Makita tools power the Eden Project

Makita tools power the Eden Project: Makita UK has exclusively supplied the Eden Project with a range of its cordless outdoor power equipment to assist with the maintenance and redevelopment work at the famous site.

By adopting Makita’s battery-powered machinery, Eden Project is able to reduce emissions and ensure the maintenance team can work safely and efficiently – even when visitors are on site.

The Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall is an educational charity and visitor attraction dedicated to showcasing the power of nature and inspiring visitors to think more sustainably. The site is famous for its bubble-like Mediterranean Biome and Rainforest Biome that house a wide range of plant life that all require regular care and maintenance to thrive.

As well as the Biomes, the Eden Project Living Landscapes team are responsible for maintaining the over 20 acres of outdoor gardens and over 140 acres of nursery grounds, parking areas, woodlands and wildflower fields. In order to do this, the team require a range of reliable, durable and high-power machines that can tackle any task, as well as allow the flexibility to move around the large site with ease.

Robin Lock, Head of Living Landscapes at the Eden Project explains: “At the Eden Project we are dedicated to using sustainable methods which is why we wanted to update our tool kit with more environmentally friendly alternatives. With Makita’s expertise in battery-power and its wide range of high-quality garden machinery and construction tools, we are able to complete day-to-day maintenance tasks in a safer, quieter and more efficient way.

“With battery-powered machines there is no need for the team to transport petrol around site and no emissions are produced, which is key. What’s more, the machines also produce lower vibration levels so the team can comfortably and safely use the machines daily and for extended periods. With no fuel or power leads to worry about, the machines can also be used when visitors are on site – and the low noise levels mean disruption is kept to a minimum.”

For example, Makita’s DUH601RT LXT 18V Hedge Trimmer is used to ensure the 100s of metres of hedge at the Eden Project remain neatly trimmed back. With such a large area to cover, the DUH601RT is ideal as the team require a lightweight, low vibration machine that is safe to use for extended periods of time. The DUH601RT features a five-position rotating rear handle so operators can easily adjust the angle of the machine to make the work easier and safer.

What’s more, the DUH601RT includes Makita’s triple-edged asymmetric blade design. The back tooth is square, which means it can easily hold the material and the front tooth is at an angle to ensure that it can easily slice through and create an efficient and clean cut. In addition, both top and bottom blades have sharpened edges and the whole system is double reciprocating to reduce vibration. The curved blade profile also reduces friction resistance so less energy is lost through heat production and run time is increased.

In addition, the DUB363 LXT Twin 18V Blower is ideal for keeping pathways clear of leaves and debris to ensure visitor safety. As there are no trailing cables, the team can use the DUB363 across the whole site – even in the Biomes. It is powered by two 18V LXT batteries, so operators can experience high air volume and speed, as well as long run times for maximum efficiency. The DUB363 is also compatible with Makita’s PDC01 and PDC1200 backpack batteries which offer extended run times for larger tasks, such as clearing pathways throughout the Rainforest Biome.

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for garden machinery at Makita said: “We are delighted to be working with Eden Project to assist the team with everyday maintenance and larger redevelopment work at this prestigious site. With over 270 models in our LXT range alone, the team have a huge selection of our battery powered tools and equipment to hand, to tackle any task with the simple switch of a battery.

“Our partnership with Eden Project is also a great opportunity for us to get feedback on how our machines perform in unique environments like the Rainforest Biome – and we are excited to be able to utilise this as part of future product development to ensure that the Makita products can perform at their optimum, regardless of the conditions.”

To find out more about how Makita’s machines have transformed groundscare at Eden Project, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kucXboNDi_M

To find out more about Makita and its range of cordless machines visit: www.makitauk.com

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