Our Timber Harvesting System
The Feller Buncher
The first to arrive is the feller buncher, familiarly known as “the buncher.” This huge logging machine has a circular saw head that cuts select trees at the stump, grabs them and lays them down in hitches. The operator will cut select trees following the harvest prescription. This machine will also clear the landing, skid road, and trails in order to bring the harvested wood out of the forest for processing.
The Excavator and Bulldozer
Once the landing is cleared by the feller buncher, the excavator and bulldozer will arrive to build the access road, and stump and smooth the landing. This equipment then returns post-harvest to 'close out' the trails and landing. This stabilizes the trails and protects water quality.
The Skidders
The grapple skidders work to pull the hitches created by the feller buncher out of the forest. They follow the trails, known as 'skid trails', as they drag the trees to the landing for processing.
The Slasher/Delimber
The skidders drop their hitches on the landing for the knuckle boom loader. The operator uses the loader to pull the trees through our pull-through delimber in order to remove all the branches. The tree is then slashed and sorted or chipped based on species and grade.
The Chipper
Our whole tree chipper processes tops and trees for biomass and bole chips. The knuckle boom loader feeds the chipper.
The Chip Trailers
Some of our trucks haul chip trailers. The chip trailer is fed by the chipper and hauls the biomass to energy-producing plants.
The Log Trailers
The other trucks haul log trailers. The log trailer has its own knuckle boom loader. The truck driver loads the truck and then delivers the wood to various mills.