Komatsu - Industrial Other - Southampton, Komatsu Wheel Loader Grapples Timber

Date: 28 Jul 2006

Komatsu wheel loaders are generally recognised for the purpose of excavating, earthmoving, snow clearing, lorry loading, waste handling and material moving. Perhaps a slightly less common application is wood handling, but this was the chief reason why one customer purchased the Komatsu WA200-5 wheel loader, with a power output of 92kW/123 HP.

R.F. Giddings & Co. Ltd in Bartley, Southampton is one of the largest softwood saw milling companies in the UK, providing quality timber for fencing, agricultural and environmental sectors. With the expansion of their business and the opening of a new sawmill, R. F. Giddings required a dependable machine that could grapple the logs accurately and efficiently. The company they relied on previously failed to deliver on customer service and it was during this time that Manager Charlie Shand spotted a Komatsu machine on the motorway. This led him to approach Marubeni-Komatsu Ltd (MKL), the UK's sole distributor of Komatsu machines, to find a wheel loader that could meet company's needs.

MKL representative, Jason Davey, recommended the WA200-5 wheel loader. Its integrated quick-coupler allows a range of attachments to be fitted, which in this case enabled easy fitting of log grappling arms. The arms, coupled with the wheel loader's parallel lifting frame, ensures stable handling and moving of logs. Variable shift speed controls enable smooth, yet quick movements in tight work spaces, appropriate for wood handling in residential areas.

The WA200-5 Wheel Loader, used for wood grappling at the R F Giddings site in Southampton.

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