Vermeer introduced its HG6800TX horizontal grinder, a 950-hp machine constructed in a compact design, at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017.
Featuring an in-feed design that aids in feeding larger material such as whole trees, the new 92,000-pound grinder is built to power through tough materials with less operator interaction, Vermeer says.
“It’s built more specifically for land clearing and right-of-way clearing,” says Brad Van Rheenen, a Vermeer applications specialist in environmental solutions. “One of the things that’s developed into it is the flared in-feed table. It makes material feed into the feed roller much easier.”
According to Vermeer, the feed roller can climb up to 50 in. to help tackle the tough material elements that land-clearing contractors often encounter. The in-feed on the HG6800TX was designed with low sidewalls to help operators more easily load material into the machine.
Also, this feature allows larger loads to be dropped on the in-feed with less interaction and manipulation of the material. Now, operators can drop the load and focus on the next one.
One new optional feature of the HG6800TX, which is one of the largest horizontal grinders Vermeer offers, is Damage Defense. Contractors who deal with contaminated wood can help protect their equipment by reducing the likelihood of major machine damage caused by certain metal contaminants entering the hammermill. The system reacts to the initial contact of metal by reversing the feed system to allow for removal.
“As a contaminant comes in, the cutter tip will start to nick that – barely touch it,” Van Rheenen says. “It will sense that it’s metal. It will idle the engine down and back everything out of there.”
Vermeer updated the remote control on the HG6800TX, Van Rheenen adds.
“The switches are all new and a little more weather-proof in style,” he says.
The HG6800TX is tracked, but the machine also features a dolly.
“When you get to the jobsite you can hook your semi-[trailer] up underneath the kingpin,” Van Rheenen says. “Then, this whole thing rises up off the ground 8 in. or so. Now, all of a sudden this is the trailer because you have the dolly back here. Hydraulic switches on the side retract those pins, and you remote control away from the dolly.”
According to Van Rheenen, this feature might be desirable on pipeline jobs.
“You might track it miles down the right-of-way and all of a sudden you have to haul this thing from another location,” he says.