50 | Invention with a positive future The company’s extensive range of forestry services include slash chipping for biofuel, root raking, skid maintenance, road maintenance and earthworks. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MG Contracting T T Rosa Watson “It goes along pulling out each plant and putting it straight through the chipper.” Marlborough-based forestry contractor Matt Gale had an invention in mind that would create efficiencies in vine removal and chipping, and he was determined to bring it to life. After many designs, and many sleepless nights, he came up with Elag – a hydraulic attachment that fitted to the chipper operated by his firm, MG Contracting. “So, it goes along pulling out each plant and putting it straight through the chipper,” explains Matt’s wife, Olivia. “The chip can either be blown from the chipper out over the land, or we can catch it using a tractor and gondola, which can be used for biofuel, landscaping, or we have just started supplying it to the local sale yards to create a nicer standing ground for stock. “So, while Elag was getting made by Rosco Hydraulics, we put the chipper straight back to work in the forest, sorting out the woody material from the slash.” The final design that is now in operation is able to take a plant to chip within five seconds. It was a leap of faith for the couple, who invested a lot personally into it, Olivia says. Elag complemented the company’s recent move into selling woodchip for biofuel. MG Contracting chips forest slash, which is then used as biofuel, turning agricultural waste into an efficient product. In May last year, the couple took a trial woodchip truckload to local tomato grower Kinzetts, who were more than happy with the product. “We had the moisture content read in it and it came out at 30% MC, compared to their supply at the time being 60% MC,” Olivia says. “This is due to using slash opposed to freshly cut trees.” They became sole supplier to Kinzett the following month. Olivia says they are working very hard on new woodchip customers and see growth in this product into the future. On top of this, the company is also busy with earthworks, forestry rehab and smallscale logging operations, and has grown from five staff in 2022 to 12 staff today. The company’s extensive range of forestry services include slash chipping for biofuel, root raking, skid maintenance, road maintenance and earthworks It supplies quality dry wood chip in both pine and grapevine. In vineyard development, the company carries out contouring and drainage, and also vineyard post and plant removal, pulling posts and ripping and chipping plants The team also carries out tree removal and shelterbelt clearing Matt has been in the logging and forestry industry for 23 years, and two years ago decided to venture away from logging to focus on forest rehabilitation and maintenance. This led to opportunities in tree removal, shelter belt clearing and vineyard development. Innovative, sustainable, local. Forestry/Earthworks Wood chip Supply Vineyard Post & Plant removal Call Matt: 0272688061 olivia@mgcontracting.kiwi www.mgcontracting.nz Richard Cooke | Mob 027 497 5395 Tyrone Park, Jacks Rd, Renwick | E: rosco.hydraulics@xtra.co.nz 03 572 8670 24 HRS Total Hydraulic & Fluid Power Hose & Fitting Specialists 100% Family owned business Proudly working withMGContracting
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=