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Volume 49, Number 537,
INSIDE
Highway Superintendent James C. Cheyne
and the Town of Marcy..........................................................9
Lots of news, products and services throughout!
NEW YORK STATE STAFF
President/Publisher Edwin M. McKeon Jr.
Editor In Chief Craig Mongeau
Sales Manager Kent Hogeboom
Production Mgr. John Pinkerton
Controller Judith Nixon
Circulation Mgr. Cathy Printz
Sales/Admin. Asst. Deby Hogeboom
Trade Show Manager Amanda Hogeboom-Guilfoyle
Consultant Bob Buckley
361 Shoemaker Road Mohawk NY 13407 Phone 315/866-1423
E-Mail - khogeboom@cegltd.com
PRODUCERS OF THE ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE HIGHWAY & PUBLIC WORKS EXPO Amanda Hogeboom-Guilfoyle: General Manager of the NYS Highway & Public Works Show 518-396-7659 email: aguilfoyle@cegltd.com OCTOBER 29, 2025 • SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
Mailed 11 times a year by name, to every Town, County, Village and City Highway Superintendent, Public Works Director and D.O.T. official in NY State.
Subscriptions are available to all interested persons at a cost of $25.00 per year within the USA. To subscribe, send your check, voucher or money order for $25.00 to the address above. Single issues $3.00 each With the exception of Highway Superintendents, Public Works Directors & D.O.T. Officials, material may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.
My goodness, we’re already in June and halfway through 2025. I don’t know about you, but it’s flying by for me, probably because I’m older and as I’ve said in this space before, time really does feel like it goes by more quickly when you get to a certain age.
Anyway, being halfway through the year, we’re only four and half months away from the next N.Y.S. Highway & Public Works Expo in Syracuse. As such, I thought it would be a good time to give an update on where booth sales stand: Our large floor spaces are 85 percent sold and we currently only have one 40-ft. by 30-ft.; three 40-ft. by 20-ft.; and three 20-ft. by 20-ft. spaces available. All of our 40 by 40s and 40 by 50s are sold out. We have sold more than 50 percent of the 10 by 10 booths spaces. Overall, the show is more than 70 percent sold. Thank you for helping the 2025 Expo get off to such a strong start. Please contact Amanda Hogeboom-Guilfoyle, our trade show manager at aguilfoyle@cegltd.com for details about exhibiting.
And finally, to follow-up on a story we published in the April issue of Superintendent’s Profile titled, “New Advanced Clean Truck Rule Facing Stiff Opposition,” about the ACT rule, the neighboring state of Vermont recently halted its state’s electric vehicle sales requirements for passenger cars and medium and heavy-duty trucks. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott cited his primary reason for doing this were warnings from automakers that they could limit supply of gas-powered vehicles to dealers in the state because of the EV rules. However, he also mentioned that Vermont doesn’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals.
Vermont joins Maryland and its governor, Wes Moore, who in April delayed enforcement of the rules until the 2028 model year, citing concerns about tariffs and charging infrastructure funding. Oregon also did the same, saying the stats department of environmental quality would pause enforcement of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule immediately.
To review, at the beginning of 2025, the New York State government began requiring truck dealerships to sell a percentage of zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, for trucks weighing 8,500 lbs. or more, with those percentages required to grow at a steady rate for the next decade.
So, hopefully, New York State will soon follow these other these other states that have simply stated they can’t meet these goals at this time or anytime soon. P
Craig Mongeau
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THE POWER OF FOAM
By Lori Lovely PROFILE CORRESPONDENT
Highway Superintendent James C. Cheyne and the Town of Marcy
James C. Cheyne took the helm as the town of Marcy’s highway superintendent in 2020, bringing with him some fresh ideas for the small town in Oneida County.
Vowing to “put Marcy back on the map” and “make the town cool and hip,” he has relied on connections, 26 years of experience working for the town and some out-of-the-box thinking to achieve those goals through “trails, nice parks and community involvement.”
Prelude
Before James was elected to the highway superintendent role, he had worked for the town for 26 years. He applied for work right out of high school and landed a “part-time” job working approximately 50 hours a week in the sheriff’s department. Unfortunately, he was unable to secure a permanent position.
He moved to the highway department, where he started at the bottom.
“I worked my way up,” he said.
James began as a garbage collector in 1995, eventually getting promoted to recycling before becoming a “floater.” He then spent nine years as the “night guy,” working Sunday to Thursday watching the roads, plowing, sanding, and in the summer, running a road tractor to mow and sweep the roads.
Corrections Connections
“The day I started for the town, I got the paperwork for the state corrections department,” James said. “I worked two years at the Oneida County Correctional Facility, which is a maximum-security state prison.”
Later, after he’d become the highway superintendent, James followed a suggestion from the Parks Department in turning to the New York State Community Service crews from the prison for help in painting the town barn and outbuildings.
“I bought a new paint gun and a lift,” he said.
continued on page 12
Jim and his wife, Dawn, bike ride around Hinckley Lake trails.
GSI and the town of Marcy highway department work to repair a bank slide issue.
from page 9
The project was a success.
“Two weeks later, every building was painted. Some of the guards even grabbed a paint brush,” he said, adding that the inmates wanted to come back to do more work. “They were excited to be here. I made them coffee and had a barbecue.”
One inmate, who happened to be a professional painter, left a ‘thankyou’ message on the town’s Facebook page.
“I’ll use them again,” the James says. “It’s all free labor.”
He estimated that it cost him approximately $6,000 to paint all those building using the inmates, as opposed to an estimated $40,000-$50,000 if he’d had to hire a painting crew.
Right Out of High School
Another innovative idea for filling the highway department ranks echoes James’s own experience of applying for employment with the town.
“My last four hires have been right out of high school,” he said, adding that in 1995, 80 percent of the department’s workforce were farmers who could weld, work on motors, etc. But the workforce pool shrank. It got to the point where “they hired anyone, due to shortages.”
continued on page 20
Seen here is a bank stabilization project on Toby Road in the summer of 2023.
page 12
Now, with a lot of older workers who are looking at retirement, he knew he had to get creative in finding new employees. Once he met a local man certified as a state trainer, a plan came together. The highway department would provide on-the-job training to young graduates to obtain their CDL license. Then, because a CDL license requires schooling, this state-approved trainer would provide the practical training. Once this was done, they were ready for their test.
James proudly said that “every single one of them passed on the first try. It’s an impressive achievement, especially considering that two of them had never driven a big truck before.”
Building on this initial success, James attends career days at the high school, where he carefully evaluates potential candidates.
“I look at whether they play sports — did they stick with it? I drive past their houses — do they keep their truck clean? That shows they take pride in their work.”
If they pass muster, he hires them as laborers. After they pass the CDL test, they get new seniority and “a big raise.”
His crew roster includes:
• Kevin Monaghan, deputy superintendent, MEO
• Steve Thorn, HMEO
• Tom Scharbach, HMEO
• Steve Kaelin, HMEO
• Dave Hayes, HMEO
• Josh Sciortino, HMEO
• Steve Shulsky, HMEO
• Marliusz Pawlowski, HMEO
• Mason Simone, HMEO
• Dean Chrzan, MEO
• Anthony Beach, sanitation supervisor
• Jim Coleman, recycling
• Josh Rood, floater, highway/sanitation
• Tanner Monaghan, recycling
• Jordan Blum, garage
• Tom Davis Jr., garage
Carmine Perrotta works part-time in the shop in the winter and fulltime mowing during the summer.
“Amanda Zeiter is my No. 1 employee,” James said. “She runs my office.”
The crew works two shifts through the winter: 3 a.m.-3 p.m. and 3 p.m.-3 a.m., plus a weekend shift of Friday-Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Summer hours are Monday-Thursday.
continued on page 28
James gets ready to ride on the Killington trails.
5985 Court Street Syracuse, NY 1320 (315) 437-2611
17 Northway Lane Latham, NY 12110 (518) 220-9500 Road
from page 20
People Person
It’s clear that Marcy’s highway superintendent is a people person. He thinks of himself as Adam Sandler in the movie “Billy Madison.” But, for a hands-on superintendent who loves doing roadwork and thinks he’s too soft on discipline, James appears to be equally comfortable leading his team and speaking up for the community where he’s grown up since 1984 through his role as president of the Oneida County Highway Association (after serving as vice president for three years) and as part of the Town Republican Committee.
He enjoys an “excellent working relationship” with the town supervisor.
“Brian is a 34-year veteran as town supervisor,” James said. “Under his lead, our town has not seen a tax increase. He [works hard] to keep a precise budget, while still keeping our equipment updated. He is an asset to our town.
“I’m constantly looking to try new things,” he added. “I want to improve myself. Becoming president opened up opportunities for new ideas, new connections.”
To enhance communication, he does more than merely call them on their two-way radios. He invites their ideas — which also encourages them to take ownership of projects — and asks for their input.
continued on page 32
The town of Marcy highway department crew works to install new pipe after a pipe washout.
Seen here are some emergency repairs needed in the town of Marcy.
“I’ve always come up with an idea and presented it to my guys for feedback.”
To manage expectations, he holds Monday morning group meetings. To boost morale, he hosts cookouts and takes his employees to county golf tournaments and clam bakes. To celebrate the achievements of his employees, he publishes an employee spotlight in the Marcy Matters quarterly publication. And to assist them and prove that he’s a team player, he built a truck with a plow so he could “hit the hills so they can drive to work safely” during snowstorms.
“I do more than a superintendent has to,” he said, but he points out that he also set the bar high for his shop and its crew.
The friendly superintendent also welcomes the community. He brought equipment to a truck rally, where the public could touch the trucks. In addition to showcasing the equipment, the event — which drew 3,000 people — featured bands playing live music and T-shirts commemorating the day.
Teaming up with a good friend, Parks Director Nick Schmidt, James helped reopen and improve hiking and mountain bike trails.
“The park trails were abandoned until the new director cleaned them.”
He’s currently working on a grant for an ATV with tracks to use in the winter to groom the trails for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.
As avid mountain bikers, James and his wife, Dawn, run a club: the ADK Bike and Ski Crew.
“We host weekly rides,” he said.
Working “four 10s” in the summer, and given how much later the light lingers, they do group rides at 6 p.m. They also travel to East Coast resorts, downhill and cross-country mountain bike parks. “One of our
favorites is Killington Resort.”
BMX, mountain bike, road cycling, snowmobile racing, Ironman … He’s done it all.
“I never stop,” he said.
James used to race bikes but stopped two years ago after getting hurt. While leading the points in the last race, he had a hard crash that injured his knee. But he continues to cycle to keep physically fit.
Also passionate about alpine skiing, prior to becoming highway superintendent, James was on the ski patrol at Woods Valley, noting that ski season can last until June in his part of the state.
“Prior to becoming highway superintendent, I would get in 50 days of skiing a season,” he said.
When not on a bike or skis, James enjoys live jam bands and the Grateful Dead.
Winter Weary
With a budget of $1,827,800, the highway and sanitation departments take care of the roads and more. CHIPS allocation of $205,000 assists the roads budget.
Their biggest project, at $890,000, was on Toby Gulf, a huge valley road that was sliding in various areas.
“We hired GSI Stabilization to do a six-week soil nailing and concrete stabilization project,” James said.
In the winter — ironically, this skier-superintendent’s least favorite season — the biggest problem they usually have is snow. The annual average snowfall for the region is just more than 95 in., but this past season saw approximately 200 in., due in part to lake-effect snowfall.
continued on page 34
Crews perform stone work around a pipe washout area.
“Our first snow wasn’t until after New Year’s Day this year, but we got 50 inches in four days,” James said. “It snowed every day, every night and every weekend until March.”
The department covers seven plow routes, each of which take approximately three hours. That’s 81 lane mi., all paved, on 44 municipality roads and 37 roads maintained for the county.
In addition to plowing, the crew used to use a lot of sand: 12,00015,000 tons. But James said they converted to salt because of complaints from residents in the center of town. They still use a salt-sand mix on their “mammoth hills,” but he estimated sand usage is down to approximately 4,500 tons a season. Salt usage averages approximately 1,200 tons per season. For 40 years, it was stored in a small 30 x 30 woodshed built in 1972 and commonly referred to as the “chicken coop.”
The superintendent who preceded James had asked for storage for sand and salt but didn’t get it. James set a goal of getting that storage building. With the help of an assemblywoman who lives near the salt barn and a “big presentation,” he obtained a grant in 2024 to build a 108 x 82 salt storage building with capacity for 6,000 tons.
“My team — Amanda Zeiter and Deputy Kevin Monaghan — came up with a game plan to build the best salt storage building we could to benefit not only our highway department, but our town as a whole,”
James said. “I visited many locations and talked to owners about their likes and dislikes. My best day on the job was when we got approval of
the new salt building.”
While work on the new salt building continues, James has focused on snow clearing.
“Since I’ve taken over as superintendent, I’ve worked with NYSDOT to get all our plow trucks calibrated to properly put down winter material.”
Training the crew on precise use of the computer-controlled system for salt cuts down on costs and waste by controlling material usage. It also has reduced spring cleanup to almost half the time, enabling them to get a jump on summer road work.
Facilities, Future Projects
When it’s not snow season, the crew is responsible for mowing all the parks and the five cemeteries, as well as 44 lane miles of road.
“We maintain the grass at the Marcy town hall and the Link Park baseball fields,” he said.
They also maintain two bridges, the town building and its grounds, baseball fields, trails and pickleball and basketball courts.
Once the salt shed is finished, James hopes to build a new cold storage building.
“I want to put up a bigger building for all the sanitation vehicles and B-line (backup) trucks.”
He intends to rally his team to chase after a grant to help fund the work.
The use of a larger excavator was needed for this job due to the depth of the work site.
REBUILDS >
Equipment
“We have a huge variety of equipment, from garbage trucks to sweepers,” James said.
That variety includes a couple of sweeper/vacs, a skid steer loader, frontend loaders, several dump trucks, a handful of mowers, a chipper truck, some garbage packers, an equipment trailer and multiple plows. The oldest piece of equipment is a 1977 International flush truck.
Vehicles are serviced in-house on a monthly basis, and James said he updates equipment every year. For example, they just took delivery of a 2024 Mack Granite and have another on order, as well as a 2025 John Deere 624 loader and a 2025 Tymco Model 600 sweeper.
Timing the Term
James’ four-year term expires in 2025. Already endorsed by local Republicans and conservatives, he plans to run again, unopposed. Despite being eligible for retirement in a year and a half, he indicates that he would finish the full term if reelected.
Town service is not only his life, but his family’s, as well. His wife, Dawn, is a 10year employee of the town of Marcy, working in the codes department, and their daughter, Kyleigh, who just graduated from college, works in the Parks Department during the summer and for the local school district during the school year.
from page 34 continued on page 44
The crew installs new drainage pipe around the department’s new salt storage building on Toby Road.
James Cheyne (R) with Town Supervisor Brian Scala in front of Marcy town hall.
from page 40
“My wife and I have not only been friends for almost 40 years, we’ve been married for almost 28 years,” he said. “She’s beside me with everything I do. We ski, mountain bike and hike as much as possible. She even helps create new mountain bike trails and helps build them. Our daughter, Kyleigh, is our inspiration. She was injured at a babysitter’s at nine months old, suffering a traumatic brain injury. From this, she developed cerebral palsy. The doctors thought she would never walk or talk. Twenty-two years later, she graduated from college with top honors. We always included her on every adventure. I custom built an E road bike for her, and she also has custom downhill skis that I made so she can ski with me. I never let anything get in my way and always look at the glass as half-full.”
But his dedication to his job, his family and his town doesn’t mean he doesn’t sometimes think about doing other things.
“I’m a free spirit,” he said. “I have the spirit of a 20-year-old. There are other things I want to do. I want to get a van and travel.”
For now, he’s staying put and running for another term.
“I’ve been offered other jobs for more money, but I like what I’m doing.”
continued on page 46
The highway department installs a culvert drainage pipe on Alda Road.
The department’s Gradall works to correct a pipe failure on Koronowski Road.
from page 44
But if the itch to travel overcomes his desire for more terms, he has a vision of what he’d like to see for the department’s future.
“I want my successor to make the department grow, to bring new ideas — to be a game changer.”
About the Town of Marcy
Renamed in 1832 for Gov. William L. Marcy after being initially known as Peterboro and Remsen Mills, Marcy is situated between Rome and Utica not far from Syracuse in the scenic Mohawk Valley, where stunning landscapes, rolling hills and breathtaking views are the backdrop for historic landmarks, such as the Steuben Memorial State Historic Site commemorating Baron von Steuben, a Prussian military officer who played a pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War, and Fort Schuyler Club, a late 19th century clubhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bound on the south by the Mohawk River and first settled circa 1773, the area was abandoned after friendly Oneida Indians warned settlers of an enemy raid during the American Revolution. Resettlement occurred in 1792 and the town was later sectioned off from the town of Deerfield in 1832.
Marcy grew when the Erie Canal was built, crossing the southern part of the town and linking it to other cities as a primary trade route. This changed the largely agricultural region, where farming and milling were the primary industries. Textile mills were still common, but now factories joined the town.
continued on page 48
Seen here is the department’s completed salt/sand storage building.
Seen here is the department’s plow that sits out in front of the Marcy highway building after getting a facelift of new paint and new town logo decals.
Brent & Joan Hacker are announcing their retirement after 51 years.
Hacker's Packers Inc. has merged business with Binghamton Truck Body located at 13 Spud Lane, Binghamton, NY 13904. Binghamton Truck Body will be representing Pak-Mor, Swaploader, Gal Fab, Stellar and all the products we handle. Mike Burr will be in charge of operations. Please contact Mike at 607-693-2064 as the phone number will remain the same.
from page 46
The Industrial Revolution of the late 19th-early 20th centuries brought more manufacturing jobs that produced machinery, paper goods and, still, textiles, as well as health care and technology jobs. When the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) campus opened in 1966, it contributed to town growth. But for all that, Marcy remains a quiet town, with a population of just 8,276.
Known for beautiful parks, such as March Town Park, the town offers plentiful green spaces and facilities for outdoor activities, from hiking trails to fishing and birdwatching in places such as the Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area. The Adirondack Scenic Railroad offers a picturesque ride through the Adirondack Mountains.
Marcy is home to the Utica Maennerchor German Festival and was the birthplace of American opera singer Helen Traubel. P
(All photos courtesy of the town of Marcy highway department.)
The town of Marcy highway department works under shared services with the town of Deerfield.
Seen here is work on the now-completed sand/salt building.
New Atlas Building In Pavilion, NY!
NEW in 2025
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Western New York Village Superintendents Association Holds Annual Equipment Show
President of the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways Matt Mustico greets attendees and is ready to discuss the benefits of association membership.
On April 16, 2025, the Western New York Village Superintendents Association held its 42nd annual equipment show.
This years event was held at the Ogden highway department facility in Spencerport, N.Y. County, town, village and city highway departments from across western New York gathered together to view the latest technologies and equipment available. P
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2025 Superintendent’s Profile. All Rights Reserved.)
continued on page 58
Superintendent’s Profile • www.superintendentsprofile.com • June 2025
Baschmann Services offers sales and support for major manufacturers like Kobelco, Hitachi, ASV and Astec.
A vintage Brockway Truck was on display during the show.
Five Star equipment displayed the latest offerings from John Deere.
Paul Degasperi (L) and Jay Barnwell of Tracey Road Equipment can supply your highway department with everything from snowplows, trucks and excavating equipment.
Ogden Highway Department Hosts Annual Equipment Show
The experts at Henderson will keep you supplied with truck bodies and equipment for your year-round needs.
Steve Sepaniak (R) of Metal Pless and Kent Hogeboom, sales manager of Superintendent’s Profile, have been business associates and friends for more than 30 years.
Attendees register to win door prizes as they enter the event.
Nick Pittinaro (L), former superintendent of the village of Fairport, and Tom Tilebin, retired superintendent of the village of Hilton.
Monroe Tractor’s Brandon Piccarreto (L) and Andy Palmer were ready to answer questions on all things related to Case and LeeBoy.
Milton Cat, western New York’s supplier of Caterpillar equipment, greets customers from across the region.
Charles D. Stahl Hosts Spring Open House in Little Falls, N.Y.
Charles D. Stahl Sales & Service in Little Falls, N.Y., welcomed customers, contractors and industry professionals May 2, 2025, to its annual Spring Open House. The event showcased a lineup of outdoor power equipment from manufacturers, including Fisher, Boss, SnowEx, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Gravely and Yanmar.
This year’s event provided attendees with an opportunity to explore new products, discuss custom solutions and learn more about Stahl’s wide-ranging capabilities from onsite factory representatives. To round out the event, guests enjoyed a complementary lunch.
In addition to outdoor power equipment, Stahl also offers commercial truck up-fitting solutions and represents Rugby, DuraMag, Stahl Air-Flo and Tommy Gate, allowing contractors and municipalities to customize truck bodies to meet their operational needs.
Stahl Sales & Service serves homeowners, farmers, municipalities and landscape companies across the Central Mohawk Valley region. P
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2025 Superintendent’s Profile. All Rights Reserved.)
Charles D. Stahl customers can get a close-up view of equipment in the company’s spacious showroom.
Working in coordination with local truck dealers, Charles D. Stahl can customize truck bodies to meet all customers’ needs.
Charles D. Stahl Sales & Service offers a variety of snow removal equipment options, including Boss snowplows.
Charles D. Stahl carries a wide lineup of equipment, including Yanmar.
Charles D. Stahl has an extensive inventory of Cub Cadet mowers for customers in the Mohawk Valley region. Gravely offers a wide range of mowers and lawn tractors.
NYS OGS
John Deere introduces John Deere Path, a mapping solution designed to help operators navigate snow removal operations with precision.
John Deere Introduces New Path Snow Removal Mapping Solution
John Deere introduced John Deere Path, a mapping solution designed to help operators navigate snow removal operations with precision.
Snow-covered roadways present significant challenges, making it critical for operators to clear them effectively. With John Deere Path, operators gain a better sense of road edges and boundaries, when premapped, even in tumultuous winter weather conditions, according to John Deere
“Snow removal, especially in rural areas where visibility can be hindered, requires accuracy for safe and efficient operations,” said Matt Costello, product marketing manager, John Deere. “With a large percentage of U.S. roads located in snow-prone regions, John Deere Path is designed to give operators the confidence to navigate snow-covered roads, helping them stay on course to complete their work safely and reliably.”
Built on the technology of the John Deere StarFire receiver and G5 display technologies, John Deere Path, an option on John Deere motor graders and other plow equipment, provides operators with the ability to pre-map road boundaries before snowfall, creating precise guidance routes automatically sent to the John Deere Operations Center. During snow events, near real-time maps help operators maintain alignment with road edges, with audible alerts warning if the equipment moves too close to pre-mapped boundaries, helping to reduce accident risks and infrastructure damage.
The G5 universal display provides a clear, intuitive interface for confident navigation. Operators can visualize road edges and follow a guidance track overlayed on satellite imagery, with a visual error bar alerting
them to deviations and excessive drift. When road boundaries and obstacles are pre-mapped, the system also enhances obstacle awareness, such as mailboxes and curbs, while enabling operators to track and document completed work for efficiency, according to John Deere. Points of interest can be added at any time for changes on route or marking potential road maintenance areas after snow.
John Deere Operations Center plays a critical role in snow removal management. All mapped routes and completed work data are seamlessly integrated into the platform. John Deere Operations Center provides insights into total area plowed, machine location, duration of work and fuel usage when available, allowing fleet managers to make informed decisions and efficient resource allocation, according to John Deere.
John Deere Path is available as two optional solutions to meet the needs of a variety of operations. John Deere Path is specifically designed for John Deere motor graders, offering integration with machines from model year 2016 and newer. For customers with mixed fleets and older models, John Deere Path Universal offers a modem for a fully closedloop system, making it compatible with a variety of other machines like plow trucks.
By leveraging advanced mapping and precision technology, John Deere Path delivers a way to manage snow removal operations. With enhanced accuracy, improved operator awareness and integrated fleet management capabilities, John Deere Path helps keep roadways clear and communities moving.
For more information, visit JohnDeere.com.
John Deere photo
Diamond Mowers’ Mini-Brush Cutter Pro X: New Standard
Diamond Mowers introduced the mini-brush cutter Pro X, delivering precision, power and reliability in one compact package.
Modeled after Diamond's brush cutter Pro X, the mini-brush cutter Pro X is engineered to provide stand-on users — from farmers and construction contractors to landscapers and land management professionals — with another tool for their equipment toolbox.
This attachment transforms a stand-on or stand-behind track loader into a powerful land-clearing tool that tackles trees, cuts through dense brush and grinds stumps to ground-level, empowering operators to take on a broader range of tasks and jobs, according to Diamond Mowers.
“This attachment is engineered specifically for the mini-skid steer market and adds a new dimension of capability that empowers operators to clear land faster, reduce manual labor and maximize their equipment investment,” said Nate Cleveringa, vice president, engineering and product management of Diamond Mowers. “It packs all the power and performance of our brush cutter Pro X in a streamlined profile designed for those who value relentless durability and optimal versatility.”
The mini-brush cutter Pro X features a spindle-driven blade system with 25 percent more cutting capacity than standard models, enabling operators to slice through dense brush, thick vegetation, and trees up to
5 in. in diameter with ease. The 42-in. cutting width is ideal for tackling everything from landscaping and property reclamation to urban lot clearing and maintaining parks, trails and forest preserves. The direct-drive spindle also delivers smooth and efficient power from the motor to the blades for consistent cutting performance so operators can handle tough materials without compromising on precision.
“The spindle system replaces the more traditional gearbox, which can be prone to wear and tear under heavy loads,” said Cleveringa. “This design reduces mechanical complexity, resulting in greater durability during heavy-duty operations.”
The steel construction of the mini-Pro X is 25 percent thicker for enhanced durability, according to Diamond Mowers. Furthermore, the offset design of the bolt-on attachment plate allows operators to shift the plate across the front of their carriers to minimize track marks that would normally be left behind. This is particularly useful for precision tasks such as trail clearing or vegetation management near sensitive areas and affords greater flexibility when maneuvering in tight spaces and working near edges, fences or other obstacles.
said Cleveringa. “It replaces manual clearing and empowers opera-
continued on page 68
Diamond Mowers photo Diamond Mowers introduced the mini-brush cutter Pro X, delivering precision, power and reliability in one compact package.
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Diamond Mowers’ Mini-Brush
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tors to tackle a wide range of tasks efficiently and reliably without needing to call in additional trades,” said Cleveringa. “This versatility leads to greater productivity and profitability.”
To help protect operators and ensure long-term usability, the mini brush cutter Pro X also features:
• universal safety guarding — to minimize the risk of injury while working in challenging environments, polycarbonate safety glass shields operators from flying debris and other potential hazards during operation, according to the company.
• hydraulic hose protection — hoses are enclosed in a thin spiral wrap, offering safeguarding, an enhanced level of durability, and resistance to wear and tear, according to the company.
• castle nut fasteners — providing an added layer of protection, the castle nut system locks cutting blades in place and positions them closest to the ground during operation. Under significant stress or impact, the secure fit reduces vibrations and ensures that, in the event of a blade compromise, failure is isolated to the blade and the attachment continues to operate safely, according to the company.
“Reliability and performance are crucial for professionals working in challenging environments and were top priorities in the design of this attachment,” said Cleveringa. “Field testing has shown that the spindle-driven double blades and castle nut system perform well in rigorous conditions. The design handles heavy workloads and minimizes downtime by reducing the frequency of maintenance and repairs.”
The steel construction of the mini-Pro X is 25 percent thicker for enhanced durability, according to Diamond Mowers.
Diamond Mowers photo
