Cat Forest Products Showcases Equipment for Wide Spectrum of Logger Needs at Demo International 2008

The event was sponsored by the Canadian Woodlands Forum and hosted by Ledwidge Lumber on gently rolling, forested land near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Over 6,100 loggers and their families came to see machine demonstrations and learn about related forestry products presented by 115 companies.

About half way through the 1.8-mile loop, a huge banner with the black and Caterpillar yellow logo announced the site. The pathways leading up to Cat’s tent brought visitors past a Cat® D4K XL track type tractor, the Cat 287C multi terrain loader, the Cat 420E backhoe loader, the Cat 924H wheel loader and the Cat 303.5C CR mini excavator. A vintage 1942 Caterpillar 22 tractor provided by dealer Atlantic Cat was a special treat for all the machine buffs.

Behind the tent, visitors gathered in the bleachers for the cut-to-length (CTL) and full tree harvesting demonstrations — on one side, a Cat 501HD track harvester with the PD-57 dangle head and a Cat 574 forwarder and on the other side a Cat 521 track feller buncher with the HF201 felling head and the Cat 545C wheel skidder.

Every hour the machines moved into the forest behind the tent for the demo. While the harvester and forwarder worked as a team, the narrator described the process and key benefits of the Cat equipment, including the harvester’s visibility and the maneuverability and loading speed of the forwarder.

The narrator then directed everyone’s attention to the full tree process. The feller buncher went into action, demonstrating its strength in multi-functioning. The skidder, dragging a full grapple load of trees at full speed across the demo area in front of the viewers, was a real crowd pleaser.

After the harvested trees were processed, the tops and limbs were fed into a grinder by a Cat 320D FM with the new GLC85 combination logging grapple. The grapple is specially designed for loading or decking short wood in the forest or in millyards.

After each demonstration, viewers were invited to come down and take a closer look at the machines. Caterpillar and Cat dealer representatives were on hand to answer their questions. The CTL equipment especially generated a lot of interest, with many asking questions about the fuel economy of the Caterpillar® C6.6 engines with ACERTTM technology.

In addition to the machines, displays inside the tent conveyed in words and pictures Cat’s mission to help loggers profit and work safely and comfortably. A Cat Finance representative was on hand to discuss the flexible purchase options that are available. Representatives from both local Cat dealers, Hewitt Equipment Ltd. and Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd. (Atlantic Cat), were also on hand to talk machines and Cat service. Hewitt is the local Cat dealer for Quebec and Western Labrador, while Atlantic Cat covers Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Special visitors
Several groups of special visitors came to Cat’s site during the event.

On the day before the show opening, a group of approximately 50 VIPs from government, academia, industry groups and business came to the site for a preview and machine demonstration. The Cat site was one of only three they visited.

During the first two days of the event, groups of elementary-age children from several nearby schools visited Demo 2008. Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources arranged the field trip and Caterpillar donated special Demo t-shirts for the approximately 500 students to wear during their visit and keep as a souvenir. Many people remarked that it looked like Demo had been invaded by swarms of bumblebees as they watched the energetic kids in their yellow shirts with black Cat logos. Cat employees greeted each group and gave them a special tour of the site, explaining how trees are harvested and what each machine does.

Cat’s Latin American Division brought over 60 customers and dealers to Demo. Finning Cat S/A brought a group of 24 from Uruguay, Argentina and Chile, while dealers Sotreq, PESA and Marcosa hosted 40 Brazilian customers. They spent a lot of time at Cat’s tent, watching the machines in action and asking detailed questions.

Customer appreciation
On Friday evening, Atlantic Cat hosted a customer appreciation reception and lobster dinner. Over 120 customers attended the event held in the Cunard Centre on the waterfront of Halifax Harbour.

After all were seated for dinner, Cat Forest Products President John Carpenter welcomed everyone and spoke briefly on Cat’s commitment to the forestry industry.

After his greeting, he quickly turned the festivities over to the “star” of the evening. A bagpiper entered leading a long line of wait staff carrying silver platters loaded with whole Nova Scotian lobster. After dinner a band entertained the crowd with traditional Nova Scotian music.

Resilient Industry
Looking back on the three-day event, Carpenter noted the resiliency of the logging community in spite of significant challenges. “They get thrown down to the mat but get back up on their feet looking for opportunities and ways to improve their businesses,” he said.

Carpenter also confirmed the company’s pledge to be a partner in the forestry industry. “If any loggers were curious about how committed we were to their business before Demo, I think they left much more impressed and comfortable that we’re there for them.”
Website: http://www.cat.com