As well as manufacturing the renowned Arbocut series of hedge cutters, AR Engineering Services Ltd. is also the first port of call for farmers who need to have their hedge cutting equipment repaired, serviced, tested or reconditioned. We caught up with founder Anthony Roche to get an insight into their exceptional, market-leading operation.
AR Engineering Services is not just a premium hedge cutter manufacturer (synonymous with the highly sought-after Arbocut series); the Carrigeen, County Kilkenny workshop is also the go-to place in Ireland for replacement rotors and vibration tests.
On the back of in-depth knowledge and quality workmanship, spreading its reputation through word of mouth and positive referrals, the company has become an invaluable partner for owners (or prospective owners!) of hedge cutting equipment island-wide, across the UK and further afield. To give an indication of their mass popularity … up to 95% of the saws on hedge cutters and excavators in Ireland originated at AR Engineering!
Known for their efficiency, reliability and heavy duty construction, AR Engineering Services’ extremely well-built Arbocut 2000 hedge cutters are the first choice of farmers and contractors. Alongside the Arbocut saw and flail-and-saw, Arbocut 2000 also manufacture saw unit attachments and saw blades, fine and rough cut.
Fitting and removing the Arbocut 2000 series hedge cutter is straightforward due to its easy-to-use adjustable parking legs, which are carried on the machine at all times to prevent them from being mislaid.
Meanwhile, independent hydraulic systems eliminate the messy chore of coupling hydraulic hoses. No tools are needed to complete fitting or removal, which can be carried out in less than ten minutes. Standard mounting is by unobtrusive axle brackets – designed to be left on the tractor throughout the year for quick coupling of the trimmer when required – which do not normally affect check chains, stabilizers, pick-up hitches etc.
AR Engineering Services Ltd. was established in 1983 by Anthony Roche. Originally, he manufactured replacement rotors and replacement heads for all made of hedge cutters. In 1988, he manufactured his first Arbocut 2000 series hedge cutter. A patent was taken on the rotors. In 1992, Seamus Foskin – formerly a director with Abbey Engineering Services tookmakers – came on board as a partner.
Having worked extensively abroad, in Germany and England, Anthony’s background in engineering was with ABB – the global Swedish supplier of products and systems for power transmission as well as for process and industrial automation – for whom he worked in R&D.
The roots of AR Engineering were planted when he started to manufacture replacement rotors for hedge cutters. “Customers were asking me if I could make replacement rotors better than the McConnel one, which was wearing very quickly,” he reflects. “I took the patent out in ’83, having designed a rotor which eliminated the problem of elongation, which remains a common problem on every rotor apart from the Arbocut one. Indeed, it’s the most common problem with all other hedge cutters on the market.”
AR Engineering Services has designed a rotor that eliminates this wear and it can be installed on all makes of hedge cutter used in Ireland. “In ’92, we started making the complete hedge cutter, with two models – the six-metre and seven-metre telescopic,” Anthony continues. “We also manufacture saws for hedge cutters and excavators.”
For the latter, AR Engineering Services has captured the entire UK and Germany markets for saws for excavators between 2.5 and 30 tonne as well as selling into territories as far away as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Which goes to show that, when the product is good enough, word will spread.
“When word gets around, demand increases,” Anthony agrees. “There’s actually nobody else making saws for excavators in the UK or Germany, so it’s a niche market and a new market for us, with turnover of around €400,000 per annum. We’re also doing mulching heads for excavators, which are in big demand at the moment. Clarke Machinery, the main Valtra dealer in Cavan, has an order in for those.”
Hydraulic saws, flail mulchers and hammer mulchers are also included amongst the range of products manufactured. “We’re busy and have enough to keep us going for the time being,” says Anthony. “I’ve never expanded that hugely or been interested in doing so. I’m happy to have just enough to keep us going and I like to have some time off as well.”
Gainful, full-time employment is generated for a crew of five. “We provide repair and maintenance services on every make of hedge cutter that comes to Ireland. We can read rotors and measure vibration and provide vibration analysis, using a very modern machine which we acquired at a cost of €50,000. We get rotors here every day from all over Ireland, which we read and rebalance.”
Anthony has made a great deal of business contacts down through the years and estimates that he has upwards of 600 contacts listed in his phone. “If somebody in Ireland is in trouble with a hedge cutter, chances are they will wind up here,” he notes matter-of-factly. “I’ve even had a customer from Wales who came to me to get his rotor balanced.”
The Arbocut hedge cutters are also moving well, with new orders taken every week. Trade-ins are also refurbished for sale as second-hand hedge cutters and are flying out the door almost quicker than they are coming in! “I get enquiries for those every week and literally never have any in stock. We rebuild all the hedge cutters we take in as trade-ins and sell them with a twelve-month warranty. There’s big demand on them.”
Hedge cutter sales are seasonal, with strongest demand from June through to March. “The Wildlife Act has had a big impact on the business and on all hedge cutting because farmers can now only cut for six months of the year instead of twelve. For any contractors working for County Councils, doing verge work etc. tides them over, but generally speaking the Act has had a massive impact on the hedge cutting season.”
The bottom line, however, is that the future of AR Engineering Services is secure due to the dependability of the products and services provided. “Arbocut is known for reliability and we make a very good, reliable machine,” Anthony concludes. “You live on your reputation and thankfully we have a good reputation for manufacturing hedge cutters and for sorting out customers’ rotor or vibration problems.
“Italian machines might look sexy, but they don’t like stones and there are a lot of stones in Ireland!”
AR Engineering Services Ltd.
New Aglish,
Carrigeen,
County Kilkenny.
Telephone: 051 895577
087 2594595
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.arbocut2000.com
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 8, December 2017/January 2018
