Photo courtesy of Tigercat

Best suited to medium and large tree profiles, the 573 has a 31 in. maximum cut capacity and offers optimal performance in 16-24 in. diameter timber.

In late September 2023, visitors to the PLC live demo event held in Washington state got a sneak peak of the new Tigercat 573 harvesting head processing logs on the end of a Tigercat 875E logger.

Since then, multiple units have been testing in far flung regions from Alberta to Australia and the results are in: the 573 is shaping up to be a high performing, reliable head for roadside processing and harvesting.

Best suited to medium and large tree profiles, the 573 has a 31 in. maximum cut capacity and offers optimal performance in 16-24 in. diameter timber. The feed rollers close down to 2.4 in., allowing the 573 to smoothly delimb and process smaller diameter trees and thus achieve higher value fiber recovery.

The compact frame design deftly handles poor stem form and contributes to tidy delimbing performance. The triangulated feed wheel arm configuration operates in locked three-wheel drive. This, combined with timed knife arms, provide the operator with fast picking and positive stem control for high productivity in roadside processing applications. Independently mounted, trailing-arm length measuring ensures reliable tracking and accuracy.

The top knife and lower/back knife pivot on the same side of the chassis frame, aligning the position and flow of each stem centrally through the head. This arrangement promotes positive contact with all three feed rollers and the measuring wheel at all times. The result is better quality and accuracy, reduced fuel consumption, and greater processing speed, according to the manufacturer.

The orientation also provides the operator with a clear sightline to the measuring wheel.

The 573 is standard equipped with continuous rotation for ease of use and superior hose routing and protection. Quick, stable WiFi connectivity between the cab and attachment modules reduces wire routing along the boom and provides excellent command response.

The Tigercat D7 control system is available with Priority or Optimization levels and is fully compatible and compliant with StanForD Classic and 2010.

The 573 is a great fit for the H250D, 850 and 875E for roadside processing applications and the H822E and H855E carriers for in-stand harvesting.

For more information, visit tigercat.com.

This story also appears on Forestry Equipment Guide.

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