Innovation is a key component in many of the Precision Silviculture Programme’s projects. Earlier this year we partnered with Fergus Rural, Pan Pac Forest Products and Hydralada to field test a 4WD cherry picker with hydraulic pruners, combining existing technology with innovative adaptations to pruning equipment.
The Hydralada 540 has tandem axle 4WD with independent bogeys for manoeuvrability and can be run with band tracks for additional traction and stability, a 25hp petrol engine with foot pedal controls, and can be towed behind a ute on a trailer. This makes it highly practical for smaller operations in remote locations and it is stable up to a twenty-degree gradient at full reach. Ground clearance was a limitation, but this could be easily modified.
Using the Hydralada could reduce the risk of working from height on a ladder, which would need frequent repositioning and require harnessing. Ladders also lack the reach of the Hydralada, which extends beyond the height normally required for high-pruning.
Our experienced pruner was harnessed into the bucket of the machine and would return the pruners to the holster when making any height or angle adjustments. The hydraulic pruners reduce hand strain and fatigue in workers whilst maintaining productivity.
You can see the manoeuvrability of the Hydralada in a short video on our LinkedIn page. We will also be posting a short Technical Note on this trial to our website shortly.
