Keele University has invested in a wide range of Makita 40Vmax XGT cordless grounds maintenance tools to help its team to efficiently maintain the extensive site.
In addition, the range is improving user safety and comfort, reducing noise and minimising environmental impact while Makita’s dedicated service and support is also making a significant difference for the overall team.
Founded in 1949, Keele University in Staffordshire is one of the largest campus universities in the UK with its 13,500 students and 2000 staff utilising more than 250 teaching, research, sports and accommodation buildings that sit within more than 600 acres.
The university has its own low carbon energy generation park, with two wind turbines, 12,500 solar panels and a large battery storage unit. This supplies a remarkable 50% of the university’s total energy requirements each year.
The estate, which has roots back to the 12th century, includes extensive woodland, landscaped parkland, historic gardens, lakes, and sports fields.
The Keele University grounds maintenance team is relatively small with 10 operatives who work year-round on the upkeep of the impressive campus. In 2016, the decision was made to begin replacing its petrol powered and corded electric tools with cordless alternatives.
Neil Flavell, Minor Works Project Manager (Building & External Maintenance) at Keele University explained: “Our switch to cordless was driven by several factors. Firstly, the university is striving to minimise its environmental footprint, with the future goal to be carbon neutral. Therefore, reducing the use of fossil fuels in all areas is essential. With the university producing its own low carbon electricity, cordless tools were an obvious fit.”
John Knott, Grounds Senior Team Leader added: “Cordless tools also enable us to reduce the noise around campus, which is essential to avoid disturbing students’ learning and exams. Importantly, it has also helped to improve the comfort and safety of our team, with no fumes, lower vibration and the elimination of the cords on electric tools that can be a trip hazard.”
The grounds maintenance team began using cordless products from several different manufacturers to evaluate which would be the long-term choice. The aim was to find the tools that could offer the best combination of performance, usability and ongoing manufacturer support. The decision was eventually made to streamline the equipment pool to tools from just two manufacturers to provide a balance between offering a choice for the staff and reducing the complexity of operating many different battery platforms.
“The Makita tools have emerged as the preference among the team,” John said: “They have found them easy and comfortable to use and crucially deliver the runtimes that allow them to work without having to worry about battery charging. On some of the tools, a single battery will often be all that is required to complete a day’s tasks.”
Neil added: “With the team using these machines day after day, we need products that can meet the demands. We are always looking for a quality product and while cost is a consideration, we are happy to invest in tools that will last and do the job we need them to do. After sales service and support is also important to us, and this is a significant issue we have had with some manufacturers. In contrast, the support from Makita has been second to none with the team only too happy to help and they have been highly responsive to all our requests.”
The Makita tools operated by the university team includes hedge trimmers, handheld blowers, backpack blowers, brush cutters and mowers. The team has also invested in the versatile UX01G Multi-Function Power Head, which has a range of interchangeable attachments from hedge trimmers to powered roller brushes. All the tools are part of Makita’s powerful 40Vmax XGT range, which has been engineered to deliver the performance and runtimes required by professionals.
Commenting on what they see as one of the most valuable of the new Makita tools, John said: “The machine that has really impressed us is the UH007G 750mm hedge trimmer. It is powerful and has demonstrated excellent runtimes. The feedback from the team is that after the job is done, the battery often still has enough power to be swapped over to the blower to help clear up the trimmings.”
Keele University were also able to take advantage of the Makita redemption schemes through which customers can claim additional batteries for free when they purchase selected tools, saving the university significant money when expanding its portfolio of tools.
What’s more, Makita tools are also being utilised by the wider team at Keele University, with building maintenance staff using a range of Makita handheld power tools. The sports centre staff have even invested in their own UX01G with roller sweeper attachment for raking the beach volleyball court.
John concluded: “The Makita tools have proven to be high quality and easy to use, which is backed up by their popularity among the team. However, it is really the whole package, including the service and support, we have received from Makita that has convinced us to invest further in expanding the number and variety of its machines we operate.”
