M.Large Blog

This the M.Large's old blog. We've moved to www.mlarge.com/news You'll find new products, articles, press releases, announcements and general information we hope you'll find useful.

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New Home - final post on tumblr

We've moved home...to a new blog on our freshly minted new website.

All of these posts have been copied across but as of this posting date, all of our news posts, offers and general musings will now be posted to the main website on www.mlarge.com

Tumblr, we thank you for your excellent service and getting us through a hiatus period while we worked on the new site.

Bye all.

See you on the other side.

http://www.mlarge.com/news

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Ploughing Championships Event:Show info and pictures

We've just returned from exhibiting at the famous "Ploughing Match" where we had a busy 3 days talking to and advising a fair share of the quarter of a million show visitors over the 3 days. As usual, we brought down plenty of machines to get up close and personal to and handed out our collective bodyweight in sales literature so it was a great success. We met friendly and interested customers, fielded many questions from the stand visitors and sold stock right off the stand.

  The usual tried and tested machines received the expected level of interest by which we are referring to firewood processors and logsplitters from Hakki Pilke, Bilke, Fuelwood, and Thor however a newcomer in Regon also caused quite a stir with their new design of firewood processor shown at the front of our stand area.

  So to sum up, a busy, no a very busy couple of days at Stradbally, Laois, but fruitful interesting and as always, worthwhile.

Special thanks to "Elizabeth"...(who will probably never read this) for making our team feel so welcome while staying at the show, your pies and scones are reported to be the stuff of legend.

So until next year then, Ploughing Match...done!

For more information, call M.Large on [phone] or email the sales team on [email protected]

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Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling…

Depending on your generation  that headline will bring back memories of “Rawhide” or “Limp Bizkit” …but what we're getting at is that we think it’s a necessity for any serious firewood processing business to rapidly feed timber without manual handling.

That’s the job of a log deck …essentially it feeds logs into the processor on hydraulic rollers, ensuring there is a plentiful supply of timber being fed for cutting and splitting.

Hakkifeed log decks from Hakki Pilke offer best of breed log feeding for PTO and electric combi log splitters. With hydraulic infeed pinch rollers, adjustable legs and mechanical separators they will make an elegant solution to feeding timber to your firewood processor. It’ll be one of those purchases you wondered how you did without!

See a Hakki Feed log deck in action with an Easy 50 processor in the video below.

For more information on Hakkifeed log decks call M.Large on [phone] or email the sales team on [email protected]

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Touch Screen Tree Work- What a good iDea

M.Large have always been at the forefront of innovation in their field and a have been hugely influential in developing ideas and machinery to change the way we view and perform tree works.

Now I grant you that historically we’re much more comfortable dealing with the grass roots and the “oily bits” but even we cannot stem the tide of information technology and the efficiencies it brings.

As as result M.Large have engaged an investment programme into testing and integrating smartphone based technologies into our day to day operations to make information flow smoother and increase the available resources for our staff.

Some of the areas we are currently testing the technologies with:

GPS Mapping of tree positions for reports captured as standard on smartphone photos.

Utilisation of on device navigation tools for efficient team logistics.

Product videos and brochures on tablet computers for sales engineers when attending tradeshows.

Utilisation of smartphone apps to view and interact live with plant security cameras.

We have already switched a number of our management and outbound team handsets from “dumb” phones to iPhones and Blackberry smartphones to ensure email and connectivity seamlessly during and out of office hours. It is expected these trials will extend to replace all personnel handsets with smartphones on a cost v benefit basis.

This is just the next logical tranche of investment in our information systems following the revamp of our MIS systems to include the latest finance and CRM packages from Sage which ensure that we know customer information on a personal and case by case basis and can offer the highest quality of service.

For more information on why M.Large are leading the field when it comes to embracing technology in the tree management and forestry machinery sectors call our team on [phone] or email on [email protected]

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Click the image to download a site map. We're on Stand 17 Row B

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Click on the image to open the e-reader copy of "Forestry & Energy Review 2013"- we're on page 40!

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World of Wood:First wood fuelled power plant in N.Ireland get £80m funding from Green Bank

(From Engineering and Technology Magazine)

30th July 2013

A combined heat and power plant in Northern Ireland which could supply 25,000 homes will be the largest of its kind, it has been revealed.

Two million tonnes of wood will be burned at the new £81m Evermore plant in Londonderry, which will be the largest renewable energy project in Northern Ireland, investors said.

The 15-megawatt installation is expected to begin operating in 2015 and will increase the amount of sustainable electricity generated in Northern Ireland by approximately a tenth. It is the first deal done in Northern Ireland by the UK's Green Investment Bank, which is providing £20m.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The first deal done in Northern Ireland is a landmark moment for the UK Green Investment Bank and I'm confident that there will be more to come."

He added that today's investment will have a significant impact, reducing carbon emissions and diverting wood from landfill while creating jobs and building a stronger economy.

Shaun Kingsbury, chief executive at the bank, said: "Today's announcement will substantially increase Northern Ireland's renewable energy capacity.

"Not only will the project save the same amount of carbon as taking around 77,000 cars off the road, it will also make use of over two million tonnes of wood, a valuable energy resource that would otherwise have gone to landfill."

Northern Ireland is striving to reach stringent renewable energy standards laid down by Europe – by 2020 a fifth of supplies have to come from green sources.

The Stormont administration has pledged a range of incentives including payments for businesses and homes using sources like solar, wind or woodburning biomass.

Much biomass use so far has centred on micro-generation in homes and businesses. The wood-fuelled plant is to be built on a 10-acre site at the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners land at Lisahally, developers said, and will simultaneously generate electricity and heat for homes.

The flagship biomass unit is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland and also the first project to be developed and funded by Evermore, established by directors Ciaran and Stephen Devine.

Ciaran Devine said: "We are making a serious commitment to the Northern Ireland energy market. Working with the best partners in technology, fuel supply and financing we hope to show that Northern Ireland is a great place to do business so that further inward investment will follow.

"These projects are extremely complex and they require the involvement of many statutory bodies and government departments and we hope this Investment will show the rest of the UK how committed Northern Ireland is to supporting renewable energy development, and how competent Evermore is at bringing these elements together and financing complex structures."

Evermore, advised by KPMG Corporate Finance Belfast, secured the funding from the Green Investment Bank through the Foresight Group's UK Waste Resources and Energy Fund (UKWREI). Partner funders include GCP Infrastructure Fund Ltd, Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S (BWSC), Investec Bank, and Eksport Kredit Fonden.

Construction work on the plant will create 200 jobs and will start in the coming weeks. Evermore Renewable Energy expects the plant to become fully operational by summer 2015.

Link to full published article here.

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Tree clearing: the easy way

Tree removal is a fact of life in achieving clear sites for a variety of householder and developer purposes, yet even with experienced teams of chainsaw handlers, there's nothing to touch a purpose built tool for the job, like the LMS Scorpion 440 tree shear.

LMS Design from M.Large has developed the Scorpion 440 tree shear, an excavator attachment to aid in rapid tree removal and pruning.

The powerful Scorpion tree shear is a highly capable device featuring

440mm max cutting diameter

20mm Hardox scissor type shearing blades

Built in limb support

Built in grapple function and separate hydraulic ram

Replaceable and sharpenable blades

We published a new video of the LMS Scorpion 440 tree shear in action on a tree clearing operation.

Here's our latest video of tree clearing using the LMS Scorpion 440 on our YouTube channel and an "after" photo of part of the site following the Scorpion's visit.

What the LMS Scorpion can do....

For a quote, or to make an enquiry, just call the sales office on [phone] or email [email protected]

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We're Hiring: Experienced Tree Surgeons/Climbing Arborists needed for immediate start

Experienced Climbing Tree Surgeons/Arborists are required for immediate start at M.Large. Candidates should be self-motivated and work to a high standard. Previous experience in quality tree care with relevant training and qualifications a distinct advantage. Wages and terms will be negotiable depending on appropriate qualifications and experience. An excellent opportunity to work with a well established tree management company as part of it's expansion. If this is you then email us your CV in the first instance to [email protected]

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We're hiring again:HGV Delivery Demonstrator

Job Title: HGV Delivery Demonstrator

Outline

This is not the average driving role...

While on assignment the successful candidate will be representing the face and brand of M.Large to our end user customers and members of our dealer network. As such we require the successful candidate to be highly professional and courteous as they will be a key member of our sales department.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a full, current LGV (Class C + E) driving licence and digital tachograph card, which enables them to drive in Northern Ireland, UK and Ireland and have at least two year’s experience of:

• driving in a commercial environment; and,

• dealing directly with members of the public and the needs of customers.

Core Competencies

a solid understanding of the importance of personal responsibility for health and safety compliance

a solid understanding of the necessary regulations and record keeping required of HGV/LGV drivers

Ability to communicate effectively verbally, by telephone and in writing (forms, documents and emails etc) All applicants must comply with our insurance criteria.

  Advantageous

  Technical knowledge of vehicle/machinery care and maintenance (engineering or agricultural machinery backgrounds may be advantageous)

Experience of loading and unloading/care of high value equipment using crane, forklift, and loaders may be advantageous

  Applicants should be aware that this is a cross channel role requiring the successful candidate to travel by ferry and be away from home for short periods. Further assignments may include delivery of equipment to sites throughout Ireland and transportation of goods and products for trade shows and exhibitions.

  M.Large is a family firm with a heritage of over 40 years and a progressive approach to developing the business.

Our people are flexible, dedicated and hardworking and are given the opportunity to develop new skills and aims to allow individuals the ability to demonstrate and develop new and existing skills and assume additional responsibilities in accordance with this.

Apply using the link provided above or by emailing your CV to [email protected]

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Barking up the wrong tree buying from garden centres

As Tesco like to say, every little helps, so when you are planning to tidy up or redevelop your garden space, don't buy your tree bark in bags from the multiples.

Here at our yard in M.Large we have huge stocks of screened organic tree bark available for collection or delivery.

100% natural organic organic tree bark mulch -no additives. *3 grades available - Coarse, Medium and Fine. *Suitable for gardens, walkways, planters and play areas. *Excellent value from only £10m3 ex yard* (*delivery available for small charge.) Don't pay pre pack pricing to beautify your garden, talk to us first.

For a quote, or to make an enquiry, just call the sales office on [phone] or email [email protected]

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Dealer news: Stolen Firewood Processor

To all M.Large Dealers:

Please be aware that a customer has had a firewood processor stolen.

The customer from the East Sussex area reported the theft on the 2nd July 2013.

The Hakki Pilke 2x is a very distinctive machine as it is one of only 2 ever made with a Lombardini Diesel Engine and has been customised to have the tow bar cut off.

Ser No:3530/01

If you are offered this machine or are even requested for any parts for this model, please notify us on [email protected]/ [phone] and inform your local police.

We are only too glad to lend a hand to restoring the prized machine to it's rightful owner and see the culprits caught and prosecuted.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Team @ M.Large

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We're Taking a break...

Just to let all M.Large customers, suppliers, and friends know that we will be taking a wee break here in Co.Antrim.

The office will be closed on Friday 12th and Mon 15th July, reopening on Tues 16th July.

Any sales and spare parts enquiries can be made right up to close of business Thursday 11th July, with any parts ordered before 3pm shipping that day.

Parts ordered after 3pm Thursday 11th July will not be processed and  shipped until Tues 16th July.

Please note that our website NEVER closes, so feel free to log any requests, enquiries or messages up there and we'll get right on it when we return.

M.Large Team

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Need a bit of space?

M.Large have over 100000 sq ft of prime commercial warehouse/mixed purpose units with some units available for immediate tenancy.

The estate is in the ever popular Mallusk in the Greater Belfast Area and benefits from:secure gated complex, 24hr CCTV, manned mobile response, and extensive parking facilities.

Some units may be suitable for subletting.

Units are being offered through our Property wing, M.Large Property and brochures are available on request.

Flexible terms and rates negotiable.

Email sales@mlarge or call M.Large Property on [phone]

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Featured: Greenmech CS100 woodchipper

Chipping away at the garden

We all know that it's (allegedly) Summer time, and that usually means reclaiming and generally overhauling our outdoor spaces, many of us choosing to call in some hired help.

Greenmech chippers have been helping the landscapers, gardeners and arboriculturists to reduce garden waste volume from hedge clippings and tree branches, and create usable supplies of organic biomass chippings. The CS100 may be the baby of the bunch but make no mistake, this is no toy. With a dedicated trailer body, powerful V-Twin petrol engine, 100mm branch handling, and sharpen-able blades, the Greenmech CS100 is the ideal partner for the landscaper, gardner or contractor.

See Gallery of CS100

See the Greenmech CS100 in action.

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New Products: Nokka Trailers and Loaders

Nokka from Finland have appointed M.Large as a distributor of their range of forestry trailers and loaders with particular focus on compact Smart Series of MV trailers and HK loader cranes.

Nokka are a highly respected manufacturer of precision engineered forestry trailers with wide range of tractor mounted trailer and loader combinations.

The Forest Pro HD/MV series now includes a compact range for use on Quads/ ATV's  and offers such useful features as hydraulic drive transmission to the trailer wheels, integrated motors, robust telescopic legs and electro hydraulics.

Find out more on our website.

See the HD1042 and MV106 combo in action

Download brochure here.

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New Products: BioJack

BioJack

They might sound like some sort of comic villain, however M.Large have recently been recognised and awarded as the official distributor in Ireland and UK for BioJack energy wood grapples.

Biojack are Finnish made grapples with a feature set to make harvesting energy wood simple and fast without the need to change attachments. The Biojack range is extensive from the nimble and light timber crane/tractor mounted 150 to the excavator mounted 300 series. These are impressive modular grapples featuring a host of options including delimbing, bunching and cutting knives.

For more information see BioJack website here.

See the BioJack 150 in action