by Jon M. Casey

CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 in Las Vegas, NV, was the site of the introduction of new equipment to the marketplace for many exhibitors, especially Morbark®, LLC. This year, tens of thousands of industry professionals enjoyed the opportunity to shop for new products like the Morbark® Pronar MPB 20.55 trommel screen, or Morbark’s 3400XT tracked horizontal “Wood Hog” grinder, both introduced during the first day’s events.

According to John Foote, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Morbark, their new trommel is a natural fit to the Morbark equipment line. Until now, Morbark has not offered a screening unit for wood waste material. With the addition of the new trommel line, producers can now look to Morbark dealers for a trommel screen supported by Morbark’s quality dealer network, one that currently features Morbark grinders and slow-speed shredders.

Foote said Morbark began collaborating with Pronar a little more than one year ago. He said that Pronar is a Polish manufacturer of farming and municipal equipment that has been in business for more than 30 years. Together, their partnership has given Morbark a proven line of trommel screens, available as either wheeled or tracked units. More importantly, this new line features several innovations that make using and servicing their trommel quicker and easier.

During a “walk-around” of the new unit, Amy McWhorter, Morbark spokesperson, enumerated several features of the new trommel line. She noted that the chain and sprocket drive, and a horizontal drum design, provides more efficient performance compared to conventional rubber-grip wheel designs. The spiral flighting design inside the drum, results in less material spearing with a more consistent particle size. She said the MPB trommels are available in four model sizes including the 14.44, the 18.47, the 20.55 and the 20.72.

Ease of access and serviceability is apparent with the wide-opening doors that provide quick and easy drum changes. Drum changes are routinely accomplished with only a skid steer loader. The engine and hydraulic system is mounted on a pull-out frame. This gives technicians ground-height service access to the CAT Tier IV diesel engine and associated components. These trommels are also available with an electric motor for producers who are looking for a unit that will provide lower operating costs than a diesel powered unit and one that operates more quietly.

On the 20.55 model, the 6.5 cubic-yard infeed hopper is outfitted with a hydraulic tipping grid for removal of large objects to help prevent damage to the trommel drum. Replacement drums in a variety of screen opening sizes and drum thicknesses are available to meet the recycler’s specific needs.

3400XT Wood Hog

Morbark officials also unveiled their new 3400XT Wood Hog tracked horizontal grinder at CONEXPO-CON/AGG this year. In an earlier statement, Michael Stanton, Morbark Director of Industrial Sales, indicated that Morbark listened to customer feedback when they developed this all-new model. “The result is that we were able to provide the features our customers want and the versatility they need, while staying true to our proven technology.”

One of the most important features of the 3400XT is its standard width of 8’4” (2.53 m) making it within the legal transport width in any country, no matter which engine is used. This model accommodates engines from 540 to 800 horsepower (402 to 596 kW), so it is ideal for a broad range of applications in a wide variety of markets worldwide.

Like all of Morbark Wood Hog models, the 3400XT also is available with electric power. “The size of the 3400XT allows the same model, using a broad range of engines, to be configured for multiple applications and global markets without additional design considerations,” said Stanton.

He said customer feedback suggested more operator-friendly features on the Wood Hog including the design of the infeed bed and the maintenance platform. The infeed bed is an additional 24 inches (60.96 cm) longer with sloped sides. This configuration improves operator sight lines for more efficient loading of material.

A removable infeed chain return floor is standard on the 3400XT. This allows excess material to fall away to minimize the wear on the floor, bed chain and inserts. This is particularly useful in land-clearing or other applications where the material can be dirty. The variable-speed infeed system consists of one 34-inch (86.36 cm) diameter top compression feed roll; a direct-driven internal planetary drive with no chains and sprockets for lower maintenance, more torque and better durability; and four strands of WDH-120 chain in a staggered configuration.

With a new extended platform, it will be quicker and easier to perform maintenance on the machine when needed. Engineers reconfigured the area between the hood and the engine to provide an additional 12 inches (30.48 cm) of working space. This allows for better access to components for general maintenance or for changing screens.

Morbark’s proven and exclusive driveline protection system is standard on all Wood Hog models. The externally adjustable, breakaway torque limiter helps to protect the driveline and hammermill from catastrophic damage caused by contaminants. The 3400XT is available with either Strickland or CAT undercarriage options. While the first unit built is a tracked unit, this model can be manufactured in a trailer or stationary unit as well (3400X).

The remote-mounted radiator and oil cooler have independent reversing fans. The 3400XT is equipped with the Morbark Integrated Control System — or MICS. The ultimate diagnostics tool and control system, this allows the operator to automatically adjust feed rates and monitor pressures and feed wheel position to maximize production and engine efficiency. New smart device apps allow you to connect to your machine using your phone or tablet Bluetooth. It also allows you to connect your machine directly to Morbark, so Morbark personnel will be able to view and edit your machine’s settings to program or to send you updated programming.

Other standard features include an 11-horsepower (8.2 kW) air compressor for general maintenance and changing inserts; a self-contained rod puller for changing rods in the hammermill; and a magnetized end pulley with collecting slide tray for removal of ferrous metals. For more information on the Morbark Pronar trommel screen, or the 3400XT Wood Hog grinder, visit www.morbark.com.