TS Industrie Super Premium 30DR

Friday, 20 January 2012

TS Industrie Super Premium 30DR - image: HW

We understand it is a popular brand and a much-liked machine on the continent and we reckon we should soon be seeing more over here. The Super Prem is powerful, efficient, simple to use and we love the price.

Originally built by French firm Saelen as a multi-vegetation processor, the 30DR is now branded TS following the union of Tunnissen and Saelen. It is available in the UK from Eric Hunter of Maidenhead.

Unlike the GreenMech EcoCombi, the Super Prem does not have separate chipping and shredding mechanisms. All material is fed in through a single, flared hopper and onto a conveyor belt that takes it to the heart of the machine - a mixed rotor equipped with 10 tungsten-tipped hammers plus two blades. Sounds complicated, but it is very clever.

The circumference of the hammers, greater than that of the blades, makes them work as a priority, thus protecting the blades against wear to increase their longevity. When a branch is too great in diameter, the hammers retract to leave room for the knives to plane it. The pieces of branch and organic material then go back into the hammer mechanism to be further reduced.

The other difference between the Super Prem and most other chippers and shredders is the Variostress device. This is a preset no-stress programme adjustable for the type of material being processed. There are three settings - timber, wet green waste or something in-between - each dictating the amount of revs the machine can drop before the no-stress device takes over. It makes the Super Prem more productive.

Using the 30DR is comfortable and easy, although we did experience a bit of throw back from the conifer. For soft green waste, the hopper and conveyor make it easy to load with armfuls or forkfuls of material. But it was not so happy about cardboard. Nevertheless, the machine left a lasting impression on the testers.

"I thought I misheard the price," says Olleson. "Its very good value for money and it's such a powerful machine." Note that the petrol version is £4,000 less.

We suggest that the Super Prem would make a good processor for mobile crews, landscape gardeners and also tree maintenance contractors who generate material that they do not want to put through an ordinary chipper.

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 30hp Yanmar diesel?
Capacities: 6in (150cm)?
Rotor weight: 80kg?
Chipping/shredding mechanism: Mixed rotor - 10 hammers/two knives?
Feed roller width: 25cm?
Drive: Direct belt drive
Discharge chute: 270 degs rotation
Fuel tank capacity: 30 litres?
Dimensions: 4.1x1.65x2.3m (transport)?
Weight: 1,200kg?Price: £19,967 + VAT?
Tel: Eric Hunter - 01628 778644

Tested This Week

GreenMech EcoCombi?
TS Industrie Super Premium 30DR?
Bear Cat 5in chipper/shredder?
Viking GB460?
Jo Beau M300 and M500?
Eliet Major

The Review Panel - Michael Olleson, garden maintenance, Waterperry Gardens, Oxford
David Taylor, gardener, Waterperry Gardens, Oxford

We all know that we should reduce, reuse and recycle, but when it comes to general organic waste material, which machines are up to the job? Generating a wide variety of green waste from its vast gardens and also its orchards, Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire provided a perfect venue for our test.

We looked at the high-performance GreenMech EcoCombi and TS Industrie Super Premium - both designed to tackle 6in wood waste as well the wet, soggy and dirty green stuff from the herbaceous borders. We also investigated the American-built Bear Cat 5in chipper/shredder.

A high-end garden multi-shredder, the Viking GB460, was put through its paces with smaller woody material and a variety of herbaceous material. Finally, we looked at the Jo Beau chipper and the Eliet Major shredder.

Conditions on the day of the test were dry and sunny, although it was a little cool in the morning.