Eltec harvesters headed for New Zealand
A NEW BRAND OF HARVESTER IS TO BE launched in New Zealand this year – with capabilities said to be more than a match for our big trees.
The Eltec brand comes out of the French Canadian province of Quebec and is built by a family-owned logging business, which is apt, because the distribution rights for New Zealand have been picked up by a Northland logger.
Whangarei-based Steven Stokes, who operates a number of crews in the Northland region, says the Eltec connection arose when he began researching equipment to replace machines that were getting up in hours.
“I wanted to look at other options and try something different and that’s when I came across Eltec,” he says.
“They’re made by a family that’s been in logging for 80-to-90 years and they produce around 1.5 million tonnes of wood a year, so that impressed me for a start. They know what works and designed the Eltec machines from a logger’s viewpoint.”
Steven and his uncle, Murray, decided to Jump on a plane and head to Quebec to put these machines through their paces.
“One of the things that most impressed was the fact these machines were built by such passionate people, they make sure they build them right because their harvesting operations, which run 24 hours per day, are in extremely isolated locations up to nine hours’ drive from civilisation,” says Steven.
The Stokes pair also visited other contractors using Eltec and Log Set machines that had done between 15,000 and 30,000 hours and were still running 24 hours a day.
The Element family purchased the working drawings and rights to what was the Log Set brand of feller bunchers and harvesters from Volvo in 2011 and set up a manufacturing plant in Val-d’Or, Quebec under the Eltec brand (which stand for El from their Element name and Tec from the word technology). Their aim was to produce purpose-built equipment that would be the leaders in their respective classes.
Eltec produces three sizes of feller buncher/ harvester, ranging from the 27-tonne 220 and more powerful 29-tonne 270 models, through to the 34-plus tonne 310/317 models. Around 100 of the current models have already been built, mostly sold around Canada, although the company has just signed a big order for an ongoing supply of machines into Russia. Eltec has also developed a log loader model with a high-rising cab.
For New Zealand, Mr Stokes says he has worked with Eltec to create a 40-tonne model called the 417, which uses much of the 317 as its base, but with a heavier high and wide undercarriage and other heavy-duty components more suited to the weightier trees harvested in this country. That includes installation of a heavy-duty corner post and extra guarding specifically for our market.
A purpose-built cab, built to comply with New Zealand safety regulations and featuring a 32mm polycarbonate screen, provides good visibility and is about 300mm longer than competitors, making it a very spacious cab.
Power is supplied by a 330hp version of the Cummins QSL9, making it one of the most powerful harvesters on the market. Over-sized hydraulics provide exceptional operating power, according to Steven, with slew torque alone rated at 15.2kNm.
“Everything is built to handle our trees and the machine is big enough to run a Waratah 626 Bigwood on the end,” adds Steven.
Eltec is also developing its own levelling system to enable the machine to work on steeper slopes in greater comfort, which goes into production in August this year and will be available for all models. It also has the ability to operate as part of a winch-assist set-up.
The first harvester is due to arrive by late April and Steven says that while he is confident the new Eltec range will do a great job, it will be important to establish a service and repair network in New Zealand for contractor peace of mind.
“That’s going to be a priority for us, because I know the issues about back-up from a contractor’s point of view,” he adds. Initially the support will be provided out of the Metal Creations engineering workshop in Whangarei, but will soon be followed by the appointment of representatives in other locations starting in the central North island. The Eltec factory is sending technicians to train people in New Zealand.
Steven says he ran his own engineering business before getting into logging nine years ago and has an insight into what is required to make the Eltec brand succeed here in New Zealand. And he adds that he went to Canada with the attitude that he would not support a product that he did not believe in 100 % and what he has seen has exceeded all expectations and is something he is willing to stand by.
NZL