News

Nov 21, 2025

Numerous forests are situated on steep terrain, where cable logging remains the sole method of timber extraction; however, integrating traction-assist winches enables mechanical harvesting on less severe slopes while increasing safety and minimising soil disturbance.

There is some negativity on social media about the use of traction-assist winches on steep hillsides; many people express opinions without comprehensive knowledge of the relevant facts. A significant portion of the commentary addresses operator safety and concerns about post-harvest landslides.

Category: TimberMAX

Posted by: sue

It is essential to note that the designation "traction-assist winch" indicates that it is a traction aid specifically geared to the transmission of slope machines. This design is intended to mitigate wheel spin during ascent and to enhance control during descent on hillsides.

The machines continue to operate within their designated capabilities; however, due to the added security provided by the traction assist winch, they are not engineered to enable operators to work in severe conditions. For the winch to function effectively, the slope machine must release cable tension, allowing it to maintain its position on the hillside unaided.

Winch-assist systems have seen rapid development, adoption, and implementation in many parts of the world over the past decade and can be considered a major recent innovation in steep-terrain harvesting. Although a relatively young topic, the literature surrounding this area has grown significantly over the last decade.

This steep site, located in the Scottish Borders, was managed by a harvesting team from Dick Brothers Limited, utilising a harvester and a forwarder, which were connected to two excavator-mounted TimberMAX T10 traction-assist winches. The entire timber extraction process required hauling the material up the slope and stacking it on the forest road at the site's summit, due to a river adjacent to the main road at the base.

The tethered machines significantly enhanced productivity while reducing the workforce required for a cable logging system. Given the site’s distance of well over 150 meters from top to bottom, it would have been necessary to implement a skyline rather than a more expedient highlead winch setup.

This region is characterised by significant rainfall, making it essential to minimise soil disturbance to prevent runoff. The site was subject to diligent monitoring by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to assess any potential pollution to the river resulting from the harvesting operations. The tethered harvesting system employed at this location received top marks for its environmental performance.

This device serves as a non-invasive attachment for the slope machine, designed for straightforward operation. It can be set up and operational within a few hours, including comprehensive operator training.

The TimberMAX T10 traction assist winch is equipped with a 16mm cable and offers an operational range of 500 meters, with a pulling capacity of 11 tonnes. This winch is engineered to support equipment weighing up to 34 tonnes on inclines up to 70%, subject to prevailing soil conditions.

We recognise that the initial investment associated with equipment for a contractor operating on steep terrain may be considerable, particularly given that such work typically occurs only part of the year. Therefore, we offer a rental service that lets you incorporate hire costs into your overall pricing strategy.

This system is becoming important for contractors who recognise that reducing their environmental impact while enhancing operator safety is a winning solution.