IRUM Reghin, Romania's only manufacturer of agricultural and forestry tractors, announced on Thursday the launch in Munich of the TAF-X Combi, a new articulated forestry tractor concept developed in Romania, a move the company says further strengthens its position among the world's leading manufacturers of forestry equipment.

'In an industry dominated by major international producers, we continue to demonstrate that globally competitive forestry machinery can also be designed and built in Romania,' IRUM General Manager Mircea Eugen Oltean said in a press release.

'The fact that we are now among the world's top 10 forestry equipment manufacturers is an important achievement for IRUM and for Romanian industry, but it also brings the responsibility to continue investing in research, development and technology. TAF-X Combi is not just a new addition to the IRUM range. It is the result of more than 70 years of industrial experience and constant investment in our own technological capabilities,' he noted.

According to Oltean, the machine was developed based on the real needs of forestry operators, with the aim of delivering greater productivity and flexibility through a single piece of equipment.

'This launch marks another step in our ambition to strengthen IRUM's international market position and prove that technology developed in Romania can compete successfully on a global scale,' he added.

The company described TAF-X Combi as a multifunctional forestry machine designed and developed at Reghin to meet the increasingly complex requirements of modern forestry operations.

According to IRUM, the equipment was conceived in response to a key challenge facing the industry: how to perform multiple operations more efficiently and flexibly while using fewer machines.

The TAF-X Combi features functions traditionally associated with skidder-type forestry tractors with timber handling and transport operations, offering an alternative to the use of several specialised machines. Powered by a 225-hp six-cylinder Perkins engine, the vehicle can carry up to 14 tonnes of timber in transport configuration.

Its six-wheel layout, featuring two wheels on the front axle and four on the rear bogie, is designed to combine carrying capacity with the mobility, traction and manoeuvrability required in forest terrain.

Depending on operational needs, the machine can be equipped with a clambunk, winch, blade, digging attachment, chains or tracks, allowing it to adapt to different logging methods.

'This versatility can help reduce the number of machines required for certain operations, optimise investment costs and improve the use of available resources. The forestry industry faces growing pressure from operating costs, difficulties in recruiting specialised operators and the need to increase productivity without compromising mobility. TAF-X Combi is IRUM's answer to these challenges, with versatility and operational efficiency prioritised from the design stage,' the company said.

IRUM added that, in certain configurations, a single operator can perform several types of operations using the same machine, reducing the need for successive deployment of multiple specialised vehicles.

For operator comfort, the cab has been designed for intensive use and features a 180-degree rotating seat and pedal assembly, enabling work in both directions.

'The development of TAF-X Combi focused not only on increasing productivity but also on reducing the environmental impact of forestry operations. The new machine is designed to combine performance with efficient fuel use and lower emissions. By enabling multiple operations with a single piece of equipment, it can help optimise travel and fuel consumption, depending on operating conditions,' the manufacturer said.

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Reghin, Mures County, IRUM develops and manufactures agricultural and forestry tractors and specialised equipment, combining industrial tradition with in-house research, development and production capabilities. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)