The delivery of the latest Komatsu 951XC harvester to Rodwell Logging of Bomballa New South Wales (NSW), last June marked the 40th anniversary of purpose-built wheel harvesters. Komatsu’s long-standing history in this field began with its acquisition of the Swedish forest machine manufacturer Partek Forest AB, which originated from the Valmet brand, a pioneer in modern harvester design.
Valmet Logging AB released the first Valmet 901 harvester in Sweden at Elmia Logging Expo in June1985. It was the first single-grip harvester designed with its own specialised chassis, rather than being built on a modified tractor or forwarder chassis. The first Valmet 901 in Australia was purchased soon after FIME Wood Expo1986 by Rick Korn of Tumbarumba NSW.
Building on the success of the 901, Valmet continued to innovate with larger six-wheeled machines, the 921 and 941 designed to handle tougher terrain.
Komatsu entered the forestry business in 2004 with the acquisition of Partek Forest AB which brought decades of Scandinavian forest machine innovation including the Valmet harvester models under the Komatsu name. Today Komatsu Forest AB, headquartered in Umea, Sweden, oversees production of wheel-based machine production and supports its global distribution network. The company continues to advance the Valmet legacy through innovation and development of larger models, including the introduction of eight-wheel versions, with the latest being the Komatsu 951XC.
“We now have a complete range of eight-wheeled machines specially designed for demanding conditions,” says Product Manager Harvesters at Komatsu Forest, Joakim Johansson.
The demand for an eight-wheeled harvester for final logging has been strong, and the idea of an eight-wheeled 951 has been around for some time. The challenge was to design a machine for harvesting large trees without making it too cumbersome.
“What’s special about the 951XC is that it combines the strength of a 951 with an extremely compact design. It actually has about the same dimensions as a 931XC and so can even be used in denser stands,” Mr Johansson explains.
Thanks to the eight-wheel design, the 951XC delivers lower ground pressure, reducing impact on the forest floor. It is ideally suited for final logging in hilly terrain and on soft ground. Stability is another critical advantage, in addition to Komatsu’s proven stability concept, the XC series features a bogie on the rear frame with dual suspension systems, a swinging rear axle and a bogie providing, completely unique handling characteristics.
Key features of the 951XC harvester include:
- Komatsu stability concept: The innovative swing axle with balancing function enhances stability, comfort and manoeuvrability, especially on uneven ground.
- Three-pump hydraulic system: The advanced hydraulic setup allows simultaneous operation of multiple crane and head functions at full power, boosting productivity and harvesting cycles.
- Parallel crane: Since 1999, all Komatsu harvesters have featured a parallel crane, simplifying operation by automatically keeping the head level without separate boom controls.
- XC eight-wheel version: The eight-wheeled XC model provides exceptional traction, stability, and manoeuvrability for extremes such as steep slopes and soft ground.
The Komatsu 951 remains the largest and best-selling large harvester in the Australian market, with over 30 six-wheel (6WD) models delivered since its launch in late 2015, and four XC versions (8WD) versions added since its debut last year.
Rodwell Logging softwood
In recent years, native forest harvesting has declined while softwood plantation operations have expanded in South-Eastern NSW. This shift prompted contractors like Rodwell Logging to adapt their operations to meet the changing demands of the industry.
Having built a strong reputation in native hardwood logging, particularly in log hauling for Harris-Diashowa, Rodwell Logging made the strategic decision to scale down and restructure its operations. This transition recently opened a new opportunity for a softwood thinning contract in the Bombala region to supply the Visy Mill. This marked the company’s first venture into thinnings operations and required the adoption of a new harvesting system.
Owners Peter and Mark Rodwell had long relied on Komatsu machinery in their hardwood operations, fostering a close relationship with Komatsu. This partnership is several decades old and has been further expanded with the development of their RL21 Firefighting unit, this included the purchase of a Komatsu 895 forwarder. After exploring its options, Rodwell Logging decided to expand its Komatsu fleet with a Komatsu 951XC harvester, complemented by another Komatsu 895 forwarder to support the new thinning contract.
In addition to harvesting, Rodwell Logging’s contract includes hauling processed timber to the Visy Mill at Tumut. Meanwhile, its Komatsu 895 Firefighter also fulfills a spraying contract and remains on standby for fire emergencies in the Bombala region.
The new contract commenced last June, with newly employed operators now producing around 900 stems per day. “The machines and operators are outperforming our expectations, and so far, we’re very pleased with KF’s machine maintenance programme,” says Peter Rodwell.
“The local Komatsu Forests agent Hennessey Field Services supported by the Wodonga Branch are both providing professional and highly skilled technicians for all our service requirements,” he adds.
