FAE USA Inc. distributors from all across the United States converged in Flowery Branch, Ga., May 15 and 16 for its annual dealer meeting and new product demonstration.

Attendees stayed at Lake Lanier Islands’ Emerald Point Hotel and Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands, Ga.

After a dealer meeting at Emerald Point, attendees were bused to the main office of FAE USA in Flowery Branch for a quick lunch and an opportunity to see the entire stock of equipment and parts, as well as a brief demonstration of a brand new rock crusher product that had been shipped to Georgia for the event. The crusher unit for skid steer loaders, demonstrated by FAE’s Jay Styer, is the very first one to fit on skid steer units that is able to crush rock 6 in. (15 cm) in diameter or 6 in. deep. Production of this attachment is currently under way.

Static displays were abundant at the headquarters facility including the new Viper mulching system, which features the Viper tooth design that fits on any standard high flow skid steer loaders. According to company representatives, this system provides more of a “knife like” rather than hammer style of mulching.

After shuttling off to a northeast Georgia demo site, attendees had the opportunity to demo two machines that were introduced to the U.S. market at ConExpo in Las Vegas including the PrimeTech PT-400 and the FAE Wood Devil 125 prime movers.

On its way from Vegas to the headquarters of FAE USA in Flowery Branch, the PT-400 made a stop in Mobile, Ala., where Beard Equipment had one of the very first demonstrations of the machine for the U.S. market. At the demo area, Jody Bacqué of Beard Equipment said, “The most outstanding feature of the PT-400 is the exceptional flotation of the machine in comparison to its size.” With Beard’s distribution area being the Gulf Coast region, superior flotation is of paramount importance. Bacqué went on to say, “this machine is very strong and produces a good finely mulched end product. The cab is well designed with great visibility, very quiet inside and is as roomy as they come. The machine is designed to shed debris nicely. The 400 is a nicely designed, complete package machine. With the power of 400hp, it’s a beast.”

Other accolades given by Bacqué include: easy access maintenance points; fuel efficient; winch; FOPS and ROPS guards on the cab; and a front cylinder that is well protected from debris.

After operating the PrimeTech PT-400, Al Randall of Southeast Track Loader and Equipment in Glennville, Ga., gave his comparison of this machine to its predecessor, the PT-350. Randall said, “more power enables this machine to handle much more smoothly, which impresses me the most. It has the same cab as the 350, which was already an excellent design with plenty of space, but performance wise, I can definitely feel the improvements.”

Steve Plescia of J.B. Brush Cutting/Wallace Machinery in Covington, La., spent quite a bit of time demo’ing the FAE Wood Devil 125 and said, “the controls are very responsive. The machine back drags very well and without the trap door down, it seems like it cuts up more material. It does a good job. The machine utilizes its power very well, and I like the track system that is high in the back to keep debris from getting caught up in it.” CEG Staff

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