Downey Trees Inc.

February 24, 2015

Atlanta, GA


Limited Access and Dangerous Conditions: Challenge Accepted

As any tree care professional knows, no two jobs are alike. The unique circumstances and challenges of each job require strategic thinking and the most efficient use of equipment and manpower. 

For Georgia-based Downey Trees, Inc., a recent job involved two big challenges: access and safety. A customer contracted Downey to remove a dead tree located in a fenced area. The walkway to the tree was only six feet wide, so access was extremely limited and ruled out the possibility of using a conventional bucket truck. The job was further complicated by the dangerous presence of open communication lines stretching more than 10 feet above the walking path. 

For Rusty Lee, Vice President of Tree Care Operations for Downey Trees, using a lift from Teupen USA was the smartest and safest solution. "For this job we did have the option of sending up climbers," Lee says. "We could have harnessed them using a V or an M rig. But this kind of rig is difficult because you need to attach ropes to two trees that are the same height. It's a cumbersome and slow-moving process that normally takes a whole day to perform. And with so many factors at work here, it wasn't the safest way to take down a dead tree."

Instead, Lee opted to use the TC69A from Teupen's Canopy Series of compact lifts. "This unit was ideal because it was narrow enough to navigate the six-foot walkway," he explains. "We were able to easily move the lift into the yard. We set up quickly and finished the job safely in just a couple of hours. It meant I didn't need to send up climbers, and I was able to move on to the next job that afternoon."

Lee adds that the option of using his Teupen Canopy lift gives him a competitive advantage when bidding on jobs. "Bids are largely based on the time required to take down a tree; and if you can do it in half a day rather than a full day, you can pass on the savings to customers," he says. "But there are other benefits that are even more important. There's less wear and tear on my crew. If you can avoid having climbers swinging between multiple trees on a V rig, and can instead use a lift with precise controls that give you access in both horizontal and vertical directions, it's just a safer choice, period. It's great to have this option with Teupen. They're a pleasure to work with and they go above and beyond in every way."

At Teupen USA, we appreciate the positive feedback from Downey Tree, Inc. and value the opportunity to help tree care companies succeed by offering solutions that maximize safety and efficiency while improving the bottom line. 
 

Posted in Success Stories.

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