Stump grinders: Taking a look at Vermeer, Jo Beau and Pedator Power

Where are you going to be working?  On what type of stump? Of what size? It is important that you choose a machine with sufficient power to deal with the type and size of stump that you are working on. If you are regularly tackling large tough stumps, a smaller machine will be of little use. If, on the other hand, the majority of your work is in domestic gardens, then you need to consider machine size and access capabilities.

On larger sites, where access for vehicles is restricted, it may be worth considering a tracked machine that can cope with rugged terrain easily. Maintenance too will be a consideration.

Here’s a look at just a few that have caught essentialARB’s eye in recent months.

GLOBAL MACHINERY

The Jo Beau B37-110 RC 2 (Image: Supplied)

If you are looking for a stump grinder with wireless remote control, the Jo Beau B37-110 RC could be the ideal solution.

The latest offering from the Belgian manufacturer, its remote control handles the driving and complete operation. The machine comes with a charger and extra battery for the radio and a cable for direct connection.

Sales consultant Andy Dudley explained: “The B37 is 29 inches in width, which allows it to go through a standard garden gate. In normal cutting mode, the cutting head will cut 500 mm above ground and below. The cutting head is Jo Beau’s own design, called a GrinDisc, and features 12 900-series Greenteeth.”

The B37-110 RC is now standard equipped with the Vanguard EFI two-cylinder petrol engine (EFI meaning ‘electrical petrol injection’), which offers more torque, more stable speed and 25-per-cent less petrol consumption.

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Regarding the remote control, Andy said: “Everything can be controlled from the radio control unit instead of on the machine. It uses a rechargeable battery and, as a nice touch, the charger has been put underneath the operator station, so you can conveniently charge it up, ready for the next use.”

www.globalmachinerysolutions.co.uk

VERMEER

Vermeer SC30TX (Image: Supplied)

With a rich history, Vermeer remains one of arb’s most established names, not least because its founder, Gary Vermeer, is known as the inventor of the stump grinder.

Today it offers a broad and highly modernised range, much of which was on display when essentialARB visited its stand at this year’s ARB Show.

Among these was Vermeer’s self-propelled SC292 (replacing the SC252), which has an optional AutoSweep system that increases productivity while reducing drive-train wear and tear. Featuring a 26.5 hp (19.8 kW) Kohler engine, the SC292 performs well in cold-weather starts, has reduced occurrence of engine flooding and provides improved fuel economy over comparable petrol engines.

Other notable points include jockey wheel steering, removable dual wheels, a cutting depth below ground of 380 mm and cutting height above ground of 610 mm, with a weight of 580 kg.

www.vermeeruk.co.uk

PREDATOR POWER

Patrick Watts with the stump grinder (Image: EA)

At the smaller end of the scale, Predator Power’s Terminator Pro 500 was another unique product to capture attention at this year’s ARB Show. A stump grinder attachment, it can be fitted onto a Stihl 500i and several other engine sizes – going where other stump grinders won’t.

“It is a very lightweight stump grinder,” MD Patrick Watts said. “You can carry it through a house or lift it over walls. You can put it in the back of a truck with ease.

“We are recommending you grind small- to medium-sized stumps.”

While it may take 15 to 20 minutes to grind out a one-foot stump, Patrick believes the time savings come from not having to make multiple trips to the yard to drop off a woodchipper and collect a stump grinder.

He added: “It might not be the quickest stump grinder in the world, but if it’s the only one that can get to the job, then you can charge what you want.”

www.predatorpower.co.uk