RT Sales Ltd is home of the new and innovative RT ProArm Hedgecutter which is attracting considerable interest from far and wide.
Committed to providing the best Design, Performance and Production of quality hedge cutters, coupled with over 25 years’ experience in hedge cutting contracting, RT Sales Ltd has now brought its own unique RT ProArm range to the market.
These machines are manufactured to the highest quality standards and feature the revolutionary RT ProArm Stabilised Mounting System matched to the RT ProArm range of hedge cutters. RT hedge cutters are economical to run, safer, faster and easier to mount. They also offer a level of functionality, finesse and flexibility that is unrivalled in the industry. They are built by contractors for contractors.
The RT ProArm Hedgecutter range offers a solution for every hedge cutting job, from fixed arm hedge cutters to telescopic models with an 18ft to 22ft reach. Years of research and development have gone into the patented mounting system which is unique to RT ProArm, giving you the best and safest hedge cutting experience on the market. All RT ProArm hedge cutters are built in Ireland, ensuring a quality product every time.
Based in Castleisland, Co. Kerry, RT Sales Ltd evolved from RT Hedge & Tree Cutting Ltd which was set up by Padraig Teahan and his father-in-law Johnny Reidy in 2008. RT Hedge & Tree Cutting Ltd has maintenance contracts with Kerry County Council, Cork County Council, Coillte and NBI (National Broadband Ireland) to name but a few. With Johnny – who has been in the business for 30 years – operating as a sole trader and carrying out contract work for private clients, Padraig runs RT Hedge & Tree Cutting Ltd with the support of four team members.
“We branched into sales after becoming an agent for another brand of hedge cutters, mulching heads and saw heads a few years ago,” Padraig explains.
“Johnny had always said there were things he would love to see in a hedge cutter, from a contractor perspective, and the idea of manufacturing our own grew from that.
“We started the process of designing the first head around the kitchen table in November 2019 and here we are now in 2023 promoting our own RT ProArm range of hedge cutters which we are excited to bring to the market. We have been taken aback by the interest and the amount of well wishes we’ve received. A lot of people have said to us that it’s nice to see an Irish-built machine on the market.
“Our flagship machines are the RT ProArm JA 2122T and the RT ProArm JA 2120. The JA 2122T is a telescopic hedge cutter with 18ft to 22ft reach, while the JA 2120 is a fixed arm hedge cutter with a 20ft reach. Both feature an electric proportional joystick and our unique patented mounting system.
“I’m using a ProArm machine myself and 10 more are being built at the moment, five of which have already been sold. TFM (Templetuohy Farm Machinery) were the first main dealer to take us on and Corbett Machinery in Mallow are now representing us as well. The very positive feedback we’ve got from both dealers has been hugely gratifying and has made us all the more determined to make this a success.”
Reflecting on the genesis of the RT ProArm range, Padraig explains: “We built our first flail head in 2019 which we put onto an existing machine. Once we saw that it was cutting well, it gave us the confidence to build a prototype 20ft fixed arm machine which is now in its third season of cutting. Any shortcomings were quickly rectified. We did a world of testing like how different hose sizes to the head work in different conditions.
“One of the first steps we took was to secure the services of Jerry Flynn, who is a former Liebherr engineer. We then got in touch with Keith Cronin of Torc Engineering in Killarney who are manufacturing and assembling the machines for us. Jerry and Keith were easy to work with and a pleasure to deal with it from the start. After a lot of meetings around the kitchen table, the design process finally began.”
He continues: “My sister-in-law Fiona Reidy, who was on maternity leave from her job as a pharmacist at the time, helped us to set up the company. Fiona and Jerry (Flynn) also secured the CE certification. Jerry was a great help on the technical side of things. And not forgetting my wife Diane, who was a huge support throughout the start-up phase and my mother-in-law, Pauline, who records all the enquiries and day-to-day details for us. In the model numbers on our machines, JA are the initials of my sons Jamie and Alex. It really is a family affair.”
Padraig goes on to explain how they insisted on using Irish suppliers only.
“We’re big into local. We saw the benefit of that during Covid and the Ukrainian war when parts from overseas were difficult to come by. We could see the value of shopping local. Our hydraulics come from Hi Power in Cork, our high vis jackets and safety gear from Anchor Safety in Galway and our brochures and fliers from Walsh Colour Print here in Castleisland. We’re 100% Irish made.
“After building our first prototype, we built a second 20ft identical fixed arm machine and our first 18-22ft telescopic. We made our first sale to Mike Collins Agri in Freemount, Co. Cork. At the same time, Johnny was in talks with Pat Costello of TFM who called out to the yard and tested the hedge cutter himself. He was suitably impressed and TFM are currently giving demos of the 18-22ft telescopic machine. They have six branches across Ireland, so they’re a great shop window for us.”
One of the new machine’s big selling points is the revolutionary RT ProArm Stabilised Mounting System.
“We are the only manufacturer in the world using this mounting system. The beauty of the hitch is in its simplicity. There is no welding or anything like that involved. The hedge cutter can be taken on and off your tractor like any other attachment, giving contractors the flexibility to use the different tractors for hedge cutting with ease. People can’t believe that it wasn’t thought of before. We have a patent on it for Ireland, the UK and Europe, and there is also a world-wide patent pending,” he adds.
Padraig and Johnny would like to take this opportunity to thank their customers, dealers and suppliers for their continued support. As for the RT ProArm Hedgecutter, watch this space!
RT Sales Ltd
Cordal,
Castleisland,
Co. Kerry,
V92PR60.
Telephone: 087 259 2137/087 299 2218
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 11 No 6, December 2023/January 2024
