Forestry is unforgiving work. Motion’s technical support, rugged components, and engineering know-how are helping loggers reduce risk and extend asset life.
Forestry machinery in New Zealand works some of the hardest hours in the most punishing conditions. From clear-felling in the ranges to processing at the landing, the demands placed on equipment are relentless. This is not an industry where you can cut corners – if a bearing fails or a slew ring cracks, productivity stalls, safety risks spike, and cost stacks up fast.
That’s why Motion takes a boots-on-the-ground approach. Their team works closely with OEMs, contractors and maintenance crews to deliver componentry that’s not just fit for purpose but engineered for endurance.
“This stuff gets beaten up,” says Neil Hulme, General Manager – Industrial Products at Motion. “We’re working with local OEMs that build processing heads for excavators, and our job is to help make those heads tougher. That might mean supplying a stronger slew ring, or designing a more robust bearing assembly that can handle the loads. The goal is to keep that gear in the bush for longer – not in the shop.”
That on-the-ground understanding informs every Motion solution – from heavy-duty hydraulic hose assemblies to drive components custom-fit to cope with shock loading and long duty cycles.
“Processing heads from when they first started out, used to do a log this size,” Hulme explains, gesturing to the original standard. “Now they can cope with a log twice that size. So what does that mean to a forestry crew owner or contractor? It means that they can process a bigger log, faster – and more uptime. But it also means heavier components, more force, and more pressure on every moving part. That’s where we come in.”
With 31 branches across New Zealand and a network of workshops, Motion supports forestry operations nationwide – not only with stock and servicing, but with upstream partnerships that improve machine performance from the factory floor.
“There’s quite a number of equipment manufacturers here in New Zealand,” Hulme adds. “We work with them, these OE manufacturers, around things like bearings and slew rings – components that go into the machines right at the start, before they’re even sold. These heads are going on to excavators that are heading to export markets. So the build quality has to be right – and the parts need to hold up under international conditions.”
That means Motion isn’t just a supplier. It’s a partner in the performance of forestry gear from design to delivery.
“There are two big focus areas in forestry right now,” says Hulme. “One is automation – using technology to make operations quicker, more reliable, and safer. The other is durability. That’s our space. We’re here to help make the equipment last.”
With local insight, engineering expertise, and a national footprint, Motion is helping forestry businesses stay productive, stay safe – and manage the inevitable wear and tear of a tough business.
