Noel McNamara runs an agri and plant hire business based near the town of Kilrush, Co Clare.
Now employing over 15 staff members, the business predominately specialises in hedge-cutting, verge maintenance and plant hire work, both on private hire and for Clare County Council, alongside other bodies such as the ESB and the Irish Water.
Given that the majority of the work is carried out on public roads, Noel has expanded the business to include traffic management.
However, Noel has a close link to agriculture with round baling being a core part of the business for more than 25 years, now running two McHale Fusion balers.
In terms of machinery Noel runs 14 tractors, and 14 track machines, ranging from 2.7t up to 13t, including three wheeled excavators, known as rubber ducks.
In terms of implements and attachments for the hedge cutting and vegetation management side of the business, Noel runs three hedge cutters (two Twose TW 67T-5 and one McConnel 6572T) alongside a number of mulchers and tree shears. In December 2024, a self-propelled hedge cutter joined the fleet.
The machine in question was an Energreen ILF Kommunal, a multifunction capable of more than just hedge-cutting.
Who are Energreen
Energreen is an Italian brand, imported into Ireland by Green Equipment Supplies (GES) based in Co Wexford. The family run company specialises in the manufacture of forestry and vegetation management equipment.
Energreen has been building self-propelled hedge cutters since 1999, before securing its first patent in 2005. Today, the company is best known for its self-propelled ranges and radio-controlled range of tool carriers, designed for vegetation management.
Energreen offer five different models of self-propelled machines to suit various customer needs and markets.
These include, the ILF Aspen entry level model, the ILF Kommunal multipurpose model, both of which have front mounted booms and fixed cabs. Meanwhile, the Alphetta, ILF Alpha and ILF Athena are all higher specification, mid-mount machines with rotating cabs.
Why self-propelled?
Prior to purchasing his ILF Kommunal, Noel had been hiring an articulated loader in to the local council for loading stone chippings into trucks. The loader was a shared venture between his brother who also has his own contracting business, focusing on pit silage.
The hire of the loader began clashing with silage, leaving Noel in a situation where a second loader was going to need purchased. At the same time, he had a hedge cutter in need of replacing.
Having seen the Energreen ILF Kommunal demonstrating with GES, a company he had already been dealing with for Seppi mulchers, he quickly became intrigued.
“I was sold on the versatility of the ILF Kommunal given the fact that the hedge cutter could be removed and a front loader boom fitted instead. You’re never going to beat a self-propelled machine given the fact it’s designed especially for that particular job, so I knew it would perform better than a tractor and cutter with the added benefit of becoming a loading shovel.
It was one of those rare situations where it was the perfect solution for what we needed to do. Only for this, I don’t think the investment would have been justified.,” Noel explained.
Versatility
Described as a multifunction, self-propelled machine, the ILF Kommunal selling point is that it is equipped with a front quick-coupling system, leaving it compatible with multiple attachments.
The machine can be easily fitted with a telescopic boom for hedge-cutting, a three-point linkage, a front-end loader or a universal front attachment connection with a DIN plate. At the rear, it comes with three options: a towing hitch, a fixed three-point linkage, or a debris blower.
The front three-point hitch has a lift capacity of up to 2,800kg and comes with the option of a PTO. Aimed towards the municipal sector, Energreen offer three-point linkage attachments such as snow ploughs or salt spreaders.
Given Noel’s situation, he opted for the front loader boom along with the Orbital 8 telescopic boom and flail head. Swapping between the hedge cutter and the front loader takes one person just 20 minutes, he said.
Noel noted that hydraulic connections are taken care off via quick release multi dock fittings. The loader boom weighs 450kg and is rated to lift 1,000kg which Noel feels is plenty. Maximum reach height is 4.6m. Interestingly, the loader boom uses z-bar kinematics as opposed to the parallel linkage design used by most front loader manufacturers.
The ILF Kommunal is designed around working with a front-mounted attachment, therefore Noel and Eoin who operates the machine mostly, feel leaves it offering great visibility and comfort compared to a tractor and cutter. “There’s no creek in your neck come the end of a long day’s hedge cutting and no need for a variable forward reach arm – you’re looking forward at your work all the time”, Noel said.
Engine and transmission
The ILF Kommunal is powered by a four-cylinder Deutz engine, offering 143hp. This is married up to a two speed Rexroth hydrostatic transmission with four-wheel drive. The unit features three different steering modes. Firstly, the standard two-wheel steer (front).
Secondly, four-wheel steering, and finally crab steer, which is useful for moving away from an obstacle.
Noel noted that in cutting mode (low range) four-wheel steer automatically kicks in but when in high range for road transport, the machine automatically selects two-wheel steer.
The transmission, including directional changes is done via a foot pedal, leaving the joystick solely in control of the front which in Noels case is the hedge cuter or loader. Both front and rear differentials are lockable for improved traction, if required.
The rear axle oscillates by 3.5 degrees. A feature known as SCD (Stability Control Device) allows the operator to lock the rear axle oscillation to increase stability during work.
The machine features five independent hydraulic systems for the following functions, transmission, cutting head, steering, braking and the boom functions.
“Hydraulic power couldn’t be faulted, all movements are smooth and the head has plenty of power.”
The unit comes with a choice of tyres, including off-road and on road tyres.
Given that Noels machine spends all its time on tar or concrete, it is equipped with the standard 445/65 R22.5 tyres.
In terms of fuel consumption, Noel doesn’t find it much harder than a tractor and cutter.
The main benefit or saving is how much quicker work can be got through with the Energreen over a tractor, proving twice as quick in certain situations.
The cab
Inside the cab, Energreen has focused on a large windscreen which Noel agrees offers super visibility. Both himself and Eoin feel that the cab is well laid out and offers a comfortable working position. Energreen use proportional joystick controls, allowing three arm functions at the same time. Other than that, controls are kept fairly simple.
Although the machine is ideally ballasted up to cut on the right-hand side, the boom can be moved to the left and used to cut on the other side if needs be. In addition, the boom head fully rotates, which Noel and Eoin say allows the hedge to be properly cut in both directions, saving half the passes every time.
Hedge-cutting arm
Noel’s machine is fitted with Orbital 8 hedge-cutting arm. According to Energreen, it was designed to work on both sides of the road, while maintaining minimum size on the road. This is possible thanks to a 290° rotating unit and a hydraulic side shift that allows the arm to make horizontal movement from left to right, and vice-versa.
From the right-hand side, the arm can reach a maximum 7.8m which extends to 8.75m when fully extended overhead. In terms of build quality, the lads are well impressed with the boom and its 1.2m wide flail head. The head is equipped with the optional hydraulic hood and 360-degree rotator unit which allows the head to be turned and used while travelling the opposite direction, a standout feature for the lads. The head is currently fitted with grass flails for verge cutting.
Verdict
“After clocking 400 hours, we’re so far delighted with the machine. It takes a little getting used to but it’s a dream to operate, especially in terms of visibility and comfort. It’s more compact and manoeuvrable machine in comparison to a tractor and hedge cutter. The versatility was what sold it to me originally, and while we only use the loader attachment, there is so much more that it is capable off.
The output we can get at verges and hedges is unmatchable with a tractor. The only downside would be the size of the diesel tank. At 120l, it would ideally want to be almost twice that size. The only other niggle I would have would be that it can be a little bouncy on the road with the loader. Boom suspension would be a great addition if it could be done,” Noel said.
Specs
Likes
Dislikes
SHARING OPTIONS