Smart features make it easy to work with mulchers and edge mowers from Duun
When it comes to maintaining areas along roads and in pastures areas, it is essential to have reliable equipment that can withstand the challenges that can arise. With Duun’s mulchers, you not only get reliable performance, but also smart features that make your work more efficient and safer. We have spoken to general manager Morten Kulstad at Kulstad Maskin AS, he has given us his best tips for using mulchers.
Morten Kulstad is a very experienced professional who has worked closely with us at Duun for many years. He is a machinery contractor, and for several years has both operated and sold machinery for agriculture and maintenance.
– It’s good to have practical experience when customers come and wonder which machines and equipment to choose, says Morten.
The fact that he has worked extensively with mulchers gives him a unique competence and knowledge of the subject.
Unplanned things are sure to happen – be prepared
Morten Kulstad emphasizes that one of the most important features you need on a mulchers is how safety is maintained and triggered when the grass is hooked, he explains:
-It’s not a question of if you will hook up, but when it will happen, says Morten.
Therefore, Duun has implemented smart safety functions that secure the machine and prevent damage when hooking occurs. With extra safeguards and a rearward movement that lifts the machine, the risk of damage to the equipment is minimized, making work more seamless and efficient.
No more cleaning stones and gravel from roads
One of the most tedious and timeconsuming tasks that must be completed after work is finished, is cleaning up stone rubble from the roadway. Morten Kulstad says that you can easily minimize stones and debris if you use a rotor that works in the right direction:
– We are required to clean the roadway when we mow edges along the road. Duun’s mulchers are equipped with rotors that rotate in the direction of travel, which reduces stone debris and prevents stones from scattering in unwanted directions. In addition to this, there are extra splash shields, chains and rubber mats that help to reduce splash from the machine and ensure gentler treatment of the area.
Multiple blades provide a gentler treatment of the area you are working on
Another important factor for efficiency and safety is the choice of blades. With a rotor that has more and lighter blades, the risk of damage to the environment is reduced. Morten Kulstad explains:
– Lighter blades will not throw rocks as far as heavier blades, reducing potential damage and ensuring a gentler treatment of the area.
Work efficiently with smart combinations of machines
To ensure you have a winning combo that makes your work easy and efficient, Morten Kulstad recommends using multiple machines at the same time:
– Put mulcher from Duun on the back of the tractor, and a fence mower from Kulstad Maskin AS on the front of the tractor, and you get an unbeatable combination. Then you get a tractor that is working all the time, “front and back”. You save an incredible amount of time, and this will make a big difference in the number of hours that the machine is working, compared to if you only use one of the machines at a time.
Duun snow blower makes snow removal easier and more efficient for Trondheim City Administration
For Trondheim City Management, snow removal is a critical task throughout the winter. The positive experiences with the Duun snow blowers mean that the drivers look forward to more snowfall, knowing that they have the equipment required to keep Trondheim both safe and passable when heavy snowfalls occur.
Price and quality matter
Trondheim City Utilities has used snow blowers from Duun for several years, and the experiences have been entirely positive. With high demands for quality, efficiency and user-friendliness, Duun has delivered products that meet both price, application and performance.
Ole Klepp, who works with maintenance and repair at Trondheim Bydrift, emphasizes that choosing a snow blower is not just about buying what you want, but about finding the best option within defined requirements. Duun has proven to be a quality supplier, which has led to more purchases over time.
– We’ve had very few negative comments from drivers, and the snow blowers do the job very well. In addition, it is positive that they are Norwegian-made, says Klepp.
Duun snow blower in action. The blower can be mounted both at the front and rear of the tractor, making the work easier. (Photo: Duun/Synlighet AS)
The tractor operators provide good feedback
Rikard Wold, one of the drivers at Trondheim City Transportation, boasts about how easy and efficient the snow blower is to use.
– It is great to use, tidy and stable. It eats the snow well and is easy to drive. The quality is solid – we haven’t experienced any challenges with them in our work, says Wold, who has several years of experience with plowing.
Tractor operator Rikard Wold is satisfied with the snow blower from Duun, and thinks the blower makes snow removal work easier and more efficient. (Photo: Duun/Synlighet)
Efficient snow removal is important for infrastructure and accessibility
For drivers, it is crucial that the equipment functions optimally, especially during heavy snowfalls. A major advantage of the Duun snow blowers is how efficiently they clear the snow compared to many of the competing snow blowers on the market.
Sidewalks and other important public traffic areas are cleared of snow quickly and easily using a snow blower from Duun. (Photo: Duun/ Synlighet AS)
– When we lift the snow blower after plowing, there is minimal snow left behind. This means that we do not have to do extra cleaning work, which saves us both time and costs. We get through the route faster when we use snow blowers from Duun, says Wold.
Snowblowers that withstand snow at all stages
Another advantage of the Duun snow blowers is that they work equally well on both large and small tractors. They can handle different snow conditions, whether it’s dry or wet snow, without clogging.
– With other types of snow blowers, we often have to stake and shovel snow out to keep the blower running, but with the Duun snow blower we don’t have to. It handles both heavy, wet snow and light, dry snow without any problems, says Wold.
– I have no doubt: It will be Duun every time
Arne Treangen poses in front of the VM450 firewook processor from Duun. (Photo: Treangen private)
On the outskirts of Hønefoss, Arne Gunnar Treangen stands in the middle of a production site filled with wood, machines and a steady stream of pre-cut logs. For many, it’s a winter project – for Treangen it’s a passion and part of everyday life. With around 2,000 cubic meters of wood a year, he knows what works.
– I have been working with wood for many years. This is the third Duun machine I have used, says Treangen.
He currently uses the largest model, the VM450, and has been active in providing input into the further development of Duun’s firewood processors.
Efficient, simple and reliable machine that does the job quickly and safely when producing firewood. (Photo: Treangen private)
Norwegian, simple and operationally reliable
– The most important thing for me is that this is a Norwegian firewood processor, made by Norwegian people, and there is always someone to talk to if something happens. It’s rare, but you get help quickly. I just call Birger and it’s fixed. It’s worth a lot, he says.
Treangen emphasizes that he has tried many types of firewood processors, but Duun is the simplest and most reliable he has worked with.
– That’s a bit of nonsense. The machines are built logically, and they’re easy to use – especially when you’re producing a lot, he says.
Experience and efficiency
Treangen buys wood from the forest and has it delivered in large loads – approximately 50 during the season.
– I don’t buy birch as long as there are leaves on the trees. I usually start in November, when the moose hunt is over, and try to finish by April. That’s when the dryness is best. All production takes place indoors, and the machines he uses are powered by electricity.
– Everything runs on electricity: packaging machine, cleaning drum, log splitter. I have moved away from tractors and PTO shafts – the electric motor is quiet and stable. Last year, processing 20 cubic meters of wood cost me 40 kroner in electricity, he says.
Easy to operate – Arne Treangen has no doubt about which machine he would choose. (Photo: Treangen private)
Machines made for use
Treangen often gets calls from others who are considering a machine, and he is happy to let people come and try it before they decide. What he likes best about the Duun machines is that they are practical and well thought out in
use.
– There are photocells that stop the feed belt when the log enters, and a log holder that presses the log down during cutting. The knife is easy to change and produces nice, clean logs – not lots of chips. And if something breaks down, it is easy to reach. The machine is built for operation, quite simply.
Treangen replaces machines regularly – but not because the old one is worn out.
– I switch because something new and better is coming. I like to keep up with technology, and it pays to upgrade before the old one wears out. It always runs smoothly.
Efficient splitting with good cutting blades creates beautiful wood logs of the right size. (Photo: Treangen private)
Treangen’s advice for those who are considering a firewood processor
What is the advice for others considering a firewood processor?
– Talk to someone who has the machine. Try it if you get the chance. I wouldn’t have any doubts about my choice again. Duun delivers a great product and provides exceptional service.
"The firewood processors have tremendous capacity" - Firewood producer Bernt Ove tests a new prototype
From fur farm to wood splitting
In a warehouse next to a 240-year-old trønderlån in Sparbu, Trøndelag, wood producer Bernt Ove Opheim is splitting wood. He is testing Duun’s largest firewood processor to date, and is impressed.
When he does the math, he figures he will produce about 300 cubic yards of birch wood this season. That’s about 25 fathoms a week.
«I’m producing a full load of firewood to fill the firewood storage this year and I’m thinking of selling it next winter,” he smiles. »
Bernt Ove is fortunate. By chance, he met Birger Tunset from Duun Industrier at a trade fair last year, and now he is splitting wood at breakneck speed with the brand-new prototype of the VM450 – a fully professional machine with a cutting diameter of 45 cm, specially designed for large logs and good flow in the cutting cycle.
«So far, I have run through 50-70 cubic meters of wood through the machine and it runs like a breeze. There is tremendous capacity», says the farmer.
New work with wood
Trønderlåna and the attached warehouse stand on familiar ground, because the family has owned a farm for six generations. As a wood producer, Bernt Ove is relatively new. He had to rethink when the fur industry was shut down, and last year he set up a brand new production line with a firewood processor, log rack and warehouse.
With new eyes, the farmer took action and changed the entire farm operation at record speed.
«The fur farm was large. I had been running it since 2005 when the government decided to close the entire industry in 2019», he says.
Focus on splitting power and ergonomics
Today, the VM450 firewood processor is located indoors with an electrical connection. This allows the farmer to work comfortably in all kinds of weather. Birger Tunset, marketing employee at Duun, sheds some light on what we can expect from the new machinery.
«It is designed for professional use. The VM450 is larger than previous machines, has more splitting power and can handle larger diameter wood. At the same time, it has some features that make it extra nice to drive. It is both electric and hydraulic for good driving comfort and efficiency, and is controlled with a simple joystick» says Birger.
«For Duun, it is important that there is good ergonomics when operating a firewood processor, since splitting large quantities of wood requires many repetitive movements from it. In addition, the firewood processor must be durable. »
«It depends on the use, of course, but someone who produces up to 3,000 cubic meters of firewood a year should expect to replace their firewood machine about every five years. For a private farmer who is going to split firewood for himself, such a machine will last forever. »
Immediately ready for the market
The goal is for the VM450 wood machine to be released on the market in the fall of 2022. Before Easter, the prototype will be test driven to develop the most optimal machine for its use.
– Our designer at Duun visits Bernt Ove at Sparbu regularly. Eventually we will make a new prototype with improvements we have found from the test run, says Birger.
There is no doubt that Bernt Ove is happy with the test drive and consulting.
– Duun is very good at following up with questions, and the follow-up is phenomenal. They should have that, it’s a great collaboration. Then I was offered the opportunity to test the new machine, and of course I had accept that opportunity.
