Apiary successfully reduces manual labour with Avant Equipment
Rasmussen Apiary successfully reduces manual labour and work timelines with Avant 635
October 19, 2018
Leading Australian Honey supplier, Rasmussen Apiary, were experiencing difficulty in moving hives effectively as well as cleaning apiary sites of long grass and shrub. This created excessive hard manual labour and strain on its employees. “We didn’t have a machine that could lift more than 2 beehives or 5 boxes of honey at a time. With no mechanical aid to help us clean apiary sites in forest areas we were placing a lot of effort into non-billable areas of the business”, explains Lachlan Rasmussen, Owner of Rasmussen Apiary.
Challenge
According to Lachlan, Rasmussen Apiary were experiencing several challenges surrounding the effectiveness of their machines across their business. As their current machine wasn’t able to move more than 2 beehives at a time, manual labour significantly increased . In addition, if they experienced poor weather, moving hives became increasingly difficult as their truck was limited on how and where it can go.
Additional load and unload times and reduced lift capacity meant a lot of man hours focused on logistics. It also placed a large physical and health strain on the owners to move the hives. This has been calculated to have costed Rasmussen Apiary thousands of dollars annually in productivity losses across their business.
“Before the Avant, we were struggling to move the hives in difficult situations for example if it rains our truck got bogged where the Avant drives on any surface. The Avant has eased the physical labour and helped give us more time to do a bigger and better job with less effort” Lachlan Rasmussen, Owner.
Solution
Avant’s 635 Articulated Loader enables operators to proactively increase efficiency and versatility without increasing staff or responsibilities, while simultaneously improving operator comfort and work quality. The size of the loader allows horizontal parking on the back of the truck with the forks still attached without reducing valuable tray space.
The Avant 635 BeePro targets visibility and efficiency, lift capacity and power offering a range of attachments to suit any logistics job. With the telescopic boom, the 635 loader powers a 1100kg lift capacity and up to 2.8 meters high while the unique articulated chassis allows operators to move across a variety of terrain without damaging them. With over 70 attachments and optional cab, the 635 will help you do more with materials including carry, move, lift, grab.
Despite the increase in power, comfort and versatility Avant don’t compromise on safety. The load sensor system provides an audible warning if the rear wheels are about to lift off the ground while the Avant quick hitch system allows fast, easy and safe attachment coupling.
The articulated steering allows use on any surface without damage unlike Skid Steer Loaders. This is extremely important when working within State Forests, National Park and wildlife areas as well as farmer’s properties.
Lachlan Rasmussen:
“The Avant 635 BeePro has greatly reduced our manual labour and increased our efficiency. We are faster at what we do by being able to move more hives mechanically rather than physically. The Avant has multiple uses across the business including loading and unloading the truck with beehives, boxes of honey and anything else that we need or take with us. It also weighs less than other machines but can still lift as much weight. That is critical for carrying continually on a body truck. It also fits sideways on the deck with little to no overhang”, says Lachlan Rasmussen, Owner.
Results
Rasmussen Apiary have seen a direct and positive impact by using the Avant 635. The Avant 635 telescopic boom with self-levelling allows loading and unloading from one side of the truck saving additional hours. In addition to reducing unload and load times the BeePro coupled with the flail mower attachment quickly cleans apiary sites of overgrown grass and shrub.
Overall the Avant offered several advantages including:
- Cleaning overgrowth areas requires less effort and is faster than before with the Avant 635 and flail mower combination.
- The articulated steering allows use on any surface without damage unlike Skid Steer Loaders.
- Visibility is greatly improved as a hood or veil is not required when loading and unloading hives or supers.
- The Avant offers a deluxe suspension seat and excellent lighting reducing operator fatigue levels across the board.
- Beehives are easier to move in and out of difficult situations and in all-weather environments without difficulty.
- The reduced machine weight offers a critical advantage for truck transport. The compact size prevents overhang without compromising on how much the machine can lift.
Lachlan Rasmussen:
“Avant Equipment (Australia) are great to deal with. They always have any parts we need in stock and get them to us very quickly. They’re easy to reach and have a good deal of knowledge if any issues come up with the machine. Avant is a reliable machine that can take anything you throw at it. They’ve been building them for years, so they are always reliable, capable and robust. I would definitely recommend them to any other beekeepers, concludes Lachlan Rasmussen, Owner.
About Rasmussen Apiary:
Rasmussen Apiary was established in 1984 as a hobby with only a few hives. Each year adding a few more hives today we have over 800 hives.
For more information on our BeePro Series, see our full range here. Manufacture of Avant Compact Loaders and attachments takes place by Avant Tecno in Finland. For more information call 1800 686 411 or contact us.
