Steve Bullman

A stop by the GreenMech stand at SALTEX will provide the first opportunity to see the many developments within their revolutionary EVO Series, since the woodchipper range was first showcased at the 2019 event. Two of the most recent introductions, the EVO 165P Sub-750 and brand new 8” EVO 205D will take pride of place on stand H055 this November. Introduced in direct response to industry demand for a machine with more powerful bite, torque and throughput, the proven performance delivered by the EVO 165 has seen it cement its position in the 6” chipper market. Now, the key features of the series including wide infeed chute, twin horizontal rollers, all steel bonnet and heavy-duty flywheel have been combined with the powerful, yet economic 37hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard petrol engine with the launch of the EVO 165P Sub-750. To meet the requirements of even more of today’s arborists and landscapers, the 165P Sub-750 has also been developed to fit within the 750kg weight bracket with a redesigned chassis providing strength and durability, and alterations to its construction and specification without detriment to overall performance. Extending the EVO concept into the 8” market, the ‘big brother’ in the shape of the EVO 205D will also be making its show debut at this year’s SALTEX. At the heart of the 205D is a Stage V compliant 50hp Kubota diesel engine, powering a heavy-duty flywheel which promises to tackle the biggest tasks fast, with both reliability and ease. As standard, machines across the EVO collection come with GreenMech’s Disc-Blade chipping technology, a three year, no-quibble parts and labour warranty and the unrivalled support of their nationwide dealer network. GreenMech staff will also be on hand to discuss the flexible finance options available across the entire road-tow, tracked, tractor-powered and pedestrian ranges.

Aspen are returning to SALTEX this November to discuss their range of ethanol-free Alkylate fuels, offering a cleaner alternative for both 2 and 4-stroke engines. Following the recent switch to E10 grade at the UK petrol pumps, operators of garden and grounds machinery can find out more about the increased risks of reliability issues, attributable to the increased ethanol content, with a stop by stand M055. To help in the government’s target of reducing carbon emissions, the ethanol content of regular grade unleaded petrol (95 octane) has been increased from 5% to 10% as from September 2021. For modern car engines, designed to handle E10 fuel, few problems are expected. However, ethanol being a solvent that is damaging to plastic and rubber, E10 threatens to shorten the life of certain system components in some older engines and contribute towards the poor running of small power equipment. In addition, ethanol also reduces the storage life of petrol, with many leading manufacturers recommending that fuels containing ethanol be consumed within a 30-day period in order to minimise the problems associated with degradation. Being free from ethanol as well as benzene, sulphur and many other harmful substances, Aspen Alkylate petrol improves not only the reliability and performance of your equipment, but the working conditions for the operator. The fuel also significantly reduces the harmful impact your machinery makes on the environment. The Aspen team will be on hand across the two days to answer any questions and discuss the range of package and delivery options available - giving commercial customers the flexibility to specify their fuel by the container, pallet or drum to best suit their usage, transportation and storage requirements.

With all restrictions now lifted in the UK we are delighted to launch APF 2022 to be held on the 22-24th September 2022 at Ragley Estate, Warwickshire. Having had to cancel both the 2020 and 2021 events it is now full steam ahead for APF 2022. 170 exhibitors are already booked in and we are looking forward to welcoming many new ones. There is general feeling of great optimism in the country and a very high demand for timber. Many companies have been denied the opportunity to shop for new equipment during the last 2 years and APF 2022 is set to be a fantastic showcase for exhibitors. Many new features are planned with special focus on the arb and fencing industries. With over 50% of stands already sold demand is expected to be very high for the remaining sites. Exhibition Secretary, Ian Millward commented “With over half our sites already sold over a year ahead of the event we expect the remaining sites to go very quickly. Consumer demand for new machines and equipment will be very high and we urge companies not yet booked to do so as soon as possible to avoid missing out. We expect APF 2022 to be the largest event in both exhibitor and visitor numbers we have ever staged as this is the first event in four years” The first exhibitor site meeting will be on Thursday 14th October at 10am at Kings Court Hotel, Alcester B49 5QQ. Exhibitors will receive a short safety briefing and then can go onto site to choose a stand suitable for their needs. Exhibitors are asked to book in with the APF office to confirm their attendance. Visitor tickets and camping can all be booked on the APF website If you have any queries about any of the above please contact us on 01428 723545 or email us at [email protected].

Elgan Pugh continued his dominant STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® winning streak by being crowned the best logger sports athlete in the country for the sixth consecutive time at the 2021 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship. Live streamed from the Telford International Centre, extreme sports fans got to see up close the top 11 TIMBERSPORTS® athletes from all over Great Britain compete in a head-to-head race against time across six disciplines. Using an axe, crosscut saw and chainsaw, competitors are awarded maximum points for the fastest time in each discipline; Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Standing Block Chop, Springboard and Hot Saw. The fast-paced action saw the athletes set 29 personal best times to the delight of the large online audience. Elgan claimed top spot with a consistent performance across all disciplines, with Glen Penlington taking the second spot on the podium for the first time. An ecstatic Tom Redmond took third place in his first professional TIMBERSPORTS® event. In a change of format for this year, live stream viewers also had the added bonus of watching the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Rookie Championship, which saw the top eight rookie lumberjacks battle it out for the crown. With 24 personal best times and one national record set, the competition was a great spectacle, with Jordan Muscato being crowned the overall winner. Simon Hewitt, Head of Marketing at STIHL GB, said: “After a one-year hiatus, it was great to have STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® action back and all the athletes, both professional and rookie, put on a great show, showcasing their talent and highlighting why they are competing at the highest level. “We’re delighted for Elgan and Jordan on their fantastic achievement. Elgan’s focus now turns to the World Trophy European Qualifier in Switzerland on Sunday 12th September where he and Glen Penlington will be aiming to qualify for the 2022 World Trophy.” Elgan said of his victory: “It was great to be back in action this year and to be crowned the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Champion for a sixth time is a feeling I don’t take for granted. I have trained hard to make sure I was competition ready and it’s great that it has paid off.” To find out more about the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series please visit https://blog.stihl.co.uk/timbersports/ STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® British Championship - the six disciplines: Springboard – athletes slot two springboards into a vertical tree trunk then chop through a block of wood at the top of the tree, nearly 3m above the ground Stock Saw – athletes race to cut two timber “cookies” with a chainsaw from a horizontally set log Standing Block Chop – simulating the felling of a tree, athletes race to chop through a 30cm wood block as quickly as possible from the side Single Buck – athletes race to cut through a 46cm diameter log using a two-metre long single man crosscut saw Underhand Chop – athletes stand on a horizontal log and cleave it in two with an axe, chopping from both sides Hot Saw – athletes race to cut three cookies from a horizontal trunk using an extremely powerful custom-built chainsaw weighing nearly 30kg and with a chain speed of around 250 km/h