Palm oil plantations need engine power or technical equipment to facilitate human workers. Mechanization in oil palm plantations is very important to increase efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in this industry. That is why there are some types of heavy oil palm plantations that are often used.
The use of heavy equipment in oil palm plantations helps to handle various types of work, like preparing land, Caring for plants, etc. Especially if oil palm plantations have large land, then the heavy equipment needed is more and more.
Through this article, Let's understand what heavy equipment is needed in the oil palm plantation industry, Tips for Choosing the Right Heavy Equipment, and treatment. Following are the types of heavy equipment for oil palm plantations and their uses.
1. Excavator
Excavator become the most common heavy equipment operated in oil palm plantations. This tool has a component in the form bucket or dredging that serves to explore the material, transport, transfer, etc. Excavator work by moving bucket and using chain wheels (track) for maneuvering.
In the oil palm plantation industry, excavator needed to do the following jobs:
- New land clearing (stacking) by cleaning the area of the trees and shrubs.
- Making and Cleaning Trench for Drainage Systems.
Some brands excavator which is often relied upon in oil palm plantations, namely there is from Komatsu, Caterpillar (CAT), Hitachi, and others. Excavator Komatsu PC300 for example, suitable for heavy work and wider land. Excavator Hitachi ZX200 has a compact size with high performance, thus supporting the plantation area.
2. Bulldozer
Another heavy equipment that is often used in oil palm plantations is bulldozer. Bulldozer operated to push, flatten, and move various type of material. This tool is equipped with blade in the front that can be removed and lowered, as well as ripper behind to destroy hard material.
Usage bulldozer In the palm oil industry has the following functions:
- Leveling and cleaning the land before planting.
- Assist in the construction of roads in the plantation area.
- Make terraces on slanted land to prevent erosion and facilitate planting.
- Helps maintenance of roads and drainage in oil palm plantations.
Some brands bulldozer which is often chosen to help work on oil palm plantations, namely from Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, etc. For example bulldozer Cat D8 which is suitable for heavy work with very large land. There is also a reliable Komatsu D65 for land clearing and land management.
Read Also: The benefits of a bulldozer for land treatment before planting
3. Backhoe Loader
Backhoe loader also a heavy equipment that is often used in oil palm plantations. This heavy equipment has a dual function, namely excavation and transportation. The main component of this heavy equipment consists of loader (loading) on the front and backhoe (excavation) at the back.
Operation backhoe loader In oil palm plantations have the following functions:
- Land cleaning before planting oil palm.
- Help the construction of roads or access in the plantation area.
- Digging the planting hole for oil palm seeds.
- Transporting seeds and other materials.
Brand or type backhoe loader which is often used in oil palm plantations, Among these are Caterpillar, JCB, Case Construction, etc. For example backhoe loader JCB 4DX, Has a larger and stronger size that supports work on large land and heavy terrain.
4. Dump Truck
Dump truck is a heavy vehicle used to transport and move material in large quantities, well that's the ground, batu, pasir, and others. This tool is equipped with a large tub (dump bed) which can be lifted hydraulically to dismantle the cargo quickly and efficiently.
Dump truck often operated in oil palm plantations to handle the following jobs:
- Transporting the soil or other material during the land cleaning process.
- Carry fertilizer and oil palm seedlings.
- Move the palm oil yield from the garden to the processing factory.
- Transporting plantation waste to the disposal site or processing.
Various brands or types dump truck which is often chosen for work on oil palm plantations, Among these are from Hino, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, and others. For example dump truck Hino 700 Series that have greater transport capacity, suitable for transporting heavy materials such as FFB or land.
5. Traktor
The tractor is a very popular heavy equipment in the agricultural or plantation industry. This tool works by attracting or pushing tools such as plows, harvesting, sprayer, or planting equipment. Tractors can be used to plow, plant, harvest, even cleaning the land, etc.
In oil palm plantations, The tractor serves to handle the following jobs:
- Cleaning vegetation like a tree, Check, and grass in the process of land preparation.
- Leveling the land to prepare the planting land.
- Make beds or mounds of soil for planting seeds.
- Helps destroy unproductive old palm oil stems.
- Pulling oil palm seedling or fertilizer spreaders.
Some tractors or types of tractors that are often operated in oil palm plantations are from John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, etc. The John Deere 6105M tractor for example, Having a larger energy suitable for plowing and transporting material.
6. Scissor Lift
Scissor Lift is a heavy equipment used to lift and lower material to a certain height vertically. This tool is shaped like a scissors and uses a hydraulic system to move its pile. Although more often used in the manufacturing industry, scissor lift also needed in oil palm plantations.
Function scissor lift In the palm oil industry is as follows:
- Help workers in caring for palm trees, like pruning leaves, pest checking, or other maintenance.
- Accelerate workers in the process of harvesting palm taking a sign of fresh fruit.
- Facilitate the installation and maintenance of electricity networks in plantations.
- Facilitate the transportation of palm fruit to transportation.
Scissor lift which is often used in oil palm plantations is usually from the Genie brand, JLG, Skyjack, and others. For example Genie GS-1930 which has a lift capacity up to 227 kg and height 6,7 meter, suitable for light work on plantations.
7. Grabber Palm oil
Grabber palm oil or palm bunches are a tool to clamp oil palm bunches. These tools are usually installed on excavator or crane, and equipped with a clamping tool (grab) which can grip and cut palm fruit with precision.
Here are some functions grabber palm oil in the oil palm plantation industry:
- Speed up the process of harvesting fresh fruit bunches.
- Moving palm fruit bunches from the harvest to the transport vehicle.
- Accelerate TBS Collection, especially in plantations with large land area.
Some brands or types grabber palm oil that is often used is Sime Darby, FELDA, Kubota, etc. Sime Darby Auto Grabber for example, has an automatic technology that can increase harvest efficiency with high precision.
The advantage of using heavy equipment in oil palm plantations
Here are some of the advantages of using heavy equipment for oil palm plantations:
- Increase work efficiency: speed up various processes, like planting, maintenance, harvest, and the transportation of palm revenue.
- Save labor costs: The number of manual workers can be reduced, so as to reduce long -term operational costs.
- Speed up the harvest process: Helps accelerate the process of harvesting and transporting fresh fruit bunches (TBS).
- Improve employee safety: reduce the risk of work accidents, Especially in employment at height or heavy load transportation.
- Maintain the quality of the harvest: allows the transfer of palm fruit faster and carefully, thereby reducing damage to the fruit.
- Land management is better: assist in land preparation, road construction, irrigation management, and the lace cleaning.
- Large flexibility and capacity: able to handle far greater loads and work in large areas.
- Accelerate the development of plantation infrastructure: Assist in the construction of the road, drainage, and other facilities in the plantation area.
Read Also: How to harvest palm oil properly and maximum, This is the procedure!
Tips for Choosing Heavy Equipment and Care
The use of the type of oil palm plantation heavy equipment must be adjusted to the work needs. By operating the right tool, both in terms of type or capacity, work on plantations can run more productively and efficiently. Here are some tips for choosing the right heavy equipment:
- Choose heavy equipment as needed: Adjust the type of heavy equipment with plantation needs, for example for land clearing, transportation of palm fruit, or other tasks.
- Pay attention to the capacity and size of the tool: Make sure the heavy equipment has a transport capacity and size that matches the area and plantation field.
- Check quality and brand: Choose heavy equipment from a trusted brand and has been proven quality to be more durable.
Besides that, You also need to do heavy equipment maintenance to ensure that the performance remains optimal or unfamited. The treatment you need to do, Among these are regular checking on each component, Replace the lubricant periodically, clean the tool after use, and others.
If you need a heavy equipment excavator and bulldozer to handle work on oil palm plantations, You can rent it at PT Perkasa Sarana Utama (PSU). We provide various types of heavy equipment that can be tailored to your needs.
Our team will provide consultation to you to find heavy equipment for purchases or rental excavator which is appropriate according to project needs. Don't hesitate to contact us at CS: 0811358378 or email: rent@psualatberat.com. To be more connected, You can also follow our Instagram at @psualatberat.
