Why are some contractors choosing Excavator Harvester Conversions over purpose-built machines?

The spiralling costs associated with purpose-built harvesters have rendered them unaffordable for some contractors, particularly those working on estates or managing lower annual harvesting volumes. Consequently, these contractors are considering new Excavator Harvester Conversions as a cost-effective alternative to investing in a pre-owned harvester.

80,000 Hours

That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
Kieran Anders Forestry

Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
Promoting safety in the workplace

It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Glasfryn Fencing and Sawmill

Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
Keeping Timber Hauliers Safe

Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.

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The decision to acquire a new harvester can pose significant challenges for smaller-scale contractors operating within constrained budgets. They must carefully consider whether to invest in a used purpose-built machine or to adopt a more conservative approach by selecting a new excavator conversion.

Numerous contractors recognise the benefits associated with converting excavators into harvesters within the forestry sector. These modifications can significantly reduce capital expenditures and result in considerably lower operating costs.

The reduced purchase cost is attributed to excavators being manufactured on a large scale and employed across various sectors, which results in a lower acquisition cost compared to specialised harvesting machinery designed for a specific task. Furthermore, the availability of spare parts is generally more economical and accessible, owing to a larger service support network.

Excavators offer an environmentally friendly solution as the weight of the machine is spread over a larger tracked surface area. This significantly reduces ground compaction, rendering excavators particularly well-suited for operating in challenging forestry environments characterised by rough, steep, and soft ground conditions.

Contemporary excavators are now designed with a minimal tail swing, making them particularly suitable for first and selective thinning operations in confined spaces. The superior weight distribution effectively mitigates the risk of damage to the root structures of the remaining trees.

An additional advantage is that customers possess the opportunity to personalise their machinery by selecting their preferred harvesting head and implementing various customisations; they also have the flexibility to upgrade or modify components over time.

Some forestry engineering firms can offer machine conversions as a complete package.

I spoke to John Fukes, of RJ Fukes Forestry Services, who, since 1998, has carried out numerous excavator harvester conversions in their workshops.

“We currently use the XCMG and Develion Excavators and find the most popular is the 25 tonne zero tail swing base with the Logset TH 75 Harvesting Head. We are sales and service partners for XCMG and have an Excellent relationship with our local Develion dealer. We have agreements with all companies that allow us to offer a standard 3-year, 3,000-hour warranty, which can be increased to 6,000 hours for an additional fee.”

“This package includes full forestry specification track guides, extra cooling package, certified cabin guard CE marking, plus the Logset TH75 harvesting head with the latest TOC computer software package. We offer this delivered to a UK mainland forestry site for under £300,000, less than half the cost of a new purpose-built harvester.”

In my view, this represents a solid choice for some contractors, as it spares you the uncertainty associated with purchasing a used, specialised machine that has accumulated significant hours of use, all while remaining within your financial constraints. Additionally, you gain the invaluable reassurance afforded by a warranty, which adds an extra layer of security to your investment.