Over the last few years, with the rise in lumber prices, quite a few Quebec mill yards have invested in tree harvesting equipment, going as far as helping contractors acquire or renew their equipment to ensure a steady supply of logs. According to Patrick Simard, Toromont Cat forestry specialist for Quebec region, “there’s always pretty steady demand on Crown land in the North Shore, Saguenay, Mauricie, Abitibi and Lower St Lawrence regions, but for the past 2 years we’ve seen demand rise in southern Quebec , Estrie and the Beauce.”
Built for the job
Toromont Cat’s forestry division is also the official Weiler dealership for Eastern Canada, carrying a range of products specialized for the forestry sector. As the forestry industry requires specialty products for its various activities, Toromont Cat relies on the expertise of specialists like Simard to serve its clientele. “When a customer needs a forestry application, I help handle the file with the representative to make sure they get the right equipment,” he says. “I get in touch with our different suppliers when equipment needs to be modified or accessories added, things like felling heads, delimbers, buckets, forks, grapples or extra protective shields.”
Strength in unity
With a huge selection of parts plus field technicians and product specialists covering the entire eastern portion of the country, Toromont Cat’s forestry division offers complete solutions wherever a customer is located. Following our merger with Weiler in 2019, Toromont Cat has begun offering a whole new line of equipment. “Everyone who tries out Weiler machines is pleasantly surprised. And Weiler has also brought some improvements to Cat products,” Simard says. “Over the past year there’s been high demand for the Caterpillar MH3040 wheeled log loader. It’s a machine mostly used in lumberyards to unload trucks and feed mills. This model was reintroduced by Caterpillar and replaces the M325D, production of which was halted for 3 years. It’s a machine in high demand due to its simple mechanics and excellent performance.”
Technology behind productivity
As in other sectors, onboard technology on forestry equipment boosts efficiency and productivity. “Today’s forestry equipment has management systems that are a lot more effective than in the past", Simard says.
“These systems optimize control of harvesting equipment and can
significantly lower fuel consumption,” he adds.
For instance, the Weiler management system optimizes the accessory by delivering only the right amount of oil at the right time. “The response is very fast, with no delays for the operator, all adjustable as required. »
For sawmill activities (loading/unloading of lumber, raw or finished), forest roadways (construction and maintenance), harvesting whether short or long logs, loading in the bush with wheeled or tracked vehicles, or maintaining cutover areas or electrical lines with brush cutters, Toromont Cat offers various Weiler and Cat equipment perfectly suited to highly specialized forestry sector activities.
