Background

In 2014, a civils contractor in London was awarded a significant tree clearance contract by Rail Track. Given the scale of the project, it was evident from the outset that mechanisation would be essential to completing the work safely and on schedule.

At the time, no suitable attachment was available for the contractor’s 36-ton Volvo excavator. Consequently, they approached Wheatway Solutions to develop a bespoke tree saw and grapple tailored to the project’s needs.

Design & Development

Although the contractor had a concept of the finished product, they needed assistance in transforming it into a completed solution. With our extensive experience in product development and turnkey manufacturing, we were the natural choice to bring the concept to life.

Our R&D team collaborated closely with the contractor to refine the design and quickly transform it into a finished product. Throughout the process, we ensured that the design adhered to all relevant safety and industry regulations, guaranteeing a solution that was not only functional but also safe and fully compliant.

The Product

The final product was a purpose-built tree saw attachment, combining an automatic chainsaw arm with an integrated grab arm to ensure the safe handling of felled trees. A rotary coupling was incorporated into the design, allowing the operator to position the saw with precision without requiring a tiltrotator.

The tree saw’s chassis was fabricated from SJ350 steel plate, delivering exceptional strength and durability. This robust design ensured the attachment could withstand the demanding conditions of the project.

Manufacturing

Like all Wheatway Solutions products, the tree saw was designed and manufactured entirely in-house. This included every stage of fabrication and assembly, enabling us to maintain complete control over quality and ensure the final product met our exacting standards.

Compliance and Technical Documentation

Before the tree saw could be sold in the UK and Europe, it needed to meet UKCA and CE certification requirements. These certifications serve as official declarations from the manufacturer that the product is safe and conforms to all relevant regulatory standards. CE certification is also a mandatory requirement for export to Europe.

As an established manufacturer and experienced exporter, we have an in-depth understanding of this process. Our team managed every stage in-house, including producing all the necessary technical documentation.

In this project, our expertise allowed us to deliver a bespoke, market-ready solution without delay.

Do You Need a Bespoke Industrial Solution?

Sometimes, you face challenges that don’t have an ‘off-the-shelf’ solution — and these are the problems we specialise in solving. We collaborate closely with customers across a variety of global industries to design, manufacture, and deliver innovative solutions to their most pressing challenges.

If you’d like to discuss a project, please contact our team at sales@wheatway.com.