GTM Professional straps the landscaper into action |
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Redesigned Elephants Trunk 3 offers customized support
Back, neck, and shoulder complaints are common among landscapers. Prolonged work with machines, repetitive motions, physical exertion, the vibration and shaking of tools, and awkward postures cause more serious issues—and even long-term absences—than in most other sectors.¹ Thanks to the Elephants Trunk, these problems can be prevented.
| Elephants Trunk ergonomic harness |
The origin of the Elephants Trunk
In 2008, manufacturer and distributor De Wild BV launched the first Elephants Trunk. Marketing manager Diana de Keijzer looks back: "We wanted to offer a solution for the many RSI complaints among landscapers. Our own R&D department designed an ergonomic harness with a built-in pulley. You attach a hedge trimmer or leaf blower to that pulley, so a significant portion of the tool's weight is transferred through the harness to the hips. The powerful trunk of an elephant allows it to lift heavy loads. That's why we introduced this innovation under the name Elephants Trunk. The early versions were welcomed as a valuable innovation in the landscaping world. Based on feedback, we further developed the original model with ergonomic and practical improvements. In 2023, we launched the latest model: the Elephants Trunk 3." This ergonomic harness is suitable for a range of handheld garden tools between 4.5 and 8 kilograms, such as (telescopic) hedge trimmers and leaf blowers.
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"The harness reduces the load by 3 kilograms"
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Differences between Elephants Trunk 3 and its predecessors
The latest version offers more comfort and better adjustability for different body types. With adjustable shoulder and hip straps and included extension pieces, the Elephants Trunk 3 can be tailored to fit the user. The pulley tube is now foldable (for transport and storage) and height adjustable—ideal for trimming the tops of hedges. The smooth movement of the pulley allows the steel cable to move freely in any direction, even when working overhead. The back of the harness features air holes and an improved cushion for better ventilation. According to De Keijzer, the core function remains unchanged: "The harness reduces the load by 3 kilograms. In previous models, users could adjust the counterweight themselves, but that is no longer possible."
Now also suitable for battery-powered hedge trimmers
"We received feedback that not all tools could be easily attached to the harness. That's why we recently added an extra strap to the kit. Normally, you attach the hedge trimmer to the handle using a carabiner, but battery-powered hedge trimmers often require two-hand operation, with a second handle needing to be squeezed to unlock the machine. Because continuously pressing this handle is impractical, we now include an extra strap. This allows the harness to be attached to the body of the hedge trimmer instead of the handle. The new attachment strap is also available separately as an accessory for previous Elephants Trunk models."
 | | Elephants Trunk with new strap for battery hedge trimmers |
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Pruning promotes growth
The Elephants Trunk 3 is part of the GTM Professional range, produced by Dutch manufacturer De Wild BV. The Green Technology Machinery (GTM) label guarantees quality, durability, and a responsible ecological impact. Packaging and shipping now involve less plastic, and the family business recently moved to a new energy-neutral facility. De Keijzer states: "We don't see pruning waste as waste, but as valuable compost and soil enhancer. 'Pruning promotes growth' is our philosophy, and for that we've developed a wide range of wood chippers, log splitters, lawnmowers, scarifiers, and other tools. Other core values include safety and ergonomics. For example, our chippers are designed for an ergonomic working height while also meeting European safety standards. The development of the Elephants Trunk embodies our commitment to ergonomics in its optimal form." The design of the new Elephants Trunk 3 marks a new milestone in the fight against RSI.
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"The powerful trunk of an elephant allows it to lift heavy loads"
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De Wild continues to innovate
"We are in direct contact with end users who test our machines, so we can use their feedback to improve our designs or come up with new applications. That's how we not only developed the Elephants Trunk but also introduced a new tracked dumper this year with a hydraulic tipping system and a 500-kilogram load capacity. The chassis of this dumper is interchangeable with that of the tracked wood chipper. So, if you already own a GTM Professional tracked chipper, you can easily convert it into a dumper," De Keijzer explains.
The headquarters and R&D department of De Wild are located in Roosendaal. The company also has offices in China and Costa Rica and a subsidiary in Belgium. In addition to being the manufacturer and distributor of the GTM Professional brand, De Wild is also the importer of two Japanese pruning tool brands: Silky and Okatsune.
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1. Source: https://www.stigas.nl/sites/stigas.nl/files/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Scan-Duurzaam-Werken-in-Agrarisch-en-Groen_def-3.pdf
This article was originally published on June 6, 2024, on the website of De Hovenier.
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