SCORPION 746 – Tree Fella, Essex

Ideal operator’s machine

A new SCORPION 746VP is key to the smooth running of Tree Fella’s extensive business, which covers everything from general tree surgery work to green waste handling and recycling.

The SCORPION is the third to be run by the company and responsible for all the general handling work at the company’s base near Shoeburyness in Essex. “Between this and a sister company, we cover all of East Anglia and down into London,” explains Nathan Steward. “We aim to be completely selfsufficient, so all the timber and green waste the six tree surgery teams generate is brought back here where the green waste and smaller timber is shredded. The smaller fines are then separated out for sale to the local domestic garden market and councils, while the larger arborchip mainly goes to the biomass power station at Thetford. Larger timber is processed for logs and we also sell topsoil. “The SCORPION is going all day long and of the three it is by far the best. It’s usually the first machine to be started in the morning and the last to stop at night. Although most of its work is here in the yard, we do occasionally take it out on site to handle large timber instead of hiring in a crane.”

VARIPOWER AND SMART LOADING

The SCORPION 746VP, which was supplied by MANNS, replaced a smaller 741. With 136hp under the bonnet driving through a VARIPOWER transmission, it has a maximum load capacity off 4.6 tonnes and reach of 7.0m. Standard specification also includes Dynamic Power and the CLAAS SMART LOADING function. “For us the attraction of the SCORPION is its reliability and the fact that it is easy to operate and use. We have 11 people that are trained to operate it, so that’s important, but the cab layout is very good and CLAAS have obviously thought about the operator. It works; you get in it and all the main controls are just where you want them and the colour coding is very helpful.”

RESPONSIVE DYNAMIC POWER SYSTEM

In addition to being physically slightly bigger than their old machine, the new SCORPION also has a 200 litre/minute load sensing hydraulic system, which has made a big difference says regular operator Charlie Medynski. “The hydraulics are extremely good and there is no shortage of hydraulic power. It is incredible what it will lift considering the size of machine. It never struggles and because you do not have to rev the engine when lifting, it’s a lot quieter to operate. The Dynamic Power system on the engine is also very responsive, so when you put the engine under load the power is always immediately there when you need it. In addition, because it is slightly bigger, it is also noticeably more stable. Even when you have the boom fully extended loading an artic it feels very well planted.”

BREAKDOWNS NOT AN OPTION

Just as important for Jon Steward, who started the business in 1984, is the support and back-up he gets from the MANNS team. “The SCORPION is central to everything we do here. It will clock up over 1,200 hours a year just in the yard and the guys all like using it. Over the years I have used and tried most makes of telehandler, but I always come back to the SCORPION. I can’t afford breakdowns, so always change the machine when the warranty finishes, and this new SCORPION comes with a five year warranty which is great. But of all the dealers we do business with, the team at MANNS stand out. We do get extremely good service from them.”

Nathan Steward (right) and regular operator Charlie Medynski