Why Heizohack Drum Chippers Lead the Way for Large-Scale Biomass and Forestry Chipping in New Zealand

When you're processing wood at scale — clearing forestry blocks, feeding a biomass boiler, or running a contracting operation that can't afford downtime — the chipper is the machine that makes or breaks your day. And not every chipper is built for that kind of work.

Plenty of machines can chip a pile of branches. Far fewer can run hour after hour, day after day, swallowing whole logs and bulky material while producing a consistent chip, without overheating, jamming, or burning through fuel. For large-scale New Zealand forestry and biomass operations, that gap between "can chip" and "can keep chipping" is exactly where the wrong machine costs you money.

This is where the Heizohack drum chipper earns its reputation — and why it leads the field for high-volume, continuous wood chipping in this country.

What makes a Heizohack chipper different?

Heizohack has built drum chippers in Germany since 1982, and the engineering reflects decades of refinement for exactly this kind of demanding, continuous work. A few features stand out for large-scale operators.

A low-drag drum rotor. This is the heart of the Heizohack advantage. The low-drag rotor design means the machine can run effectively with lower drive power and noticeably reduced fuel consumption — a direct, ongoing saving when you're chipping at commercial volume. Flawless operation is possible even where drive performance is limited.

Genuine large-diameter capacity. On the larger machines such as the HM 14-860 KTL, an 800mm top infeed roller and a 1,215mm infeed width mean heavy, bulky timber is processed safely and reliably rather than fought with.

Precise chip control. Chip size is set by an individually adjustable feed speed and an easily exchanged sieve, with the sieve preventing the ejection of over-long pieces. That's how you keep fuel-grade chip consistent load after load.

Self-contained hydraulics. The hydraulic feed system runs off the machine's own on-board hydraulics — no external oil supply needed — which simplifies operation and setup in the field.

Practical, low-downtime servicing. Quick-change blades can be re-sharpened with a hand-held grinder while fitted, and the counter knife can be turned and reused on multiple edges. Auto load-sensing infeed (stress control) protects the machine and keeps output steady under varying material.

These aren't marketing features — they're the specific design choices that let a Heizohack keep producing, economically, through a long day of serious material.

A machine for the way New Zealand works

ALFA Equipment is the exclusive New Zealand dealer for Heizohack high-capacity drum chippers, purpose-built for biomass production and large-scale forestry contracting. Heizohack chippers supplied through ALFA are working in New Zealand forestry and biomass operations today, processing everything from forestry residues and land-clearing material to dedicated fuel-wood production.

Just as importantly, these are machines you can keep running. ALFA supplies, supports, parts and services the full Heizohack range across New Zealand and Australia — because a high-capacity chipper is only as good as the backing behind it when you need a part or a service in the middle of a contract.

The range spans crane-fed, trailer and PTO configurations, from machines well-suited to excavator or tractor-mounted crane feeding through to the largest trailer-based drum chippers built for the highest-volume forestry and biomass work.

Choosing the right Heizohack for your operation

If you're weighing up a large wood chipper in New Zealand, a few questions will point you to the right machine:

• Capacity. What's the largest diameter material you'll process regularly, and what hourly throughput do you need? This sets the model size.

• Feed method. Will you feed by tractor-mounted crane, excavator, or a crane built onto the chipper itself? This determines configuration.

• Drive. PTO-driven from a tractor, or an independent engine? PTO offers flexibility if you have the tractor; engine-driven offers independence.

• Chip specification. What chip size does your boiler or buyer require? Sieve and feed settings are matched to this.

• Support. Who's backing the machine locally with

  With Heizohack via ALFA, that's nationwide NZ support.

Getting these right is the difference between a machine that fits your operation and one that fights it. It's a six-figure decision, and it's worth talking through properly rather than guessing from a spec sheet.

Talk to ALFA about the right Heizohack for your operation

If large-scale, continuous, fuel-efficient chipping is what your operation needs, a Heizohack drum chipper is built for exactly that — and ALFA Equipment is the team to help you specify, supply and support it across New Zealand.

Enquire today, book a demo to see a Heizohack working on your own ground, or talk it through with our team. We'd rather help you get the right machine than sell you the nearest one.