For more than 30 years, Arbor Age magazine has been covering new and innovative products, services, technology and research vital to tree care companies, municipal arborists and utility right-of-way maintenance companies
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/605325
12 WINTER 2015 ARBOR AGE www.arborage.com SPECIAL FEATURE We also asked our Equipment Trends respondents what is new or different with their company and what new offerings they have for the professional tree care market. Their responses are as follows: All Access Equipment introduced a new high-productivity mini lift specifically designed for faster and safer tree work operations. This lift features the most advanced and fastest-operating lift technology for arborists, with 83-foot work height, 46-foot lateral outreach, and is capable of entering a 36-inch gate. New "truck mounting ability" replaces the bucket truck, and a mini lift with one versatile lift. Operate as a rear-mount bucket truck on a 17,000 to 19,000 under CDL truck, or self-load/unload in less than three minutes and drive through a backyard 36-inch gate. Additional features include the following: • New "turbo hydraulics" technology, allows operator to simultaneously operate three functions at once, at full speed, for faster-than-bucket- truck boom operation. • New easier-to-use controls speed up lift operation, allowing multiple tasks at once for faster boom operation. • New boom articulation allows upper boom to articulate not only to the ground with lower boom in vertical position, but also reach 20 feet below ground. • New track adjustment system allows each track assembly to independently articulate and telescope for faster travel on slopes. • New, more powerful, engine for faster boom operation. • New automatic self-open and self-park feature speeds up lift operation. — LENNY POLONSKI, MANAGER AT ALL ACCESS EQUIPMENT We've been selling AirSpades to arborists for more than 20 years, and the feedback we've gotten is that sometimes they are too large for certain close-in work. To address this unmet need, we developed and launched the HT144, or Shrub Gun, which is a more compact version of our AirSpade. It weighs less than five pounds with a two-foot barrel, and operates on a smaller air compressor. The Shrub Gun features a smaller nozzle, which makes for less soil dispersal on the job while still being extremely powerful and effective. — RICK SWEET, AIRSPADE PRODUCT SPECIALIST AT GUARDAIR CORPORATION Loftness most recently introduced a new version of the Kwik-Trim, a compact mechanical tree trimmer for right-of-way maintenance work. It features an upgraded chassis and powertrain with more horsepower, increased stability and easier maintenance than the previous model. In 2016, Loftness will be introducing two new mulching head products with features such as higher displacement motors and new cutting tool options. — BILL SCHAFER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR FOR LOFTNESS Rayco is introducing the RG45 Trac Jr stump cutter to its line of stump cutters. This new model is a 44-hp., compact stump cutter with expandable rubber tracks that can fit through a 36-inch gate. The machine is equipped with a hydraulic backfill blade and radio remote controls. — ERIKA HARWOOD, MARKETING, RAYCO MFG. We have introduced three new products to the market: Big Launcher, Big Shot with Berger Pole, and X-Rigging Rings. — MITCH CARB, MARKETING MANAGER, SHERRILLTREE The Stihl MS 193 T is the newest addition to the extensive line of Stihl chain saws designed for arborists and tree care professionals. Its fuel efficiency and improved technology make it an ideal choice for the demanding professional who wants a premium, top-handle chain saw for in-tree cutting. This chain saw is built for professional tree care experts who are looking for great value along with performance features. It packs 1.3 kW of power, and is 20 percent more fuel efficient as compared to the previous model, which reduces downtime and fuel costs. It also produces 65 percent fewer exhaust emissions as compared to the previous model, significantly lowering its environmental impact. Advanced engine technology in the MS 193 T delivers peak performance in a variety of conditions. The IntelliCarb Compensating Carburetor automatically adjusts the air/fuel ratio to maintain the engine's RPM when the air filter becomes restricted. — KENT HALL, PRODUCT MANAGER AT STIHL Terex now offers the TL50P and TL55P backyard aerial devices for the professional arborist market. These models feature over 52 feet of working height (the TL55P achieves 58 feet) and the longest side reach in the industry at 38 feet, exceptional stability, and the ability to fit through a standard 36-inch gate. Both units are mounted on a rubber-tracked SDP carrier, and, because they are lighter weight than other backyard aerial devices, boast a low 5.2 psi of ground pressure, designed specifically to meet an unmet need for stability with an extra-long reach in backyard tree trimming and backyard power line maintenance. These compact units are only 11 feet 2 inches wide when the outriggers are down, which means they offer a smaller footprint, enabling them to set up in much more confined spaces. The TL50P and the TL55P are insulated, which enables arborists to work near live power lines with these units. And both models are equipped with Tier 4 Final diesel engines for powerful, emission-compliant operation and state- of-the-art electronics for easy setup and maneuvering. These Terex backyard aerial devices can run for 50 hours on one tank of fuel and come with a variety of options, including a sound-deadening system to enable them to work quietly in residential neighborhoods, and a display screen that alerts the operator of the unit's angle when it is driving on a slope. — DENNIS POULAKOS, TEREX SERVICES NORTH AMERICA This market needs high-horsepower stump cutters to remove mature stumps and complete high-volume stump removal jobs, and Vermeer recently introduced two new higher-horsepower stump cutters — the SC552 and SC852 — to meet this need. Arborists can complete stump removal projects faster with the SC552 and SC852 than with smaller machines, enabling them to bill more jobs per week. Earlier in 2015, Vermeer introduced the SC40TX stump cutter — the first stump cutter on the market with a stand-on platform to drive the machine. A counter-rotating track undercarriage enhances maneuverability by making it easier to reposition the machine when cutting a stump and operators will be able to maneuver the machine from stump to stump faster. Vermeer now can offer a versatile line of stump cutters ranging from 25 to 74 horsepower, allowing arborists to select a model based on their individual price points, productivity needs and business models. — TODD ROORDA, TREE CARE AND RENTAL SALES MANAGER, VERMEER CORPORATION EQUIPMENT TRENDS 2015: NEW EQUIPMENT