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
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www.arborage.com ARBOR AGE WINTER 2015 9 SPECIAL FEATURE Innovation is key. Customers are always asking for products that are quicker, faster and safer. We've also seen an increase in questions regarding battery-powered equipment. MITCH CARB, MARKETING MANAGER, SHERRILLTREE Vermeer continues to focus on cost of ownership, and is working to minimize costs of a machine over its lifecycle. We feel this will have a great impact in the industry, especially as arborists deal with narrowing margins. We also continue to see a demand from arborists for more engine options — diesel, gas and propane. Each option provides advantages — diesel- powered units offer higher torque and power; gas-powered units provide a lower up-front acquisition cost, which can help with the overall cost of ownership; and arborists in certain markets may be looking at propane-powered units to help meet and address emission regulations. TODD ROORDA, TREE CARE AND RENTAL SALES MANAGER, VERMEER CORPORATION A trend we noticed in the last few years continues to be important to our professional arborist customers — lighter, more cost-effective units. Today's industry regulations have enabled tree-care professionals to work even higher than before, and larger aerial devices need to stay as light as possible to stay on cost-effective chassis. Also, we continue to see a trend with our customers managing their equipment investments very carefully. That is, when our customers do need to purchase equipment, they are choosing machines that are the right fit for their particular business needs. For example, we are seeing less "buying off the rack" and more focused purchasing decisions. Every arborist has specific ideas about the design of a fleet truck, including aerial devices, and how it will best suit their jobsite needs. These ideas start with the specs of a base unit, which includes working height and side reach for aerial devices, and then they are tailored to fit the work practices and requirements of each individual arborist's fleet. With higher price tags and longer lead times on custom equipment, customers are looking for manufacturers to develop a more standard equipment offering that is more cost efficient and time effective to produce. By standardizing truck options and accessory offerings, as well as the installation process, equipment suppliers can improve manufacturing productivity and utilize materials and technologies that are already engineered and designed in order to better support the product after the sale with an inventory of stock parts. And proven installation methods can reduce downtime. For arborist customers, these benefits translate into lower sourcing costs, less production time and reduced issues. DENNIS POULAKOS, TEREX SERVICES NORTH AMERICA Arbor Age: What trends are you seeing with regard to design, manufacture and sales of equipment and supplies for the arborist market? The tree industry is decades behind in aerial lift technology, still using antiquated methods to reach trees. Most tree companies do not even realize that this inefficiency is costing them a lot of money, making them far less profitable. LENNY POLONSKI, MANAGER AT ALL ACCESS EQUIPMENT I see professional arborists now going to specialty companies for their tools. They are buying everything from gloves to heavy machinery from companies that specialize in the needs of arborists and landscapers rather than big box retailers. Similarly, the tools themselves are being designed with more specific work in mind. RICK SWEET, AIRSPADE PRODUCT SPECIALIST AT GUARDAIR CORPORATION The use of compact equipment continues to gain momentum in the industry. Many arborists are starting to understand how compact machines can boost efficiency by accessing areas where large-scale equipment can't. It also provides major safety and productivity advantages over hand climbing. BILL SCHAFER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SUPERVISOR FOR LOFTNESS It seems to be that buyers are trending more toward the features that add more productivity to their machines than before. For instance, buyers are looking to get not only the most horsepower in their stump cutters, but also want features such as 4-wheel drive and hydraulic backfill blades. Those items may have been optional "convenience" features before, now customers consider them a must have. On the chipper side, the gasoline engines in 12- and 15-inch chippers are starting to catch on. Buyers are avoiding the high prices of the Tier 4 diesel engines, and are realizing that gasoline is a now viable option. ERIKA HARWOOD, MARKETING, RAYCO MFG.