2017 International Forest Industries Magazines February March 2017 | Page 68

EPSILON TIMBER & RECYCLING CRANES
A major investment in the centre of Salzburg , Austria , in 2015 delivered several innovation highlights for Palfinger Epsilon in 2016 .
Employee numbers increased substantially , especially in research , design and sales , thereby laying the groundwork for further expansion in 2017 , while another sales record was celebrated – more than 3,000 cranes left the Salzburg factory destined for use all over the world .
However , this desire to break new ground does not mean that existing customers and partners have been neglected . Services for dealers have been in particular focus for development , with new approaches being formulated for end-customer training .
Innovation customers can really feel “ It ’ s essential for Palfinger Epsilon that innovations not only work in laboratory conditions but in the field ,” the manufacturer stated . “ Innovations need to resonate with customers and prove themselves daily in practical timber and recycling applications .”
The first independent crane test for timber-loader cranes in Central Europe by German specialist magazine Forst & Technik was proof of concept for the M series of the current Next EPSOLUTION range , launched in 2015 .
Particularly “ in terms of operator-friendliness and ergonomics ”, the Epsilon M12Z ( featuring Master Drive control ) is really in a different league from its competitors ”, Forst & Technik noted in its review .
Further ground-breaking
innovations were showcased last year , including the new Classic Drive control unveiled at KWF . The highlight is that the current Epsilon M-series can be combined with the Classic Drive to produce what ’ s currently the lightest crane in the 10 – 13 mt lifting class .
This was achieved using high-strength steels and stateof-the-art , computer-generated structural-force calculations . To ensure all components deliver consistently high quality and a long service life , an average of 80 % of all steel components in every crane are produced directly in Palfinger factories .
Because the drivers ’ ascent to the crane seat remains one of the most common causes of accidents in the industry , Epsilon has developed a new idea here , too – the first-ever height-adjustable side mounted seat for timber
loader cranes .
Drivers no longer have to climb up a ladder to reach the control stand . Epsilon ’ s new side seat allows drivers to comfortably access the seat and then ‘ levitate ’ hydraulically up to the working position at the touch of a button . The tried-and-tested , multi-awardwinning advantages of the Master Drive control stand ( e . g . hydraulic servo control ), of course , remain unchanged .
Innovations by customer specification Epsilon is also driving forward the field of customer-specific innovation . For example , an ultrastrong , lightweight processor crane was specially developed for cable yarding technology for MM Forsttechnik , Austria ’ s largest private forestry company specialising in steep terrain timber
66 International Forest Industries | FEBRUARY 2017 / MARCH 2017