M450M Forestry Mulchers: Lightweight, for Tractors 54-180 HP

The M450m is a lightweight mulcher for use for tractors in the power range of 54-180 HP.

The M450m is the lightest machine in this class and with the optimized centre of gravity; it combines all the necessary handling issues to make it easy to use the skid steer.

It combines many details that add up to a perfect cutting, easy handling, low maintenance and high productivity at low power demand.

All the different counter blade levels enable to have a smooth and light cutting with a good finishing but at the same time avoiding having big pieces of wood inside the housing stalling the rotor.

Brush mulcher for small tractors

Since the end of 2019, PRINOTH has also been offering the M450m for small tractors with an output of 54-90 hp in three different working widths 49.2 in (1250 mm), 53.1 in (1350 mm) and 57 in (1450 mm).


Technical Data:

Power: 54 - 180 HP
Total width mm [in]: 2200 [87]/ 2500 [98]/ 3000 [118] | 1450 [57] / 1550 [61] / 1650 [65]
Working width: mm [in]: 1900 [75]/ 2200 [87]/ 2700 [106] | 1250 [49.2] / 1350 [53.1] / 1450 [57]
Weight* kg [lbs]: 1300 [2860]/ 1460 [3220]/ 1580 [3480] | 460 [1014] / 510 [1124] / 540 [1191]
Tool quantity 50xUPTs (40xBCS)/ 58xUPTs (48xBCS)/ 56xBCS | 26xBCS - 28xBCS - 30xBCS
Drive one side or both sides

Belt transmission (grooves) 3(1x)/ 3(2x)

Note: Technical changes made during the course of further development are reserved. *The weight specifications refer to the equipment without pressing device and without counter cutting in the secondary shredding flap.

Application Areas

Reclamation
Recultivation is the exploitation of land for economic purposes, such as plantations or agriculture. Soil preparation is a common feature of this process.

In many cases, re-cultivation is closely related with the clearance of large areas or forest clearance and also the shredding of stumps and root material. This can either involve secondary vegetation or trees. A mulcher is used to process vegetation on the surface. A rotovator is then used to deal with any remaining vegetation or stumps which are still in the ground, which are then combined with the mulched material and mixed into the soil.

Infrastructure measures
Infrastructure measures are any measures that are used to build and maintain infrastructures. Among other things, those include complete or selective clearing or land management in preparation for infrastructure construction work.

Furthermore, it also includes infrastructure maintenance and clearing around existing installations. That includes street and road construction and the expansion of rail networks or airports.

Plantation agriculture
The plantation industry involves a variety of applications. These range from forestry plantations with eucalyptus, pines and similar, to Christmas tree stands and short rotation plantations, oil palm plantations and fruit plantations such as pineapple, bananas, apples, etc.

The use of mulch technology in plantation agriculture may involve mulching all of the vegetation or just the harvest remains and root stocks. Among other things, this involves plant preparation for the next crop.

The soil is also often processed with a rotovator after mulching to also remove the tree stumps and roots in the ground. Cultivated and fertile soil performs better for new seed planting. Root stocks and harvest residues are often extremely obstructive when using machines for maintenance and harvesting. A particular feature in this area is that there are no significant alternatives to our technology for an environmentally and economically sustainable plantation industry.

Removal of beetle-infested wood
In general, the problem starts with a few “weak” trees that are infested by pests. Over time, the infestation spreads and the damage grows. For this reason, selected trees should be removed from the forest as quickly as possible.

After felling and transporting them to the collection point, the trees are stripped and the bark is discarded or burned. Nowadays, this process is still carried out by hand in many places. Mulching is an attractive alternative, which averts the risk of the infestation spreading quickly.

Land clearing
The phrase “land clearing” involves a range of different applications and terms. In many cases, site clearance refers to secondary vegetation and for construction clearance. This may involve forest clearance for areas intended for use such as wind farms, parks, road construction or golf courses.

It may also include applications such as the removal of windblown timber or burnt areas, preparation work for surface mining and of equal importance, amenity areas. Site clearance can also be considered in plantations, arboretums, horticulture and landscaping.

When clearing large areas, no selective mulching takes place, as large areas or parcels with a range of different types of vegetation are processed by the mulcher. In many areas of the world, other methods are used for the same purpose, such as slash and burn, chaining or simply bulldozing the area. When these methods are used, vegetation is uprooted by bulldozers or stretched chains, and then burned or buried. In contrast to these methods, mulching is the process with the lowest degree of intervention in the ecosystem. Whether mulchers or rotorvator are used, the shredded biomass remains and greatly improves the fertility of the soil.

Extraction and access routes
Access routes are created to transport harvested timber from the forest to the respective loading areas. These tracks are usually unpaved roads which are maintained or kept available for long periods for accessing forest stands.

A conventional strategy here is to manually create these paths. However, the problems with this method include removal of timber and the issue of stumps. Mulching “disintegrates” these two problems. The chopped biomass is scattered on the ground and gives the forest soil precious added nutrients. In addition, stumps are processed and do not restrict future use of the land.

Right-of-way maintenance
Line maintenance involves keeping electricity and overhead cables, underground cables, pipelines and railway lines clear. The areas which need to be kept clear are often difficult to access.

Options may be limited due to steep slopes, soft ground or rough terrain, so the areas are often cleared manually. Our products, whether tracked utility vehicles or mulchers, offer an economical alternative in such situations. Particularly in challenging terrain where our tracked utility vehicles can be the first choice.