First new Madill yarder for Rosewarne
NORTHLAND-BASED ROSEWARNE Contractors has had a few Madill yarders over the years, but it has only now taken delivered of the company’s first brand new one.
The new Madill 124 has gone to work with a Rosewarne crew in the Glenbervie Forest, pulling large Radiata Pine stems off steep country north of Whangarei.
Recently delivered by New Zealand distributor, Porter Equipment, the new yarder doesn’t actually replace any of the company’s old Madills, which are still working with other crews, although company owner, Lars Rosewarne, says it is working in place of an old Thunderbird TY155 swinger.
The decision to go for a new yarder was not taken lightly but Lars goes on to say that “it is one of our better decision, it’s working bloody well – from the time we got it delivered into the forest it hasn’t missed a beat”.
The Canadian-built 124 is still produced to the original design, using proven components and technology and that’s what attracted the Rosewarne team, “plus, Porters is a big outfit and we know them well, so we didn’t have any worries on that score,” adds Lars.
There is, however, one improvement that has impressed him; the fitment of a larger cooling system, which will be very welcome when the hot Northland summer arrives.
“The new cooling package is part of the move to a Tier 4 engine,” says Lars. “This one still has a Tier 3, but we got all the upgraded cooling system ahead of the switch.”
A very noticeable part of the package that was added after the 124 arrived in New Zealand was the impressive artwork on the body, which depicts a Beaver and Kiwi watched over by an American Eagle, against a background of the three national flags.
It differs from the comic hero artwork on other Rosewarne machines and Lars says: “It was something we wanted to do to show the heritage of the 124 and its new Kiwi home.”