Forestry Machinery Scotland

Wood Chippers for Forestry Timber Processing

Brash chipping after a felling operation converts what would otherwise be a disposal problem into manageable chip on site.

For forestry and firewood operations, that chip either gets left on the forest floor as a mulch layer, extracted for biomass, or processed further.

Whatever the end use, the throughput required on a forestry job is usually well beyond what a residential arb chipper is built for, and the right spec matters more when a slow machine is holding up a clearance schedule.

We’re Scotland’s first Arbmax dealer and stock the full Forst range of 13 models.

Both ranges are available for hire, sale, and service.

Tracked Chippers for Soft Ground and Forest Sites

On soft ground, narrow woodland tracks, and clearfelled sites where towing access is limited, tracked chippers reach the timber when a towable unit would be stuck at the forest edge.

Tracked Forst range run on tracks rather than wheels. This means they travel to the brash rather than having the crew carry material to the machine.

For the heaviest terrain conditions, the Forst XR8D Traxion has a heavy-duty tracked undercarriage designed for steep and soft ground.

If access is the main limiting factor on a site, it’s the most capable machine in the Forst range for reaching it.

PTO Chippers for Tractor-Based Forestry Operations

Forestry contractors running a tractor on site have a cost-effective option in the Forst PT6 and PT8 PTO chippers.

Both mount to the three-point linkage and take power from the tractor’s PTO shaft, removing the need for a separate engine and cutting both fuel and service costs.

For woodland management work where the tractor is on site throughout the job, integrating chipping onto an existing machine rather than trailering a second piece of equipment in usually makes more operational sense.

PTO chippers are available to buy through ILH.

Arbmax Drum Chippers for High-Volume Forest Clearance

Where timber volumes are high or stem diameters exceed what a standard arb chipper handles at pace, the Arbmax drum chipper range changes the throughput rate.

Drum chippers maintain steadier throughput than flywheel-disc machines through variable material.

On high-volume clearance sites that consistency matters across a full working day.

Stump Grinding for Post-Harvest Clearance

Stump grinding is the final step before a cleared coupe goes back into replanting.

On a commercial forestry site the scale is a long way from a garden stump removal job.

Open ground, higher stump volumes, and harder root plates from mature timber demand machines with the grinding depth and capacity to keep pace with the contract.

Getting the spec wrong doesn’t just slow the job down.

Root material left behind after grinding obstructs the next crop’s development and adds remedial work before the replanting team can start.

We’ve been working with FSI stump grinders for over ten years and are now an official FSI dealer.

The range runs to ten models, from pedestrian machines for smaller clearance work through to large tracked self-propelled grinders built for open-ground forestry stump removal at scale.

FSI Tracked and Self-Propelled Grinders for Forestry Contracts

For commercial forestry stump clearance, the FSI D series handles the volume and hardness that open-ground contracts produce.

The D30 Track, D60, D60-2, and D74 step up progressively in power and grinding depth, with the D74 suited to the largest and hardest stumps a clearfelled site generates.

Grinding depth below ground level is significantly greater on these machines than on pedestrian models. This matters for post-harvest ground prep ahead of replanting where residual root material needs removing, not just a surface grind.

The D30 Track Remote adds radio-controlled operation. Perfect for sloped sites and steep Scottish ground where standing close to the machine during grinding isn’t safe.

Compact Loaders for Forestry Material Handling

Loading chip trailers, moving log sections off a clearance site, or shifting material across uneven ground is faster with a loader than without one.

For crews running extended woodland clearance contracts, the time saving compounds across a full working day, and the reduction in manual handling counts on long jobs.

ILH supplies the MultiOne loader range and the Sherpa mini loader series.

MultiOne runs eight series with a wide attachment range, including grapple and grapple saw attachments that extend each machine into timber handling and processing roles beyond basic bucket work.

Where site access is tight, the Sherpa series is narrower to get between mature trees or through gaps on forest tracks that a larger loader can’t reach.

Robotic Flail Machinery for Forest Roads and Slopes

Managing vegetation on forest roads, steep embankments, and areas too hazardous for a conventional mower is part of the operational workload on many Scottish forestry sites and estates.

The Energreen robotic flail range handles slope and roadside vegetation management with a remote-controlled tracked chassis, operating safely at angles that would put a conventional tractor mower at serious rollover risk.

ILH supplies a diverse range of Energreen models, each running a wide selection of interchangeable attachments.

Forestry mulching heads process vegetation on site and work through scrub and brash that a standard flail can’t handle.

For estate and forestry operations with steep ground to manage, slope capability combined with on-site mulching output keeps access roads clear through the seasons without the job becoming a safety issue.

Service and Parts Backup for Forestry Equipment

The ILH workshop in Cumbernauld carries Forst and FSI parts on site and handles servicing and breakdown repair across the major brands we supply as well as machinery from other manufacturers.

Downtime on a forestry contract costs the day and often more.

That’s why we turn repairs around fast and stock the parts most commonly needed to avoid waiting on a supply chain.

For wood chippers, that workshop service covers Forst, Timberwolf, GreenMech, Jensen, and TP.

Stump grinder work runs to FSI, Predator, Carlton, Bandits, and Vermeer.

Services include routine maintenance, blade sharpening, cylinder sharpening, hydraulic work, and electrical diagnostics.

For machinery breakdown support or to book a service, call 0141 775 9288 or email the workshop team at service@ilhgroundcare.com.

Buying and Hiring Forestry Machinery in Scotland

Forestry contractors who only need a chipper or stump grinder for a specific contract often find hire is the cleaner option.

Every hire machine from ILH arrives serviced, with sharp blades, checked over in our workshop before it goes out.

Contractors running the same type of equipment across multiple contracts every month will usually find the economics of buying work better over time.

Our machinery sales cover new stock from Forst, Arbmax, FSI, MultiOne, Sherpa, and Energreen, and used machines come through as fleet trade-ins and ex-demo stock.

Every used machine goes through the workshop before it leaves, and we’ll give you a straight assessment of condition, hours, and remaining life without steering you toward new when used will do the job.

For forestry operations transporting machinery to remote sites, we also supply Rhino plant trailers suited to moving groundcare equipment across the distances Scottish forestry contracts involve.

Enquire through the contact form or call the team to discuss what’s available.

Forestry Machinery Scotland: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you supply machinery for timber harvesting operations?

ILH supplies the support machinery around timber harvesting: wood chippers for processing brash and arisings, FSI stump grinders for post-harvest clearance ahead of replanting, compact loaders with forestry attachments for material handling, and Energreen robotic flail machinery for forest road and slope management. If you’re building out the equipment around your harvesting operation, get in touch to discuss what’s available to hire or buy.

Can compact loaders work on forest sites?

Yes. MultiOne compact loaders with grapple and grapple saw attachments handle timber sections and material loading effectively on forestry sites. The Sherpa mini loader series is narrower and suits restricted-access areas where a larger machine would struggle. Both ranges are available to buy through ILH, and compact loaders from our hire fleet are available by the day or week.

Do you hire stump grinders for commercial forestry contracts?

Yes. FSI D series stump grinders are available to hire, including tracked models suited to open-ground commercial forestry stump clearance. Every hire machine leaves the workshop serviced and ready for work, and for extended contracts we can discuss weekly rates and availability.

Get in Touch with ILH Groundcare

Forestry contracts don’t wait, and neither does a machine that’s gone down on site.

If you’re working out what kit to hire for a specific job, weighing up a purchase, or need a repair turned around fast, call us on 0141 775 9288 and speak to someone who knows the machinery.

We’re not a general hire depot with a spreadsheet.

We’ve been running this business since 2007 and we stock, service, and supply parts for the machines we sell. When something goes wrong on a remote forestry site, you want a dealer who can actually help, not one who sends you back to the manufacturer. Email contact@ilhgroundcare.com or call the workshop directly. We’ll give you a straight answer on what works for your operation.