Feed pad with rubber matting hailed as game changer
For Otago farmers Michelle and Rogan Borrie, a newly constructed feed pad on one of their three farms has been a game changer.
The locally developed Falcon Slash Grapple Rake fits around two of the most common sizes of Ensign grapple. An independent study shows it can reduce the laborious task by as much as one hour a day, while improving safety and environmental outcomes.
The idea for the new attachment came from Moutere Logging M3 Crew manager Steve Johnson, who was frustrated with existing methods of managing slash and debris on their sites.
“I was up on the skid for three hours one evening moving slash for management purposes and thought ‘there’s got to be a better way’ as I continued to pick up small loads,” he explains.
The Grapple Rake consists of a one-piece spring lock system to attach to either side of a standard Ensign grapple, commonly used for loading. It can grab huge amounts of slash in one go, which can then be precisely placed in a designated area.
During the design phase, three key points were considered. Firstly, it needed to be quick to attach and remove. Secondly, it needed to have minimal maintenance and accessories, with no additional plumbing. Third and finally, it needed to be able to still be used for logs – jobs such as loading or sorting – if needed.
“Clearing slash from skids and landings can be a real headache,” says Darrin Barr of DC Equipment, the company behind Falcon Forestry Equipment products.
“It can slow down operations and make them unsafe if you don’t keep on top of it. More importantly, it needs dealing with in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring it doesn’t end up in waterways or impede access. Simply pushing it over the edge of a slope might not be the best way to deal with it.”
DC Equipment has designed two versions, working in conjunction with a local engineering company; one to fit the Ensign 1530 and a larger model to fit the Ensign 1730 – weighing 1,100kg and 1,200kg respectively, in addition to the weight of the grapple.
Fitting or removing from the host grapple takes around three minutes.
The versatility of the Falcon Slash Grapple Rake has been highlighted due to its ability to augment an existing Ensign Rotating Grapple. Along with its ease of use, both aspects grabbed a lot of attention at the recent Rotorua Forestry Show.
The company notes that operators of other grapple brands should get in touch, with a view to including ongoing development to fit these units.
www.falconforestryequipment.com
