Forestry

Processors

Processing heads cut trees to length for easier transport to the sawmill while removing excess bark and branches from the log. They can also fell trees, and in some cases (typically the category of head known as a grapple processor) can be used to stack logs or load trucks. Processing heads are available in fixed or dangle varieties. Dangle processors swing freely from the stick of the forestry machine while fixed heads are manually tilted for easier control. For smaller logs, and depending on the model of processor, more than one tree can be delimbed at a time.

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Mulchers

A mulcher turns stumps, small logs, branches, and brush into woodchips allowing natural decay to return them to the soil faster. Mulchers can be used for fuel management, right-of-way maintenance, invasive species clearing, property rehabilitation, and even tree felling (logs up to eight inches in diameter). Excavator-mounted units allow for reach into tough spots and safe access to slopes, while dozer/compact track loader units provide more power for quick work on flatter surfaces.

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Saws

Feller bunchers are equipped with two main styles of heads: hotsaws and felling heads. A hotsaw is equipped with a continuously rotating disc that operates at high RPM. The weight of the disc and its row of carbide teeth (bolted to the saw at a right angle) ensure trees are cut quickly and effortlessly. As the tree is cut, a group of hydraulic arms grab the tree and lower it to the ground for processing or transport to the log deck via a skidder or yarder. Hotsaws can handle trees over two feet in diameter, and in smaller wood can grab trees in bunches due to independently controllable grab arms.

Felling heads are equipped with retracting bar saws like a processor, but the head itself is often designed more for shovel logging than simple cutting. Felling heads are increasingly common on self-leveling logging machines including those equipped for tethering. They allow an operator to cut, sort, and shovel wood while perched on a steep slope. Felling heads can handle timber close to and above three feet in diameter, making them an ideal choice to replace hand crews in rugged conditions.

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Peterson TSK

The one-of-a-kind Peterson-built TSK offers improved stability, increased performance, and reduced engine noise over previous track skidder models. This machine was purpose-built for the woods, and offers excellent ground flotation with available LGP tracks, easy maneuverability, and an independent swing boom and large grapple, perfect for grabbing large timber in difficult to reach spots.

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Special Services

Need a machine for steep slope logging? Peterson’s Special Services division customizes feller bunchers for use with a cable assist system, and we offer customized boom and directional felling head packages for use in these challenging conditions.

Whatever your forestry needs, you can rely on the team at Peterson to deliver a machine that will work for you, and we’ll back that machine up with the product support and parts you need to keep running all season long!

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