Mechanised Arb
Mechanised arboriculture across Ceredigion, Powys, Gwynedd — Valtra T214 with 16" grapple-saw (10 m reach), 25 m MEWP, 5-tonne excavator with shear — emergency works, highways, estates, utilities.
The implementation of mechanisation into Arboriculture is creating a rapid increase in safety for our employees, whilst simultaneously saving our clients money.
What is Mechanised Arb
The use of Grapple Saws mounted on tractors, excavators, or specialised machinery to safely dismantle trees without any employee having to leave the ground. The ability to feed chippers by machine, with the operator safely in a machine cab, the ability to open roads faster after storms, the ability to either avoid manual chainsaw work in dangerous wind-blow scenarios or restrain dynamic timber with a machine whilst it is manually cut.
FAQ
What access is required? A width of 2.8m and a firm surface for the Valtra. The excavator tree sheer can handle rough terrain, and can dig it's own access if required.
What crew comes with the Grapple-saw? This varies with each job; on some sites an operator an a banks-person is all that is needed. On other sites we send a MEWP with operator, a climb team if necessary, chipper(s) ground crew, anythign as needed.
What is Mechainsed Arb is not suitable for? We would not use a grapple saw to reduce a beautiful Beech tree canopy, this will be carried out carefully by a skilled arborist from a MEWP or DRT set-up.
What areas do you cover? Pretty much anywhere in the UK and Europe, give us a call and ask for Tristan.
Is mechanised removal cheaper than climbing? On brittle ash or large roadside trees, mechanised is usually quicker and safer, so total job cost is often lower.
Can you work without a full road closure? Yes — many jobs run under 2-way lights after a traffic management assessment.
Do you sort TPO/conservation area consent? Yes — we help with applications and provide method statements where required.
Get a mechanised-arb quote | Call us on 0800 118 58 58
Case studies
A487, Talybont (August 2025)
Brittle ash over live carriageway. Used: Valtra + grapple-saw, 25 m MEWP, 2-way lights. Road reopened in 46 minutes; arisings removed same day.
Waunfawr Community Center (October 2025)
Dead Ash trees around the carpark, limbs extending over neighbouring properties, cut and held with the graple-saw, no need for slow (expensive) rigging techniques.
Valtra T214 - Grapplesaw
Tractor mounted 16" Mechanil grapple saw, Mohedra M81DT crane with 10 meter reach, road legal, can operate on a two lane road without having to close the road (unlike roto-handlers and Sennebogen tree handlers). We can have a chipper or trailer on the back, and can arrive on site with a 5t excavator with grab or tree sheer together.
Tackeuchi 5 tonne excavator
The 5t fits in places bigger machines can't, but still has the power to lift material. It has a tree sheer or grab, or a splitting cone or stump planer.
Unimog and Timber
The trusted Mercedes Unimog U1600, front and rear PTOs, timber crane trailer, tipping trailer, PTO chipper, and much more.
Ash Die-back (Chalara)
Chalara, also known as Ash dieback, is a fungal disease that affects all species of Fraxinus (Ash) tree. This disease is the most significant threat to trees in the UK since Dutch Elm disease. The first cases of the disease in Britain were officially recorded in the south-east of England in 2012 since then it has spread west across the UK. It is now affecting all parts of Wales. The fungus (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) attaches itself to the leaves of ash trees and spreads through the branches. It blocks the water transport systems in the leaves and branches which in turn causes leaf loss and lesions in the wood and on the bark.
As the disease progresses, it leads to the gradual dieback of the tree’s crown. The tree will become brittle and it’s branches will begin to snap and drop from the canopy. Without proper management the trees are at risk of collapsing entirely. Depending on the location of the tree, this can cause a significant risk. There is no known cure for the disease, and we cannot stop it from spreading. Chalara has the potential to kill over 90% of Ash trees in Ceredigion over the next 5 to 10 years.
How Arbcore Ltd deal with infected trees
Infected trees rapidly become unsafe to climb, we have our own modern, LOLER certified 25 meter MEWP (cherry picker/ access platform) which we use to access and safely dismantling the trees. But for roadside or tractor aces, we can use the Grapple Saw, it is a lot safer, many times faster, and saves our clients money every day.
Whatever You Require, Get In Touch.
One of our experts will contact you as soon as possible to discuss your options.
