FAE Stories - France
Vegetation management in the French Alps
Clearing a residential area in challenging conditions with the RCU55 remote-controlled tracked carrier
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Prest’alps Services has been operating since 2004 in the heart of the French Alps, specializing in natural area maintenance and vegetation management. The company, led by Ugo Lelievre, operates in complex environments: areas that are often difficult to reach, with challenging, sloping terrain. The high-tech remote-controlled machines that make them effective under these conditions also allow them to work successfully in forested zones and solar parks.
“We often work in difficult environments, where accessibility is limited and safety is essential. For us, versatile, reliable machines are essential,” says Ugo Lelievre.
The project took place in the mountainous area of Chautagne, near Lake Bourget, with the aim of reopening a plot of land located between two houses while preserving healthy plant life. This job required close attention and operational precision, both due to the proximity to residences and the need to preserve the existing vegetation.
“Our goal was to completely clear the area without compromising healthy vegetation. It required control and high-quality results,” explains Ugo Lelievre.
The work involved shredding brambles, shrubs, branches and small trunks over a total area of approximately 1300 m² / 14000 sf and was completed in one and a half days with the support of a landscaping operator. The environmental conditions, typical of an often difficult to access mountainous area , made a compact, versatile machine capable of working safely on challenging terrain a necessity.
For this project, the company used an FAE RCU55 remote-controlled tracked carrier, equipped with a BL1/RCU mulcher and BL/MINI blades and C/3/MINI tools; a configuration that ensured high-quality shredding results.
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“We chose the RCU55 because it allows us to work on challenging terrain while maintaining high productivity,” adds Ugo Lelievre.
The final result was fine processed material, with homogeneous shredding across the entire area. The high quality was made possible through the use of specific tools for a uniform particle size.
Among the main advantages identified by Prest’alps Services is the high hydraulic power of the machine, which allows it to work under load without performance drops, ensuring efficiency and uninterrupted operation. In addition, the ability to use different tools without extensive rotor modifications allows the machine to be quickly adapted to different working conditions.
“We are very satisfied with this investment: we have reduced downtime and improved the quality of the work we deliver to our clients,” concludes Ugo Lelievre. “Despite different size and weight compared to our previous machine, the RCU55 remains extremely versatile and has become a real benchmark for our daily operations.”
Prest’alps Services will soon expand their machine’s capabilities with the addition of a PML/RCU mulcher with Y blades and PML hammers, further increasing its operational versatility. The company has also developed an adapter plate for compatibility with agricultural attachments.
