Treescape is a new generation of Green Asset Management specialists with multiple locations in both New Zealand and Australia. The company is a certified, full-service provider in arboriculture, horticulture, landscaping and grounds maintenance, and provides arboricultural consultancy services for development sites including residential, commercial, industrial, health, education and community developments.
Treescape started out in New Zealand with a VW Beetle, a couple of chainsaws and a solid work ethic. Australian operations started in 2006, and the company now employs over 600 staff across Australasia, and has moved on from the air-cooled boxer-four of the Volkswagon. These days Treescape has a huge machinery fleet, and when it comes to chippers and stump cutters, it’s Vermeer all the way.
The point
There’s certainly a great deal about Treescape which could be called ‘inspirational’, and while we were keen to find out more about a large company which stated its cornerstones included looking out and showing respect for others, respect for the natural world, treasuring resources and stewardship and guardianship of others’ green resources, it was the company’s experience with the new Vermeer Cutting System wheel we were interested in.
“We have eight grinders,” offered Allan. “They’re all Vermeer, bar one. Treescape bought out another company when it expanded into Australia in 2006 and continued to use the Vermeer products which were part of the acquisition.”
That sounded like a big investment in Vermeer product, but Allan was only part way through answering the query.
“That’s the stump grinders. I’m guessing we have upwards of 40 Vermeer chippers.”
Contractual
“We mainly look for long-term contracts,” explained Treescape’s General Manager – Commercial, Allan Kliese, when The Australian Arbor Age asked for some background on the company.
“Treescape looks to build relationships with energy suppliers – like Energy Queensland and Powerlink – and councils. We work with Brisbane City Council, Logan City Council, Redlands City Council, Gold Coast City council…then we’ve got a depot and crews up in Gladstone Council as well, and we do a fair amount of civil work.”
We were a little astonished at the scope of Treescape’s operations, but Allan had more to share.
“We have our own recycle yard where we bring all of our waste materials in and process them to minimise the impact of that waste moving into landfill. We try to get as much product as possible back out as usable materials – mulch and soils – and we recycle the concrete back into concrete plants and treat other materials the same way.”
The point
There’s certainly a great deal about Treescape which could be called ‘inspirational’, and while we were keen to find out more about a large company which stated its cornerstones included looking out and showing respect for others, respect for the natural world, treasuring resources and stewardship and guardianship of others’ green resources, it was the company’s experience with the new Vermeer Cutting System – VCS – wheel we were interested in.
“We have eight grinders,” offered Allan, “They’re all Vermeer, bar one. Treescape bought out another company when it expanded into Australia in 2006 and continued to use the Vermeer products which were part of the acquisition.”
That sounded like a big investment in Vermeer product, but Allan was only part way through answering the query.
“That’s the stump grinders. I’m guessing we have upwards of 40 Vermeer chippers.”
A successful trial
As we tried to come to grips with the logistics of tracking and maintaining nearly 50 chippers and grinders, Allan moved on to the Vermeer Cutting System.
“This one is our first machine with the VCS,” he said thoughtfully. “I was hesitant at first because we had seven or eight machines already with a certain type of teeth on them, but Vermeer, through Damian Cooper at the Richlands dealership here in Queensland, promoted this set. So we gave them a go, and we’ve ended up extremely happy. We won’t be changing them off this machine, and potentially, anything further we do, and anything we purchase, we’ll be putting the VCS teeth on.”
Less cost, more work
It was obvious the Vermeer Cutting System had made an impression on someone who saw a lot of chipper and grinder work, and who could base his opinions on a large number of machines working at a serious pro level.
What was the biggest advantage in the VCS fitment?
“Increased productivity,” said Allan without hesitation.
“We’re getting longer life out of the teeth, and that means more productivity. And reduced costs because we don’t have to replace the teeth so often. We don’t have to sharpen the teeth as often, either.
“The new teeth have been quite impressive. We’re getting about 27 hours of them.”
So there it is. If you want more from your grinder, fitting a VCS would be a great place to start.
To see the entire range of Vermeer equipment, log on to vermeeraustralia.com.au.