PRECISION SPECIALISTS

THE GROWING PARTNERSHIP OF FORESTRY EXPERTS 'GREENWOR X' AND MACHINERY SPECIALISTS 'FIELD & FOREST'

On a mission to deliver first-class tree surgery, brothers and arborists Ryan and Brett set up Greenworx in 2012. With more than 30 years of experience between them, the twosome and their team already have a competitive edge. Coupled with the latest techniques and equipment from machinery partners Field and Forest, they offer quality forestry services to customers such as Balfour Beatty and National Grid.

Whether pruning, felling or doing a full site clearance, protecting their team and the environment is a top priority for the Darlington-based duo. Working across the UK, their equipment has to meet specific needs, be transportable and safe to use even on tricky tasks in tight spaces. By teaming up with Field and Forest, they’ve maintained their reputation for quality, professional service, including on ambitious projects like a recent clearance in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Taking down dangerous trees alongside a farm drive is difficult to perform safely with handheld equipment. Instead, the Greenworx team used a 14-tonne excavator and three machine attachments: Westtech Woodcracker CS610 and CS350 shears and a Powerhand EX28 grapple. Just like the other kit supplied by Field and Forest, these tools helped them do a great job with less risk to their team.

FORWARD-THINKING FORESTRY

Like Greenworx, the Field and Forest team have established themselves as forestry specialists. Opened his business in 2015, Managing Director Tom Brown has built his reputation by supplying quality equipment to professional contractors. To offer everything companies like Greenworx need, Tom has looked to make closer ties with market-leading manufacturers.

“Forestry is becoming more mechanised these days,” he explains. “We want to be a one-stop shop for these specialists. So if they come to us, alongside buying the attachments, they can get a digger or telehandler, whatever they need. Having taken on the dealership with Yanmar and Magni, we can tailor setups to customers’ needs. For example, we recently supplied a Magni RTH 630 with a Westtech C750 to PR Newson Ltd for a forestry project in Kew Gardens.”

Alongside attachments from manufacturers such as GMT, Westtech and Powerhand, Field and Forest supply Yanmar’s range of excavators and tracked carriers across the UK. They’re also a dealer for Magni’s telescopic handlers in Scotland. So by working with Tom and his team, Greenworx can find the right, high-quality equipment for every job.

Tom continues, “We also have an on-site fab shop with plasma tables so we can make anything customers need. From their initial ideas through to the final delivery of their requirements, we can help. A lot of contractors in this industry like to tweak machines and put their own touch on setups - we’re all ears when it comes to taking their idea and delivering it.”

THE GEAR FOR GROWTH

As Brett and Ryan have taken on bigger projects, Field and Forest have been on hand with equipment and advice. Tom says, “We’ve been supplying Greenworx for around four or five years, we started out finding them kit like small grabs for six-tonne excavators and GMT 035 grapple saws. They’ve always been a forward-thinking mechanised company.”

To complete the Northallerton project, Greenworx needed grab-and-saw attachments that could take down difficult trees safely in a restricted space. For this, Tom supplied two Westtech Woodcracker CS grapple saws and a Powerhand GB grapple.

Westtech Woodcracker CS grapple saw smart attachments are designed to fit 14 to 22-tonne excavators and are particularly effective on difficult tree-felling tasks. With various mounting options and a tiltrotator, they’re highly manoeuvrable. The grab-andhold shears are also manufactured for durability, with Hardox steel construction, KTL priming and powder coating, minimising wear and servicing requirements.

The Powerhand GB grapple also has a robust yet lightweight construction. Available with 0.26m2 and 0.35m2 capacities, the five-tine attachments work on excavators ranging from six to 14 tonnes. Also like the Westtech Woodcracker CS grapple saws, they have a plug-and-play functionality, meaning the Greenworx team can use the best tool for any task.

As Tom outlines, “The CS grapples are effective and efficient when you’re installing them on a machine. You don’t need to worry about extra service lines when switching between different machines. The Powerhand can also be interchanged really easily. You can drop it on and off the machine without getting out of the cab, so contractors can always choose the right tool for the job.”

TOM BROWN MANAGING DIRECTOR Field & Forest Ltd.

UK-WIDE SUPPORT

With one site in Broxton, near Edinburgh and another in Kingsley, Hampshire, the sixteen-strong Field and Forest team keep nationwide contractors like Greenworx running. Tom and his team pride themselves on maximising their customers’ uptime. From the engineers out and about on the road to the on-site team, their helpfulness is what sets them apart.

He explains, “Even when we’re doing attachment installation, we make sure we familiarise customers with the machine. Other companies send equipment out on pallets and just expect customers to get on with it. For more complicated stuff, we like to take attachments out, install them, make sure they’re running and give a full handover. This means their teams are ready to get to work and get the most out of attachments.”

Building strong partnerships is also key for the Field and Forest team. As Tom explains, “We have a good relationship with Greenworx. When they need new machinery, we talk through the products to understand what they’re looking for. Then we support them all the way through to delivery and aftersales. We’re lucky to work with companies such as Westtech and Powerhand, so we can always find the specialist, quality equipment Greenworx needs.