Page 18 - OPE March 2021

MARKETPLACE
Chippers & Shredders
industry, with the likes of Hirepool buying good numbers of Hansa products: “Rather than buying, some weekend users are hiring,” says Martin.
“The other factor is that we’ve just launched a new range of diesel-powered product [see above] and there’s definitely a lot of interest in the market for them,” he says, to the point where Hansa has a five- to six-month lead time for its commercial range, compared to five to six weeks not so long ago.
Martin Vogel, as with many others I have talked to recently, is being candid rather than pessimistic when he says he is uncertain about how long this boom may last.
Still, having said this, he will forecast that, while our travel restrictions remain in place, demand should be “fairly similar to the
previous 12 months, so that gives us a bit of confidence.”
Having developed an export strategy is another reason for Hansa’s confidence: “If we [New Zealand] were to return a reduced level trading as a result of the economic climate, then our expectation is that we will have an uplift at the same time in those new markets we’re entering into as they free up,” says Martin.
Reasons to be cheerful #2
Looking to these overseas markets, which has been a focus of the last couple of years for the Hamilton operation, it’s quite a different picture but still a positive one.
“When it comes to Europe and the UK it’s been a bit different because of the length of the lockdowns,” says Martin Vogel, whose outlook remains positive despite Hansa’s
plans being affected.
Ironically, supply chains issues for others
in these overseas markets have been to Hansa’s benefit: “A lot of competitors are manufactured in China and other Asian countries.
“The issues getting product out of
Asia into Europe and the UK have been challenging, not just from the shipping industry, but in terms of cost as well. Having product on the ground has meant that we can leverage that.”
Then there’s Brexit, which has led to difficulties for some brands getting product manufactured in Europe into the UK. “We don’t have that roadblock,” says Martin and that has been good for Hansa.
Asked to look further out, Martin Vogel freely admits there’s no crystal ball in Hansa’s Hamilton head office: “This time
last year, we were all thinking ‘it’s all over, what are we going to do?’
“But it’s certainly a different landscape now than we predicted, and it took a few months to respond to that.
“When we came out of that first lockdown, demand came on immediately and it was all go.”
And then a week went by with no let up and then a month: “It just pushed on,” says Martin, albeit with just a hint that there has been a little bit of softening over the first couple of months of 2021.
As they say, there are a lot of balls in the air and irons in the fire right now for the outdoor power industry.
But there are reasons to be confident, especially if, as our chipper & shredder pundits have it, demand remains strong from both consumers and professionals users. n
018 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT MARCH-JUNE2021
moreat www.facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
HANSA’S NEW COMMERCIAL CHIPPER RANGE
AS PREVIEWED LAST year, now
available having been designed to supersede the popular Hansa C40, C60 and C60RX models, Hansa has three new diesel- powered commercial chippers of 7” and 10” capacity and all powered by Deutz diesel engines:
• C45 – A 7x13” capacity trailered chipper compact model powered by a powerful 48HP diesel engine, with a wide feed opening and height adjustable outlet.
• C65 – A 10x18” capacity trailered chipper, with a 65HP diesel engine, at 1825kg it’s one of the lightest brush chippers of its size with a high power-to-weight ratio.
• C65RX – An easy and quick to load remote-controlled tracked version of the 10” machine; designed for ergonomic feeding on and off the custom trailer.
In terms of engine selection, Hansa chose Deutz engines for their track record of reliability as well as being placed just across the Tasman to ensure quick supply and service support.
Hansa’s Engineering Manager, Mitchell Sanson, says Deutz engines come with
a good reputation, offer high torque, are lightweight and cost effective and, being air cooled, offer simpler engine design and
easier maintenance.
“Many of our customers approved and
supported the change, having had good experiences themselves with Deutz powered equipment. As well as being non-turbo
and air-oil cooled, Deutz have long service intervals with a heavy-duty design,” Mitchell adds.
And, with an extended 250-hour
service interval, operators can rely on Hansa’s double-sided knives for optimum performance between changes. The Hayes coupling isolates the Deutz engine from the cutting forces for optimal reliability.
Looking beyond the engines, Hansa’s engineering team also took the opportunity to incorporate other changes and upgrades, to future-proof the chippers and herald a new era in chipper design.
For example, the machines feature a new software control system, new streamlined angles, eye-catching black and yellow aesthetics (also customisable to customer colours), as well as focus on safety and serviceability.
In this respect, the new kerb-side controls ensure operators are away from traffic. Other new features include an IFM controller which has less hardware but advanced software
for engine management, auto-feed control, and safety circuit. The new electronic cabinet keeps the components safe, dry, and easily accessible.
But don’t take Hansa’s word for all this. Treescape, one of Australasia’s biggest arboriculture service providers, is happy using Hansa’s 10” chippers to keep its business running smoothly and efficiently.
Nelson-based Treescape Business Manager, Lian Polack, says: “We chose the tracked model chipper for the flexibility on our work sites. Being able to track into difficult access sites but also being able to
chip whilst still on the trailer into our tip truck makes it very versatile.
“One of the main differences between the Hansa and other tracked chippers is the ability to use the chipper on or off the bespoke trailer.
“Our crew’s feedback was that the chipper was easy to use. They enjoyed the versatility of being able to reduce winching/dragging time on site and the feed tray was a good height/width. Most importantly, they felt that the C65 was a lot gruntier than they expected.”
www.hansaproducts.co.nz