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Raleigh, NC – As of July 21, 2016 AFEX systems are available as a factory-installed option on John Deere tracked feller bunchers, wheeled feller bunchers, and skidders. Simply choose the appropriate option code at the time of purchase to ensure your machine will be delivered with a factory approved fire protection system. The cost of the system will be included within the financing package, making for improved cash flow. Contact an AFEX Specialist at (919) 781-6610 or visit deere.afexsystems.com to learn more about this program.

AFEX and has also partnered with Paladin CustomWorks to offer AFEX fire suppression systems on any John Deere vehicle platform. Contact AFEX or Paladin to learn more.

In a notable first for Caterpillar Forest Products, three remote-controlled 521B feller bunchers were used to successfully clear a gunnery range, littered with unexploded bombs and other military ordnance, inside of Fort Bragg, NC. The machines, sourced through a partnership with Milton CAT and custom outfitted with a remote control system designed by Applied Research Associates, allowed them to remove nearly 1,000 acres worth of trees and vegetation from a safe distance.

Of course, a high-tech machine needs a high-tech fire protection solution. That’s where AFEX and Katahdin Fire Company come in. Using the Control Unit, Katahdin was able to integrate the vehicles’ AFEX fire suppression systems with their remote control systems, allowing the systems to be remotely actuated in the event of fire.

These state-of-the-art configurations were made possible by forward-thinking, technologically advanced companies pushing the envelope of what is possible with remote operated machinery. As more and more industries are moving towards remote and autonomous operations for safety and productivity, AFEX fire suppression systems will be ready to meet the demands of these technologies.