The Case for Tree Care Machines Efficiency, Safety, and Smart Investment By Ben Culbreth
Manual work is a defining characteristic of the tree care industry. In its purest form, jobs are complet- ed with chainsaws, slowly working to fell trees and trim back overgrowth by hand. As technology has improved and companies seek more efficient ways to do their work, mechanical tree removal has become a more common approach, especially with utility and right-of-way work that re- quires precision cuts in tight quarters. But is it always the best method? And when does it make sense for a company to invest in this equip- ment? MECHANICAL MEANS FEWER RISKS Improving job site safety benefits not only individ- ual workers but the entire organization. According to Greg Roberts, tree care manager at Sennebogen , one of the key advantages of mechanical tree equip- ment is the increased level of safety it provides.
er hazards. These machines offer greater control over how and where branches or whole trees are brought to the ground, reducing the unpredictabili- ty often associated with manual felling and helping protect crew members on the ground. “You have positive control of that tree all the way to the ground,” Roberts added. DC Creekmore, senior account manager for Altec’s tree care line, echoed this perspective, noting that mechanical removal significantly reduces time spent in the canopy and limits the number of per- sonnel needed in the drop zone. Additionally, the cab of a tree care machine provides a physical bar- rier that offers another layer of protection. “I don’t know of a safer way to remove a tree,” Creekmore said. CUTTING JOB TIMES IN HALF Manual tree felling with large crews is a time-inten- sive process. A single job can take an entire day or more, limiting how many projects a company can complete based on worker availability and speed. According to Creekmore, the efficiency of mechan-
“It makes the job site a lot safer,” he said.
By using mechanical equipment, workers can be kept at a safer distance from falling debris and oth-
ArborTIMES ™ Summer 2025 | 19
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online