| | “We need to be able to go out day after day knowing that we have the capability of working on site, wherever it is and in whatever the weather. We also have to consider the land owner as he does not want his ground churned up. The Unimog is the only viable option.” BTS Trainer Dom Stevens says that for confidence and reliability there is no alternative to the Unimog. |
| Trees can seriously affect the delivery of electricity supplies, either through weight of branches, falling trees, or by simple flash overs, where contact is minimal. Vegetation management specialists BTS, who tackle potential problem areas as contractors for EDF Energy Networks, have found the solution is a high level of expertise in Hot Glove or Live Line working, and an all-terrain Unimog U 4000 with insulated access platform. |
| BTS is contracted to carry out support arboriculture and vegetation management for EDF Energy Networks in the East of England – from King’s Lynn to the River Thames and across to Peterborough and Thame. The 300 BTS staff have a mammoth task in carrying out the programme of work. Professional vegetation management results in manageable re-growth, enabling the team to plan when they have to return to maintain the cycle of pruning and management. |
BTS linesmen are required to work on a wide variety of terrains, and often have to access the working site across agricultural land. The Unimog’s Central Tyre Inflation system allows access even over fields with growing crops, as the ‘doubled footprint’ of each tyre spreads the load and minimises crop damage.
And they can use Live Line techniques to get even more ‘up close and personal’ with overhanging branches. Live Line skills and qualifications also enables the BTS linesmen to carry out minor repairs and maintenance tasks – such as removal and replacement of insulators – without having to call out the EDF Energy Networks specialists: saving time and improving service delivery.
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The Unimog U 4000 tackles the most difficult of terrain, carrying linesmen and their equipment to remote, inaccessible areas. As well as powering the 14 metre Versalift insulated access platform, the Unimog’s Power Take-Off, direct from the diesel engine, provides the power for a range of implements, including hydraulic pruners operated from within the access platform’s bucket.
“The Unimog means we can get as close as possible, on or off the road, to the site of the potential problem. It is important to know that when the team leaves the depot they have the vehicle and equipment to complete the task wherever it is,” says Paul Curtis of BTS.
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Qualified linesmen trained in hot glove working, short stick and long stick line maintenance, gives BTS an improved ‘partnership’ with its customer, EDF Energy Networks. By protecting the live cables during the pruning operation, debris will not cause a flash over by falling onto the cables. In addition, it is much safer for the BTS operative to use the hydraulic pruner close to live lines.
The versatility of the Unimog U 4000, combined with the skills and electricity industry expertise of BTS, has ensured that EDF Energy in the East of England has the power to keep the lights on and the trees away from vital power lines.
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| Unimog benefits at a glance |
The ability to travel quickly on roads and then immediately off road to gain access to the most remote sites.
The power to operate and control a specialist, insulated, two or three man access platform.
Reliability and ‘peace of mind’ when emergencies happen in all weathers and on all terrains. |
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Model ranges
