Antwerp Zoo in Belgium is one of the oldest zoos in the world, attracting more than 1 million visitors annually. It took delivery of a Multihog CL 55 multi-purpose tractor in early October 2020, along with a variety of attachments including a front sweeper, Dynaset pressure washer with two high pressure reels, and a low pressure pump with one reel. An aluminium platform on the rear carries an 800 litre (211 US gal) water tank. For the front a plant pot clamp (adapted from a mast attachment) will be available, along with pallet forks.
The Zoo purchased their Multihog CL tractor primarily for cleaning duties on its 11 hectare grounds. It’s mostly used to maintain walking paths (paved and unpaved) with the front sweeper and high pressure washer. The sweeper is also used to clean leaves and the larger animals’ enclosures. The pot clamp moves the Zoo’s tropical plants to protect them during winter, and it can be adjusted between 30 and 950 mm (1 – 37”), so it can be used for plants of all sizes. The pallet forks move pallets with large sacks of feed and bedding for the animals. All in all, it’s proving to be a complete multi-tasker for the Zoo.
Koen Wyckmans, head of Landscaping & Garden Infrastructure at the Zoo, is pleased with the Multihog. “We had a 30 year old tractor/tool carrier until this year, so the Multihog has really been a revelation for us, as our old machine could only be used for pressure washing.”
Having chosen the Multihog for cleaning purposes, any extra functionality after that was added value for the Zoo. The CL has made a huge leap in terms of ergonomics and efficiency, and has improved productivity too. The machine will be used all year round, but its busiest season will be Autumn. It will move pots in spring and fall, and clean using the sweeping brush/collector on wet days. The high pressure washer will be used to clean the grounds on dry days, and the pallet forks will help to move various feed, bedding and other material around the Zoo.
According to Koen, the Multihog CL is not necessarily faster than their old machine, but it does bring much more functionality to the Infrastructure dept. “Our old tractor just had a rear washing lance, whereas the Multihog has both front and rear washers, along with all of the other tasks we can carry out using the pot clamp, pallet forks and the sweeper.”
The Zoo’s local dealer Van Dyck Marcel customised the CL somewhat, fitting a high & low pressure pump on the rear of the machine, and adapting a mast to function as a pot clamp.
The biggest benefit is actually for Koen’s team. “My colleagues are so much happier using this machine. It’s more ergonomic, warm and comfortable for them – especially in Belgium, where we can have quite wet and cold weather in the winter. Now, the CL can move the pots, instead of the team, who used to have to move them manually. In the summer, it’s nice to be able to clean the paths from the comfort of the cabin, instead of standing outside in the dust on dry days.”
“My operators love the Multihog. Even the bigger operators tell me how much more comfortable it is."
"We’re cleaning the streets more efficiently, so that is definitely an environmental benefit for our city."
"The Multihogs were ideal for us. As they’re much lighter than our old machines, we can use them to remove snow from our boardwalks and sidewalks."
"The driving experience absolutely convinced me. I love driving it, the suspension is amazing. To be honest, the comfort level could not be better."
I knew it must be a really good piece of equipment, and my instincts were right - our two machines have been operating flawlessly.
“Since the purchase of our first Multihog in 2019, they have proven to be a valuable asset in our machinery fleet."
"I recognized straight away that a Multihog could serve our city well. We’ve got 8 attachments for it, and it’s taken the place of multiple machines."
"Apart from the environmental benefits, it’s also really, really comfortable to drive and I'm relieved that it has improved our operational safety."
“Our cycle paths are very neat in just one sweep/working passage. This ensures the safety of our residents, especially during autumn and winter."
“From a maintenance standpoint we have far fewer problems and downtime than other similar equipment in our fleet."
“Our MH outperforms our older snow blower by at least 200%. It can handle all types of snow with a greater output and much faster.”
"The suspension really allows an incredibly high level of driver comfort, and we’re amazed by the performance of the PTO hydraulics."
"The Multihog has performed very well on the reliability front compared to other machines. It’s a really solid and extremely strong machine."
"My colleagues are so much happier using this machine. It’s more ergonomic, warm and comfortable for them."
"Our 2 machines can do so many things, and although they’re small and compact, they’re so well built that they do the work of much larger equipment"
"The Multihog puts us at a professional level that’s unmatched by our competition"
"The Multihogs are working really well for us. The operators have found them straightforward to use and we hope to add to our range of attachments."
"The Multihog doesn’t vibrate like our old machine, and it’s so quiet I don’t even need to wear ear protection - no post-shift fatigue anymore!"
DHL at Leipzig-Halle airport operate a fleet of 12 Multihog tractors equipped with combi snow plough & brush attachments, de-icing sprayers and V snow
"It’s one machine that does it all - safely and efficiently. Very comfortable in the cabin too, which makes work more enjoyable for the operator."
"The only way to compare the Multihog to other machines is to compare the comfort of an old vintage car to a brand new car. - there is no comparison"
"At that point the snow is super dense, icy and solid; it’s pretty hard to shift, but it’s no problem for the MX. This tractor is really, really good"
"Our asphalt grinding process is faster and more efficient now, we tested it and we’re definitely covering more feet per hour than before"
"The Multihog is a different animal from anything we’ve ever had – the articulation, rubberised tyres and 4-wheel drive ticks a lot of our boxes."
“We try to improve our operations with each new purchase of equipment & this has certainly been the case with the acquisition of our Multihogs"
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