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Edward Lowton
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Much more than a Road Sweeper
14 October 2015
A range of multi-functional utility machines is available from Nilfisk Group which reports that its Outdoor Division is going from strength to strength in 2015.

Nilfisk City Rangers are a fleet of articulated outdoor machines that are easily adapted for a wide range of functions. A full range of attachments provide for year round use including green maintenance, winter maintenance and street cleansing.
The objective for the range is to provide true 4 in 1 machines for use 365 days per year. The attachments are quickly and easily changed in minutes; hydraulic hoses connecting at the turn of a handle. Weed control, rotary and mulch mowing, lawn edging, hedge trimming, suction sweeping, snow plough and salt and sand spreading can all be carried out by the versatile City Ranger.
The range starts with the base model, the Park Ranger 2150, available with an all season range of attachments. The articulated machine is just 1m wide and is easy to manoeuvre with a turning radius of only 1.5m. It was the bigger model the City Ranger 2250 however that was selected for weed ripping in Rochdale.
Weed ripping in Rochdale
Rochdale Council are using a Nilfisk City Ranger outdoor machine for non-toxic weed ripping. The liveried 4 wheel drive, 35 HP City Ranger 2250 is used almost exclusively for weed ripping that was previously carried out manually.
The weed control tool works by scouring weeds loose and destroying new shoots. Regular brushing thereafter keeps areas weed free. The City Ranger sweeper is manoeuvrable and turns in a very tight circle. Brush heads can be easily turned and angled enabling perfect results on a myriad of surfaces including cobbles, flags, slants, right angles, kerbs and around lamp posts. A 6m vacuum hose is optional for nooks and crannies but the suction sweeper hopper efficiently removes all weeded material and any new seeds.
Multi-discipline teams in Kirklees
The City Ranger 3500 is the big brother of the fleet, a 4-wheel drive, 51 horse power machine with a 38km/h speed in transport. Two liveried CR3500 units have been operating at Kirklees Council since early 2014 and are used by multi-discipline teams covering parkland, winter maintenance and street cleansing.
Kirklees selected the City Rangers after calculating whole life costs using a matrix that included the projected length of time that the vehicles would be in service, service intervals, scheduled maintenance costs and the potential residual value of the sweeper at the end of its term. All elements including Nilfisk’s 2 year warranty offer were considered and scored on the matrix. The Nilfisk units came out on top and after positive feedback from Hull City Council the contracts were agreed.
The City Ranger 3500 whilst truly multi-functional is said to be ideal for street washing. The street flusher solution combines two attachments, a front mounted spray bar with nozzles that pivot up to 25 degrees, and a large water tank that is fitted to the back of the vehicle.
The 1000 litre polyethylene tank provides for powerful high pressure washing of up to 40 bar and is aided by a 10m hand lance. The sturdy machine, with a working width of 1700mm, is built to work around the clock.
Demonstrations of all City Ranger models are available across the UK.
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