Neuson 264 HVT

Neuson Forest have just released their largest purpose built tracked levelling harvester to date, the Neuson 264 HVT.

The Neuson 264 HVT is capable of harvesting mature trees up to 95cm in diameter (depending on the type of harvesting head), with track options for working in all manner of conditions ranging from steep hillsides to wet boggy flatlands.

Rather than excavator conversions, Neuson harvesters are strong, purpose-built forestry harvesters with a long service life specifically designed to withstand the rigorous conditions of harvesting timber.
Established 26 years ago, the company was initially called MHT-MechHyd GmbH; since then their global market share has steadily increased and they currently offer a range of tracked harvesters ranging from narrow low impact machines for harvesting tightly spaced first thinnings to larger machines capable of mature final felling.

As the demand for Neuson harvesters has increased they have made sure that customers are properly supported through a comprehensive network of sales and skilled service partners throughout Europe, North and South America Australia and Japan.

The new 264 HVT is an attractive, modern, stable harvester which has evolved by speaking to operators and taking their feedback on board.
As operators spend long hours at work each week the cabin has to be comfortable and ergonomic; ample legroom, clear vision, low vibrations, climate control, and excellent noise suppression have all been incorporated into this new design. Some nice little touches have been added with lots of useful cabin storage space, including a large cool box, drinks holder, mobile phone dock, and USB port.

Replacing hydraulic hoses, servicing, and carrying out repairs has been made as easy as possible with good access to all areas on the harvester. All panels open out and the hydraulically operated rear panel doubles up as a secure walkway. The cabin can also be tilted out of the way to allow safe access from the front of the harvester.

Neuson have developed an innovative parallel crane featuring Technion’s XCrane control, meaning it is easily adapted to the needs of the operator. Up to five driver profiles can be saved and there is also optional Smart Tip Handling (STH). STH helps operators to work more efficiently while reducing fatigue; the operator controls the crane tip directly as the left mini lever controls the horizontal movements and the right lever controls the vertical movements of the head. This intuitive handling enables fatigue-free working and high productivity as well as reducing costs.

Three parallel crane types are available on the 264 HVT with a range of sizes: 9m, 10m, and the longest at 13.5m. A variety of harvesting heads are available including models from AFM, LogMax and Warratah.

Neuson have covered all the bases with plenty of track selections for all types of ground condition: aggressive grouser tracks for steep ground available in 500 to 600mm widths, double grouser universal tracks for flat, wet, and hilly conditions in 500 to 700mm widths, and triple grouser tracks for very wet, boggy ground conditions available in 500 to 800mm widths. Further options include street rubbers for working on roads and other hard surfaces to avoid any surface damage. These are available in widths ranging from 500mm to 600mm. A practical, quick change track bolt mechanism allows a speedy changeover if different track profiles are necessary.

This harvester weighs 26.5 tonnes and the 600mm tracks provide impressively low ground pressure of just 0.50kg/cm³. The overall width is 2950mm and it has a very narrow tail swing of just 200mm, with generous ground clearance of 790mm. The 309hp six-cylinder engine is supplied by John Deere and is rated for EU stage V /EPA Tier 4f; the hydraulic system also performs well, delivering 320 bar with a 250ltr tank and a reversible cooling fan. The 264HVT will work easily on steep slopes up to 30°/60% and the cabin has automated slope compensation for keeping the cabin level – it has a forward tilt of up to 25° and side-to-side levelling of +/- 15°.

A further system known as “Easy Drive” allows the operator to switch between the foot pedal and the joystick to activate the drive on the harvester at a simple push of a button. There are two drive speeds, up to 1.6km/hr for off-road conditions and a higher tracking speed of up to 4.9km/hr when required.
Neuson Forest is an innovative, forward-thinking company from Linz in Austria whose first task before embarking on any new project is to sit down and listen to their customers.
www.neuson-forest.com

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Neuson 264 HVT
Neuson 264 HVT
Neuson 264 HVT


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