For more than a decade, the Peterson 2710D has proven itself in the demanding forestry, land clearing and green waste recycling applications. With more than 30 units working across the country, it has become the most popular Peterson grinders in the Australian market.
Now, Astec Industries has unveiled its successor, the Peterson 3710E horizontal grinder signalling the next evolution in high-performance mobile grinding. Introduced earlier this year at CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the 3710E builds on everything that made the 2710D successful while introducing gains in productivity and serviceability.
Komatsu Forest has long been a supplier of Peterson horizontal grinders, providing solutions tailored to the country’s forestry and recycling industries. Since the Peterson brand was founded in 1981, it has built a global reputation for engineering robust grinding equipment, becoming part of Astec Industries in 2007.
These grinders span outputs from 339kW to 894kW in both diesel and electric configurations, and have consistently delivered high production with low operating costs. Designed for contractors requiring exceptional mobility, high production rates and frequent relocation between job sites, the Australian specification 2710D featured a powerful 570kW Caterpillar Tier II C18 engine and a generous 153cm x 81cm feed opening. Combined with Peterson’s High Lift Feed Roll, the machine handled an impressive variety of material while maintaining excellent throughput.
Evolution rather than revolution
The 3710E unit has been engineered to retain the grinding technology operators value while enhancing performance and ease of operation. Powered by a 755-horsepower Caterpillar C18 engine, the 3710E delivers high processing capacity and a larger screening area than its predecessor, all within a compact footprint designed for easy transport.
One of the machine’s advantages is its mobility. Unlike many high-capacity grinders, the 3710E can be transported between job sites without requiring special permits, making it particularly attractive for Australian contractors servicing multiple locations.
At the heart of the 3710E remains Peterson’s three-stage upturn grinding system, a feature that has been instrumental in the success of the 2710D. Rather than simply smashing material apart, the upturn rotor design promotes shearing and cleavage fractures, producing lighter mulch with fewer fines while requiring less energy. The result is a more consistent, higher quality end product and improved fuel efficiency.
Equally important is Peterson’s protection system. The patented Impact Release System uses air bags to absorb shock loads created by contaminated feedstock while maintaining uniform grinding pressure. This unique technology protects critical components from damage and reduces costly downtime.
Backing this system is the Impact Cushion System, incorporating urethane cushions and shear pins that provide a second layer of defence against severe impacts from tramp metal or other contaminants. Together, these technologies continue to be key reasons why Peterson grinders deliver long-term reliability in Australia’s demanding operating conditions.
Easier maintenance means more uptime
While productivity has increased, a major improvement in the 3710E is serviceability. Astec engineers have redesigned the grinder with operator convenience as a priority, incorporating:
- A larger grate access door for improved internal access.
- Peterson’s streamlined one-tool grate change system.
- A dedicated maintenance platform for safer servicing.
- Faster tooling replacement to minimise maintenance time.
These practical improvements reduce downtime while making routine servicing safer and considerably more efficient.
Lower operating costs
Like the 2710D before it, the 3710E has been designed with total cost of ownership in mind. Greater screening capacity, improved throughput, faster maintenance and Peterson’s proven grinding system combine to deliver:
- Higher production rates.
- Lower fuel consumption per tonne.
- Reduced maintenance downtime.
- Increased mulch yields.
- More consistent finished product quality.
- Improved overall profitability.
For contractors working in Australia’s forestry and recycling sectors, these gains translate directly into stronger financial returns.
The next chapter
With the arrival of the Peterson 3710E, Astec has not reinvented a winning formula, it has refined it. By combining proven Peterson grinding technology with increased processing power and enhanced serviceability, the 3710E represents a logical next step for operators looking to maximise productivity while keeping operating costs under control.
For Australian contractors familiar with the capabilities of the 2710D, the 3710E offers a compelling proposition: everything that made the previous model successful, now taken to an even higher level.