Deep Into the Forest

Caterpillar's forestry roots date back to the 1890s, where the Best Manufacturing Company and The Holt Manufacturing Company used steam traction engine tractors in logging applications. Today, forestry is a strategic business for Caterpillar and its dealers. The "skidder," a machine used to pull harvested trees out of the forest, was not expected to replace Cat^® track-type tractors for logging — even with its advantages of speed, power to pull big loads and maneuverability around stumps. But loggers saw production improve with a machine designed to meet their unique needs, and the skidder became the first in a full line of Caterpillar timber harvesting machines marketed worldwide.

"In 2012, Caterpillar Forest Products improved product quality, introduced new machines and work tools and expanded our presence in international markets," explained John T. Carpenter, who led Caterpillar Forest Products through 2012.

New Products

During 2012, Forest Products added a third model to the Cat^® C Series wheel feller buncher. Through a new design, this machine meets more stringent EPA emissions regulations while delivering more horsepower and burning less fuel than competitive machines. For loggers working in rough terrain, a new track feller buncher went into production in preparation for an early 2013 launch. And in Brazil, where eucalyptus is the primary timber crop, a specialized work tool to delimb and strip the bark was introduced.

Collaborations blended the best of Caterpillar with other companies to produce additional new forestry products. The Prentice/Epsilon self-loader, which is mounted on a log truck, brings exceptional speed and precision to loading and unloading logs, and the Demlone high-lift log handler stacks logs up to 6.1 meters for more efficient use of ground space in a wood yard.

Education

Increasingly, logging contractors are having a difficult time finding qualified equipment operators. To answer that need, a community college in North Carolina launched a course in 2012 to train operators. Caterpillar Forest Products is an important partner in this program by providing guest instructors on maintenance and safety and loaning the machines needed to teach students how to harvest trees, transport them out of the forest and load them onto trucks.

Customer Focus

The foundation for Caterpillar's growth in the forestry market and the origin of all accomplishments in the last year is the business unit's focus on the "Voice of the Customer." Product councils consisting of loggers and dealer representatives are involved in new product design. Customer plant tours include give-and-take discussions with product engineers. And product specialists and engineers visit customer job sites to see firsthand what loggers need to do their jobs.

"We design products that originate from a deep understanding of customers' needs. Our daily focus in all we do is on our customers. This customer-first focus is ingrained in the business' culture and is what will propel Caterpillar Forest Products to even greater success," notes Carpenter.