Page 283 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong
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     Top left, clockwise: Shawn Hegerberg, Peterson’s Special Services manager in Hillsboro; Welding in San Leandro fab shop; Machining on G&L Mill in San Leandro fab shop; Welding in Hillsboro; Machine shop in Hillsboro
Peterson was tasked with modifying a 552 Feller Buncher for a new logging technique. Tether- or winch-assisted logging is a growing trend in New Zealand, Chile, and the Pacific Northwest, where slopes can reach up to a 45 percent grade. Accord- ing to Hegerberg, Peterson’s Special Services man- ager in Hillsboro, it started in New Zealand. “They had a problem with their laborers getting injured while working on the steep hills. To mitigate that they decided to tie cables to the machines, secured at the top of the slope, and dangle them over the side to do the harvesting. It’s a lot easier, uses less manpower, and is much safer than having men working up and down those steep slopes.”
In 2015, Caterpillar approached Peterson’s Port- land store with the project. “They gave us the first
machine to do as a prototype. We took the rails off, cut off the sprocket ends, added two more roll- ers per rail, and welded everything back up,” says Hegerberg. “Making the tracks longer gives them a better grip on the steep hills.” Currently, there’s nothing else out there like these 552 Feller Bunch- ers—at least on a Cat machine. The Peterson crew has modified seven Feller Bunchers since then, some for Caterpillar and some for local customers. Both groups are happy with the results.
Through the years, Peterson has been at the fore- front of many product improvements within the industry. “As new models come out, we customize them to better fit our customers’ needs,” states Rav- azza. “Initially, the design might only be used by a handful of our customers, but then word gets out.
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