkill animals, including deer, in Ontario
- Reject Snickers® bars in Iowa
- Compacted, hardened balls of breakfast cereal (2 – 5 feet diameter) in Michigan
- Reject dog food biscuits in Missouri
- Dead dogs from a dog pound in Texas
- Sleeping bags in Oregon
- Reject gummy bears in Iowa
- All the returned 1996 phone books for the entire country of Australia in Queensland
Source: http://www.rotochopper.com/about-us/news/25-weirdest-feedstocks-grinding-equipment.html
Read MoreEco Log Sweden AB's factory owned subsidiaries are to be replaced with independent distributors
This allows Eco Log Sweden AB to focus in product development, design and manufacturing of forest machines. The only remaining Eco Log Sweden AB owned subsidiary after 2015 is Eco Log Oy in Finland. Source: http://www.eco-log.se/en/nyheter/110-press-release-eco-log-finland-oy-ab
JCB celebrates the production of its 100,000th mini excavator
JCB’s first mini excavator, an 801 model weighing in at 1.4 tonnes, was produced in 1989 when just over 450 machines were made. By 1992 there were four models in the range and annual production rates had risen to 1,000 units. Today the company celebrated the production of its 100,000th compact excavator – a 10-tonne 100C-1. It is one of 22 models in today’s range which spans from one to 10 tonnes. Source: http://www.jcb.co.uk/About/News/2016/01/News1.aspx
New CEO in Cranab AB
Cranab's Board of Directors has appointed Anders Strömgren as the new CEO of the company as of March 1 2016. He comes from the position of General Manager Machine Sales Europe at John Deere Forestry. He was previously General Manager of John Deere Forestry's Swedish sales company, John Deere Forestry AB. He will also join the board of Cranab's subsidiaries Vimek AB and Bracke Forest AB. Source: http://www.brackeforest.com/parser.php?did=344:3580
Mikael Brännström Appointed to the Position of BRUKS Group CEO
He will replace Johan Johanson, who has accepted a position with a BRUKS non-competitor. To further strengthen the BRUKS organization, Jörgen Robért has been moved up within the BRUKS AB organization to the position of BRUKS AB CEO. Source: http://www.mobilechippers.com/latest-news/437-mikael-braennstroem-appointed-to-the-position-of-bruks-group-ceo
Read MoreTo see the full list of conferences and exhibitions, please click on "Conferences and Exhibitions" in the menu at the top of the page.
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