Ipswich, Suffolk (October 16, 2017) BaanStede, an organisation which helps people re-integrate into the workplace, located on the outskirts of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, has purchased Ransomes mowers for the green department. Voets, a distributor of Ransomes dealer, Van der Pols, made the delivery.
The organisation has invested in five Ransomes MP493 rotary mowers and one MP595 cylinder mower. The new machinery will be used in the green spaces department to provide currently unemployed people with new skills and experience to re-integrate them into the workplace.
BaanStede is an organisation where disabled people or people with social issues are supported in contributing to the wider society by learning new skills and making themselves more employable. The organisation works with local authorities which outsource projects and jobs for the unemployed to work on. A dedicated department is then in charge of contacting employers to find opportunities for people who are ready to re-integrate into the workplace.
Michiel Douna is the special projects division manager of the green department at BaanStede. Commenting on the investment by the organisation, he said:
“We work very hard here to provide people with the best chance to lead a normal working life. We will assess people when they come to us, and decide what skills we can teach them, and if they have any existing interests that we can build upon. The green spaces department is very popular; it challenges people to understand the machinery, but it also gives them great satisfaction when they see the difference they are making.
“When we were looking for machinery, we invited the major brands to demo its mowers. We then asked the opinion of the people that would be using the machinery, and Ransomes emerged a unanimous favourite. The other machines either only had two decks or were too complicated to use. The Ransomes mowers were very easy-to-use, which is important in this environment, and it had three decks, which was key for adaptability. Also, the ground is very often wet and soft, and the Ransomes MP mowers seemed to be able to cope with these conditions the best.
“The machinery is comfortable, the visibility is excellent when the decks are up or down, and the deck locks on the mower are also an essential safety feature for us. We have been very pleased with the service from both Voets and Van der Pols. Every year, a training programme is created for us, so that the operators are fully trained before they use the machines. We have always been Ransomes, we trust in the product, and we trust in our dealer to provide support when we need it.”
BaanStede has a number of departments including Business Post & Printing, Green, Clean, Assembly, Packaging and Digitisation. BaanStede in its current form has existed since January 1, 1999, resulting from a merger of the DWS group (Zaan Regional Social Workforce) and Waterland Companies (Social Workforce for the Waterland Region). The original companies were founded in 1955 and 1956. BaanStede currently organises work for more than a thousand people.
Find out more about BaanStede Groen:https://www.baanstede.nl/home
About Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.
Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Arctic Cat®, Textron Off Road™, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports to planned communities, and theme parks to hunting preserves.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Off Road, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com
