Spider Slope Mower
Remote-controlled slope mower puts safety first
Slopes, hills and confined areas are a real challenge when it comes to land clearing. Fortunately, a remote-controlled mower is an easily transportable and safe option when compared to a ride-on mower, a brush-cutter or a tractor-powered reach mower. Brian Baschin, a commercial land clearer in the Goulburn Valley area, talks about his experience with the Civiline Spider mower from Inlon.
I have a contract to mow around dam walls and reservoirs, which I’ve managed before with a brush-cutter. Following a review with my client, we both agreed that a safer alternative was necessary, and I was also looking for a faster machine. A ride-on or tractor-powered reach mower would have given me some extra speed but the roll-over risk is too high. I employ other people, and you can’t be too careful with OH&S these days.
‘I arranged a demo of the remote-controlled Spider slope mower from Inlon. My client’s OH&S manager also came along for an assessment. The remote control is the obvious safety feature because it eliminates the risk of being hurt in a roll-over incident. Another safety improvement is the way the Spider mulches material and contains it within a cutting chamber so you don’t have stones or debris flicking out. This feature also gives a cleaner cut overall and doesn’t leave unsightly windrows.
‘We were all happy with the OH&S improvement, but I was also impressed with the productivity aspect. It has actually cut my work time in half: I can get through half a dam wall in a day on one tank of fuel, which is very economical too. It’s easy to transport around on a small trailer, so that saves time as well. Overall, the Spider ticks all the safety and productivity boxes.’
The Civiline Spider is capable of cutting slopes up to 40 degrees utilising 4 wheel drive lugged tyres and up to 55 degree slopes with its optional winch system. It has previously won the CIVENEX Most Innovative Product award and a German Red Dot design award.
Glenn Dwyer, Inlon’s Product Manager, affectionately known in the industry as Spiderman, summed up its appeal. ‘Most of its components are made of alloys and with its light-weight construction, the Spider has a high power to weight ratio with unsurpassed performance on sloping ground. The patented design ensures excellent stability even when changing direction on a steep slope, and its so-called ‘dance step’ for very rapid changes of direction is unbeatable. Although it’s technically a mower, users tell us it performs more like a remote-controlled mulcher.’
The Spider mower is ideal for maintenance of areas surrounding reservoirs, rivers, dams and wetlands.