Manitou equipment contributes to improving forestry operations at Mondi

Manitou has recently supplied Mondi South Africa with eight RT210 track loaders for its forestry operations. Each loader was supplied with full forestry-spec (that drastically increases performance and safety) along with four of Manitou’s best-selling forestry and agriculture attachments: mulchers, angle brooms, rotary cutters and turbo saws.

Mondi, who own and manage 306 000 hectares of forestry land across the country, were looking for versatile machines that would not only keep their operator’s safe, but also increase their planting, pitting and de-bushing operations.

“Our loaders fulfil these requirements as each loader can efficiently complete an array of tasks. This ultimately reduces the amount of machines that are required on site,” says Marco Herzberg, Gehl Product Manager, Manitou Southern Africa.

These radial lift compact track loaders are suited to all modern forestry processes. “In the old days, the harvesters would just cut off the trees and let the stumps stand and regrow,” comments Herzberg. “But nowadays harvesters need to ‘grab’ the stumps, remove them and set them aside to be cleared.”

That’s where Gehl loaders come in, specialised mulching and turbo saw attachments get rid of stumps and its debris, including leaves and branches.

 Manitou, in conjunction with Novelquip, has also revolutionised the pitting and planting process with its new specialised loader attachment. “Before harvesters can re-plant trees, they need to de-pit and soften up the ground. Our new attachment can make the pit, plant the seedling, add fertiliser and water in less than 20 seconds!” remarks Herzberg.

 Manitou also supplied its rotary cutter attachment than assists in cleaning debris (weeds and shrubs) between the rows of trees and creating essential two-metre fire breaks. In addition, Manitou sweeper attachments sweep the forest floors in high fire season.

Supplied with full forestry-spec!   “Forestry applications require higher safety specifications, particularly when using the mulching attachment,” adds Herzberg. “This attachment turns at 2 500 RMP and breaks large trees into mulch within seconds…and as you can imagine this results in flying splinters and rocks. Also, more often than not, when working in forests there is always the threat of wasps, bees and even snakes.”

All eight machines were customised to address the challenges associated with forestry applications.

These include:

• Impact-resistant poly-carbon door – that has no glass that could shatter
• Fully-closed cab design – to ensure no debris, wasps or snakes enter the cab
• High-flow hydraulics – to handle the larger and higher output attachments
• Turbo cooler on the roof – to prevent heat and dust from reducing performance

Manitou also conducted operator training for Mondi which included 5-day training of two operators and certified them SABS-approved to operate this kind of machinery. Manitou will also conduct on-site servicing after 250 hours of operation.