Tree harvester Weijtmans from Udenhout, Brabant, has chosen a very special machine to carry out its work: the Mecalac 8MCR. The company now owns not one, but four of these machines. With the speed of a skid-steer loader and the slew of an excavator, no job is too crazy for the Mecalac 8MCR. Whether it's for hauling out logs, or flailing the job site. Versatility is the machine's biggest advantage. This is the main reason why Weijtmans chose this
excavator. In addition, the Mecalac is very strong, has a compact swing radius and is fast in
its hydraulic functions.
The Mecalac 8 MCR has a travel speed of ten kilometers per hour. Compared to other excavators, the Mecalac is a lot faster. “Mecalac has designed the machines so that they are suitable for driving long distances. In combination with the wood enrichment trailer, the combination fits our business operations perfectly,” said Kees Weijtmans. Whereas other excavators used to warm up on the tracks, this is no longer the case with the Mecalac. Weijtmans has mounted a tipper knob on the blade of the Mecalac and an extra hydraulic valve on two of the four machines. Two of the take-out carts are hydraulically driven. By operating the slide blade, the operator can have the exit carriage pulled along. There are almost always tracks on the exit carriages. These ensure better pressure distribution and they prevent unnecessary track formation.
Weijtmans can equip the Mecalac 8 MCR with three different widths of tracks. The standard width of 45 centimeters, the wider tracks of 60 centimeters and one can choose to work with 120 centimeter tracks. The 120-centimeter tracks are two 60-centimeter tracks coupled together. For this, Scheer Machines from Zwartewaal has devised a system to respond quickly when the customer requests it.
Boomrooij Weijtmans is extremely satisfied with the machine. The Mecalac is not only motorically very strong, but in addition the lifting power can be called exceptional. According to the manufacturer, the MCR models can lift up to forty percent of their own weight. For Weijtmans, this is more than enough to safely lift even the larger tree trunks. Operators are also satisfied with the easy operation and comfortable cabin. If the operator needs to travel longer distances, he can choose to switch the controls to the left joystick. To do so, he only needs to choose skid steer mode. Because the engine covers are kept low, the operator has a good overview of what is going on around the machine.
Expensive to buy but well worth its money
But there are not purely plus points. The excavator also has some downsides. The biggest downside is the purchase price. This is significantly higher than a normal eight-ton excavator. The wide tracks are also quite pricey. Furthermore, the Mecalac machines consume more fuel than average. This is due to the wider tracks. More drag means more fuel. “But if you then set the quality of work against it, everything falls back into place,” says Weijtmans. Mainly, the wide applicability of the 8 MCR is priceless. “I need one operator and one machine for ten different jobs,” says the owner. From harvesting trees with the saw clamp, the cutter or the feller buncher to milling out tree stumps with the stump grinder.
One of the four Mecalac 8 MCR machines has a permanent operator. The other three machines are manned by hired personnel. This is due to the fact that uprooting trees is seasonal work. From July 15 to March 15, Weijtmans has the most work. During the really busy periods, the company hires a fifth Mecalac. Because of the busyness in the high season, Weijtmans does not have time to maintain his machinery himself; for this he turns to a mechanization company in the area. "Because shoemaker stick to your last," is Weijtmans' motto.
