Kesla will present several new harvester products at the SkogsElmia fair, the most important of which is the roller harvester head KESLA 18RH-II. In addition, the Kesla section will present the JPRS R 5500 harvester saw unit, which Kesla has recently begun to install on its products at the factory. Among the exhibited products is also the KESLA proLOG and Xlogger measuring devices, which are now available for KESLA harvester heads.
Kesla Oyj will introduce the new KESLA 18RH-II harvester head model at the SkogsElmia 2015 fair. The new product replaces the popular 18RH model, which has been in production since 2004 and is well-known for its excellent power-to-weight ratio.
The starting point for the development of the new KESLA 18RH-II model was user feedback and development needs, as well as the excellent user experiences of the previous 25RH-II and 20RH-II models. The new structural solutions in the frame, delimbing knives, shafts and bearings aim for better-than-ever durability and reduced maintenance needs in the most demanding operating conditions.
“The new structure raises the serviceability of the product to the next level,” states Mika Tahvanainen, Marketing Director at Kesla. “For example, hydraulic hoses can be accessed easily without opening the structures much at all.”
With the increasing power of base machines, attention has been paid particularly to the efficiency of the hydraulics. The new wider valve, which has been featured in other RH-II series harvester heads, yields considerably higher feed power and speed with significantly lower fuel consumption.
“The new harvester head works quickly and efficiently in terms of both feed and sawing,” Tahvanainen explains. “This has a notable impact on fuel consumption, as well.”
The new KESLA 18RH-II can be installed on light-weight wheeled harvesters and heavy-duty agricultural tractors. A version with smaller drive motors, the RHS model, is also available.
Harvester heads with the JPS R5500 saw unit for the first time
Kesla has begun the manufacturer installations of JPS R5500 saw units on its devices as the first harvester head manufacturer in the world. Depending on the harvester head model, the new saw unit utilises a 34cc or 40cc Sunfab motor and 22-tooth drive wheel that enable a sufficient chain speed to be reached at approximately 5,500 rpm. The low-rpm, high-capacity motor is much more durable in use than traditional solutions and operates at much better efficiency. In practice, this manifests itself as better sawing power and lower fuel consumption.
In addition to the fuel savings, the technical solutions of the R5500 saw unit result in lower operating and maintenance costs: The saw unit utilises wide Iggesund JW-series saw bars, whose life span is many times that of traditional bars. The robust and wide saw bar bends and vibrates less, which, together with an efficient tensioner, ensures that the chain stays on in all sawing situations. The new double-sided and balanced drive wheel is designed to last for the entire service life of the harvester head.
The JPS R5500 is a compact package that does not require external saw cylinders or position sensors. The saw bar motion is driven by a turning mechanism integrated into the unit, which also includes sensors that detect the position of the saw.
“The JPS saw unit has been studied extensively in Sweden. The research has shown that the JPS saw produces much less cutting-induced cracks than its traditional counterparts,” Tahvanainen says. “Swedish users have monitored the results produced by the saw unit and reported clear drops in fuel consumption.”
The new saw unit is available as an accessory for the entire KESLA harvester head range from the fresh model 18RH-II upwards.
New measuring devices for KESLA harvester heads
The KESLA proLOG and xLogger measuring devices are now available as an accessory for KESLA harvester heads.
KESLA measuring devices are compliant with the StanforD standard (proLOG with limitations). Thanks to modern modular technology and sufficient calculation capacity, timber measurement is precise and the control of the harvester head and the accuracy of stopping the feed at the cutting length have been taken to the next level. The user-friendly interface ensures that harvesting and the adjustment of the harvester head could not be easier. The KESLA proLOG measuring device is equipped with 7” wide screen and xLogger with 12” touch screen. The latter is also also fully StandorD 2010-compatible and equipped with a 12 ”touch screen and a value and distribution bucking.
The KESLA 18RH-II harvester head and the entire KESLA harvester head range, JPS R5500 saw unit and harvester head measuring devices will be on display at Kesla Oyj's section at SkogsElmia (section 496).
Kesla Oyj
Marketing Director, Mika Tahvanainen tel. +358 40 5356 567