Lundberg is not a new make for the municipality of Tuusula, given that Lundbergs have been used for maintenance works there for two decades now. The most recent investments in machines intended for the maintenance of landscapes and parks were made over the past year or two, and sticking to the old make was by no means self-evident. Lundberg’s product development and features were nevertheless convincing.
Tuusula’s history with Lundberg machines began at the start of the millennium, back in 2002, when the municipality began using the rather peculiar model 6000 Ti, officially type 345Ti. It was a preliminary version of the actual 6000-series, and in a departure from the 345T-series, equipped with a 90 kW Deutz instead of an 80 kW Perkins.
In Tuusula, this first machine was used for 15 years, during which time the municipality also purchased 6200 Lse Lundbergs, first in 2006 and then in 2008. Altogether, then, no less than three Lundbergs were in use simultaneously, and for quite some time – the next machines were not set to be purchased until 2020 and 2021.
Although at first the mood in the pit was that there would be no Lundberg this round, the mood changed during the test drive. Lundberg was indeed the most modern of the options tested. It had plenty of adjustment options for hydraulics, for example. And finally, we ended up with Lundberg.
The 50-series emerges victorious
Lundberg’s 50-series was introduced to the market in the spring of 2019. It represented a comprehensive change to the previous 40-series not only in terms of technology but appearance. Customers’ hopes and development ideas were listened to both in respect of new features and some old ones, which customers had found useful and wanted the new machines to retain.
The design also paid attention to the possibilities offered by technological advancements, and while the 50-series took the Lundberg machines clearly to the 2020s, it also created a basis for future solutions in the form of the CAN bus, for example.
On the engine side, the machines returned to Deutz and the TCD 3.6 in all 5250–8250 machines while the Italian VM, used in the previous 40-series, was removed from the selection in terms of these machines. The most recent development saw this make of machines developed even further, in the 55-series, which has been on the market since the summer of 2022.
Given that Tuusula has already accumulated more than 3,200 hours’ worth of experience in Lundberg’s 50-series with its two 8250 machines, we decided to ask them what they like about the machines.
"You can easily use a 4.5-metre collecting plough, as long as there’s enough grip," said the Lundberg drivers in the city of Tuusula.
Not to be taken for granted
Antti Kyynäräinen, the foreman of maintenance operations for the municipality of Tuusula, and operators Janne and Jari have agreed to talk about the machines with us, and right up front, it becomes clear that the Lundberg was not an automatic choice for the municipality.
Naturally, this is partly due to the municipal procurement procedure with its call for tenders, but it was also influenced by opinions on the previous machines.
- Based on the old machines, the mood at the depot was that the choice would not fall on a Lundberg this time around, says Kyynäräinen.
The previous machines were getting old – something which also began to manifest itself in daily work, according to the operators Janne and Jari. In addition, a competing make already seemed to offer more modern solutions, at least compared to the machines dating from the early 2000s.
In the meantime, however, the people in Skellefteå had put in a lot of work on the 50-series, with the result that the municipality decided to test the new Lundberg 8250 after all, alongside the making of another major manufacturer.
- When we took the new Lundberg out for test drives, we quickly began to change our minds, says Kyynäräinen.
- The Lundberg was now more modern and included plenty of controls in terms of hydraulics, for example. So when we thought about which machine we’d want to use for the next 10 years, we eventually decided on that machine being a Lundberg.
The important decision was sealed with the availability of an important attachment.
- The frame lock is an extremely important feature for us when we’re working with a boom mower. At the time, another mark was not able to offer it, and they were even of the opinion that a frame lock wasn’t necessary, says Kyynäräinen.
- So, when the time for the first procurement came, they didn’t even submit a tender. By the time we were ready to purchase the second machine, we did receive a tender from them, but the price for that machine was higher than the Lundberg’s.
“The Lundberg was now more modern and included plenty of controls in terms of hydraulics, for example. So when we thought about which machine we’d want to use for the next 10 years, we eventually decided on that machine being a Lundberg.”
The cab ergonomics and control over optional equipment are first-rate. Even a tall operator can work a very long day in the cab. The visibility is good it is maximized by the four-camera system that shows a clear and accurate image. It has a very important meaning in maintenance sites where there are small children nearby.
Features that make a difference
The machines are used for slightly different purposes. The machine which the municipality purchased in 2020 has seen more action and accumulated more than 2,500 hours of work.
The other 8250 is used mostly as a yard machine at the depot and as an additional maintenance machine. It has logged 750 hours of work so far. The team’s working area usually covers southern Tuusula, including Hyrylä, and occasionally Kellokoski and Jokela.
- The transport driving speed is 50 kilometres an hour. That’s an important feature for us, given that the area we’re responsible for is relatively big, says Kyynäräinen.
The operators Janne and Jari appreciate the machines’ features in their day-to-day work.
- It’s stable and can lift loads to a high level. There’s no lorry in our fleet that the Lundberg wouldn’t be able to load, says Janne.
- It’s also steady in soil loading and can lift 1,200-kilo sacks of salt even high up from the loading dock, he adds.
The operators are also happy with the machine’s power. They say that you can easily use a 4.5-metre collecting plough, as long as there’s enough grip.
“That’s fantastic when the winter weather gets bad because it prevents the snow from freezing on the glass,” says Jari, the driver.
Good steering is an asset
- The cab ergonomics and control over optional equipment are first-rate. Even a tall operator can work a very long day in the cab, and the visibility is good, says Janne.
The visibility is maximised by the four-camera system. In addition, the sun visor has an extremely wide rear-view mirror.
Janne adds that while the views to the sides are unobstructed even without the cameras, the rear camera is used a lot because, despite its good design, the tail does generate some blind spots.
- The clear and precise images are a big help, says Janne, commenting on the cameras.
This is important in maintenance work, given that the machines are often used in locations with small children around.
The windscreen with its thermal resistance element, which removes frost in a flash, is also a welcome feature.
- That’s fantastic when the winter weather gets bad because it prevents the snow from freezing on the glass, says Jari.
The operators also mention the hydraulic controls as versatile and easy to use. The system has different pre-programmed settings for sand spreading, snow ploughing and bush cutting.
The hydraulics output of 200 litres a minute is also sufficient, and a limit has yet to be reached. In charge of the output is a 290-litre Danfoss with a pump, which the operators nevertheless do not need to push to the extreme.
- These were some of the qualities that changed our opinion, says Kyynäräinen.
Daily servicing and checks are also facilitated by the new engine hood, which slides all the way back, in one piece, in the 8250 model.
Local servicing is held in high regard
The machines’ performance does not rely on hydraulics and a powerful engine alone. It is also provided by features that facilitate work, such as the possibility to adjust the speed of steering.
- Soft handling is good when using forks, for example. And on the other hand, sometimes you may need to speed up the steering in tight spaces, says Janne.
- The hill-holder is also good, as is the inching, he adds.
The inching speed can be set as a constant, and the machine makes steady progress even at a very low speed. This is something the operators appreciate during mowing and when working on long stretches of streets with a collecting brush.
It gives them a chance to focus on steering the machine and attachment more precisely.
Technically the machines’ deployment has been largely effortless, although some small issues falling under the scope of warranty repairs were encountered at the beginning.
OK-Konehuolto, which provides assistance in both the servicing and repairs of Lundberg machinery in the area, garners plenty of praise at the depot.
- They know what they’re doing in Järvenpää, and can also handle servicing they’ve not been instructed in. If there’s been a problem, they’ve really thought it over, figuring out what could be causing it and what to do about it, the operators say.
Based on the first couple of years, the machines are highly reliable.
- Both machines have suffered very few failures, and we haven’t had any disturbances at all in the electrics, says Janne.
Daily servicing and checks are also facilitated by the new engine hood, which slides all the way back, in one piece, in the 8250 model. The radiator fan, which changes direction and is independent of the engine revolutions as a standard feature, has also been found to be an excellent solution.
Compared to new machines, Lundberg was more modern, it had plenty of adjustment options for hydraulics, for example.
The operators also mention the hydraulic controls as versatile and easy to use. The system has different pre-programmed settings for sand spreading, snow ploughing and bush cutting.
Machines purchased for work
Both machines were purchased with a Volvo bracket, which allows the attachments to be exchanged between the municipality’s wheel loader and tractor.
Moreover, the boom mower can now be attached directly to the loader, whereas before, it was attached to the frame. The range of attachments, and thereby the number of jobs that can be done with them, is therefore ample.
In addition to the collecting plough and V-plough, the range includes a hydraulic snowblower, boom mower, combined mowers, brushes as collecting and open models, forks and lift booms, sand spreaders and numerous different buckets.
With this equipment range, the machines can be used year-round, and their utilisation rate remains high.
- We do try to get these to work every morning, says Kyynäräinen.
The expectations in terms of the target of 10,000 hours are good and based on these first couple of years of experience, the machines are seen as capable of meeting the expectations.
- I can’t think of a bad word to say. The machine is extremely powerful and solid in relation to its size, says Jari.
I’ve already sung its praises. I do believe that these machines will be good for years to come,” adds Janne.
The transport driving speed is 50 kilometres an hour. That’s an important feature when the area is relatively big.
Read more about Lundberg multipurpose machines here.
