Where would we be without forwarders? From the big to the small, they are an essential part of the forestry world.
If you’re thinking of investing in a new one, our round-up of the latest on offer from the major manufacturers (over nine tonnes) is a good place to start.
In Part II of the feature, we shine a light on the likes of Rottne and Logset. John Deere, Komatsu and Ponsse were all included in Part I.
Read Part I to our essential guide here.
SAMPO ROSENLEW
WHILE Sampo Rosenlew may only offer two forwarders, don’t let that fool you. The Finnish firm’s quality ensures it can more than hold its own against its bigger, better-known rivals, and in recent years it has begun to make significant headway in the UK.
Both the FR28 and the larger FR48 come equipped ‘safe and spacious’ cabins, all-wheel drive, ‘strong and agile’ frames and enough load space to carry more than enough timber to get the job done.
With its 10-tonne payload, the FR28 is well suited to be partnered with the Sampo Rosenlew HR46x harvester. Its lightness, the large turning angle and many other features make it a technically and economically superior choice for thinning and harvesting on soft ground.
The popularity of the FR28 quickly led to enquiries about a slightly larger machine. Clients wanted a forwarder they could use for later thinning that could also be used for regeneration felling.
And so the FR48 forwarder was born. The FR28’s big brother has a payload of 12 tonnes.
The main concept is built around tried-and-tested solutions. The motor is the same Agco Power 49 LFTN diesel with 140 kW maximum power, and the cab is the same; practically the whole front end of the machine is the same, with the exception of the axles.
ROTTNE
ALTHOUGH still a relatively uncommon sight in the UK’s forests, Rottne’s excellent reputation for build quality and low fuel consumption could soon change that. The Swedish manufacturer, which celebrated its 65-year jubilee in 2020, has delivered a record number of forwarders in recent times, to meet the sector’s thinning and final-felling needs.
From the versatile F10D to the powerful F20D, each forwarder is packed to the brim with features, including exceptional luxury inside the cabin. Not only does this provide extremely good visibility, but the cabins are said to be so quiet that you’d experience more noise driving the typical family hatchback.
READ MORE: 2022 forwarder guide (Pt. I): John Deere, Komatsu, HSM, Tigercat and Ponsse
Optimised to carry anything from 10 to 20 tonnes, Rottne’s forwarders all feature Comfort Line suspension, reducing shock and making crane work and driving in terrain significantly smoother. Since being launched in 2007, Comfort Line has been developed with improved software, more robust structure and more precise positioning.
Meanwhile, ‘holistic’ LED lamps facilitate work during the dark, while the Forester F30 and GeoInfo software, with GPS equipment as an option, allows operators to easily understand the scene before them in real time. Each model can also be fitted with its own optional extras – such as crane tilt, double-telescopic arm, and dozer blade – to adapt it to different terrain and work.
LOGSET
DESCRIBED by some as “world class” when it comes to felling operations on soft ground, the compact, 12-tonne 5F GT forwarder remains one of Logset’s most popular models.
And it looks like it’s here to stay after being renewed by the Finnish firm in 2020.
The updated machine has a 4-cylinder AGCO Power 49 LFTN diesel engine, compliant with the most recent Stage V emission regulations from the EU. The new engine has 13 kW more than the previous model, with 140 kW instead of 127 kW.
The cooler is more efficient, and it cools down the hydraulics effectively. An electrically controlled visco clutch for the cooler fan is standard. Due to the changes the forwarder is more silent. Also, the new LFTN engine is easier to service. Hydraulic lash adjustment makes valve clearance adjustment unnecessary, which increases the time needed between services.
Like much of Logset’s range – which also features the 18-tonne 10F GT and the 291 hp 12F GT – the 5F GT comes with the popular Smooth Ride cabin suspension. Mounted on four coil springs and four shock absorbers, it makes the cabin on average 5 cm higher than a cabin without suspension. When the suspension is in its lowest position the cabin is on the same height as a fixed cabin.
ECO LOG
WITH a loading capacity of 16 tonnes, the 584F is the sixth – and newest – forwarder in Eco Log’s range, and it is packed with all the features you’d expect.
Launched in 2020, it’s the second-largest in the lineup, falling between the 20-tonne 594F and the 574F, optimised for loads of up to 14 tonnes.
Like all F-series forwarders from Eco Log, the 584F is equipped with a Volvo Penta Stage V engine, characterised by high reliability, efficient performance, quick response and environmental friendliness.
Its cabin is designed to provide the same, great operator comfort as previous models, while the rest of the machine has been developed for even better service conditions and higher quality.
Other features across Eco Log’s lineup of forwarders include:
• the grille, which swings open for easier access and cleaning – the hood is opened with electric actuators to facilitate service
• the new larger-dimensioned fenders to house easier-to-access batteries, as well as the toolbox
• the urea tank, now placed with the central lubrication unit, fuel and hydraulic tank to facilitate easy access and refilling
• the new gearbox in model 594, which increases the tractive effort of the machine.
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