Breaking new ground on fencing
Safety and flexibility are the hallmarks of Vector Powerdrive’s new post driving product
Brennan and the company has grown to produce a broad range of fence post drivers.
These include the Model 1, a basic three point linkage farmer-spec machine through to the Model 4. This is a highspec contractor post driver with options such as a digger arm and rock-spike.
Today there are three aspects to the business: Vector Powerdrive which manufactures the post driver products; Brennan Fencing which provides a contract fencing service and, thirdly, the fencing products retail outlet at the premises.
A team of highly skilled and well-motivated staff are employed across the three divisions.
The company exports to more than 35 countries, including Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Poland, France, Spain, Greece, the UK, the US, Australia and various African countries.
The company’s new tracked post-driver requires just one person to operate it.
The design takes the operator out of the machine when fencing, an important safety consideration when operating on extreme terrain.
While fencing, the operator can ‘drive’ it from one post to the other and operate the post-driver all from one bank of hydraulic controls, all the while safely standing beside the machine.
Perhaps one of the most unique features of the Vector Powerdrive Model 8 is its hydraulically powered slewing arm.
Featuring a unique 2200 slewing angle, the Vector Powerdrive Model 8 tracked post-driver is an extremely versatile machine. The slewing arm design makes it possible to drive fencing stakes or posts from either side of the tracked vehicle.
In addition to the 2200 slewing angle, the post-driver can extend outwards telescopically. In effect, the operating radius of the arm can be increased from 2-metres to 2.8-metres.
This further enhances the versatility and usability of this self-propelled fencing machine.
Out at the business end of the post driver unit, the mast which carries the weighted hammer can be tilted left and right 300 degrees, which gives a total range of movement of 600. Furthermore, the mast can be tilted forwards by 250 and backwards by 450.
All the hydraulic controls, including left and right track control, are mounted together with eleven levers in total. These directly operate all of the hydraulic spool valves required to plant fence posts or stakes in the most difficult of places and angles. A bubble level helps guide them in at the right angle.
As standard, a support jack is integrated into the design of the Vector Powerdrive Model 8. This helps stabilise the machine where required.
Also, a counterbalance weight of 600kg is mounted at the opposite end to the post driver to improve stability.
Other standard equipment includes a rock-spike mounted on the mast.
This is mounted on a swing arm allowing it to be swung into or out of work one-handed. The rock spike is used to ‘bore’ holes in very hard conditions, where there is rock or even concrete.
Vector Powerdrive builds the entire post-driver unit on a donor vehicle, new or used. The firm can either supply this donor vehicle or, alternatively, the customer can provide it themselves.
The machine featured in the pictures is a Yanmar C50R 5t tracked dumper with a Yanmar 100HP four-cylinder turbo diesel engine.
Outside of the fencing season or to increase versatility of the donor machine, the fencing unit can easily be removed and