West Kootenay based KMC Track Skidders meet growing demand in South America

Over the past years, Kootenay Manufacturing Co. (KMC) has been supplying countries in South America with FMC and KMC Track Skidders.

“The main reason for the request for these machines was their unique design of front mounted track drive, torsion bar suspension, rubber bushed 'live' steel track and balanced weight distribution,” said Wayne Farenholtz, president/general manager at KMC-KOOTRAC/Kootenay Tractor. “This unique design allows the KMC Track Skidder to operate in very wet conditions and traverse steep slopes where other ground-based machines could not.”

The timber harvesting companies in South America also found that after a period of time, KMC Track Skidders' low ground pressure caused minimal soil disturbance compared to the crawler tractors and rubber tired skidders that they were previously using. The Chilean loggers also found that the KMC left a better “foot print” than the oxen that they were using for steep slope skidding.

Due to the worldwide downturn in the forestry industry, the demand for new specialty logging equipment has subsided but KMC is still able to supply remanufactured Track Skidders to companies in South America.

KMC staff are now getting inquiries for their newest designed tracked vehicles to be used as attachment carriers for the oil and gas exploration contractors as well as power line installation contractors. KMC is also getting inquiries from other countries in South American such as Argentina and Peru for the unique KMC Steel Tracked Vehicle.
For more information, visit www.kmc-kootrac.com or call KMC-Kootrac toll-free at 1-800-562-5303.