Pics: Laois brothers minimize their enamel in forestry enterprise with monstrous machines

G&G Timber Harvesting is a comparatively new enterprise; it’s primarily based in Camross Co. Laois and is owned and operated by brothers Greg and Garrett Cuddy.

The brothers aren’t any strangers to the timber harvesting enterprise and have spent their lives working within the woods.

Greg defined: “Our father Jim, in addition to all our uncles, has been concerned in timber all his life in some form or type; he initially began off with horses earlier than mechanisation got here in.

“When the period of machines was ushered in, the enduring Ford County took over.

“Each Garrett and I’ve spent our lives within the woods from the younger age of 12; beginning off portray tree stumps earlier than transferring up the ranks to chainsaws and, lastly, working machines resembling harvesters, forwarders and vans.

You may say it’s a lifestyle for us. It’s what we grew up doing; sure, it’s a troublesome job however we actually find it irresistible.

Collectively, the duo has labored at nearly each side of timber harvesting over the many years.

They’ve operated in each nook of the nation, working with quite a few completely different timber contractors up till 2009; that’s once they made the massive determination to exit on their very own and begin G&G Timber Harvesting.

Greg recalled: “We made the choice to exit on our personal for a few causes. It permits us to be our personal bosses, in addition to with the ability to construct up an organization and enterprise to finally move on to the following technology – in the event that they select to take it on.

We began off with little or no to be trustworthy; we initially purchased a second-hand Timberjack 1270 harvester and a second-hand Timberjack 810B forwarder.

“It was very robust to get going, however we have been fortunate sufficient to tender and get a long-term [five-year] contract with Coillte; that allowed us to stand up on our toes.”

Over the following eight years, the corporate grew – not essentially in dimension however in workload. Productiveness was largely fuelled by the brothers’ perspective to simply getting on and getting the job down, in addition to not being afraid to spend money on extra fashionable equipment.

Their preliminary machines have been traded after the primary yr for a Silvatec 886 harvester and a Timberjack 810C forwarder. These have been traded out once more, a yr later, for a Timberjack 1070 harvester and a Valmet 840 forwarder.

These two machines have been then labored for over three years, earlier than being changed by a Valmet 911.3 harvester and John Deere (formally Timberjack) 1010E forwarder.

These machines have been saved busy for one other two-to-three years; having now been changed by the entity’s first model new items – particularly a Komatsu 911 harvester and a brand new John Deere 1010E forwarder.

Talking in regards to the funding, Greg defined: “2017 was an enormous yr for the corporate; we made the choice to purchase two new machines. It was a main funding for us.

“We selected Komatsu for a lot of causes. The 911.3 [built by Valmet, which is now owned by Komatsu] we had beforehand was purchased with 18,000 hours on the clock; it labored with us for 3 years – harvesting on common 25,000t/yr with none hassle.

“This was an enormous plus, in addition to the truth that Komatsu was native to us – for back-up and repair.

Turning his ideas to the forwarder, he stated: “The John Deere was the very best of what we had used or operated ourselves through the years. It’s quite simple – if it’s not damaged, don’t repair it! In order that’s why we went to John Deere in Co. Wicklow and purchased the brand new 1010E.”

The duo was additionally joined in 2017 by one other brother – David – who has a wealth of equipment expertise. This was gained working forwarders and timber harvesters across the nation for various contractors.

By morphing right into a trio, Greg believes it has strengthened the corporate and given them extra confidence. “By being brothers, it has made working the enterprise a lot simpler.

Whereas it’s not all the time simple, it does work for us.

“I’ve full confidence to go away the wooden and know that the machines might be sorted. I do know the job is not going to solely be performed however might be performed proper. As a result of there are three of us, it permits us to double-shift the harvester or forwarder – to maintain up with demand.

“It additionally leaves one individual free for components runs or to maintain on prime of paperwork.”

Komatsu 911 up shut

The brand new Komatsu 911 is greatest described as an “all-rounder” with regards to harvesting timber. It’s designed to have the ability to function in thinnings, in addition to clear-fell eventualities.

It’s surprisingly nimble when thinning, because of a cab-mounted crane that may slew 360º. The cab itself rotates with the crane – which means that the operator all the time has a “full view” of the harvesting head. The cab additionally self-levels hydraulically.

Contained in the cab, the operator is surrounded by dozens of switches and buttons – all conveniently positioned on the 2 armrests; the primary joysticks additionally fall shut at hand.

The big, light-filled home windows, of which architect Dermot Bannon would approve, are toughened to ‘bulletproof’ requirements – in case a noticed chain snaps outdoors.

On the rear, the engine and transmission reside underneath an electrically-operated hood; that is protected by an exoskeleton metal construction to defend towards falling timber and different particles.

Powering this beast is a 6-cylinder, turbo-charged AGCO Energy engine that kicks out 231hp and 950Nm of torque.

Energy is delivered from the transmission out to the entrance, geared bogie system, which includes a mechanical locking differential.

On the rear, the single-swing axle additionally has a mechanical locking differential. Hydraulic stabilisation retains every little thing on the extent.

For additional traction, the rear axle options large-diameter 710/55R34 tyres.

On the finish of the 11m crane sits the enterprise finish of the machine – the harvester head. This spectacular piece of engineering prowess can measure the diameter of the tree, minimize it into pre-set lengths (relying on its diameter), in addition to de-limb your complete tree in a single move; this all occurs in a matter of seconds.

The tree is firstly grabbed by 4 claws, which double up as knives to scrub off the limbs. It’s then minimize with a high-speed chainsaw.

Hydraulic energy is courtesy of a dual-circuit, load-sensing system with variable-displacement piston pumps. These are able to churning out 400L/min at 1,600rpm (280 bar).

The 911 suggestions the scales at over 17t; it’s 24ft lengthy (not together with the crane) and 9ft 6in broad.

As soon as the timber is harvested, it’s left in bundles for assortment by the following equally-impressive machine – the John Deere 1010E forwarder.

John Deere 1010E forwarder

John Deere is not solely well-known for manufacturing agricultural tools however, since shopping for Timberjack in 2000 and re-branding its machines as John Deere items in 2006, it’s now additionally well-known for producing forestry tools. G&G’s 1010E forwarder is an instance of such a machine.

The first job of the forwarder is, because the identify suggests, to ‘ahead’ or transfer the processed timber to the roadside – for assortment by vans.

Lurking underneath the entrance hood is the 1010E’s (John Deere) PowerTech Plus 4045 4.5L turbo-charged engine; it produces 155hp and 645Nm of torque.

Energy is equipped to a stepless ‘Variospeed’ hydrostatic transmission and, subsequently, transferred to 8WD items. These are booted out with 710/40R24.5 tyres, with chains to spice up traction. All in, the 16.5t machine can carry an 11t payload from the deepest and darkest depths of the wooden.

The occasion piece of the 1010E must be its cab; it rotates 290º, tilts and even robotically ranges itself.

So what does the long run maintain for G&G Timber Harvesting?

We wish to proceed doing what we’re doing; greater just isn’t all the time higher and we’re completely happy maintaining it easy, environment friendly and productive.

“The most important problem we’ve is maintaining work forward of the machines.

“These new items will permit us to additional develop the enterprise and proceed to function hand-in-hand with Coillte (which gives 90% of our work), in addition to finishing up personal jobs for farmers and forestry house owners across the nation,” concluded Greg.