Forestmachine magazine - Pfanzelt at Austrofoma

Pfanzelt Maschinenbau GmbH had a large display and demonstration area at Austrofoma and were demonstrating the manoeuvrable and versatile four-wheel drive special Felix forwarder, PM Trac, Logline and S-Line traHers, and the Moritz FRS0 . 

When Pfanzelt first launched the Moritz FRS0, it was an extraordinary, remote -controlled mini felling tractor with cable winches available up to five-tonne pulling power. At 1.1 m, it was also sufficiently narrow to access awkward entrances and able to hydraulically widen the tracks to 1.4 m for better stability.

They didn't stop there and in recent years they have introduced many attachments to increase its versatility.  Currently these attachments include winches, mulchers, stump grinders, ploughs for ground preparation, seed sowing, grass mowing, and wood­chippers. As the Moritz has a PTO drive and three-point linkage, there are many other smaller scale attachments available from other manufacturers. 

Tue newest attachment, which has seen Pfanzelt win Innovation awards this year, is the Personal  Protection Screen. This screen was being  demonstrated at the show and it is a simple yet genius idea. Tue Moritz can be driven by remote control up to a tree that is tobe felled, and in less than a minute the strong webbed canopy is raised and completely  encircles the tree above the point where the chainsaw operator will be working. Tue Personal Protection  Screen therefore acts as a giant umbrella above the  operator, fully protecting them from falling dead­ wood. Tue join where the screen meets is the felling direction of the tree and once the felling face cut is  complete the screen can be opened into a v shape,  providing space for the tree to fall. Tue operator is  still completely protected when making the back cut and using wedges and jacks. 

This is a breakthrough in the felling of Ash dieback and other dead and dying trees as the risk of injuries and/or fatalities from falling deadwood is extreme. This high level of risk arises from the vibrations of the chainsaw, hammering in wedges and using tree jacks -even wind can increase the risk. 


Trees to be felled in awkward and challenging  terrain can be accessed by the Moritz and the Personal Protection Screen. Tue Moritz is capable of 45° approach angles front and rear with excellent climbing ability; it has 300 mm ground clearance and will travel at speeds of up to 6.Skm/hr. Due to its low weight and width, the Moritz can also be easily  transported between jobs in a trailer, pick-up or van.

Zum KonfiguratorNach oben