Papac Alaska Logging customized a Hitachi ZX470LC-6 excavator to tackle the Tongass National Forest
By Caroline Schweitzer
Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, is home to over 16.7 million acres of Tongass National Forest.
Within the millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness, works a customized, one-of-a-kind ZX470LC-6 Hitachi machine.
The machine isn’t your average log loader. It’s actually a large construction excavator that Mike Papac, owner of Papac Alaska Logging, modified to work as a log loader.
The wood that Papac and his crew work in is very large, old growth trees that require his team to hand-buck. With wood this size, standard feller bunchers can’t handle the weight and size.
Papac’s need for strength led to creative thinking.
He wanted his next equipment purchase to take his fleet’s durability to a new level. That’s when he had the idea to customize the ZX470LC-6.
“The custom Hitachi 470 is something that I came up with, I guess,” Papac smiled. “It’s a one-of-a-kind machine. I added the 50-foot boom on it, and so far, the performance of the Hitachi has been outstanding. It’s doing extremely well. I’m just tickled to death with it.”
Operator approved
Don Schmidt, the operator and Papac’s brother-in-law, echoed the enthusiasm for the new ZX470LC-6.
“It’s a great machine,” Schmidt said. “It’s comfortable, but also has a ton of power. It’s very smooth for how far it can reach.”
It’s not the company’s first Hitachi machine. Papac currently has 12 Hitachis varying in size.
However, the strength of the ZX470LC-6 has been a game changer. And Papac and his crew aren’t the only ones who admire the ZX470LC-6.
“We had another salesman come up here to try to sell me a different machine,” Papac said.
“I told him to get in the 470 then tell me what he thought about it. He got in the machine and I almost had to drag him out. He said it’s the most amazing machine he’d ever been in.”
Papac worked with his dealer, Construction Machinery Industrial (CMI), as well as a third-party vendor to customize the machine. Papac has been thrilled with the results.
“I like to brag about the 470 a little,” Papac said. “It turned out even better than we expected.”
Remote operation
Along with all the beauty and unique wood types on the island comes challenges.
“We’re very remote up here,” Papac said. “And it rains a lot. This rainforest gets 170 to 220 inches of rain per year.”
The lack of daylight in the winter is another challenge.
“In the winter, we’re lucky to get seven or eight hours of daylight,” he said. “It makes it a little harder to work.”
Aside from harsh weather, it takes extra attention to logistics and upkeep to ensure machines are running smoothly.
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“One of the disadvantages of being remote is that you can’t just run to the store and get a part if you need it,” Papac said.
“Everything here comes by plane or boat. That means you have to have the part on-hand or otherwise it could take up to a week or more to get the part. Downtime’s a killer in any business, and if you don’t have your parts, you’re screwed.”
When a breakdown can be so catastrophic, it’s even more important that machines perform. Luckily for Papac, he’s seen great performance from his Hitachi fleet.
“The first Hitachi I ever had worked great, so I just stick with them. They’re reliable machines,” Papac said.
Ax Men stardom
Papac’s is well-known beyond the banks of the Alaskan island he calls home. You might be familiar with the History Channel Ax Men star yourself. But what led him to the success he has today is a lifetime of logging, and a love for the land and the industry.
“I just love logging,” Papac said. “I guess to a degree, I am a celebrity, but I don’t like to use that word. I love being out here in the elements, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it.”
Papac admits that it probably takes a special type of person to enjoy the Alaskan island’s remote environment. And with a small population of 6,000 on the island, attracting and hiring the right employees can be a major challenge for Papac.
“A lot of people want to come up for the mystery of Alaska,” Papac said. “But when they get here, maybe it might not be what they quite anticipated. It takes a special person to enjoy the lifestyle.”
The Papac philosophy
With the challenge of location working against him from an employee recruitment standpoint, he’s worked to make his company attractive from a cultural perspective.
“My philosophy is to treat my guys the way I’d want to be treated,” Papac said. “And family is very important to me. I get that it can be hard working on a remote island if your family’s not here with you.”
As far as Papac’s plans for the future, he’s driven to keep going as long as he can.
“What drives me is pride. I want to do the best job possible while I’m here,” he smiled.
“I’m getting older, but I don’t figure I’ll be quitting any time soon.”