Grapple trees with greater accuracy with John Deere's Intelligent Boom Control for forestry harvesters
John Deere now offers Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) on the 1470G Harvester – the largest harvester model available in the John Deere lineup. The IBC technology, first introduced to the harvester category by John Deere in 2018, increases precision and accuracy during operation, boosting operator productivity.
Available exclusively on the CH9 boom, with IBC the operator no longer controls each independent boom joint movement separately. Instead, the operator maneuvers the harvester head and the IBC technology automatically guides the boom accordingly. Designed to suit the work cycle of the harvester, the movement and operation of the boom adjusts as the boom is taken to a tree, and when the tree is in the grapple. With IBC, work is more precise, efficient and enjoyable, and new operators are able to quickly learn how to operate machines.
Another key benefit of the IBC system is the improvement to the durability of the boom. The IBC system features electrical end damping for all the main boom movement directions, stopping strong blow-like loads in the end positions. As a result, work is more fluent and the boom structures and hydraulic cylinders last longer. Additionally, IBC increases the quality of harvested timber, as there are no wounds to the remaining trees.
"John Deere pioneered the IBC technology for harvesters, and we are excited to evolve that offering to include our large 1470G machine," said Sakari Suuriniemi, product marketing manager for John Deere. "After using an IBC-equipped machine, the boosts to productivity and efficiency are undeniable, making IBC a must-have feature for any logging operation. Understanding the demands of the logging industry and the labor challenges, IBC allows operators – new or seasoned – to work faster, even in difficult conditions."
Designed to handle difficult terrain and powered by a John Deere 9.0-litre Tier 4 Final engine, the 1470G Harvester is equipped to handle large timber. The stable design of the machine allows for the boom to work efficiently when fully extended. The standard Processing Power Control system optimizes fuel efficiency by coordinating the accurate processing level with the current work conditions and tree size. Another feature, Adaptive Driveline Control, improves the machine drivability and productivity by automatically adjusting engine RPMs to correspond with the engine load. Additionally, the cab on the 1470G automatically adjusts to the boom movements, while the levelling functions absorb any terrain conditions. This decreases machine vibration by as much as 50 percent during operation, increasing operator comfort.
