Timberbiz

Reliability is crucial in

demanding work environment

RELIABILITY... The dictionary lists as the ability to be relied on or depended on, as for accuracy, honesty, or achievement. And that, according to long time New Zealand logger Peter Stephens, pretty well sums up his take on machines and people.

Reliability was the reason he has opted for yet another Cat machine and it was reliability that prompted him to again do business with Gough Cat, one of the longest serving Cat dealers outside America.
CAT
Peter has spent the past 30-odd years in forestry. When he left school he started in the forestry business working for various logging contractors until getting a machine operator job with John & Glena McDermott (JJ & GM McDermott Logging Taupo Ltd). After about eight years here he progressed to foreman.

"This was a fully mechanised harvesting operation running a Timbco fellerbuncher, 2 x 525 Cat skidders and 2 x 527 track skidders, contracting to Carter Holt Harvey," he recalls.

"We then bought the business in 2002 and sub-contracted to AR & HE Moffat Ltd - again a fully mechanical crew.

"In 2007 we branched out on our own (PJ & DA Stephens Ltd) contracting to Taumata Plantations where we then went to a motor manual crew with three skid workers, a logmaker, Komatsu harvesting machine, 2 x Cat loaders and a John Deere skidder," he said.

"Our daily target averages between 340-380T p/day depending on terrain, piece size etc, logging radiata pine.

"We've always had Cat loaders and almost three years ago replaced the two old ones with a Cat 320DL and a 324DL.

"Last year we replaced the Komatsu fellerbuncher with a new Cat 541 Series 2 harvesting machine with a SATCO 325 fall and trim head," said Peter.

He's always been impressed with the performance of his Cat machines but he says the 541 has a few real standout points ... "it's got ample travel power and ground clearance, first class cooling for hydraulic oil and engine with an auto reversing fan, it's designed to run a processor head, and all guarding is designed to keep all the debris out."

And, speaking of being impressed, Peter didn't hesitate to head to Gough Cat when he wanted his new machine.

"Our connection with Gough goes way back to McDermott Logging days," he says.

"You can count on the reliability of Cat machines and their value for the money compares well with other makes," he says, "and Gough offers servicing when required," he says.

All in all, it's reliability that counts, according to Peter, and that helps the oft quoted 'bottom line'.

For more information on the Cat 541 Series 2, which can be configured as either a fellerbuncher or harvester, see your local Cat dealer or visit http://www.cat.com/en_AU/products/new/equipment/feller-bunchers/track-feller-bunchers/18254013.html

For more information on the SATCO 325, see your local Cat dealer or visit http://www.satco.co.nz/satco-3-series-large-processor.html

 

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