Offering agricultural work around the Cheshire area, and groundworks and vegetation management nationwide, Ray Britland Contracting has relied on the Austrian-built Reform Metrac.
Ray Britland Contracting was established to diversify the family farm, based in Great Warford, near Cheshire. In the 35 years since it was started, the business has shifted to include not only general agricultural work and contract farming, but also offering a nationwide service to local authorities, infrastructure projects and the private sector.
This is primarily in groundworks and vegetation management, and the company utilises a fleet of 24 Reform Metrac tractors imported by Simon Richard Ltd and sold and serviced by Stuart Taylor International. It is, according to John Wilkinson, senior hire controller and head of operations, the largest privately owned fleet of the Austrian brand’s machines in the UK.
“Ray first purchased a Reform in 1998, and it was clear that it could handle conditions that a standard agricultural tractor would not be able to,” he says.
A second machine was added in 2002, and as the level of work has grown exponentially, so has the investment in Reform. Over the last eight years, the company has added at least one new machine to the fleet per year, as well as regularly replacing older models. It now runs a range of models, starting with an H4, running through the H6 and H7 series, the H60, H70 and H75, including new Pro specification machines, and a flagship H95.
“We keep the H4 on light duties now, but it’s worth more to us on the farm than it would be traded in against another,” says Dan Pollard, project manager. “It’s the lightest machine in the fleet, meaning we can transport it to the site with a standard trailer behind a pickup truck, and it just sticks to the banks. It can still handle everything we throw at it, but it’s just lacking a little power to stand alongside the newer machines.”
The units are utilised across a range of operations. Vegetation management is key, with a fleet of Müthing front and rear-mounted flails, some Kuhn Farm Machinery kit and lightweight McConnel PA4330 reach arm mowers. There’s also seeding and chemical applications – the company has worked on multiple road projects, including establishing the banks on the M6 Toll and along the updated section of the A1.
To meet the environmental requirements of these projects, each Reform Metrac is topped up with bio-oil, meaning that if there is a leak at any point, the potential damage to the surroundings will be limited.
Constant development
Having utilised Metracs for nearly three decades, the team has seen the machines develop. Dan notes that the new Pro models are closer in specification to a standard agricultural tractor. “Reform keeps enhancing the level of comfort, which is a real benefit because we’re asking operators to spend long days on these machines. And there are more practical functions; the extra display means we can keep track of machine parameters easier, and the ability to configure the output of the spools means we can make quick adjustments based on the work.”
They highlight the increased cooling capacity of the newer models and the reversing fan. Because of the type of work these machines are used for, there can be significant debris and dust, which has occasionally led to overheating. The new cooling setup can be easily accessed from the side bonnet and opened for intensive cleaning if required, while the reversing function extends the time between maintenance.
Both Dan and John also say they are impressed with the level of configuration available with the Reform machines. “They’ve got a wide choice of tyres, including duals for really steep banks and in difficult conditions,” John says. “Because we’re working on side slopes, there’s also the option of a tilting seat, which keeps the operator upright while the machine stays flight on the incline.”
Some of the operators like this feature, while others prefer to move with the machine. Dan says it’s personal preference, but he feels moving with the machine and understanding the angle of operation keeps you in tune with the tractor and leads to safer working.
“These machines are rated for 35deg side slopes, and they are more than capable of it,” Dan says. “We’ve pushed it a little further when needed, with low pressure tyres and ensuring the engine is at the higher point to maintain the weight balance.”
Over 30 years, they have, of course, occasionally tested other brands of slope tractors. John explains that the build quality and cab comfort couldn’t match what Reform offers; a key consideration since some of the Metracs are also included in the company’s hire fleet.
“You want to send out a machine that’s reliable,” he explains. “If a customer has a breakdown with a hire vehicle and they have to wait for back-up, or another machine, they’re losing money, which means we’re losing money.”
Nationwide coverage
They do acknowledge some difficulties with the dealer coverage in the UK, especially as work takes them as far north as the Scottish Borders, all the way to the Welsh coast, and as far South-East as Kent. “The dealers are excellent, and Stuart Taylor has sent mechanics out to us if we do have a problem, but you don’t want to rely on something like that.”
Rather than wait for more dealers, and no doubt achieved because of the size of the fleet, the company has started working closely with the manufacturer, attending dealer training events at the factory. This enables them to bring more of the maintenance and repairs in-house.
Over time, they’ve seen the company make real strides to improve maintenance. From the easy access to the engine and cooling package on newer machines, to the digital dashboard that brings up the exact error code. “This is brilliant because whether we’re doing the work ourselves, or we have to call in a mechanic, they can turn up on site knowing what the problem is and hopefully having the tools to fix it,” Dan says.
“Previously, you might have had to wait hours for that person to come out with the laptop, identify the problem, and then drive back to collect the part and the tools to rectify it.”
The close relationship with Stuart Taylor International, Simon Richard Ltd and Reform means that the team at Ray Britland have been able to see their feedback come to fruition through the updates, and they continue to make requests and engage with the firm.
“It would be great to see another true lightweight machine like the H4 come to market,” Dan says. “Everything else we use has the same slope capabilities but is more difficult logistically to move from site to site.”
John adds that bringing the machines to market GPS-ready would also be a benefit, especially as operators become more used to that as a standard feature within the agricultural range. “Perhaps even a dual system that can monitor both axles and adjust the four-wheel steer to minimise drifting.”
Reform in the future
The vegetation management side of the business requires a comprehensive range of kit, with McConnel RoboCut machines utilised in areas where the Reform can’t work, and, in extreme cases, an old Mulag RM70 tracked machine. “That will handle slopes that even the RoboCut can’t reach,” says John. “It’s got aluminium tracks and a fibreglass body; it’s incredibly light and well-balanced.”
Still, the Reforms are set to remain a key part of the business, tackling the bulk of the bank work. “We’re always seeing how these machines are improving, and if they carry on enhancing the build quality and driveability, there’s no reason for us to look elsewhere,” concludes Dan.