Steve Bullman

The two teams that make up South Wales Tree Services need fight no more over their turntable QuadChip 160P from GreenMech, as now, they have two! So impressed with the 360o versatility and chipping performance of their first machine purchased eight years ago, Owner Alex Terry took delivery of a second unit in September 2022 improving not just efficiency but the safety of his crews when working in domestic areas. Alex has run a fleet of GreenMech woodchippers since he established South Wales Tree Services in 2014, with the two QuadChip machines sitting proudly alongside a Safe-Trak 19-28 which tackles some of the larger, commercial projects. “We’ve got the versatility on our fleet to undertake jobs of all sizes, with the SAFE-Trak ideal for site clearances where we can chip on location - taking the machine to the material, and not the material to the machine” he explains. Smaller hedge and tree works or domestic situations where access is more restricted is where the turntable feature of the QuadChip units comes into its own. “This is the main benefit for us. It means that when we arrive outside a property, we only have to turn the chipper in the desired direction – not perform any awkward manoeuvres that compromise both time and potentially the safety of my team operating in or near the road.” GreenMech’s QuadChip 160P features powerful twin vertical feed rollers which offer exceptional pull and crushing capacity for timber and brash of up to 6”, with consistent processing quality provided by their patented Disc-Blade chipping technology. “We loved our first QuadChip which is the reason that, with demand for it on the rise, we purchased a second unit and this one is even better! The chipping performance is efficient, running off four blades now compared to two on the older model.” “The service from GreenMech is another thing that has always impressed us. We try and test other brands but forever settle on the GreenMech because in our opinion the build quality is better, the price is competitive and the after sales support from their technical team has always been first class.” Alex adds, “GreenMech were also able to accommodate supplying our latest machine in our corporate colours so while we now have the two QuadChip units, there’s still a fight between the two teams as everyone loves the smart new orange machine!”

As one of the largest associations of its kind, Orwell Housing provides housing for more than 7,500 residents by managing over 4000 properties across East Anglia. Powering the maintenance services, as well as helping to lower the associations carbon footprint, is 2 and 4-stroke petrol from Aspen Fuel – a switch made by Repairs and Estates Manager Simon Bennett three years ago, and one that’s delivering improvements on a daily basis to the workforce, the residents and the machinery alike. Simon manages all elements of the direct labour operations (DLO) from co-ordinating the 75-strong workforce to sourcing and purchasing equipment across the repairs and estates division. “We renew our machinery every three years” explains Simon, who has been with Orwell Housing for ten years. “To help us with our objective or carbon neutrality, some of what we now invest in is battery powered but, with the diversity of items like mowers and woodchippers that we have on our fleet, for these we’re looking at better and cleaner ways of fuelling them and that’s where Aspen comes in.” “I was familiar with Aspen Fuel but always just assumed it would be much more expensive for us than pump fuel. It wasn’t until I sat down and did a cost analysis, factoring in the downtime of the team going backwards and forwards to the forecourt, that I could demonstrate Aspen was a viable choice.” Being ethanol-free and virtually free from sulphur, benzene and other hazardous hydrocarbons, Aspen alkylate petrol burns cleaner than regular petrol making it safer and greener for operators, machinery and the environment. “The operators like using it – they notice the reduction in noxious fumes and don’t go home smelling of petrol come the end of the day. This is also a major plus for those tasks where we’re in close proximity to the residents.” He continues, “Three years in, we’re also seeing a big reduction in the number of machinery breakdowns we’re experiencing with is a further cost saving.” Overall, Simon feels the whole Aspen experience has been really positive for the group. “We order Aspen in bulk, with the cans being collected by the team as and when they need them. This way, we can easily monitor usage and, with the plastic containers being fully recyclable, we are also reducing our output to landfill. I’ve recently done another cost analysis, which has shown that purchasing Aspen has actually decreased our annual fuel bill by approximately 10-15%.”