2018 International Forest Industries IFI Feb March 2018 Digital | Page 73

Reliability and the
quality of service are
paramount for Vermeer
The FT100 with
mulcher attachment
gives contractors
a powerful tool for
completing land-
clearing jobs
Jeff Bradley, Vermeer
FT 300
There are both advantages and
disadvantages to choosing a
dedicated mobile mulcher versus
an attachment, according to Jeff
Bradley, Product Manager for the
recycling and forestry segment at
Vermeer.
If the head is dedicated to
the tractor, it means it has been
designed specifically for that
machine. It also means the tractor
is more likely to have a more
rugged design with required safety
features built in specifically for
the forestry application. For larger
projects, having the productivity
of a dedicated machine will often
times prove to be more efficient in
the long run.
Vermeer offers two forestry
tractors that are tough, effective
solutions to land-clearing needs.
The FT100 forestry tractor is built
for optimal performance and
efficiency. Equipped with a 120
hp (90 kW) Tier 4 Final engine
and an above-ground mulcher
attachment, operators have the
features and control needed for
small- and large-scale land-clearing
operations.
The FT100 has a ringed rotor
design on the above-ground
mulcher, helping manage the
material being processed more
efficiently. While mulching large
material, the operator is able to
maintain rotor speed for minimal
stalling and maximum production.
The rings control bite size
achieving smaller, more consistent-
sized chips when compared to
non-ringed rotors. Equipped
with interchangeable rotor tips,
operators can optimize the cutting
performance to fit the different
conditions that are present while
not having to rebalance the drum
each time. The push bar provides
a reach of 7 in (17.8 cm) below
grade with the head at ground
level, giving the operator better
control when directing material to
the rotor.
“The FT100 with mulcher
attachment gives contractors a
powerful tool for completing land-
clearing jobs,” Bradley said. “It’s
great for residential work as well
as for underground construction
contractors clearing vegetation
before installing utilities.”
“When it comes to the demands
of your large land-clearing and
forestry management jobsite – from
pipeline preparation to utility work,
wildfire mitigation and more – the
300 hp (224 kW) FT300 forestry
tractor with mulcher head from
Vermeer can meet your needs.”
The unit is built with operator
ease, reliability and serviceability
top of mind, operators can get to
work on the job at hand. The robust
hydraulic system is designed to
operate below its rated capacity
for extended life of hydraulic
components, while a patent-
pending self-positioning thrown
object deflector helps direct thrown
material at a consistent discharge
angle, regardless of head position.
“Land-clearing work is the
first step in timely and expensive
projects, such as land development
and pipeline installations,”
Bradley said. “The power and
features of the FT300 forestry
tractor with mulcher head, along
with innovations like the self-
positioning deflector, help increase
productivity so contractors can
more easily meet the stringent
deadlines they’re given.
In the competitive land-clearing
market, the FT300 forestry tractor
with mulcher head offers the
features, reliability and support
contractors need.
“With the demands faced by
these contractors, they are looking
for an equipment supplier that
stands behind its products and
provides machines that are up to
the job,” Bradley said. “We know of
no competitor in the marketplace
that can match the reliability and
the quality of service of Vermeer
and its independent dealers.”
The FT100 forestry tractor is built for optimal performance and efficiency
International Forest Industries | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018 71