New Gear Harvesting New Gear
Kesla introduces the third generation of the RH harvester head range

Kesla, the leading independent manufacturer of harvester heads launched the completely new Third Generation harvester heads, the KESLA RH-III range. A bite of the new range will be on display at Finnmetko exhibition in Jämsä, Finland.

The all-new heads for the most sold size classes

KESLA 19RH-III and its sister model 21RH-III are real powerpacks for thinning. As a short and compact 3-knifed head the 19RH-III is especially suitable for processing of crooked trees. It’s the lightest head at the market designed for full-time debarking processing of euca and acacia. 21RH-III is technically similar but equipped with double rear knives, making it stronger when handling larger trees. It’s an ideal choice for contractors working at thinnings with various tree sizes. The 21RH-III can be equipped with KESLA proAX dual cutting system and MTH-grapple, which makes the head ideal also for biomass logging.

The KESLA 24RH-III and 26RH-III are truly versatile heads for both thinning and clear cutting. The 24RH-III with three knives is more compact and lighter, making it an excellent choice for handling crooked broad-leaved trees and debarking eucalyptus. The 26RH-III with dual rear knives can handle even large trees with ease, and the delimbing quality is excellent on even the most branchy trees.

Kesla’s largest heads 27/28RH-III and 29/30RH-III have also undergone through renewal and now represent the design and technology of the third generation.

Renewing manufacturing technology to prolong service life

The design of the new models has progressed hand in hand with the renewal of Kesla’s manufacturing technology, and evolving automation has been taken into account in the design from the very beginning. The frame modules are machined as a one piece after the welding assembly, and the moving parts make use of casting to a great extent. This brings the structures’ dimensional accuracy to a new level. This, combined with heavy-duty axles and bearings, will further increase the already extended structural service life of the KESLA harvester heads and improve their performance.

Hydraulic system designed for maximized efficiency

The hydraulics of the RH-III heads has been redesigned. The starting point was minimized power losses, high net power and suitability for various base machines. The spacious hydraulic system of the heads can handle even a high oil flow at high ratio, and the excellent efficiency of the 2WD feed system enables high performance even with base machines that have a modest hydraulic output.

Since the targets in terms of structural strength and power-to-weight ratio were set particularly high, the zero series of all the size classes were tested for an exceptionally long time in various base machines around the world. The testing process has also involved forest companies and base machine manufacturers.

Thanks to their modular design, the new third-generation RH harvester heads can easily be optimized to operate in different circumstances, with different types of trees and with different base machines.

“Our strategy as the leading independent harvester head manufacturer guides us to develop our products so that they can be flexibly adapted to different conditions and base machines. Climate and energy-efficiency are hot topics today, and our new models as well as manufacturing technology make us extremely competitive also in that point of view, regardless if you look it at the perspective of manufacturing or use of the machine.” says Mika Tahvanainen, director of logging equipment business at Kesla Oyj. “It makes us a superior partner for builders of excavator harvesters and those harvester manufacturers whose product line does not include own harvester heads.”

Learn more at www.kelsa.com.