Few markets for forest machines are so completely dominated by one brand as the company IRUM rules the Romanian market. The domestic skidder producer have some 80 percent of this market. Together with their service network and after sales market, IRUM’s position should make most forest machine producers green with envy.
International skidder manufacturers as HSM and Noe from Germany or American John Deere tries to enter the Romanian market with their smaller models so the competition will sure be strengthened. At the same time IRUM goes for export to extend their market abroad. The latest model, the TAF 2012 is already on the market in Poland, France, Hungary and Slovenia and now IRUM extend their market efforts further with participation at World leading forestry show Elmia Wood 2017.
There are appr. 4,000 to 5,000 TAF skidders working in the Romanian woods, and a considerable lot of them are various years old. Most of the skidders working in the Romanian forests are TAF 690’s or even older models. Those machines are simple but durable and they bring millions of cubic meters to Romanian landings every year. Very often at difficult conditions such as very steep terrain, big and heavy trees as well as bad roads and long driving distances.
New grapple skidder from IRUM
The skidder TAF 2012 was first presented at the KWF forestry show in Germany 2012. From that point forward, IRUM has built up a sales network in countries as Germany, France, Belgium, Hungary and Bulgaria. The TAF 2012 is produced in some different applications depending of the market and the methods used. The latest update is the TAF 2012 G, a versatile grapple skidder.
Some facts about the TAF 2012 G
Total weight: 9 450 kg
Lenght: 6,80 meters
Width: 2,77 meters
Engine: Perkins 1204E-E44TA, 110 Hp
Grapple: 0,8 m2 area, maximum span 1,96 meter
Double winches: Uniforest 85H, each with 70 meters of 13 mm cable
Maximum load capacity: 4000 kg
The company IRUM was set up in 1953 as a state owned organization in the Communistic Romania. Toward the late 60s they started to produce simple tractors and skidders for the Romanian forestry. The Oltean family, who have solid binds to the IRUMS home base in the city of Reghin, bought the “ruins” of this Communist-time industry in 1999. Step by step they developed a modern manufacturing industry where TAF-skidders since then had rolled out to the domestic market in hundreds every year. The machine’s were designed to meet the requirements of Romanian forestry and thank’s to a favorable pricing they have sold in vast numbers. The constructions has been simple yet durable and well approved.
Today more than 400 persons work at IRUM’s industry in Romania where all the skidders are produced. In addition to the forest machines, the company also produce farm tractors in a JV with Belarus. Within the family business, we also find company Maviprod SRL, which is the Romanian importer of Perkins, the same engines that gives the TAF skidders their power.
Read more about IRUM skidders here
Important IRUM dates
1953 IRUM is established as a state-owned organization in Communist Romania
1968 The first ideas about producing skidders and tractors for forestry appears
1969 The first forest machine is launched
1999 The Oltean family takes control over the remnants of the IRUM company
2002 The sister company Maviprod SRL, is named the Romanian importer of Perkins engines
2010 Collaboration starts with Belarus to produce farm tractors
2011 The new TAF 2010 skidder model is launched
2012 The bigger, improved 2012 skidder is presented and displayed at the KWF show in Germany
2012 IRUM begins export of skidders to countries as Germany, Spain, France, Belgium and Bulgaria
2015 A new development department is opened at the facility in Reghin
2017 The TAF 2012 G skidder is launched as a grapple skidder application
2017 IRUM shows their skidders for a broader international audience at the Elmia Wood 2017 show in Sweden
