Fit For Purpose
Through Outdoor Power Tools, Mansfield District Council has recently taken delivery of two Shibaura SG280 Slope mowers.
Tim Downes, Parks & Open Spaces Manager for the Council, commenting on the purchase, said “we have a high number of banked grassed areas across the district which were presenting us with both maintenance and operator health and safety issues. My first thought, as a solution, was to go for a remote mower but I was aware of problems which had occurred elsewhere when they had rolled over. I have to confess that until Paul Beckett of Outdoor Power Tools suggested we take a look at the Shibaura SG280 I was unaware that such a power unit, capable of working safely at up to 30 degrees, was available.
Paul Beckett commented “I felt that to opt for a remote mower, suitable just for bank work, would represent a big investment for Mansfield DC and would be the wrong choice. Following the demonstration which exceeded all expectations, proving it to be an easy to operate machine with excellent stability on all slopes on which it was asked to perform, they agreed. The 28hp powered diesel engine and even weight distribution more than cope with slopes up to thirty degrees with safety and the tilted seat maintains a horizontal position at all times. The council are getting a more versatile power unit for their money with the SG280”
Tim Downes continued “the Shibaura slope mower really is fit for purpose and we can now safely cut the vast majority of our more difficult areas, the maintenance of which had become a bone of contention for a number of our residents who were complaining that areas were being left uncut. We can also use both SG280’s for a range of other tasks including maintaining verges, footpaths and allotment plot clearance”