A highly experienced Mpumalanga-based forestry contractor has taken delivery of a TimberPro harvesting and forwarding system to boost productivity on a pine-harvesting contract for Sappi Forests.

It has been acquired by the contractor, JC Potgieter of Welverdiend Forestry, specifically for harvesting pine on the steeper slopes of Rooihoogte plantation, situated between Carolina and Badplaas in Mpumalanga.

The TimberPro harvester is a TL735D tracked and levelling harvester equipped with an SP761 LF head. The harvester is paired with a TimberPro 840D wheeled forwarder, which can retrieve timber from steep-slope compartments.

The machines were delivered to Welverdiend in January by the South African TimberPro distributor, Logmech. The Logmech team spent a few days at Rooihoogte familiarising the Welverdiend team with the new equipment, so they could hit the ground running.

JC, son of Jaco Potgieter, who established Welverdiend Forestry way back in 1998, says he’s very happy with TimberPro’s performance so far. He uses an excavator-based harvester on flat terrain and the TimberPro machines on steeper slopes and for harvesting large trees, which is where the TimberPros come into their own.

Service & backup

Welverdiend Forestry has had a long association with Logmech, dating back to their use of Swedish-manufactured SP harvesting heads around 2010.

Service and support were a major factor in their decision to choose the TimberPro machines for the pine harvesting contract. “We’re very happy with the service and back-up we get from Logmech; we’ve had a lot of equipment through them”, says JC. “Their Technical Manager, Ryan Chase, is world-class; they really look after us”.

Matching parts

The TimberPro machines are more than up to the task, especially on tough terrain. They are purpose-built, rugged, powerful and versatile. The harvester and forwarder are almost identical machines from the swing bearing up, meaning that you only need one set of spare parts and components for both machines. They are both powered by Cummins engines.

The harvester has dedicated pumps for all the basic functions, so there is no lag time when you engage the head, and head speed remains constant. Ryan says it has “unmatched levelling capability”.

Forwarder

The forwarder cab rotates 360 degrees, so the operator is always facing the task, a major advantage when retrieving and loading logs all around the machine. It also has gravity-defying capability on very steep slopes. This was effectively demonstrated at a Logmech field day in the Midlands in 2024, when attendees, mainly forestry contractors, witnessed a TimberPro forwarder safely bring a large load of logs down an extremely steep slope onto the roadside.

JC was one of those contractors, and he was sufficiently impressed with the forwarder’s performance to invest in one for his own operation. It has the power and the balance, and three different driving modes which enable the operator to maintain control of the machine and the load on extreme slopes.

“You can load 22 tons and go down a 50% slope safely”, said JC.

He said his operators took only a couple of days to get used to the TimberPro machines – now they don’t want to operate anything else.

SP heads

The Logmech team has played a key role in the development and refinement of these heads over many years, and it is known for its reliability and unmatched productivity. When it came to selecting a harvesting head, pairing the TimberPro TL735D harvester with a Swedish-made SP head was a logical decision, given the SPs' proven service record in South African conditions.

The heads now come equipped with Dasa 7, the latest-generation control system offering lightning-fast reaction times, robust modules, and a user-friendly interface.

Dasa 7 comes in two versions: wireless or wired. The radio module in the wireless version is installed in both the cab and the harvester head, allowing for intelligent, real-time link selection. This means no manual adjustments, no lag, and no risk of communication loss, even in areas with high signal interference.

By replacing cables with a high-speed, ultra-reliable radio link, Dasa Wireless 1 delivers seamless, interference-free communication, even in the most demanding conditions.

Dealer support

The Logmech team is based in Zululand, from where they can provide effective backup and support for both TimberPro and SP equipment. They have many years of experience in forestry operations and know the equipment they distribute inside out. They also carry a comprehensive inventory of spares and components.

“We’ve got enough spares at Logmech to almost build an entire machine”, comments Ryan.

Logmech also distributes a range of grabs that they developed in partnership with an international manufacturer.

There is a growing number of TimberPro machines operating in South Africa that have been tried and tested under a variety of South African conditions. The SP heads are also widely used on both purpose-built harvesters and excavator-based machines.

For more info about TimberPro, SP heads, and Logmech grabs contact Ryan Chase on 064-8806436, technical@logmech.co.za or Leon van Eeden on 082-4559207, leon@logmech.co.za