Vermeer introduces BC200 brush chipper for European market

By MEq August 18, 2020 20:58

Performance, quality and safety: They’re universal needs of European tree care professionals. With the new BC200 brush chipper, Vermeer delivers these fundamentals, all in a package that will enable operators to achieve new levels of productivity and flexibility on their tree care jobsite.

The BC200 that will be available in September 2020 complies with European Union (EU) Stage V emission standards for non-road mobile machinery and EN 13525:2020 safety requirements specifically for forestry machinery, while offering new features that facilitate efficient startup and operation on the jobsite. The new water-cooled petrol engine offers maximized fuel efficiency, eliminates the need for diesel fuel additives and helps prevent issues with rapidly evolving emission regulations in the EU, namely growing prohibition of diesel engines in European cities.

A European first
The combination of its design and new features make the BC200 — designed and manufactured in Europe and built on its predecessor, the BC190XL brush chipper — a machine that can deliver productivity and efficiency to tree care professionals around Europe well into the future, according to Vermeer EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Product Manager Benny Melse.

“This is the first brush chipper we’ve developed in Europe specifically for the European market by a dedicated engineering team,” Melse said. “In the BC200, we have switched to a petrol engine to comply with Stage V regulations hitting the European market, and the machine offers a new infeed system that complies with EN 13525 safety standards that are being adopted around the continent.”

Key performance enhancements
The 42.5-kilowatt (57-hp) BC200 towed brush chipper features an Eco-ldle engine control system that boosts fuel efficiency and minimizes operation noise, while a two-step turnkey starting process allows the operator to get to work more quickly than previous models that required a clutch to engage the starter. The BC200 also features a heavy-duty undercarriage, and infeed controls that allow for ease of operation and enable efficient machine feeding. An oversized infeed opening, strong pulling capacity and SmartFeed system — which monitors engine speed and stops or reverses rollers if needed — make the machine a welcome addition to tree care jobsites across Europe.

“The BC200 features a Kubota petrol power engine, which does not require the complex after-treatment features Stage V-compliant diesel engines require, for ease of maintenance and operation. It has best-in-class fuel capacity for a machine this size, to allow fuel availability to work through the entire day,” Melse said. “With Stage V regulations, diesel-powered engines are getting more expensive and complicated. The BC200 petrol engine will deliver welcomed simplicity and efficiency to operators.”

Exterior and serviceability enhancements
The exterior of the BC200 delivers efficiency to the tree care jobsite by streamlining service and routine maintenance. Contrary to its predecessor with multiple service doors and panels on the exterior, the BC200 features a one-piece pivoting engine hood that provides full engine access and improves serviceability. And with a jack system on the upper infeed roller, the operator can access the infeed side of the cutter system to help remove any blockages. The longevity of the machine is supported by a four-stage powder-coating treatment system.

“When the operator is on the job and needs to grease the machine or replace a knife, it should be a quick process,” Melse said. “We want our customers to be able to more quickly get to the world they love, climbing trees and putting branches into the chipper.”