FULL RANGE OF HARVESTING SOLUTIONS
Gale Contracting is one of Marlborough’s most progressive forestry harvesting businesses – providing quality harvesting services to forest owners and companies throughout the Marlborough region.
The wide variety of equipment and systems that we have at our disposal – combined with our qualified, skilled and experienced team – means we are in a position to offer our customers a wide range of logging options and innovative, value-enhancing harvesting solutions.
We can offer logging services for all customer scenarios, from conventional harvesting to situations requiring innovative logging options and approaches.
We take a responsible approach to managing environmental requirements around our operations, and we’re proud of our reputation for providing good customer service.
CABLE LOGGING
From large skyline through to small mobile capability. We specialise in cable logging to ensure safer methods and more environmentally-sound means of extracting wood from the remote and challenging terrain found in many parts of the Marlborough area.
MECHANISED FELLING
Mechanised felling through to a tethered winch system (for mechanically felling cable and ground-based wood).
Our Sumitomo felling machine works alongside two of our cable operations. This machine is assisted by a purpose-built CAT tether machine to enable the felling component of the cable logging to be done by machine (instead of having a man on the ground). This offers two main advantages:
- The first is the reduction of risk to crew by removing the need to have men on the ground manually felling in steep, tough terrain. Additionally, this method opens up some of the areas that would have once been very difficult and labour-intensive to log efficiently.
- The second is the reduction of the environmental impact caused by logging. This system gives the crew the ability to fell trees in a directional manner around native areas and waterways – thereby minimising damage to these significant natural areas.
GROUND BASED LOGGING
Fully mechanised or motor manual, we have a wide range of ground based solutions. Talk to the team to find out more.
SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS
We have a demonstrated commitment to implementing environmental ‘best practice’, our team has undertaken training in this area, and we have extensive experience working around many permanently flowing waterways, mineshafts and Significant Natural Areas (SNA).
We have always ensured there is no resulting damage to the area or environmental issues, while still performing the required logging work to the highest standards. For example, we have made use of back pulling of trees with a hauler, and tethering felling machines around SNAs, to ensure wood falls in the right direction to minimise any impact of logging.
OUR EQUIPMENT
We have made a significant investment in specialised harvesting equipment. All our equipment has current certification and meets all OSH requirements.
The following is a breakdown of Gale Contracting inventory, by crew:
620 Crew
- Cat 325CL Feller Buncher
- Cat 330DFM Waratah
- Cat 325CL Loader
- Cat 525C Skidder
640 Crew
- Tiger Cat plus Satco Felling Head
- Cat 336DL Waratah
- Hyundai 250LC – 7 Loader
- Cat 545 Skidder
- Cat 325D Excavator
- Cat 330CL Tether Machine
650 Crew
- Washington 137 Hauler.
- Cat D8K Bulldozer
- Cat 336DL Waratah
- Cat 329 Loader
- Sumitomo 300 Feller Buncher
- Cat 330CL Tether Machine
660 Crew
- Thunderbird TY90 Hauler
- Cat D8K Bulldozer
- Cat 336D Waratah
- Cat 325DL Loader
- Sumitomo 300 Feller Buncher
- Cat 330CL Tether Machine
ADDITIONAL INVENTORY
We also have a number of spare machines for back-up, or for when extra volume is required. These include:
- CAT D6H high track dozer, free spool winch.
- CAT 545 Log Skidder
We also maintain a fleet of light vehicles. We run GPS in all our light vehicles, which is managed from the office and provides current data on not only location and allocation of our inventory, but also ensures we keep a handle on when Road User Charges (RUC), registration, WOF, and service for each vehicle is due. In this way we make sure our inventory is always to the safe and professional standard we require.
Our cable logging operation uses different types of hauler originally imported from America.
Collectively this fleet gives Gale Contracting (and our clients) a wide range of capabilities to tackle all the different types of forestry and terrains found in the Marlborough region.
Sumitomo 300 Feller Buncher
The Sumitomo Felling machine in the Kites Creek forest
Thunderbird TY90
The Thunderbird TY90 is utilised by our 660 operation providing a similar logging method as the Skagit as it also has a 100 foot tower. This hauler is currently based on the Northbank area of the Wairau Valley and is used in the tough steep challenging terrain. It uses long span extraction skyline systems to maximise safety and efficiency in the harvesting operation.
Washington 137
Our Washington 137 is operated by our 650 crew.
SEE WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT US
"Well-established, reputable Marlborough logging company"
— J.H. MacKenzie, MacKenzie Management Ltd"Gale Contracting are a well-established, reputable Marlborough logging company whose services we have engaged on a regular basis over a period of about 10 years...I am happy to recommend Gale Contracting and look forward to continuing our working relationship with them into the future."
"Value-enhancing ideas which have saved us significant sums of money"
— Grant Rowe, YS International"Gale Contracting continually bring value enhancing ideas to the table, at their own initiative. Their unsolicited ideas have helped our forest owner save very significant sums of money...They look for win-win solutions and pitch different ideas...Their ability to think outside the square is admirable and they are, in fact, inspirational to have around."
“Tidy well run operations embracing a Health and Safety culture”
— Rex Kelly, Competenz Trainer/Assessor"Gale Contracting leave an impression of tidy, well-run operations, where the men are genuinely embracing a Health and Safety culture. The team are courteous, keen and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire further training."
“Commitment to excellence in everything they do”
— David Taylor, Positive Potential"Andy, Matt and the whole team at Gale Contracting understand the value of long term client relationships. Their commitment to excellence in everything they do, from initial harvest planning through to final site clearance is unrivalled. The professional skills development that the team undertake, along with care and attention to safety, sets them apart from others.