GreenTec hedge flail mower proves a perfect fit for roadside work in Gelderland

ARTICLE

GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY

Bart Mullink, Tuesday 7 October 2025

140 sec

Machine trims, shreds, and mulches in a single pass

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary hedge flail mower. Yet the Greentec RC 162 is technically unique. Thanks to its belt drive, it delivers impressive performance while requiring relatively little hydraulic power.

From the crane cab, Gerard Lagerweij has a clear view of the work

From spring through autumn, Gerard Lagerweij works along provincial roads in Gelderland. The many kilometers of hedges lining these roads are trimmed twice a year. He recently began doing this with a combination of a Terex excavator and a Greentec RC 162 hedge flail mower. De Heer Land en Water, the company he works for, chose this machine specifically because it performs well with relatively low hydraulic power — making it compatible with the relatively lightweight Terex excavator.
Lagerweij calls the new setup a major improvement over his previous one. "Mainly because I now have the machine mounted at the front. That gives me a much better view from the cab — especially since the cab rotates with the mowing arm. This way, I'm always looking straight at the work and no longer have to twist my back to see properly."

Since the cab rotates with the mowing arm, I'm always looking straight at the work.

Speed

At an average speed of one to two kilometers per hour, Lagerweij drives this time along a cycle path next to the N310 near Arnhem. The hedge must be trimmed on three passes — both sides and the top of the beech hedge. The clippings are finely shredded and deposited at the base of the hedge as mulch.
KAM coordinator Kees Jonker of contractor De Heer Land en Water joins the conversation: "My job is to carry out workplace inspections and ensure that work is done safely and neatly. As far as I can see, everything's going well. Gerard anticipates situations very well."
Sometimes Lagerweij has to move forward and back a few times until the desired result is achieved. Depending on the situation, he can trim between one and eighteen kilometers of hedges per day. Considering that each hedge needs to be cut on three sides, that comes down to about six kilometers of hedging per day. The output depends not only on the type of hedge but also on the presence of street furniture and other obstacles, which can significantly slow down the work.

People often ask whether the belts will hold up. I know they don't need to worry — in practice, they're almost impossible to break.

Gerard Lagerweij with the Greentec RC 162 hedge flail mower

The mower features three rotors, each with three cutting and three mulching blades

Balance

Finding the right balance between precision and speed is essential, Lagerweij knows. That balance also explains the choice for this type of mower, which trims, shreds, and mulches in one go. Behind the cutting blades are the knives that take care of shredding.
Sales specialist Jan van Leeuwen of Wim van Breda points out that some customers mount large hedge shears on tractors to achieve a cleaner cut. "But those branches then have to be cleared away, which adds a lot of extra work. For a contractor, the job has to make economic sense — and that's where a hedge flail mower is ideal. Clients can sometimes be critical right after trimming, but if they look again two weeks later, regrowth has started and it looks great."

Belt drive

Van Leeuwen supervised the purchase of the Greentec machine by De Heer on behalf of Wim van Breda. "The belt drive system is relatively new and sometimes requires a bit of persuasion to convince buyers," he explains. "People wonder whether the belts will hold up. I know they don't need to worry — real-world experience shows they're almost impossible to break. They also require far less maintenance than fully hydraulically driven machines. Just give it a try. If something does break, they can hold me to it."

Jan van Leeuwen: no worries about the belt

Resistance

The main difference Lagerweij notices in practice is that a single belt drives all the blades, causing them all to rotate at the same speed — which can make the machine feel a bit more rigid.
Van Leeuwen adds: "I sold the first belt-driven hedge flail mower four years ago. The customer recently came in for new blades — still using the same belt."

This article was originally published on October 1, 2025, on the website](https://www.stad-en-groen.nl/article/51236/greentech-heggenslagmaaier-blijkt-geknipt-voor-werk-langs-gelderse-wegen]website) of Stad + Groen.

De Heer land en water B.V...

Wim van Breda B.V.

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