Komatsu Forest introduces the Komatsu Traction Aid Winch, a high-quality capstan winch. In 2017 Komatsu Forest will begin delivering the Komatsu Traction Aid Winch for the Komatsu 875 forwarder and the Komatsu 911/230H and Komatsu 931 harvesters.
The system is based on the tried and tested capstan principle where the winch has a separate drum for rope storage, while the motor, providing traction, is installed on the capstan unit. The rope is wound nine times around the capstan drive, which gives great friction force and thus an efficient winch.
The capstan system provides even traction because the same amount of rope is always wound around the capstan unit. This is an advantage compared to a regular drum winch where the rope is wound around a drum that also houses the motor, a construction that provides uneven traction because the torque varies depending on how much rope remains on the drum.
The Komatsu Traction Aid Winch has a compact design that provides the forwarder/harvester with excellent ground clearance, manoeuvrability and visibility from the cab. The harvester winch is fitted with a hydraulic tilt, making it easy to tilt the winch downwards to open the hood or adjust the rope angle. The winch also has quick couplings for easy removal during servicing or when driving on flat terrain where it is not needed. The forwarder winch is well integrated with the rear frame. The 130F crane model can be equipped with an integrated crane tilt option, which delivers higher net slewing force when used in steep terrain.
The Komatsu Traction Aid Winch is equipped with a remote control that enables a lone operator to control the winch from outside the machine, as well as to feed and anchor the rope. The winch also has different smart modes to optimise operating efficiency.
