Trencher Hire keeps project costs down

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Trencher Hire keeps project costs down: When a customer of broadband and telecoms provider 2020 Networks took the decision to transfer their phone system over to VoIP (Voice-Over Internet Protocol) they could never have envisaged the potential costs involved.

For BT Openreach quoted an ‘eye-watering’ £13,000 to undertake the associated engineering works in order for the new fibre to be installed. Mick Clarke, Partner with broadband and VoIP provider 2020 Networks, said that not surprisingly another way forward was needed and Trencher Hire UK was instrumental in helping cut costs by many thousands of pounds.

Trencher Hire keeps project costs down

Trencher Hire keeps project costs down

“Our customer was located on the edge of an industrial estate in Simonswood near Kirkby in Liverpool and, because their existing broadband connections were so poor, wanted to move over to VoIP, which is the future of telephony.

“We proposed a 150mb leased line, but Openreach quoted over £10k in ECCs to get the fibre in. We therefore decided to arrange the civils ourselves. The cost of hiring a mini-excavator with operator would have been around £2k. However, we found a much more efficient and cost-effective option by hiring a Toro TRX-16 pedestrian trencher with operator from Trencher Hire UK.

“A 170 metres long trench was dug-out to a depth of around 400mm, with 170 metres of 50mm duct being installed, as well as three chambers. The cost of all the civils, which included the hiring of three labourers over a couple of days, cost just £1,500. I also undertook some of the work myself.

“The Toro TRX-16 was a tremendous piece of kit and the work was undertaken in just three hours. The service from Trencher Hire UK was really excellent with clear responses and the unit delivered on time and was extremely good value.”

2020 Networks offers two hosted VoIP and SIP platforms that provide services either on a ‘per channel basis,’ or via extensions with inclusive minutes.

VoIP uses a dedicated broadband line to process voice traffic. In simple terms, it turns your voice into data packets and sends them instantly over your existing broadband network to the person you’re calling. The callee won’t notice anything different, they still hear your voice as normal. The call quality will be the same as, or better than, any existing landline service.

To find out how Trencher Hire can help you, contact us on 0121 751 9319 or email: team@trencherhire.com or visit us at: www.trencherhire.com

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Campey’s BM50 proves a hit

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Campey’s BM50 proves a hit: Launched earlier this year at BTME 2022, the new Campey BM50 fixed blade verti-cutter has been out on demo with a resoundingly enthusiastic response.

The reaction to the BM50 has been so strong that companies such as Turf Tonics have opted to purchase their demo unit on the spot. Videos showing the clean and easy operation of the machine in action have also gathered interest and demo requests on social media.

Campey’s BM50 proves a hit

Campey’s BM50 proves a hit

The verti-cutter is available in 1.56 m and 1.8 m working widths and the depth 0 – 40mm, adjustable in 0.5mm increments. Working at 0.0 mm means there is no contact with the soil with just thatch being removed, whilst working at the greatest depth will scarify deeper, removing huge amounts of debris. This makes the machine perfect for use during the season to provide light thatch and debris clearance, and for when a thorough deeper lay of organic matter needs to be removed.

Due to the fixed blade system, it does not require the complete disassembly of the transmission and rotor, but only of the worn blades. The high-performance rotor guarantees excellent work in all circumstances, even when the blade’s cutting edge is not in optimal condition. In the standard version, the blades are made of HARDOX material with a thickness of 3mm and spaced 30mm apart. Optional 2 mm and 3 mm tungsten tipped blades are also available.

The BM50 1600 model can be operated using a 25 HP tractor, whilst the larger 1800 requires a 30 HP tractor for operation.

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Ventrac helps enhance presentation

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Ventrac helps enhance presentation: Adam Smith, the Head of Grounds and Gardens at Bishop’s Stortford College, has been delighted with the higher level of presentation and the work-hour savings, following the purchase of a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor.

Supplied through local groundscare dealer, Upsons Mowers, the package initially included a 72-inch rotary mowing deck. Subsequently the College has added a Power Brush attachment.

Ventrac helps enhance presentation

Ventrac helps enhance presentation

Adam’s career in the industry has included numerous different roles – first as a mechanical technician with a European groundscare contractor, then as a product demonstrator followed by a sales role with a large regional UK dealer, and a further sales role for Toro in Brisbane. On returning to the UK, he gained more sales experience with a John Deere dealer before a career switch to groundsmanship at nearby Haileybury Imperial College, before joining the Bishop’s Stortford team two years ago.

“Without a doubt the Ventrac has enhanced the overall appearance of our large grassed areas and its ability to mow on 40-degree slopes has cut out hundreds of hours of brush-cutting for the team” he said. “There are only four of us, so every hour is vital. Strimming is such a time-consuming job, but we have now freed up hours that can spent on other important tasks around the facility. It has been a gamechanger.”

“We have some serious banks across the 130 acres and I was looking for a machine that would save us from the hours of brush-cutting. Upsons suggested the Ventrac and, at first, I wasn’t too sure; to be honest it looked a bit ‘Mickey Mouse’, but once we’d had it demo-ed we were immediately won over. Andy Richards came over from Haileybury for the demo and he has bought one as well. We have a good working relationship and, on occasions, lend each other attachments. It’s simple with the Ventrac linkage system, there’s no complicated set up, you just drive out of one and drive in to the next.

“Before the Ventrac we were using a 50hp tractor with a rear-mounted roller mower, but it was so cumbersome with limited maneuverability in tight spaces. We have several outdoor teaching spaces, such as the arboretum, and getting around the trees and outdoor furniture was a major problem. The Ventrac alleviated this immediately as it has a centre-pivot steering system and can turn tightly. Again, this saves many workhours and is much more efficient.

“This has become our front-line machine; its low ground pressure means we can go out at any time, even in some of the very wet areas and you feel really safe on the banks, it’s a machine you can trust. We have a natural spring that rises near our Pre-Prep School and we can’t usually get in there before late May, but with the Ventrac we cut it in February.

“The weight transfer system works well and by turning it down, the striping effect when using the roller deck is excellent. I particularly like the rear three-point linkage. We can hitch up our Sisis brush units and use the Ventrac as the tow vehicle on our synthetic surfaces. It has such a light footprint, much better than a utility vehicle and we can also brush in stripes on our natural surfaces, if required. We also have a ball hitch, so we can attach equipment such as our water bowser or trailers. Its versatility is endless.”

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John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

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John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency: The 2022 Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year says the technology packed into his John Deere R962i has simplified applications without compromising on the size of the tank.  

Steve May, arable foreman at Fromant and Sanders in Kislingbury, Northamptonshire, has a 6,200-litre tank and 36m boom on his trailed machine, pulled by a 6215R AutoPowr.

John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

John Deere technology improves accuracy and efficiency

The biggest trailed John Deere sprayer available at the time of purchase in 2019, Steve opted to stay loyal to the brand after being impressed with his previous model, the M740.

“The R-series sprayers are already high spec, so a lot of the features I needed came as standard,” he says. “This is our third John Deere sprayer, but this one was a big step up in terms of technology, size and width.”

Twin Select nozzles, one fixed and one quad rotating, means that Steve can alternate between them from the cab, cutting down on the manual changes.

He has been particularly impressed with the PowrSpray system, which boasts separate pumps for filling and spraying. “The filling system on this sprayer is just fantastic,” he says.

“The filling pump has a 1,200-litre/min capacity, so I can fill the tank in around five minutes,” he explains.

Setting how much water he wants on the screen, Steve can depend on the system to fill the sprayer on its own, and he has the option to use the ‘active pause’ function to slow the speed of filling while the chemicals are added.

Altogether Steve sprays 810ha, which is split between the home farm and contracted work and crops grown include wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape and beans.

“The tractor and sprayer both being John Deere means everything is integrated really nicely, which makes my life easier,” he says.

“I use the tractor’s Greenstar RTK guidance to put the tramlines in, which means I can spray everything with autosteer,” Steve says.

Previously, Steve worked on SF1, meaning he had to correct the guidance lines as he worked. “Now they are perfect throughout the season,” he says.

The 6215R is fitted with 710/70 R42 tyres for the winter and 480/80 R46 rubber in the summer. The sprayer has 710/70 R38 spec for the winter and runs on 420/80 R46s in the summer.

Overall, Steve has been impressed with the R962i’s performance.

“The technology is very clever but on a simpler level it’s easily manoeuvrable for such a large implement, and the axle suspension smooths out the ride.”

Steve has been so impressed that the farm has already placed an order for John Deere’s new R975i which has a 7,500-litre tank and is expected to arrive on farm in time for 2023 spring spraying.

“It’s pretty much the same machine, it just has a bigger tank which will give us a bit more capacity, particularly in the autumn when we’re doing pre-emergence,” Steve says.

“We’re putting 200l per hectare on when we’re spraying pre-emergence herbicides so obviously the more liquid I can get in the tank, the further I can get around in a day.

“I think the new sprayer comes in somewhere around 90 acres per tank load, whereas our current model does 75 acres per tank load.”

Tank size is key because he needs the capacity to avoid having to make journeys back to base to refill.

Although there are a couple of satellite water tanks at his disposal, not having to rely on them so much will provide a significant time saving.

Steve fought off stiff competition to be named Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year, securing his win after impressing the judges in all three rounds.

“It’s not really about driving a tractor or sprayer – it’s about having the knowledge and ability to do the best job you can with what you’ve got,” he explains.

“The judges focus on how you set up your equipment, processes and paperwork to be as precise as possible, because this leads to efficiency, which in turn leads to environmental gains.

“Finding out I had won was fantastic.”

Steve is BASIS and FACTS qualified, and made the final six of the Syngenta-organised competition in 2018 but 2022 was the first time he has taken the top prize which includes a trophy and a trip to Agritechnica 2023.

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