Near Lower Lough Erne in Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh, Alan Ferguson and his father Robin run a well-established agricultural contracting and plant hire business. While slurry and silage work still make up a large part of their operations, the business has diversified into digger hire, now operating a fleet of 12 diggers ranging from 13 to 20 tonnes.
With an increased focus on forestry and hedge-cutting work in recent years, the Fergusons have built up an impressive range of attachments, including four mulchers and four tree shears. A Serrat PTO three-point linkage mulcher was also added to the fleet this autumn.
The Agricola Pro T2800 Pro tractor mulcher can handle everything from grass cutting to larger gorse and sally bushes with ease.
Why diversify?
To grow the business and overcome challenges of securing seasonal staff, in recent years, Alan felt that diversification was essential to provide a steady work stream year-round and allow full-time work for staff. “After years of expanding the grass and slurry side of the business, we got to a point where we physically couldn’t expand anymore without stepping on the toes of local contractors which we didn’t feel was the right thing to do. Instead, we looked at other avenues that would compliment what we already had going on. Diggers were the best fit for several reasons,” Alan said.
Serrat claims that its tooth layout and rotor design is a key feature.
On the plus side, diggers weren’t completely new for the Fergusons. “When I left school at 16, I bought a Moffet saw for our JCB JS 130. It wasn’t common to see a saw on a digger cutting hedges, but at times it was the only answer to maintaining hedges on the often-tricky Fermanagh land,” Alan explained.
Now the business runs 12 diggers, ranging from 13 to 20 tonnes, across several brands including CAT, Hitachi, Komatsu and Liebherr. Currently, three to four diggers are dedicated to agricultural work, while another one or two work alongside local arborists JC Tree Services. The remainder are subcontracted to NIE, ESB and other construction projects across Northern Ireland and mainland UK.
The Agricola mulcher is currently running on a Valtra N174 with 1050mm rear tyres.
Digger mulchers
Digger mulchers have been a part of the business for over a decade now, but have played a large role in its growth more recently. Alan’s first machine was a Seppi, having been one of the earlier brands on the market. This was later traded for a Serrat. “I had heard word that Leslie Plant Sales had taken on the Spanish brand. As an agricultural contractor himself, Clint knows the importance of reliability and backup.”
Impressed by what he saw, Alan decided to take a chance on a Cabezal F3 P1200 swinging hammer mulcher which he fitted to a 13t digger, which performed well. “The only issue with it was that the rotor bearings were a little too small. However, Serrat quickly addressed this.”
In 2021, he upgraded to two new Cabezal F3 P1200 mulchers, a fixed-tooth type and a swinging-hammer type. Both have run trouble-free, with the swing hammer machine recently upgraded and another fixed-tooth model added. Aside from replacing a couple of teeth, both machines are in original condition and running original belts and bearings. Alan also runs a mix of TMK, MDE and Brian Scott tree shears. However, a grab saw is likely to be the next investment.
The hydraulic rear hood is a super option, Alan feels.
Design
One of Ireland’s best sellers, the Cabezal F3 P1200 is a 1.2m machine suitable for 6–15 tonne diggers. Serrat fully constructs its mulchers from 8mm Hardox plate. The 470mm octagonal rotor is a key feature. This, Serrat claims not only increases strength, but allows better mounting of each tooth. The unique tooth arrangement is another key selling point which Alan too feels allows the Serrat machine to leave a superior finish over competitor machines.
Serrat uses a larger carbide tooth than most other brands.
The Agricola tractor mulcher features the same octagonal rotor and swinging hammer flails.
Power is transferred via a simple triple v-belt drive from Sunfab/ Rexroth motors to the rotor. One change on the latest fixed-tooth machines Alan welcomes is that the teeth are now mounted using three bolts, not two, reducing the potential of loosening. Having used other brand mulchers, Alan believes that the Serrat machines throw considerably less debris towards the cab. Serrat claim this is down to the design of the hood and rotor.
“Initially, we went with the swinging hammer, thinking it would leave a better finish on hedges, but the fixed tooth is just as good now. The swinging hammer mulcher will comfortably take up to 8in timber, where the fixed-tooth will take whatever you feed it once given time,” he said.
Tractor mulcher
Mulching rushes and site clearance is another service offered by Alan and his team. Until this year, a Kuhn BP 8300 was used, which handled heavy crops of rushes well but not grass or dense gorse.
After seeing the country’s first Serrat Agricola Pro T2800 Pro PTO machine in action this summer, it was quickly purchased. The three-point linkage machine shares many similarities with its digger-mounted models, such as octagonal rotor design, flail layout, Hardox body etc. It uses 28 swinging duck-foot flails, a 1,00rpm gearbox and a 3/4in input drive shaft which Serrat claims is the same as found in many power harrows and larger than most competitors.
The hydraulic rear hood leaves it much easier to mulch dense vegetation.
As with other Serrat models, there is an extensive option list available, including reverse drive, side shift, hydraulic rear hood etc. Alan’s machine includes the rear hydraulic hood, which he finds a super feature when reversing into heavier material such as large gorse, sally bushes and willow. To keep ground pressure low, in wet conditions the mulcher is run on a 2,00hp Valtra N174 on 1,050mm rear tyres. Although rated for 350hp, Alan says that the Valtra is well capable of running it.
After four seasons, the Cabezal F3 P1200 fixed-ooth mulcher is still on its original belts and teeth.
Verdict
“Now running Serrat 10 years, and currently working two fixed-tooth and one swinging hammer mulchers on 13t diggers along with the tractor mulcher, we can’t fault them at all. They go out every day, work hard and don’t get spared but still return back to the yard trouble-free. Other than one or two teeth replaced over the years, we haven’t had to touch them.
“We have one other Chinese machine that was bought on budget for particular work and the difference in quality is noticeable, to say the least. Only that some operators rather the swing-hammer flails, I’d probably run all fixed-tooth. The finish they leave on a hedge is as good as you’d get with any machine.”
Since taking delivery of the Agricola PTO mulcher in August, it’s worked non-stop since. It has been exceptional and has gained us a lot of new work on the back of farmers seeing what it can do. The hydraulic hood and rear roller are great features. It’s pricier than most other machine on the market, but performance wise, it’s in a different league!” Alan said.
Alan runs four tree shears, one of which is the Finnish built TMK brand.
Who is Serrat?
Serrat is a Spanish company with over 35 years of experience manufacturing mulchers and tillers for forestry and agricultural. The product range includes PTO-driven tractor and digger mulchers for grassland, vineyard and forestry applications. Rotary tiller models range from machines with maximum working depths of 150mm to 500mm and requiring anywhere from 50-700hp. Serrat manufactures the majority of its components in-house, including gearboxes and rotors.
Irish Market
Since 2015, Serrat mulchers have been distributed here by Leslie Plant Sales, in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
The business is led by Clint Leslie, an agricultural contractor and farmer with over 18 years of experience in machinery sales and selling mulching equipment. Leslie Plant claims to have over 300 Serrat mulchers working in Ireland, noting that demand has surged in recent years, partly due to the ban on burning green waste.
Leslie also distributes the Italian-built Tiffermac mulchers, the US-made Fecon range and Finnish TMK tree shears. Recently, the company has expanded to include distribution of the Serrat brand in the UK.
A key feature of the TMk tree shear is its twin stage boost ram.
Near Lower Lough Erne in Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh, Alan Ferguson and his father Robin run a well-established agricultural contracting and plant hire business. While slurry and silage work still make up a large part of their operations, the business has diversified into digger hire, now operating a fleet of 12 diggers ranging from 13 to 20 tonnes.
With an increased focus on forestry and hedge-cutting work in recent years, the Fergusons have built up an impressive range of attachments, including four mulchers and four tree shears. A Serrat PTO three-point linkage mulcher was also added to the fleet this autumn.
The Agricola Pro T2800 Pro tractor mulcher can handle everything from grass cutting to larger gorse and sally bushes with ease.
Why diversify?
To grow the business and overcome challenges of securing seasonal staff, in recent years, Alan felt that diversification was essential to provide a steady work stream year-round and allow full-time work for staff. “After years of expanding the grass and slurry side of the business, we got to a point where we physically couldn’t expand anymore without stepping on the toes of local contractors which we didn’t feel was the right thing to do. Instead, we looked at other avenues that would compliment what we already had going on. Diggers were the best fit for several reasons,” Alan said.
Serrat claims that its tooth layout and rotor design is a key feature.
On the plus side, diggers weren’t completely new for the Fergusons. “When I left school at 16, I bought a Moffet saw for our JCB JS 130. It wasn’t common to see a saw on a digger cutting hedges, but at times it was the only answer to maintaining hedges on the often-tricky Fermanagh land,” Alan explained.
Now the business runs 12 diggers, ranging from 13 to 20 tonnes, across several brands including CAT, Hitachi, Komatsu and Liebherr. Currently, three to four diggers are dedicated to agricultural work, while another one or two work alongside local arborists JC Tree Services. The remainder are subcontracted to NIE, ESB and other construction projects across Northern Ireland and mainland UK.
The Agricola mulcher is currently running on a Valtra N174 with 1050mm rear tyres.
Digger mulchers
Digger mulchers have been a part of the business for over a decade now, but have played a large role in its growth more recently. Alan’s first machine was a Seppi, having been one of the earlier brands on the market. This was later traded for a Serrat. “I had heard word that Leslie Plant Sales had taken on the Spanish brand. As an agricultural contractor himself, Clint knows the importance of reliability and backup.”
Impressed by what he saw, Alan decided to take a chance on a Cabezal F3 P1200 swinging hammer mulcher which he fitted to a 13t digger, which performed well. “The only issue with it was that the rotor bearings were a little too small. However, Serrat quickly addressed this.”
In 2021, he upgraded to two new Cabezal F3 P1200 mulchers, a fixed-tooth type and a swinging-hammer type. Both have run trouble-free, with the swing hammer machine recently upgraded and another fixed-tooth model added. Aside from replacing a couple of teeth, both machines are in original condition and running original belts and bearings. Alan also runs a mix of TMK, MDE and Brian Scott tree shears. However, a grab saw is likely to be the next investment.
The hydraulic rear hood is a super option, Alan feels.
Design
One of Ireland’s best sellers, the Cabezal F3 P1200 is a 1.2m machine suitable for 6–15 tonne diggers. Serrat fully constructs its mulchers from 8mm Hardox plate. The 470mm octagonal rotor is a key feature. This, Serrat claims not only increases strength, but allows better mounting of each tooth. The unique tooth arrangement is another key selling point which Alan too feels allows the Serrat machine to leave a superior finish over competitor machines.
Serrat uses a larger carbide tooth than most other brands.
The Agricola tractor mulcher features the same octagonal rotor and swinging hammer flails.
Power is transferred via a simple triple v-belt drive from Sunfab/ Rexroth motors to the rotor. One change on the latest fixed-tooth machines Alan welcomes is that the teeth are now mounted using three bolts, not two, reducing the potential of loosening. Having used other brand mulchers, Alan believes that the Serrat machines throw considerably less debris towards the cab. Serrat claim this is down to the design of the hood and rotor.
“Initially, we went with the swinging hammer, thinking it would leave a better finish on hedges, but the fixed tooth is just as good now. The swinging hammer mulcher will comfortably take up to 8in timber, where the fixed-tooth will take whatever you feed it once given time,” he said.
Tractor mulcher
Mulching rushes and site clearance is another service offered by Alan and his team. Until this year, a Kuhn BP 8300 was used, which handled heavy crops of rushes well but not grass or dense gorse.
After seeing the country’s first Serrat Agricola Pro T2800 Pro PTO machine in action this summer, it was quickly purchased. The three-point linkage machine shares many similarities with its digger-mounted models, such as octagonal rotor design, flail layout, Hardox body etc. It uses 28 swinging duck-foot flails, a 1,00rpm gearbox and a 3/4in input drive shaft which Serrat claims is the same as found in many power harrows and larger than most competitors.
The hydraulic rear hood leaves it much easier to mulch dense vegetation.
As with other Serrat models, there is an extensive option list available, including reverse drive, side shift, hydraulic rear hood etc. Alan’s machine includes the rear hydraulic hood, which he finds a super feature when reversing into heavier material such as large gorse, sally bushes and willow. To keep ground pressure low, in wet conditions the mulcher is run on a 2,00hp Valtra N174 on 1,050mm rear tyres. Although rated for 350hp, Alan says that the Valtra is well capable of running it.
After four seasons, the Cabezal F3 P1200 fixed-ooth mulcher is still on its original belts and teeth.
Verdict
“Now running Serrat 10 years, and currently working two fixed-tooth and one swinging hammer mulchers on 13t diggers along with the tractor mulcher, we can’t fault them at all. They go out every day, work hard and don’t get spared but still return back to the yard trouble-free. Other than one or two teeth replaced over the years, we haven’t had to touch them.
“We have one other Chinese machine that was bought on budget for particular work and the difference in quality is noticeable, to say the least. Only that some operators rather the swing-hammer flails, I’d probably run all fixed-tooth. The finish they leave on a hedge is as good as you’d get with any machine.”
Since taking delivery of the Agricola PTO mulcher in August, it’s worked non-stop since. It has been exceptional and has gained us a lot of new work on the back of farmers seeing what it can do. The hydraulic hood and rear roller are great features. It’s pricier than most other machine on the market, but performance wise, it’s in a different league!” Alan said.
Alan runs four tree shears, one of which is the Finnish built TMK brand.
Who is Serrat?
Serrat is a Spanish company with over 35 years of experience manufacturing mulchers and tillers for forestry and agricultural. The product range includes PTO-driven tractor and digger mulchers for grassland, vineyard and forestry applications. Rotary tiller models range from machines with maximum working depths of 150mm to 500mm and requiring anywhere from 50-700hp. Serrat manufactures the majority of its components in-house, including gearboxes and rotors.
Irish Market
Since 2015, Serrat mulchers have been distributed here by Leslie Plant Sales, in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
The business is led by Clint Leslie, an agricultural contractor and farmer with over 18 years of experience in machinery sales and selling mulching equipment. Leslie Plant claims to have over 300 Serrat mulchers working in Ireland, noting that demand has surged in recent years, partly due to the ban on burning green waste.
Leslie also distributes the Italian-built Tiffermac mulchers, the US-made Fecon range and Finnish TMK tree shears. Recently, the company has expanded to include distribution of the Serrat brand in the UK.
A key feature of the TMk tree shear is its twin stage boost ram.
SHARING OPTIONS