Vermeer’s 111-horsepower FT100 forestry tractor is the first in a new line of forestry equipment for the company, which will include the 290-horsepower FT300, to be introduced later this fall.
“This line is a natural progression for us,” says Jeff Bradley, product manager for Vermeer’s recycling and forestry segment. “It makes a lot of sense for our existing directional drill, trencher and brush chipper customer base.”
For instance, it could be used by pipeline contractors who need to clear vegetation before installing underground utilities.
FT100 mulcher attachmentThe FT100 prime mover is a Terex PT-110 Tier 4 Interim compact track loader forestry version, with an enhanced cooling and hydraulic package designed to handle the overheating common in forestry environments. It powers an above-ground Vermeer mulching head attachment, which has a ringed rotor with 18 disks and 17 interchangeable tips to cut small, consistent-sized chips.
There are four different tip options. While efficient planer tips are the usual go-to tip for most applications, users on right-of-way jobs that involve cutting close to the ground in rocky areas may want to switch to an optional carbide tip, Bradley says.
“The mulching head gives a complete fresh cut,” Bradley comments, noting it has a rotor brake to stop quickly, eliminating thrown objects, and increasing the safety of workers around the machine. A two-speed hydraulic drive optimizes the horsepower delivered to the mulching head and an optional hydraulic push bar enables operators to push brush and trees away from the machine while mulching.
Featuring a fully enclosed cab that protects the operator from dust and wood particles, FT100 has a rear-view camera with in-cab monitor.
