Executive Hire News › Archives › August 2009 › Market Report : Arborists' array
Market Report : Arborists' array
EHN reports on the recent Arborists' Trade Fair which highlighted the latest products for tree care professionals.
The impact the current economic climate is having on tree care professionals and some of the suppliers who serve them was evident at the 11th Arborists’ Fair held recently in Cirencester, with approximately 80 exhibitors compared against nearly 100 last year. However, new products and technological advances were on show, designed to help end users work more efficiently and cost-effectively in challenging times.
As in previous years, the exhibition was sponsored by Stihl, and professional users were able to see for the first time the manufacturer’s new cordless hedge trimmers. They are quieter than petrol powered machines and avoid the mobility restrictions associated with corded electric models.
The HAS 65 has a 50cm cutter bar with diamond-ground teeth, and the HAS 85 has a 62cm cutter with teeth ground on both sides for even smoother cutting. Power comes from specially developed 36V Lithium-ion batteries giving running times of up to 45 minutes and cutting rates of up to 3,000 strokes/minute. The tools can deal with branches of up to 22mm diameter and Stihl quotes an HAV rating for them of 2.2m/s2. The batteries are designed to have low self-discharge characteristics with no ‘memory effect’. The standard charger takes 70 minutes to recharge the battery to 80% capacity, and a quick charger reduces this period to 25 minutes.
“Genuine breakthrough”
“These hedge cutters represent a genuine breakthrough for this kind of cordless tool,” Marketing Manager Sean Larter-Conway told EHN. “They are ideal for work in noise sensitive locations like hospitals and schools, and they give powerful, professional performance. Here at the Arb Fair, Stihl has also been promoting its recently launched Picco Duro saw chain, which gives faster cutting of forestry timber and wood encountered on construction sites that might have concrete on it. It also produces less vibration and reduces the risk of kickback.” The chain is designed to give up to four times longer service life compared with conventional versions, and it has specially shaped, carbon-tipped cutters.
Timberwolf chippers dominated the stand of Lister Wilder, the local dealership for the machines. “The market is challenging, but there is still demand for this equipment particularly from contractors and local authorities,” said Area Sales Manager, Stuart Venn-Dunn. “Much of this work is driven by Health & Safety considerations, with trees having to be regularly inspected and maintained in good condition.”
A recently introduced machine is the PTO S426, a version of Timberwolf’s S426 shredder that is driven by the power take-off of a tractor or a similar vehicle. With a throughput of up to 3 tonnes/hour and an infeed area of 426 by 230mm, the unit can handle prunings, hedge trimmings, Christmas trees, pallets, cardboard, contaminated timber and, even, UVPC plastic. The machine can be driven by a tractor of 80-115hp. Road-tow and trailed versions of the S426 are already available.
Towable chipper
Brand new from Vermeer UK is the BC160XL trailer-mounted wood chipper, which can process timber of up to 15cm diameter. “The unbraked version weighs under 750kg, enabling it to be towed by a vehicle of up to 3.5 tonne and making it ideal for hirers,” said Area Sales Manager, Jamie Francis. “The machine is mounted on a turntable so that it can be rotated easily to give the optimum working position away from roads or pavements, and this feature also enables it to be stored in a compact format with virtually no overhang outside the trailer frame. The chute can also be lowered and swivelled.”
Another new wood chipper on display at the Arb Fair was the Schliesing Premier 235 MX. It was shown on the stand of Overland Environmental Services, which was appointed as the German manufacturer’s dealer for England and Wales at the beginning of 2009. Powered by a 35hp Kubota diesel engine, the trailed machine can process material of up to 18cm diameter. Designed for low noise levels, the machine has specially developed infeed rollers for uniform throughput. To facilitate maintenance, the engine and chipper assembly are housed under separate canopies. Overland also designs and supplies bespoke vehicles for tree care professionals under the Arbtruck brand.
Amongst a variety of equipment shown by the Wiltshire-based hirer and dealership Roy Francis (Plant Hire) were Takeuchi TL120 and TL150 tracked loaders, weighing 2700 and 4850kg respectively,with a range of specialist forestry and grounds care attachments such as mulching heads made by FAE of Italy, and flails from the manufacturer Berti, based in the same country. Also displayed was the Kyoeisha hammer-knife mower, a tracked machine designed for work on slopes and soft ground where brush and vegetation have to be cleared.
Takeuchi’s multi-use tool carriers
In attendance on the Roy Francis stand was Takeuchi’s South Regional Manager, Paul Clarke, who reported growing demand from grounds care professionals for tracked loaders. “In the past, these machines were often regarded as being for use simply with a bucket on the front, but people are realising that they are really multi-use tool carriers. They enable operators like foresters, landscapers and contractors to undertake a great variety of tasks and on all kinds of terrain.”
Promoting a ‘green’ theme at the Arb Fair was the Anglo American Oil Company, which is the UK distributor for the Aspen range of environmentally friendly alkylate petroleum fuels available for two and four-stroke engines. Alkylate is produced synthetically from the clean gases released when refining crude oil, and is a very clean petrol naturally free of substances such as benzene, aromatic hydrocarbons, sulphur and olefins. It is therefore very clean burning, and also has a shelf life of three to five years. The Aspen 2 fuel comes pre-mixed with 2% fully synthetic biodegradable two-stroke oil.
Tony Gilhome, Business Development Manager with the Anglo American Oil Company, believes that, as well as the environmental benefits, people should consider the operational advantages. “If hire companies supply Aspen 2 fuel with machines like mowers, trimmers and cut-off saws, and tell customers to use it alone when refuelling, then they know there is no risk of equipment damage caused by the operator using the wrong fuel/oil mix. It protects the hirer’s fleet, and selling the fuel provides an additional revenue opportunity.” •
Supplier Contacts
Anglo Amercian Oil Company - www.aaoil.co.uk
Overland Environmental Services - www.premierwoodchippers.com
Roy Francis (Plant Hire) - www.royfrancisplantsales.co.uk
Stihl - www.stihl.co.uk
Timberwolf - www.timberwolf-uk.com
Vermeer UK - www.vermeeruk.co.uk |
