Palfinger UK once again attended the UK’s largest forestry and timber show this weekend, putting on an impressive display of forestry equipment from market leaders Palfinger Epsilon and timber bunk specialists Alucar.
The biennial APF Exhibition, hosted in the 6,000-acre estate of Ragley Hall near Alcester, Warwickshire, was attended by over 18,500 visitors this year and 320 exhibitors from across the forestry sector.
With a stand space of over 600m2 Palfinger UK showcased a variety of timber handling cranes from Palfinger Epsilon, the world’s largest manufacturer of timber and recycling cranes, as well as specialist timber bunks from Finnish company Alucar, the largest manufacturer of aluminium timber superstructure systems.
Supported by valued customers who proudly displayed their trucks fitted with a variety of Epsilon cranes and timber bunks, the Palfinger UK team were on hand to meet new and existing customers and provide information on the full Epsilon and Alucar ranges, including the new Epsilon Q Series, unveiled at Interforst in July.
Kieron M. Owen Transport Ltd from Powys in Wales showcased their Epsilon M120L crane on a Scania R500 truck, which also featured an Alucar aluminium superstructure with a 5-tonne timber capacity.
TSL Contractors Ltd lent one of their Argyll-based Skyhook company Volvo FH trucks which featured a M12L crane with Epscab all-weather protection command centre and Alu 55 timber bunk. Skyhook are a helicopter hire company serving the construction, forestry and agricultural sectors in Scotland, carrying loads to remote and inhospitable locations where even an Epsilon-laden truck cannot reach.
Ayr-based JST Services Ltd, cargo handling and logistics specialists and one of the largest timber handling businesses in Europe, demonstrated their Volvo FH500 Globetrotter with M10L Epsilon crane and Alu 55 timber bunk on a complete Alucar superstructure subframe kit, coupled with a Dennison tri-axle drawbar trailer, also fitted with Alucar bunks.
Fresh from it’s launch at the 2018 Interforst event in Munich in July, visitors to the stand could see and learn more about the brand new Epsilon Q17L, part of the Q Series which boasts the lightest and longest reach cranes in its class – up to 11m at the maximum. Not only that, the Q Series offers a 15% faster crane speed than its predecessors, enabling maximum speed even at higher lifting capacities for increased efficiency.
Peter Williams of Forestry Transport Maintenance, partner with Palfinger UK for Epsilon and Alucar products, brought along his fully refurbished Volvo F12 tractor unit, resplendent in the livery of Tree Harvesting Ltd, a former timber merchant based in Wales thirty years or so ago.
This was coupled to a Dennison triaxle semi-trailer, fitted with the new Epsilon Q17L 105 with ergonomically designed Palfinger Master Drive top seat. The trailer/loader package is owned by Chris Knowles, who was satisfied enough with Epsilon products to purchase the first prototype Q17L 105 into the UK with positive results so far.
Palfinger UK are the sole UK distributor of Alucar timber superstructure systems, which are produced primarily of aluminium and not only increase truck payloads but also enhance durability and prolong the lifespan of the superstructure. The bunks are unique in their production, using detachable upright stakes which are easier to maintain, repair and replace than traditional welded supports.
James Stronach, Product Manager for Epsilon at Palfinger UK, who organised the APF stand and attended the event was pleased with the event this year, commenting, “despite the weather and fewer visitors this year overall, we had a good number of enquiries and potential orders over the three days, which is great. We are grateful to our customers and manufacturers who supported on the stand and for the visitors for visiting us and offering positive feedback on the Epsilon brand and the Palfinger UK business in general.”
Virpi Hattula, Export Sales Manager at Alucar, added, “we were pleased to come to the show this year to support James and Palfinger UK, and very happy with the display from Palfinger UK at the event, featuring a range of our Alucar bunks and superstructures, which were a great attraction for visitors to the stand.”
Palfinger Epsilon Area Sales Manager, Lorenz Santner, was also full of praise for the Palfinger UK team. “For PALFINGER EPSILON the UK market is one of the most important ones in Europe. After all these years we are happy to call the Palfinger UK team our friends in our big European EPSILON community.”
He added, “the show was again a great place to meet long-time friends, to have interesting discussions about the latest developments in the market and also to meet new people. The APF show is without a doubt the UK’s leading show for the timber industry and I am pleased that so many people from all over the UK made the effort to visit the event and the Palfinger UK stand again this year.”
To find out more about the full range of Palfinger Epsilon timber handling equipment and Alucar timber bunks, please visit www.palfinger.co.uk/epsilon-forestry
