De Passiebloem chooses GTM self-propelled chipper for pruning waste

ARTICLE

Broer de Boer, Thursday 11 January 2024

249 sec

The 1300WD chipper from GTM Professional

Leendert-Jan Zandijk is a partner in landscaping company De Passiebloem. To chip pruning waste, this small Zeeland-based company found a suitable solution: the self-propelled 1300WD chipper from GTM Professional. "We use it for a maximum of an hour and a half at a time on a project," Zandijk explains.

Leendert-Jan Zandijk (left) and his co-partner Marco Heijmans

Of course, at De Passiebloem they also lay tiles or pavers, install fences, or chip wood. "But our main focus is on the construction of ornamental gardens, including lawns, and maintaining them," Zandijk emphasizes. "Almost all the specialized equipment and hand tools we need are kept in our shed. In terms of revenue, garden construction is our largest branch. We work on garden installations all year round. During winter things are usually a bit quieter, depending on the weather. The soil in Zeeland is often clay-based."

"We aim for as much greenery as possible in ornamental gardens"

Zandijk and his co-partner Marco Heijmans trained at what was then called the secondary horticultural school. "That was about 30 years ago, in Breda," Zandijk smiles. "We studied garden construction and maintenance. That's where our passion lies! I'm not a fan of paving gardens; otherwise, I would have become a paver. We aim for as much greenery as possible in ornamental gardens, focusing on a green living environment. In addition to borders, we also use planters. The size of the lawn we design in our projects often depends on the size of the plot. And when it comes to sustainability, we try to keep rainwater on the property as much as possible. If our client wants it, we include irrigation in the garden design. We handle the excavation and piping ourselves. The rest, such as well drilling and the installation and configuration of the irrigation system, we leave to the irrigation supplier. We are a small team, and we believe in sticking to what we're good at." This raises the valid question: where does the landscaper's job end and the arborist's begin at De Passiebloem?

The flow of wood chips from the 1300WD is directed with a deflector.

Pruning and chipping

Pruning, cutting back shrubs, and sawing are certainly familiar tasks to both landscapers. To chip this pruning waste, a 1300WD from GTM Professional was purchased. In consultation with their clients, they use the machine to blow wood chips into borders or to create garden paths. They can also take the chips with them; they're dumped into the green bin on their property, which is emptied periodically. The professional machine meets the strict forestry standard NEN-EN 13525:2020. It's a self-propelled machine with battery-powered drive. The chipper can easily be driven up loading ramps onto a trailer and secured. The rotor chipping system is powered by a 15hp Loncin petrol engine and automatically pulls in the branches.

The 1300WD is a self-propelled machine with battery-powered drive.

Zandijk: "We don't bring it for every little branch, but if needed, it goes on our trailer for chipping work in private gardens. Because it's self-propelled, fairly narrow, and agile, you can easily drive it to the work area. Steering is smooth with the handlebar mounted beneath the intake. That handlebar also lets you set the desired driving speed and shows you the remaining battery charge. In our case, that's sufficient. We only charge the two 12V batteries when necessary, once we're back at the shed. Charging takes about four and a half hours."

Detail of the control panel

The 1300WD's control lever

Introduction to the 1300WD

How did Zandijk discover this machine? He explains: "My brother runs a mechanization business 200 meters down the road and rents out chippers. Since we increasingly had clients with small chipping jobs, lasting around an hour and a half, we started thinking about buying a small wood chipper. I tested a demo machine through my brother. Based on our experiences, we chose the size we needed and bought the machine through him. The 1300WD handles fresh wood with a diameter up to 9 cm very well. That's sufficient for us. When it's dry wood of that thickness, you can hear the engine speed drop slightly. If we're asked to do bigger chipping jobs, we rent a larger chipper or call on an arborist who has a slightly bigger machine. After all, this isn't our core business."

Developments

Zandijk speaks candidly when it comes to his opinion about this type of machine. He also received support from the engineers at the manufacturer in Roosendaal. "It's a new type of self-propelled chipper. The machine is solid and quite simple in design, and it starts electrically. You have to fully empty the feed chamber and chipping chamber before stopping; otherwise, it won't restart. This is, of course, a safety feature, although it can be annoying at times. Also, the pull-out release button for the safety bar on the intake is positioned low on the machine. That's ergonomically tricky, but logically justifiable from a safety standpoint. De Wild, the manufacturer, efficiently solved a teething issue as well. The fuse for the electric drive motor would blow too quickly under load. By recommending a different type of fuse, they quickly resolved the issue for us. The fuse is also very easy to access."

Landscaping company De Passiebloem

This company, based on the former Zeeland island of Tholen, has been active for 22 years. The experienced owners Leendert-Jan Zandijk and Marco Heijmans work together and employ one permanent staff member. Over the years, they have expanded their craftsmanship with various professional tools. They've built a loyal customer base consisting of private individuals and businesses in Zeeland and Southwest Brabant. As skilled landscapers with a contemporary and distinctive approach to garden design and installation, they also offer their clients design and consulting services. Co-partner Marco Heijmans creates the designs. Once a garden is installed, they are happy to maintain it, so their clients can enjoy the beautiful shapes and colors without worry. These passionate landscapers also take on garden redesigns.

Technical specifications 1300WD:

Engine: Loncin G420FD e-start, air-cooled
Power: 15 hp / 11.02 kW at 4,000 rpm
Displacement: 420 cc
Fuel tank: 6.5 l
Fuel type: Euro98 (E5)
Battery charging time: 4.5 hours
Max. branch diameter: 10 cm
Feed height: 106 cm
Feed opening: 50 x 35 cm
Discharge height: 160 cm
Discharge direction: rotatable up to 270°
Deflector: infinitely adjustable up to 100°
Rear wheel diameter: 40 cm, ball-bearing pneumatic tires
Front swivel wheels: 25 cm
Blades: 2 PRO blades + 1 counter blade
Dimensions (L x W x H): 150 x 72.5 x 163 cm
Weight: 235 kg

De Groene Sector trade fair

The Roosendaal-based family company De Wild is the manufacturer of GTM Professional chippers. From January 9 to 11, 2024, De Wild will once again be present at the De Groene Sector trade fair in the Hardenberg event hall. There, you can check out this 1300WD chipper. It has a driving speed of approximately 6 km/h on flat terrain and 2 km/h on hilly or muddy ground. This chipper features two forward speeds (3 and 6 km/h) and two reverse speeds (1.5 and 3 km/h). At booth 621, De Wild will also showcase the latest GTM Professional machines, including a self-propelled battery-powered chipper that handles branches up to 12 cm in diameter. Marketing manager Diana de Keijzer: "We'll also present our new dumper with a hydraulic system on a tracked undercarriage. It's compatible with our tracked chippers. In addition to GTM Professional machines, we'll demonstrate the Silky and Okatsune brands. We'll bring the full range of this Japanese pruning equipment to Hardenberg. And I can already hint at some exciting new developments in hand saws!"

This article was originally published on January 11, 2024, on the website of De Hovenier.

GTM professional

De Wild BV

De Groene Sector Vakbeurs

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