ONE of forestry's 'lost' brands has been revived – with the launch of a refreshed Sleipner harvester.
Danish firm Euromatic has unveiled an updated 21- to 23-tonne machine, which is based on the 8324, the final harvester from beloved manufacturer Silvatec. The Nordic company was well-known among operators for more than three decades, especially for its Sleipner range, before going bankrupt in 2017.
READ MORE: Charting the rise and fall of Danish manufacturer Silvatec
But it is back in spirit with Euromatic's harvester, called the 8230TH. Built from the base of an old 560 model, the new 561 harvester head has been fitted with a number of upgrades, and is said to be ready for "the new era".
Announcing the machine's launch, a Euromatic statement read: "After a long time development and waiting, Euromatic is proud to present our bid for a new Sleipner, with a new 561 unit with the help of our skilled employees.
"The machine is easy to move and provides low ground pressure. Although we are low, we have not compromised on the free height under the machine."
While details remain sparse, the machine has a Stage V engine with AdBlue catalytic converter, and is fitted with a Mesera crane. The cabin is approved and made according to the new ISO 21876 standards. There is UV protection film in the windows to keep the heat out.
"Now the machine has returned from the forest after testing and is in the process of being prepared before it goes to our excited customer," the statement added. "We thank you for your patience and look forward to building your machine."
Silvatec was a leading manufacturer of forest machines and equipment for over 30 years, with its range of Sleipner harvesters a rival to anything available on the market at the time. Its basic values of ‘quality and complete solutions’ remained unchanged from the start of production in 1986 all the way through to its ultimate bankruptcy in 2017.
Euromatic was established in 2008 and focused mainly on mechanical repairs of Silvatec machines.
Full details on the machine's launch date and whether or not it will be sold in the UK will be revealed in due course.
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