A round-up of recent introductions in the hedge and fence equipment market reveals developments ranging from bigger trimmer heads for tackling older growth, to post drivers designed for full-scale operation on smaller tractors. Martin Rickatson takes a look ...

Spearhead’s self-propelled trimmer

Alamo Group’s Spearhead business has appointed a dedicated business development manager to specifically support the self-propelled vehicle (SPV) sector of its hedge trimmer activities, centred around the brand’s Twiga SPV series.

Mark Raymond, who has a background in construction equipment with firms such as Terex, Bobcat, JCB, and Jungheinrich, will be focusing solely on supporting and promoting the six-model range and will be running a demonstration model for booking by contractors etc.

Claimed benefits for the machine, which is built around a patented 90° rotating cabin, include high levels of vision and balance, particularly suiting applications where watercourse banks are to be mown. Fitted as standard with a 1.2m flail head, reach potential ranges from 6-17m, a maximum claimed to be the longest on the market.

A range of attachments include weeding baskets, flail heads and cutterbars, which can meet different tasks and applications, including environmental, municipal, military and airport work, as well as agricultural tasks.

New head for thick growth

Shelbourne Reynolds has launched a new HC1600 flail head for its HD700 and HD800 hedge trimmers which it claims is designed to meet the need for a single- rather than more complex twin-rotor unit to produce a neat one-pass finish on three-year growth.

Fitted via a quick-guide hitch system, it can be specified on new machines in lieu of the standard 1.2m head, or retro-fitted to existing ones, and is said to also produce a finish which will last longer and create a better mulch of cut material.

The 1.6m cutting width, centrally-mounted HC1600 head incorporates a new 150mm-diameter (25 per cent larger than standard) double-ended rotor tube, driven by a larger diameter motor pulley shaft with end greaser. This produces a faster tip speed for the thirty T or competition drop-forged flails, which work in conjunction with a shear bar.

The rotor is protected by a 3.0mm-thick steel hood with extra internal gussets and double-skinned nose which, optionally, can be hydraulically opened/closed, with rams incorporated into side panels.

A hydraulic front nose option is expected to appeal particularly to those dealing with various types and ages of growth, enabling the front of the head to be opened for more mature hedges and closed when working on lighter growth.

The hydraulic roller option has improved linkage geometry and is capable of accommodating 5/6-inch rollers. Skid options include a standard unit with a greater element of exposed flail, and a verge skid.

Alamo acquires Herder and Votex

The US-based Alamo Group, owner of Bomford Turner, McConnel and Spearhead, announced on March 5 that it had completed its previously-announced planned acquisition of Dutch Power Company, the Netherlands-based firm whose brands include the Herder and Votex vegetation machinery businesses.

Both of these are involved in the manufacturing and distribution of hedge trimmers/verge mowers, fitting in well with the Alamo Group’s focus on manufacturing equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agricultural maintenance and vegetation management and other applications.

Its products include mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment for mounting on tractors and trucks, plus other agricultural implements and machinery such as street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks and other industrial equipment.

The company, founded in 1969, has approximately 3500 employees and operates 26 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil.

New trailed and self-propelled

post-knockers

Beyond conventional tractor-mounted post knockers, farmers and contractors are increasingly looking to alternative options to meet their particular needs and circumstances, according to Kelso-based specialist in the sector, Bryce Suma.

The firm has many option options ranging from trailed models that allow operation by smaller tractors to self-propelled machines designed for one-person operation in difficult conditions.

With unpredictable weather and hard-to-find labour increasingly influencing fencing work for farmers and fencing contractors, Bryce Suma said its self-propelled Fence Master tracked fencing machine can offer users significant time and labour savings, particularly in soft stubbles, productive grassland or peat bogs, where damage and flotation can be an issue for wheeled tractors.

The latest version of the machine includes a shortened chassis for increased stability, but behind the cab a full demountable load platform with overhead racks is retained.

The post knocker is attached to an integral three-point linkage and is fitted with electronic dual controls in the cab and at the rear so it can be operated by one person, while a high-output hydraulic pump is said to help minimise fuel use and engine wearShort of good reliable labour, or poor ground conditions holding you back? The Fencemaster could help solve your problem.

Meanwhile, the firm also now has in its range a heavy-duty model built on a trailed chassis, allowing smaller tractors to comfortably handle the machine. The only requirement is that they can provide at least 25-30 litres/min of oil flow, sufficient to operate the 400kg hammer at suitable speed.

The TR400 model’s design incorporates storage for up to 20 strainers, 100 fencing stakes or eight to 10 rolls of 100m net, plus reels of wire, and there is a secure container for a chainsaw and tools.

Two stabilising hydraulic jacks extend from the frame by the offside wheel and from the bottom of the mast as part of a package of hydraulic features that also provide mast side-shift and two-way vertical alignment. Back-shift and side-shift enable precise mast positioning.

In addition, the drawbar design allows the chassis to be ‘jack-knifed’ at up to 90° to the tractor to access tight corners. The chassis is equipped with wide-set wheels and flotation tyres aid stability and travel.

A two-stage telescopic mast provides 3.6m of hammer drop to strike the steel cap that holds and protects the post. Any length of hammer stroke can be chosen without having to adjust the mast itself. The two-stage design also reduces machine height, while during transport the mast is angled to further reduce overall height and bring machine weight inwards.

Other patented features include a greasing arrangement that allows both mast sides to be lubricated without the operator having to climb on to the machine’s frame.