Steve Bullman

GroundLord, one of the industry leaders in vegetation management have invested in a new fleet of Först Wood Chippers, two ST8D’s and two TR8D's. Having bought their first Först chipper back in 2015, GroundLord have been no strangers to the power and efficiency of a Först. In fact, the TR8 they bought then is still going strong now with an impressive 2694 hours on the clock. Their old fleet also comprised of two ST6P’s which, along with the TR8, were taken in part exchange for their new machines. Will Nelsey, Director at GroundLord commented: “Since the company started we’ve always had Först wood chippers. We need machines that deliver a high performance day in and day out and that’s exactly what a Först wood chipper does. When we decided to renew our fleet it was a no brainer, we were going straight back to Först.” Matthew Smith, Först’s Area Sales Manager for the South West, asked Will what it was that keeps GroundLord coming back for more and here’s what he had to say: “Först chippers are the best wood chippers about, no doubt, but for us the 3 year no quibble warranty is an extremely valuable asset that gives us peace of mind. Given the nature of our work and how hard our wood chippers have to perform, things can and do go wrong but it’s how quickly these things can be put right that matters. Först Assist are brilliant and get you back up and running quickly reducing costly down time. I would have no hesitation in recommending a Först.” Först offer a wide range of wood chippers to suit all applications, from their ST6P, Europe’s leading 6” chipper, to their 37hp turntable and 42hp, go anywhere, XR8D Traxion.

For Nick Hosking it’s Woodworks by name and woodworks by nature as he tackles all manner of tree surgery tasks – with the trusted assistance of two GreenMech woodchippers! The most recent addition to his fleet is an EVO 205D SAFE-Trak, which was purchased on the GreenMech stand at APF in September, and sits alongside the QuadTrak 160 for complete versatility on both domestic and commercial jobs. Nick established the company 20 years ago and works with, and as, a subcontractor for a number of clients in and around Flintshire, North Wales and NW England including large-scale construction contracts for Hanson UK and the Breedon Group. “I’ve used chippers from GreenMech for the last seven years now, starting with a turntable QuadTrak 160 and trailer which caught my eye at APF many years ago and gives me enhanced manoeuvrability and flexibility for tasks on the kerbside” explains Nick. “Impressed with the performance of this machine, I then invested in a SAFE-Trak 19-28 as a bigger, more versatile workhorse.” It was again at APF that Nick sealed the deal on his latest purchase, a 205D SAFE-Trak from GreenMech’s EVO series, purchased through dealers GA Groundcare. “Going from the 19-28 model to the 205D SAFE-Trak was a natural progression – this machine is newer, bigger, more reliable and more powerful.” At its heart is a Stage-V Compliant 50hp Kubota diesel engine, delivering powerful chipping performance for bulky brash and timber of up to 8”. Underneath the robust, steel chassis is GreenMech’s patented SAFE-Trak system which incorporates two independently adjustable track legs providing ground clearance of up to 530mm and allows the safe traversing of slopes up to 35°. “With GreenMech you know you’re going to get machines that do exactly what they say on the tin. Having said that, there’s a few new features on the EVO 205D I really like namely the more powerful throw and the Smart Sense controller which automatically reduces engine revs and then ramps them up again when you start feeding material in. It’s also much quicker and easier to service. Since taking delivery in October 2022 it’s been on jobs of all shapes and sizes, most recently a roadside clearance project for Hanson, and it’s taken everything in its stride.” He continues, “Together with the performance, the thing that keeps me coming back to GreenMech is the people. I know if I come across an issue, there are three or four people I can phone who are all very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to resolve it for you. Back up support and service like that goes a long way in this industry.”