Mower's all-round abilities impress Contracts Firm

Mike Birdin Industry News

Mower's all-round abilities impress Contracts Firm

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Ireland's leading commercial landscaping firm is confident that Kubota ZD28 ride-on zero-turn mowers will become the mainstay of its grass-cutting fleet over the next two to three years.

This belief is based on the impressive results being achieved by the company's first machine which is producing time-savings of up to 50 per cent on some of the firm's more demanding mowing contracts.

Based at Mulhaddart, near Dublin, Redlough Landscapes was founded in 1983 by skilled horticulturists Liam Redmond and Liam Loughnane.

Starting off with residential work, the business quickly expanded into the commercial and industrial sectors and now employs close to 50 staff, providing a comprehensive landscape development, sportsground construction and grounds maintenance service to local authorities, construction companies and businesses throughout Ireland.

Supporting Redlough Landscape's main operation near Dublin is a Cork office, which opened last year.

Co-director, Liam Redmond, recalls that Redlough Landscaping bought its first Kubota dedicated ride-on mower in 1985. "That machine was, in fact, our very first mowing machine, purchased to help grow the maintenance side of the business," he explained. "Twenty years on, our grounds maintenance department now accounts for a significant percentage of our turnover with Kubota ride-on machines forming a major element of the grass cutting fleet."

In addition to the ZD28 zero-turn mower bought earlier this year, the company runs six Kubota G2160 and two G18 mid mowers and four F60 Series front mowers, two with side-discharge decks and two with flail cutters.

"Having looked at and discussed the various merits of zero-turn, we took the decision earlier this year to bring in the Kubota ZD28 for assessment," pointed out Mr Redmond. "Although we did not have a great deal of specific work for it initially, the machine has been in action three or four days a week continuously throughout the season, enabling the staff to get used to the mower and its controls. All in all, the mower has impressed with its speed and ease of operation and tremendous manoeuvrability."

As to the future, Mr Redmond says that the time savings produced by the ZD28 could prove the answer both to reducing costs while also meeting customers' demand for more frequent mowing schedules to keep on top of increased grass growth at the height of the season and following wet weather.

"Kubota and their local dealer, Irish Grass Machinery, have always responded extremely well to our queries and service requests," he concluded. "Although the ZD28's zero-turn steering system takes a little getting used to initially, the machine's workrate speaks for itself. You could say that we are most impressed with its all-round abilities."

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