Rental Solutions: Consider tree care
Expand your fleet with spider lifts built to take the rigors of the tree-care industry.
While many rental operations shy away from renting MEWPs to arborists and tree care professionals, Tony Trainer, tree care account manager for USM Falcon Lifts Tree Care division, predicts that this could be a very lucrative niche for equipment rental centers.
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Falcon 76Z and 88Z spider lifts can double tree care contractor output while reducing manpower. |
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Falcon Z-style lifts are built to withstand the rigors of tree care. Hoses are protected, cylinders have guards and the tracks can be lifted for greater ground clearance on uneven terrain. |
Falcon Lifts and its North American distributor partner, USM, has developed a new division that features spider lifts that are purpose-built for the tree care industry. They are introducing two new models, the Falcon 76Z (76 foot) and 88Z (88 foot) units to the North American market this spring.
“The 76Z and 88Z models are in the sweet spot of the Falcon spider lift line that ranges from 44- to 170-foot units. Tree care professionals are finding these units can travel on their tracks into confined areas, get situated and be up in the tree canopy before a climber finishes donning a harness and begins climbing,” Trainer says.
While tree care professionals have relied on either climbing or bucket trucks to reach into the canopy, spider lifts are gaining attention for that task in North America. These units have long been popular in other parts of the world. “In fact, Falcon Lifts, a Denmark-based company, is the original inventor of the spider lift concept,” says Brian Faulk Schmidt, director and part owner of Falcon Lifts.
Trainer has been involved with the spider lift industry for decades, but recently joined the USM Falcon Tree Care division because he sees a tremendous opportunity with the Falcon units in the United States. “Unlike other tow-behind or smaller spider lifts, the Z-series Falcon Lifts are designed to stand up to the rigors of tree care. Hoses are protected, cylinders have guards and the tracks can be lifted for greater ground clearance on uneven terrain. Components are built stronger to withstand what arborists can put machines through. We’ve found these are important factors to those in the tree care business,” Trainer says.
The units weigh less than 10,000 pounds and with their tracked undercarriage, exert very low ground pressure. The models that are below 100-foot reach are 36 inches wide so they can fit through most residential gates. The units’ wireless control allows it to be operated from the basket or from the ground.
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“I understand the hesitancy of rental houses to rent to tree care companies, but smaller, mid-sized rental companies may be sitting on a golden egg if they rent to tree care contractors and arborists,” says Tony Trainer, tree care account manager for USM Falcon Lifts Tree Care division. |
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“Falcon Lifts, a Denmark-based company, is the original inventor of the spider lift concept,” says Brian Faulk Schmidt, director and part owner of Falcon Lifts. |
The Falcon Lift line uses a Z-style linkage to get workers at height quickly and safely. It also features high-level telematics capability that allow units in the field to be quickly diagnosed and adjusted on site to save valuable time. When and if repairs are needed, USM Falcon Lifts Tree Care division has a fully stocked parts supply chain to get needed components quickly.
“We are finding that today, equipment buyers are not just buying a piece of equipment. They are buying into a partnership with the equipment supplier,” says Schmidt. “That’s why we have a tremendous focus on durability, troubleshooting and parts availability. The after-sales support is becoming extremely important.”
According to GetJobber.com, the tree care industry is facing similar issues as construction contractors. It has identified worker safety, the labor shortage and the need to automate processes as top challenges facing the tree care industry. Using heavy-duty yet nimble spider lifts such as the Falcon lift line for arborist work provides a very viable solution to those three challenges.
Trainer says professionals in the tree-care business generally are risk-takers. “They like the idea of climbing up in a tree, tying off and planning each branch cut and drop. However, we’re finding the older tree care contractors are looking for ways they can stay in the business because it’s very demanding work and they have a hard time finding reliable employees. So when they see how a Falcon lift can get them to work faster and also that they need fewer workers, it makes sense to them. They like the idea of getting twice as much accomplished with fewer workers.”
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Meet Wesley Davis of USM ReRents
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| Wesley Davis USM ReRents |
The construction equipment rental business has become Wesley Davis’s life and passion. Starting as a mechanic in the rental business in the ’90s, Wesley quickly moved to branch manager/sales manager and now in his own words, “I am on the A team with USM ReRents.
“My life on the road for USM allows me to make friends and relationships across my six-state territory. In my 20 years in sales, I have learned the rental business is about relationships and that you must earn the client’s business. Face-to-face meeting is a must. I do not have customers, I have friends!”
Davis works a six-state area: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado and Wyoming. In his visits with rental center operators, he says all anticipate greater demand in Q3 as the country continues to recover. “All have expressed confidence for things to be back to normal by 1Q 2022.”
“The best decision in my life was to join the USM ReRents team, meet great people, make new friends and enlighten rental companies on the benefits of re-rental. I like showing them how to serve their customers with amazing equipment without capital investment. It is a win-win for all.”
“I understand the hesitancy of rental houses to rent to tree care companies, but smaller, mid-sized rental companies may be sitting on a golden egg if they rent to tree care contractors and arborists. The tree care industry is booming. If a rental center opens its doors to tree care professionals and they have a lift that can stand up to the rigors of tree care, then I think they’ll have they’ll realize a financial benefit from it,” Trainer says.
Trainer is planning tow-and-show demonstrations throughout the country in 2021; rental centers interested in exploring adding Falcon units to their fleets can contact Trainer at ttrainer@usmfalconlifts.com or at 803.876.0630. Find out more at http://www.usmfalconlifts.com/.
This advertorial originally appeared in the May-June 2021 issue of Pro Contractor Rentals magazine. ©2021 Urbain Communications LLC. All rights reserved.
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