Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has taken delivery of a Multihog multi-purpose tractor for highway maintenance duties to keep the region’s road network safe and in good condition. The vehicle was supplied by TransLinc, who are working in partnership with the Council under a 10-year contract, which commenced in 2004. The Multihog is used primarily for patch planing but is also kitted out with a salt spreader and snow plough for snow clearing during winter months.
Previous patch planing operations relied on traditional methods which involved the use of multiple vehicles and manual breaking, and Highways Delivery Manager David Hepworth was keen to find a more streamlined procedure as he explains: “We had looked for a while for a quicker and more effective method for carrying out these types of repairs. Smaller machines were not up to the job and I was of the opinion that there was definitely a gap to be filled in the market. When we saw a demo of the Multihog we realised that this was the niche machine we needed.”
Following a short demo the Multihog was trialled for two days in real time repairs and the combination of the powerful base unit and the 400mm wide planer attachment proved to be a time saving and efficient method which also eradicated the need for manual breaking. This contributes to much better health and safety procedures as any risk of hand arm vibration is avoided. Planing to a depth of 125mm, the attachment saves the cost of infill materials by accurately removing only what is needed. This produces a sound base for reinstatement and reduces transport and recycling costs by creating a re-usable material.
“We anticipated significant increase in structural damage after the winter period and Multihog pulled out all the stops to get the machine to us for early January as required,” says David. “Although the weather has not been as harsh as expected the machine has been in operation on a daily basis ever since. At the moment it is doing basic patching work but its versatility means that we will be using it within a planned scheme of first time fixing of pot holes and for major maintenance scenarios in future. We have been more than happy with its performance and the drivers love it – they regard it as their extra Christmas present!”
"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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