A regional council recently took delivery of four Bobcats – zero-turn mowers – to run alongside its Bobcat skid steer loader, underlining the value of quality product and local service.
Armidale Mower and Chainsaw Centre has been servicing its local region for around 45 years. Current owners Sam and Kirrilly Ritchie took on the business at the end of 2021.
“We were keen to get out of mining and do something for ourselves. It was a real lifestyle change,” Sam told Landscape Contractor magazine. “It’s our first go at lawnmowers and outdoor power equipment. I was in open-cut mining for 25 years. I’m a diesel mechanic by trade, and I grew up in and around the rural sector.”
While Armidale Mower and Chain Saw Centre offers several brands of outdoor power equipment, Sam holds Bobcat equipment in high regard. Armidale Regional Council clearly agrees with that view. It recently purchased one ZT3500 and three ZT6000 Bobcat zero-turns from Sam and Kirrilly.
Council counsel
Armidale Mower and Chainsaw Centre has a long-standing relationship with the Armidale Regional Council. Fleet Manager Lachlan Hogg was happy to chat to Landscape Contractor magazine about the equipment, the purchase, and why the council went to Sam and Kirrilly “We’ve dealt with Armidale Mower and Chainsaw for many years now,” he said.
“We’d been looking at different brands and models of mowers for almost the two years I’ve been with the council, and the overall robustness of the Bobcats was a big contributing factor. We compared them to other brands, makes and models, and Bobcat seemed like a solid platform. The mowers had good engines and Bobcat had thought things through with the style of air filter and its placement, the strength of the deck, and the functionality of the machines.”
Models
Armidale Council took delivery of a 48-inch ZT3500 and three 52-inch ZT6000s, and Lachlan explained they each had their place in the council’s regular work roster.
“The ZT3500 with the 48-inch deck is being used to maintain our cemetery,” he said. “We needed the narrow deck to fit between the headstones and gravesites.
“One of the 52-inch models is what we call our ‘centre’ mower. It does all the open-space recreation areas, like Central Park in the middle of Armidale. The other two 52-inch models service our water-treatment plants and numerous facilities and pumping stations used to keep up the water supply to the city. They travel around and keep those green spaces clean.”
More than product
The quality of the Bobcats was a factor and a high priority for both Sam and Lachlan, but another consideration also influenced the decision.
“A big factor in the council’s purchasing decision was that we could buy parts in town,” said Lachlan.
“Having Sam and his store local is a great benefit to us.
“Every time we visit, we’re always well looked after. It doesn’t matter what we’re buying, whether it’s a $300 leaf blower or a $30,000 lawn mower, we’re treated exactly the same way every time.”
“We try to let our after-sales support, service, and honesty speak for the machine,” said Sam. “We don’t have anything here that we don’t stand behind 100 per cent, and we think that’s important.
“We believe Bobcat is the premium machine in the zero-turn space,” he said. “The build quality of Bobcats is exceptional, and they’re robust. There’s no corners cut to make the mower cheaper or try and place the machine into a cheaper price point. That gives Bobcat a cream-of-the-crop position in the market.”
To see the Bobcat range of equipment and machinery, visit bobcatofaustralia.com.au.
