Cut 360 Solutions talks to AA about their game-changing experience with Sennebogen equipment and Vosch range of attachments.
When you think about arborist or tree care tasks you might imagine a crew comprised of climbers, workers on the ground with chainsaws and possibly a skid steer or small excavator helping to feed a chipper or load a waiting truck.
Andrew Buchanan, of Cut 360 Solutions, based in Victoria, had been working hard to come up with an equipment solution to streamline both the man and machine requirements on a tree care job site, whilst also increasing safety.
“We have been working towards a business model that offered a tree maintenance service for the last five years. With the Sennebogen 718E – from the Australian dealer for Sennebogen, Pacific Materials Handling, and the Vosch range of attachments selected with the help of Reymund Kell at Forest Centre, it really is a ‘Revolution in Tree Care’ for Cut 360 Solutions “We identified a real gap in the industry when it came to maintenance of our wind breaks etc. on our beef properties in South Gippsland. With a little more research we found that there was a significant gap for the Sennebogen 718 and its array of attachments on domestic and commercial applications as an economical option to 5-6 man crews.
“We will pair the Sennebogen with a Vermeer BC2100 (on order) in the short term, while we engineer a truck chipper. For urban settings and roadside this machine is unbeatable. The Hedger has a reach of 18m, grapple cutting capacity of 900mm and elevating cab provides unrivalled capability. Being a wheeled machine, work on sealed roads is no sweat. Tracked crawler versions are also available. We are finding now a lot of customers are complementary of our no-fuss ability to cut, support and lower overhanging limbs around buildings. This offers customers a cost competitive option to alternatives including hand lowering small sections with ropes. Customer feedback to date suggests they are wrapped in our turnaround times and this is largely due to mechanising the process and reducing the labour required,” Andrew added.
“The recent storms in Victoria have led to a full calendar of work for us. The Sennebogen and Vosch felling head combination is unmatched when it comes to clearing storm damage. The stump grinder, mulcher and hedger simply complement the package range of services,” Andrew concluded.
“Andrew’s new machine is the very first of its kind here in Australia,” explains Byron Judd, National Business Manager for Pacific Materials Handling, referring to the unique 21 ton tubber-tyred Sennebogen 718E.
Whilst there are over 300 Sennebogen material handlers in Australia, the 718 is custom-engineered for fast, safe and effective tree care; with a compact design perfect for working in urban areas – around walls, utility lines, or other man-made structures,” adds Byron. “Its hydraulic package caters for the demands of specialised attachments including a grapple saw, mulcher and stump grinder, all of which can be swapped on the job site.”
Described as “a game changer” for tree care in other markets, the 718E is equipped with a telescopic, articulating boom and a grapple saw, capable of a 13 metre horizontal and 13.7 metre vertical reach. The operator’s cab can be elevated by 2.7 metres and tilted by 30°, providing an optimal view of the work area.
The Vosch grapple features 360 degree continuous rotation and a 3/4” pitch hydraulic chainsaw system which can grab, cut, rotate and stack tree sections and branches in a single smooth operation. Extensive attachment support is available from Australian Vosch dealer, Forest Centre.
Asked about his overall experience, Andrew offered: “Sennebogen and Vosch together were absolutely obliging and were able to cater for our needs. We had a number of modifications made to our machine right through from lighting, guarding and window tint to upgraded controls and hydraulic pumps. Ours even had a dozer blade fitted and nothing was too much trouble, despite other manufacturers shutting down in Europe through the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
On the strength of demand and experience to date Cut 360 Solutions have placed an order for the second machine due early 2022.
For more info visit forestcentre.com.au and pacificmh.com.au