The City of Mechelen, or Malines, is a city in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, with a population of 86,000. In September 2014, the City purchased a fleet of nine Multihog MXC 120 multi-purpose tractors. They are equipped with a wide selection of interchangeable attachments, including the Heatweed thermal weed control system, de-icing sprayers, snow brushes, weed brushes and 180 cm (70 in) flail mowers.
Operating right across Mechelen’s urban region, spanning some 66 km2 (41 sq. miles), the Multihog fleet takes care of weed control, winter maintenance services and roadside mowing.
Patrick Zeeuws is the Public Maintenance Team Manager for the City and was instrumental in its decision to introduce Multihog to the municipal fleet. “We had some older tractors and mini loaders from other manufacturers, but when it was time to upgrade, a key factor in our decision was the excellent after-sales support we get with our local dealer, Van Dyck Marcel. Their advice and knowledge is invaluable, so we knew when they recommended Multihog, we were on the right track.”
Mechelen were hoping for increased productivity and better reliability when they purchased the Multihog fleet, and Patrick is happy to say that Multihog has achieved both.
It’s no surprise to learn that with such a variety of attachments in the fleet, the Multihogs are in use all year round. “We can cover 4km/h when we’re carrying out weed control, and 6-8 km/h with winter service. We can also drive in between sites, so that saves us time too. The Multihogs have been a revelation for our operators. The sound insulation is so superior to our old machines. Cabin comfort is miles ahead as well, which makes them much nicer for our team to use.”
Patrick is also full of praise for the Multihogs’ quality. He describes them as solid and robust, with very few problems in the 6 years since their arrival. “Every piece of equipment has some small problems, but the Multihog has performed very well on the reliability front. When we compare it to other machines we have experience of, it’s a really solid and extremely strong machine. We can definitely recommend it to anyone who has to perform a wide variety of maintenance tasks.”
Having proved itself over many years in the City’s fleet, it made sense for Mechelen to choose Multihog’s CV 350 sweeper for sanitation duties. The first sweeper unit was delivered in the latter part of 2020 and is performing well.
"Before the purchase, we looked at other products which compete with Multihog, but its quality and comfort is certainly better."
“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."
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