Epic 1,250 mile charity mower challenge hits the UK

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Look out for a man on a mower on the roads of the UK over the coming weeks. An epic Mowerthon is under way. One man is driving 1,250 miles on an Etesia H124 ride-on mower to raise £10,000 and awareness for national horticulture charity Perennial.

Perennial provides free, confidential advice, emotional support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in or retired from horticulture and their spouses, partners and children. The charity helps professionals such as gardeners, landscapers, tree surgeons, greenkeepers, plantsmen and groundsmen Its work depends entirely on voluntary donations from the horticulture industry and the garden-loving public, and the funds raised from the Mowerthon will be invaluable to the charity’s ongoing work to help individuals and families such as that of John Foley, BBC Young Gardener of the Year 2012:

“Perennial helped my family when my Dad became ill and all the family went through a difficult time. The Caseworker visited us regularly. They paid for my school trips and driving lessons so I could drive the van to flower shows. And they helped me access funding so I could go to Askham Bryan Horticultural College and complete my studies. Now I have a wonderful future and life is good for me.”

The ‘HortAid Mowerthon’ will see Phil Voice of the Landscape Juice Network driving the Etesia ride-on mower from Bergerac in France all the way to John O’Groats in Scotland. Phil set off on his 1,250 mile (2,000 km) journey on 1st October from his home in France and landed on to UK soil in Portsmouth on Saturday 6 October 2012.

Phil explains his motivation: “I’m always thinking of ways to help, and sitting at my desk one day I thought about walking from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity, but this had already been done,” commented Phil. “I then had a brainwave. Why not do it on a mower? Better still, why not do it from my home in France? After an email to Les Malin at Etesia UK which he forwarded to Patrick Vives, Etesia’s President, they offered a machine with their full support.”

Phil is calling on motorists, gardeners and horticulturalists from across the UK to show their support by honking and tweeting if you spot him (#mowerthon #iveseenphil), following his progress via the Landscape Juice Network blog and donating online or via free text. (Text HORT47 to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/mowerthon)

Phil will be supported by Etesia, their dealers and staff in France and the UK throughout his journey. The mower, used by local authorities and gardeners, has been fitted with a cab to cope with the unpredictable weather and has a top speed of just 10mph, yet he hopes to complete the journey in around two weeks.

Forecourt Fuels Ltd, one of the UK’s largest fixed price fuel card providers has supplied Phil with a fuel card at cost price for his UK leg. Tremendous support has also been received from a wide range of UK landscape companies including South East England based Affinity Landscapes, a commercial landscape maintenance and grounds care business, which has pledged to cover 50% of the fuel bill, keeping costs to Perennial at a minimum.

Social media will play a huge part in securing further free services en route including accommodation and refreshments.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation put their trust in Etesia

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Launched over 100 years ago, Joseph Rowntree established the trusts bearing his name. JRHT (Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust) owns the freehold of the vast majority of the properties in New Earswick, North Yorkshire. A major part of the trust’s gardening work is to keep the amenity grass surrounding the 2,500 properties in top order. Earlier this year, it took the decision purchase a second Etesia ride-on mower to cut and collect in an effort to further improve its grounds care service to residents.

In spring this year, the trust contacted a number of local dealers who all brought a variety of machinery to test on their own site and in their own environment.

After the vigorous testing process, the trust purchased a Hydro 124P from Golf and Turf Machinery, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The Hartrigg Oaks site, like all the other community villages gets its grass cut once every fortnight by gardener Andrew Scott.

Hatrigg Oaks is a retirement community for the over 60’s consisting of 150 houses and 80 flats which provide care for residents. The site, which is 20 acres, has amenity grass covering half of that.

Andrew says that the cut and collect with high tip facility was a fundamental ‘box ticked’ when it came to making the purchase. This means that all grass clippings are tipped into a recycling skip and taken off site.

The new Hydro124P is fitted with a 124-cm overlapping cutting deck and a 23-hp two-cylinder Vanguard engine. It has a high hourly mowing output of up to 15,000m² per hour, and an unequalled weight-to-power ratio. Above all, it represents excellent value for money, both for the initial purchase and for use over a longer period.

“We are absolutely delighted with its versatility and how it’s performing for us,” said Tom Hepburn, Team Leader. “We’ve been using Etesia since 2001 and the mower we purchased then is still in use now. After the demostration and coupled with the excellent service we’ve had from Etesia over the past ten years, it was an extremely easy decision.”

Etesia are renowned around the world for being able to cut and collect, even in wet conditions and it’s something that Andrew and his team has been impressed with. “It’s been excellent in the wet. If it wasn’t for the tyre marks it would leave, you could even use it to cut and collect in 2″ of water it’s that good! It’s certainly been tested in the wet summer we’ve had this year and we’ve all be impressed by the very tidy finish it leaves.”

Another important factor in the decision was on-going costs. This was another area that Etesia came out top. “They are highly robust and don’t let anybody down. Repairs are minimal, so our workshop costs are low,” said Tom.

Etesia launches new Duocut range

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The new Etesia duocut range of mowers is extremely versatile, and is capable of mowing with or without collection in all conditions, or for high-quality mulching. And they do all that with no need for an accessory.

That high performance is possible thanks to the Duocut concept which is the perfect combination between 100% collection and 100% mulching decks, without compromising the results of either of the functions. Changing the mowing system is easy: just place the removable insert under the deck if you want to mulch. Remove the insert if you prefer to mow with or without collection. There is no need what-so-ever for a tool or blade change. The insert completes the shape of the deck to form a smooth surface with no roughness, allowing the grass to move easily for incomparably superior mulching.    
                  
Excellent mulching results with a very high collection performance, even if the grass is long and wet is compacted in the 56 litre grass collection box, which comes complete with box filling indicator. The mower has a forward speed of 3.6 km/h and can work on Slopes of up to 18% or 10°.

Comfort

The mowers come, as standard with a height adjustable handle bar with three positions and folded position. Recessed handle bar shape to keep your hands safe while mowing close to an obstacle (wall, tree etc.)

There is a comfortable coating on the handle bar, and effortless control maintenance. Centralised adjustment of the cutting height with 7 positions from 28 to 88 mm and a digital cutting height indicator.

Duocut mowers think of their users, with low handlebar vibrations (3 m/s² (ahw).

Models available:

RMCS- push, Kohler courage engine, 18″ (46cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

RMCB- Single speed, Kohler courage engine, 18″ (46cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

There will also be Honda powered variable speed model to follow shortly.

RM41T- Single speed, Kohler engine, 16″ (41cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

RM41S- Push, Kohler engine, 16″ (41cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

The mower comes as standard with a three-year warranty and deck with 10-year warranty for private use.

The new Etesia duocut range of mowers is extremely versatile, and is capable of mowing with or without collection in all conditions, or for high-quality mulching. And they do all that with no need for an accessory.

 

That high performance is possible thanks to the Duocut concept which is the perfect combination between 100% collection and 100% mulching decks, without compromising the results of either of the functions. Changing the mowing system is easy: just place the removable insert under the deck if you want to mulch. Remove the insert if you prefer to mow with or without collection. There is no need what-so-ever for a tool or blade change. The insert completes the shape of the deck to form a smooth surface with no roughness, allowing the grass to move easily for incomparably superior mulching.     

                   

Excellent mulching results with a very high collection performance, even if the grass is long and wet is compacted in the 56 litre grass collection box, which comes complete with box filling indicator. The mower has a forward speed of 3.6 km/h and can work on Slopes of up to 18% or 10°.

 

Comfort

 

The mowers come, as standard with a height adjustable handle bar with three positions and folded position. Recessed handle bar shape to keep your hands safe while mowing close to an obstacle (wall, tree etc.)

 

There is a comfortable coating on the handle bar, and effortless control maintenance. Centralised adjustment of the cutting height with 7 positions from 28 to 88 mm and a digital cutting height indicator. 


Duocut mowers think of their users, with low handlebar vibrations (3 m/s² (ahw).

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Models available:

 

RMCS- push, Kohler courage engine, 18″ (46cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.


RMCB- Single speed, Kohler courage engine, 18″ (46cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

There will also be Honda powered variable speed model to follow shortly.

RM41T- Single speed, Kohler engine, 16″ (41cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.


RM41S- Push, Kohler engine, 16″ (41cm) Xenoy deck, includes mulch insert, and grass box.

 

The mower comes as standard with a three-year warranty and deck with 10-year warranty for private use.

One man, one mower, 1250 miles!

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Phil Voice, founder of the Landscape Juice Network, has announced that he will be driving an Etesia H124 mower from Bergerac in France up to John O’Groats in Scotland, to raise money for Perennial (Royal Gardeners’ Benevolent Society). Not only is he travelling through two different countries but, Phil will be racking up the mileage covering an enormous distance of over 1,250 miles (2000km).

Phil’s Etesia ‘Mowerthon’ machine is being prepared at the Etesia factory in France to include a cab with heater for the unpredictable British weather. Phil will be stopping to mow at special locations which will be revealed shortly before he starts on this epic journey at the beginning of October.

Phil has taken on this ‘Mowerthon’ to raise money for Perennial – the national trade charity which provides free, confidential advice and support to everyone working in, or retired from working in, horticulture, and their families, including gardeners, landscapers, nursery and garden centre staff, parks and grounds care staff and tree surgeons.

“I’m always thinking of ways to help, and sitting at my desk one day I thought about walking from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity, but this had already been done,” commented Phil. “I then had a brainwave. Why not do it on a mower? Better still, why not do it from my home in France? After an email to Les Malin at Etesia which he forwarded to Patrick Vives, Etesia’s President, they offered a machine with their full support.

The next challenge was to work with an appropriate charity. Lindsey Churchill of Perennial was extremely active on the network and I felt Perennial were more closely aligned, helping the horticulture practitioner, with what LJN does than anyone else out there…so I contacted Lindsey and here we are now.  We’re also looking for a similar charity to work with in France”.

Etesia are delighted to sponsor this fundraising activity by providing the machine, as well as providing a support crew and their strong dealer network are looking forward to supporting Phil along his journey.

“We were introduced to the Landscape Juice Network three or four years ago and have found it to be an extremely good way of speaking directly to our end users”, said Les Malin, Etesia UK General Manager. “When Phil approached us with an idea that he wanted to ride a mower from France to John O’Groats, our initial thought was that he was mad.

When he explained to us why he was planning this event, to support and help the industry he’s worked in all his life, then we were only too happy to support Phil with his journey. We look forward to meeting him at John O’Groats”.

There are plenty of ways to sponsor or get involved, simply visit www.hortaid.org.uk or if you would like to donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/mowerthon.

New Etesia dealer appointment in Scotland

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Etesia UK is excited to announce the appointment of Webster Power Products, based in North Lanarkshire, Scotland as an official sales and service dealer for the Etesia ride-on mower category and Pellenc range of battery-powered equipment. The company takes on responsibility for central Scotland and the borders.

Etesia Northern and Southern Sales Managers have been working hard over the last few months in recruiting new dealers for both Etesia and Pellenc products, and Andrew Roberts, the Northern area Sales Manager, has seen a significant rise in the number of new dealer appointments in his region.

Based in Wishaw, Central Scotland, Webster Power Products was started by current Managing Director Murray Webster’s mother and father in 1977. The company’s philosophy today is the same as it was in 1977, which is to provide customers with ‘The right tool for the job’. “We pride ourselves in not only understanding the jobs our customers do, but also being able to offer accurate advice, saving our customers time and money,” commented Murray.

The business today is still operated with a very hands-on approach. The company has a purpose built 60,000 sq ft premises and operate with a team of 22 employees.

“There is a wealth of experience and technical know-how within our sales and after-sales departments. This experience will be invaluable to past, present and future Etesia and Pellenc users as we strive to build the business among customers in the public and private sectors throughout our allocated areas.”

No fumes and less noise for gardening London squares

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A section of residential central London is undergoing a major change in the way its communal gardens are maintained, with a marked benefit to the local environment. This significantly includes the machinery being used to do it.

The Church Commissioners Hyde Park Estate, an area bounded by the Edgeware and Bayswater Roads, is maintained under contract by Tony Heywood Landscapes, one of the few gardening businesses actually based in central London. Its proprietor Tony Heywood has set out to promote the whole idea of sustainable practices in gardening for the private squares under his charge and owners of the land, the Church Commissioners through its management agents Frank Knight, have agreed to a three year programme of step-by-step action to achieve it.

Tony Heywood Landscapes aim to be seen as a ‘green’ unit in London. Both they and the Church Commissioners are keen to promote an image of environmental responsibility.

The scheme being put into action by the company’s team of seven staff, all of them trained horticulturalists, involves different planting regimes such as prioritizing perennial bedding rather than annuals, and replacing chemical control of weeds with hand weeding and organic methods.

Another of its principal features is a gradual switch-over from petrol to battery-powered equipment for the routine maintenance tasks, and this is already under way with the recent introduction of a Helion hedge trimmer, an Airion leaf and debris blower, and an Excelion strimmer all made by French manufacturer Pellenc. These were all supplied by Aylesbury-based RT Machinery, which has also provided, on trial, a battery-powered Etesia Bahia ride-on mower. After just three months usage there is favourable response from both staff and residents for all of these. Reduced noise levels, hand vibration, and elimination of fumes have all been welcomed, according to THL head gardener Lucy Mackenzie.

“I went to Saltex last year specifically to take a close look at battery-powered machines suitable for work in the Hyde Park Estate squares,” said Tony Heywood.

“The Pellenc and Etesia machines impressed me most and they are already proving their worth. I already had a good working relationship with RTM and will continue to talk to them about how we can extend the switch-over and keep a check on future developments in this area by the two manufacturers.”

Tony Heywood, who also lectures on garden design, is closely associated with the Royal Horticultural Society, he and his partner Alison Condie being its ‘artists in residence’.  He hopes the example being set in this part of London for the way its squares and gardens are looked after can set a standard for such work in urban areas everywhere.

The mower to bank on

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Etesia UK say that they have recently seen an extremely high demand for demonstrations of both their Attila A180 all-terrain ride-on mower and also their Attila SKF which is now available with an optional dual wheel kit for extra stability on uneven terrain and steep slopes of up to 25°.

 

Fitted with tyres of an agricultural profile, with a very low centre of gravity and optimised weight distribution, the Attila SKF fitted with the dual wheel kit which gives a wider wheel base, is primarily used for mowing banks and slopes around buildings, playing fields and also on rough areas situated around golf courses.

 

The differential lock with foot control is very practical in use and will allow you to retain control while mowing on slopes, even if a drive wheel loses grip. Fitted with a profiled mowing deck and reversible swing tip blades (85 cm cutting width), the system allows mowing in difficult conditions.

 

Hand or foot control for drive transmission, from 0 to 10 km/h: select the control you prefer and adapt your speed precisely to the terrain (slopes, obstacles etc.) or grass for closely controlled mowing.

 

The Attila A180 revolutionary ride-on brushcutter is perfect for safe mowing on banks and uneven terrain of up to 50%. Whatever the angle of the site, Etesia’s Attila A180’s unique automatic self-levelling system keeps the central driving unit upright, allowing the operator to work safely on slopes up to 27 degrees. A dashboard light warns when this limit is reached. The machine has a certified ROPS plus hydrostatic drive, power steering and good all-round visibility.

 

Powered by a 30hp Yanmar water-cooled 3 cylinder diesel engine, the Attila A180 has a hydrostatic drive, power steering and hydraulic drive to the cutting units. It is specially designed for large sites such as motorway banks, industrial estates, reservoir banks and other uneven terrain.

“While slopes and hillsides add dimension to the landscape, those same slopes can be extremely dangerous to mow without the correct type of mowing equipment”, says Les Malin, Etesia UK’s General Manager. “The big mistake is to use a standard ride-on mower for maintaining steep slopes as they can easily become unstable on gradients, putting the operator at risk”.

 

Etesia UK offers free demonstrations of both the Attila A180 and Attila SKF, fitted with the new dual wheel kit for extra stability on bank and slopes.

Cutting in the wet gives Etesia the edge in hire market

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Specialist hire company, Acacia Groundcare Equipment Rental, has recently increased its fleet of Etesia pedestrian mowers to an impressive 30, made up of both the ever popular Pro46 and Pro53 with the delivery of two more Pro46’s by local dealer South East Groundcare Machinery.

The firm, based at Henfield, West Sussex, is now in its fifth year of trading and the company’s MD Ritain Patel says the ground care hire market is burgeoning because in these times of restraint some end users are reluctant to buy equipment used only seasonally or for one-off tasks, meaning that hiring machines for specific jobs or for specific periods of time can be more cost-effective.

Acacia has clients across the whole of the South East, from Dover to Reading. Ninety per cent of its business is with commercial users ranging from landscape contractors, to housing associations, schools and National Trust properties. The remainder is with large property owners. Mowers and brush cutting machinery are an important part of the firm’s wide range of machinery for hire. Seasonal demand is high and growing, and from the day Ritain and his business partner Dale Hudson set the business up, each having had years of experience in the hire industry, Etesia was their manufacturer of choice for grass cutting machinery.

“Etesia mowers are the only ones on the market designed to cut effectively in the wet, and that is a big bonus to many of our clients, and of course to us,” says Ritain.

“They are highly robust and don’t let anybody down. Repairs are minimal, so our workshop costs are low. They last and are good earners. We get at least three years of hard work out of our Etesia mowers.”

Acacia has a tried and tested relationship with Matthew Clark, proprietor of South East Groundcare Machinery, from whom they will take advice on machine usage and maintenance. The company also has a very strict workshop system in place, whereby every machine gets a complete check when returned from hire. A full inspection, no ifs or buts, is how Ritain describes it.

“Many of the contractors we supply use our services to fill a vital gap in their machinery needs as jobs come and go. They may have a fleet of machines of their own, but there is always a need for others, often for additional tasks,” he says.

“Fixed monthly outlay for machine hire is attractive to school bursars for example, who need to control budgets tightly. Safeguards by way of servicing and instant replacement for repair tick boxes for many a client too.

As well as the Pro 46 and Pro53 pedestrian mowers, other Etesia machines owned by Acacia for hire include Hydro 80 ride-on cut and collect mowers, a 124D ride-on mower and AK85 & AV95 brushcutters.

Landscape Contractor switches to Pellenc battery power in aid to combat White Finger

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Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), also known as White Finger, is a condition affecting nerves and circulation caused by vibration. The effect is cumulative – each exposure can worsen the condition. Harm can be caused by as little as 15 minutes of exposure per day for some hand-held tools.

In an effort to reduce this condition, one Yorkshire based contractor has switched their fleet of petrol-powered hand-held tools to the battery power of Pellenc.

Eco Garden Maintenance (EGM) was set-up by Stuart Brogdan twelve years ago and is a company that is committed to protecting the environment and wildlife habitat as well as enthusiastic about organic products and principles.

When the time came to choosing new hand-held equipment for their landscape maintenance work, it was Stuart himself that extensively researched the market to look at alternatives to the heavy 2-stroke petrol products he had always used.

“I had been suffering from White Finger and back problems for around five years,” explained Stuart. “I was looking for a ‘greener’ alternative to the petrol tools we were using and came across the Pellenc brand on the Landscape Juice website. As I read more reports and looked at all of the facts and figures, I became more and more intrigued and so organized a demonstration.

“I was instantly impressed not only by the weight of all the machines I tried, but also the power that came from them. From that moment, I knew that I needed them – not only because the vibration levels are far lower than the petrol equivalents, which enables me to keep White Finger under control, but because the battery is strapped to my back, the weight of the tools is low enough for me to complete a full day’s work with no aches or pains”. A range of tools consisting of an Excelion brushcutter, Helion hedgecutter, Selion C20 chainsaw, Treelion pruning shears and Airion vacuum blower all powered from a Poly 5 battery was ordered for everyday use by the forward thinking maintenance company.

The low noise coupled with no obtrusive fumes sat well with EGM’s eco-friendly strategy. Built around the tools are their other optional services – the company proudly uses organic fertilizers, composting and soil improvement.

“The low noise of the products has two main advantages. The first is the obvious noise reduction for the operator and the second being the clients where we work. Since we’ve purchased the Pellenc tools we’ve had many comments from clients saying how quiet we are. We’ve also been known to be outside working as early as 6am in the summer months!”

With over 20 years agricultural and horticultural experience, EGM work across North Yorkshire for clients ranging from large residential country properties to care homes and industrial estates and since purchasing the equipment from dealer Lloyd Limited, has become totally committed to the Pellenc brand.

“I certainly wouldn’t go back to using petrol power now. As well as the eco-friendly benefits, the savings made on purchasing fuel and carrying fuel cans around with us on the job mean that a major health and safety issue has immediately been removed.”

The exceptionally low levels of vibration, weight of the products, guarantee of use with no odour, with no starting problems and no filling of a fuel tank means that any of the Pellenc range of products can be used continuously for a whole day without exceeding the legal maximum ELV for Hand-Arm Vibration.

New Bahia MKM from Etesia – The next generation mulching mower

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With recycling a top priority for today’s environmentally conscious landscaper, Etesia has launched a new member to the Bahia family of ride-on mowers.

The Bahia MKM is equipped with a bio-cut 85cm cutting deck and offers a very high mulching performance. The MKM also inherits the robustness, reliability, comfort, excellent ergonomics and exceptional compactness of the Bahia range of mowers.

The new Bahia MKM can recycle as it cuts, chopping the grass clippings into extremely fine particles before returning them to the turf to decompose naturally. This mulch acts as a conditioner, feeding nutrients to the growing plants, plus its high water content provides essential moisture for the lawn during hot, dry spells. It’s quick, clean, environmentally-friendly and with no clippings to dispose of, mowing time is reduced.

PERFORMANCE
Compact, tenacious, flexible and multi-tasking, the Bahia MKM adapts to every terrain – A truly go-anywhere mower. A pocket-size ride-on mower, at just 0.90m wide and 1.73m long, the MKM features an incredibly tight turning circle, able to turn into every nook and cranny and can be easily transported in a van or on a trailer. The automatic gearbox allows users to go forward, stop, reverse, accelerate and brake all instantaneously and in complete safety. With its low centre of gravity, the MKM gives users excellent stability.

The MKM’s 30/70 weight distribution on the front/rear axles make it a highly stable mower that masterfully copes with slopes. A Profiled bio-cut 85cm deck and blade produces high quality mulching, whilst the lawn profile wheels give maximum lawn protection.

COMFORT
The Ideal driving position, high-comfort seat, controls on dashboard, silence and safety – with the Bahia MKM, discover a whole new world of well-being. Dashboard controls include electric starter, blade controls and hour-meter. The mower requires only the lightest touch for easy driving. From the driver’s adjustable, ergonomic seat, you have a perfect view of your working environment and all of the controls are within easy reach: cutting height selector, forward/reverse pedals, parking brake.

Safety first: Noise level under 100 dB (A), petrol tank with overflow catcher, built-in blade brake, several safety switches, the MKM complies with machine directive 2006/CE.

The easy life: A hose pipe fitting makes cleaning the cutting system quick and easy, whilst the tool-free access to the engine allows for easy maintenance thanks to quick access to all mechanical parts.

Robustness: Mechanically welded load-bearing chassis, Ø 60mm, epoxy finish with built-in strapping hooks, cutting deck especially constructed to resist long term wear under the various mulching conditions. A Step steering column cover and dashboard cover in EPP (expanded polypropylene) with its hardwearing, anti-skid properties, ensures this mower is a mower for all seasons.

Efficient: With a hydrostatic drive transmission with the engine power coming from a Kawasaki FS 481 16HP and over 90% centred on drive and blade transmission, coupled with oil changes at 50 hours then every 200 hours ensure that this new mower has been built with the user in mind.

VERSATILITY
From mulching to long grass cutting, the built-in deflector to mow long grass with side ejection can be completed. On the Bahia MKM, it is particularly easy to use, thanks to a simple system of clips, without the need tools or other spares. The deflector is retractable in the event of shock.

A Snow blade is also available as optional extra allowing users to clear snow from their paths and pavements fast. The Multi-purpose garden trailer (MRM) is the ideal Bahia accessory, making garden maintenance incredibly easy.