September 2015: Owing to their exceptional versatility and mobility in and around construction sites, Highveld Horticulture relies on Manitou’s Gehl skid steer loaders to “get the job done”. This sentiment is never more clearly illustrated than in its latest project: a renowned 4-hectare residential estate currently under construction in Fourways that is set to introduce 425 apartments to the booming market later this year.

 Highveld Horticulture has a long-standing relationship with Manitou, and has used 10 of its Gehl loaders for landscaping and agricultural work in residential and commercial estates around Johannesburg for the past two decades.

Highveld Horticulture currently has three 4640 skid steer loaders paired with the auger, backhoe and bucket attachments operating on site in Fourways. “These versatile loaders assist with a whole host of applications, from acting as a wheel-barrow to a ground-leveller, and fulfil many duties on site with great efficiency,” comments Nerina Bezuidenhout, Project Manager, Highveld Horticulture.

These duties include scraping; soil and rubbish clearing; levelling and paving; as well as planting posts and rails that are required to corner off the wetland areas around the estate. “As the site is essentially a large wetland, we couldn’t disturb this area with hand-digging and relied on the loaders instead of heavier equipment to do this job for us,” adds Bezuidenhout.

The 4640 skid steer loaders are well-suited for this kind of construction as they are mobile enough to work in the midst of other construction vehicles. They also “pack a punch” large enough to handle the high powered attachments and large loads. “The loaders work flat-out for 6 days-a-week, not only inside the construction site but also on bordering roads like Witkoppen Road to make pedestrian pathways,” says Zulu Wilson, Project Manager, Highveld Horticulture.

The eco-sensitive site also required machines that guarantee zero oil leakages. The Manitou range of skid steer loaders complies with this.

“We have five skilled operators that ensure that the machines run at optimum efficiency while adhering to the highest levels of safety. In addition, all our operators attended a training course offered by Manitou and are SABS certified to operate this machinery,” concludes Wilson.

 Highveld Horticulture has worked on this premium residential estate for the past 18 months, and will continue to do so for a further three years to ensure wetland integrity.

In addition to the Manitou machines used on this estate, Highveld Horticulture is currently using two 4640 skid steer loaders on another residential estate now under construction in Lonehill, Johannesburg.