The proven reliability of the Kubota brand plus the range of options for grounds maintenance on a diverse variety of sites and applications has led Platform Housing Group to invest in 14 new Kubota machines this year.
“We operate a number of different types of contract in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands as part of the group’s western region,” explains Service Manager Simon Harris. “There are some 14,500 sites in this region alone, from ‘general needs’, which is maintaining gardens and grounds around properties, to parks and open spaces, and we have 38 operators.”
Platform Housing Group’s grounds maintenance teams work in a 10-12 day cycle around the sites, cutting some 3500-4000sqm of grass a day – adding up to 1 million sqm of grass in every cycle. Each operator rotates between mowing, brushcutting and hedgetrimming, so equipment needs to be reliable, productive and straightforward to use.
“Durability and adaptability is key,” Mr Harris comments. “Machines also need to be compact and lightweight to go on a trailer leaving room for clippings or other tools in the truck.”
At the end of last year, he undertook a procurement exercise to update the mowing fleet, trialling a number of brands.
“We were looking for best value from the machines, and dealer Ron Smith of Worcester, with whom we have established a very good relationship, was able to suggest machines to suit each job from the Kubota range.”
Ron Smith has supplied two G231HD and three G261HD ride-on collector mowers, five zd1211 zero turn mowers, one f3890 front mower with deck and collector, two further F3890s with Kubota deck and one with a Kubota rotary deck and outfront flail and an ST 410 compact tractor which is equipped with a rear flail deck for maintaining larger areas and longer grass. A four-plus-one year contract has been negotiated to include servicing.
“We’ve run Kubota mowers since 2007 and found them to be highly adaptable, from the first cuts in April to the end of the season,” comments Mr Harris. “With our workload, they have to be able to work in all conditions and we also need equipment to be reliable. We’ve had very few issues over the years.”
He adds that the latest machines offer extra productivity and quality: “The G261 has replaced a G23 in the fleet, and as well as the wider deck we are getting a better cut, while the flow of material from the deck to the cut is more streamlined. We’ve also noticed that with the adoption of the latest engine technology, the mowers have a better transmission of power.”
Service charges are banded according to the service level required, and general use sites tend to require cut and collect, but open spaces are cut and mulched, bringing in the high output F Series front mower and ZD 1211 zero turns.
Mr Harris comments that service provision from Ron Smith is seamless, with any repairs carried out within 48 hours or replacement machines provided.
“The Kubotas are the ‘Rolls Royces’ of our fleet,” he says. “Operators like using them because they are comfortable, with well thought-out controls and highly dependable. Small features such as the pedal-operated deck lift on the ZD and F series, and a really good lighting kit make a big difference.”
It all adds up to a package which offers considerable peace of mind, and the confidence that Platform Housing Group can provide a top quality service to its customers.
