Hydraulic excavators began to enter the logging scene in a big way in the late 1970s. Today, it's tough to imagine a logging contractor not being so equipped. Indeed, the current demographic of logging contractors is still at a point where many of them were actively in business before hydraulic excavators showed up. The excavator-based carrier has become such an ubiquitous and efficient part of a contractor's iron complement that members of this age group are often heard to remark, “How did we ever get by without them?”

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Contractors learned to efficiently equip and employ their carriers through adapting to their particular operating environment. In doing so, the business of the excavators was coupled with a myriad of attachments and devices. Log handling was evolving from the basic fixed grapple to including an assortment of attachments each designed to help improve the efficiency of modern logging contractors.

Consider, as an example, a hoe chucker on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada, in a relatively benign (as compared to an old-growth site) second-growth stand, routinely loading 15 trucks a day. At an average of 60 logs on a 40-cubic-meter load, the grapple is opening and closing no less than 1,800 times a day. It also takes on further duties of repositioning logs and resorting piles, and additional hoe chucking duties throughout the day. Given a 150-day year, a grapple will cycle through, at an absolute minimum, 270,000 actions.

Hence today's grapple market. Harvesting styles continue to evolve and change constantly. The switch to tree-length harvesting to short-wood systems resulted in new grapple configurations and styles to accommodate new methods of loading and sorting logs both in the bush and at the mill.

While most grapples can be used for a variety of tasks, purpose-built grapples can have a very positive effect on production efficiency. When it comes to selecting grapple attachments, special attention should be paid to matching the type of grapple with the intended application and type of wood being handled.

Grapples are generally designed for either log loading and sorting in the mill or short-distance yarding and loading in the bush. Modern rotators, specialized heels, and saw attachments mean grapples can be customized for specific job requirements.

Butt 'n' Top grapples specifically designed for tree-length timber increase production and efficiency for sorting and bunching applications and give operators more precise control over their machine.

Specialized grapples designed for log loading at the mill typically feature wide opening geometry and synchronized jaws designed to minimize damage or rock and debris pick up.

As biomass production increases, so too do the types and styles of grapples for handling it. Efficient handling and transportation are critical to the success of any biomass operation especially when it comes to keeping wood grinders running at maximum capacity. Manufacturers are already customizing their grapple lines to meet the challenges of handling biomass wood waste produced both in the forest and the mill yard.

Rotobec's Power Attachment Rake is a prime example of how manufacturers are responding to the evolving needs of forestry contractors. With some well-engineered modifications, what started out as a basic multi-purpose clean-up rake has evolved into a specialized attachment for handling all types of biomass.

Rotobec Inc, an industry leading grapple manufacturer, has been building forestry attachments since 1975. In fact, because Rotobec was the first North American company to develop a continuous rotation forestry grapple, the company has had a lot more experience with log handling than most companies.

Mark Shukla, Sales and Marketing Manager for Rotobec, has been in the equipment industry for over 25 years and knows what it takes to keep up with the changing needs of today's forest industry.

“The important thing to realize is that in any forest operation you're only as strong as your weakest link. When that link breaks the whole operation can come to a halt which can cost contractors thousands of dollars a day in lost productivity,” he says.

“Our goal at Rotobec is never to be the weakest link in the production chain at any operation that uses our products. We engineer and manufacture our grapples for an extended life working in the most demanding environments, and we back it up with the best product service and support in the industry.”

When it comes to purchasing an attachment, potential vendors will need to know the exact requirements consumers need fulfilled, including carrier type and weight, boom type and configuration, log species, and expected long length and weight, as well as any special site challenges. Most vendors will work closely with foresters to narrow down the list of products for their specific applications. Here are some key features to consider when it comes to selecting the right grapple attachment for your operation.

• Durability – One of the fastest way to loose money in any type of forestry operation is downtime caused by equipment failure. When choosing a grapple, keep a special eye on the pin and bushing configurations as well as the quality of the welds and the wear resistance of the tips.
• Speed – Fast cycle times are critical for efficient production regardless of the application. This means you should pay special attention to the hydraulics and the rotators. Comparing cycle times and hydraulics ratings will highlight the grip strength and cycle time of most grapples.
• Maintenance – Good maintenance starts with good protection. Grapples configured with well-protected and well-sealed components mean less down time due to damage. Poorly protected critical components such as pins and cylinders will most likely result in maintenance and replacement being a long and painful process.
• Product Support – Everything breaks down from time to time and when it does, fast response time from manufacturers for parts and service is critical. Make sure the manufacturer of your attachment will be there when you need them.
• Price – When it comes to price, it's very important to consider the total cost of ownership, especially when buying equipment to work in the demanding environments found at most forestry operations. Total cost of ownership means considering all aspects of your purchase including the initial purchase price, total estimated product life, parts cost and availability, maintenance requirements, and the availability of products support and service.

Capital investments are just that – investments – so you should never look at any equipment purchase one dimensionally. The job of the equipment you buy is to make money for your operation. If your equipment is not working, you're not making money. Grapple attachments are a small part of your equipment line-up, but if you take your time and select the right one, they can be the kind of product you don't really have to think about too often – they will just work.

This article originally appeared on Forest Industry Network at www.forestindustry.com.