Heavy landscaping work made lighter and more efficient with the Elephants Trunk

ARTICLE

MARKET & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Emiel te Walvaart, Tuesday 1 July 2025

180 sec

Instructor Schuppert advocates for ergonomic harness use

'It's lighter, more efficient, easier to sustain, and increases productivity. So why not use the ergonomic Elephants Trunk harness when trimming a tall hedge?' That's the rhetorical question posed by Johan Schuppert, instructor at Zone.college. His answer: 'Nothing.' Yet despite his enthusiasm, this advocate of ergonomic working methods notices persistent hesitation within the landscaping and green maintenance sector. He's eager to address that reluctance, starting with his students.

The Elephants Trunk by GTM Professional relieves physical strain

Schuppert is currently an instructor at Zone.college, but his professional life didn't always revolve around the classroom. 'I used to have the best job in the world: landscaper. Now I have the second-best job, teaching in the green sector. At one point I had to switch careers due to back problems. That's why I now pay close attention to the ergonomic aspects of the landscaping trade.'

On tour with the Elephants Trunk

Schuppert has more than average interest in tools that make heavy landscaping work easier, such as the Elephants Trunk, the ergonomic harness from GTM Professional. 'I'd seen the harness a few times and it caught my attention. Through my network, I was asked whether I wanted to use the Elephants Trunk for teaching purposes. Well, I didn't need to think twice. At the start of this school year, GTM Professional sent me the Elephants Trunk 3, the latest version. With that, I'm now touring various vocational programmes.'Since then, Schuppert has introduced the harness to his student groups. 'I ask students to put it on, so they can experience it for themselves. One of my students, Tino Braam, used the Elephants Trunk during his practical exam. He was glad he did — the hedge he had to trim was so high, he had to work above shoulder level. Even though the hedge was only 10 metres long, he said he would have had to take two breaks without the harness. Now, he felt nothing — thanks to the pulley, the weight is taken off your shoulders. He could just keep going.'

Despite these results, Schuppert hears mixed opinions about the Elephants Trunk. 'Some don't want to walk around in what they call a "monkey suit", while others say they already have one in the van and use it all the time. I think the sceptics are worried about how it looks when showing up at a client's site. They notice the benefits but are still hesitant. If it becomes more commonly used, I think people will follow. I do regret not having access to tools like this earlier — they really relieve the strain on your back. I might still be working as a landscaper now. With the Elephants Trunk, you can simply keep going much longer.'

'A shame I didn't have the Elephants Trunk earlier — it really relieves your back'

Ergonomics in the curriculum

Schuppert enjoys showing students innovations that help reduce strain during physical work. 'If they still choose to carry on the old way, they can't say I never warned them. I want future landscapers to think about how things can be done differently — and more easily. Ergonomic working is a key part of my curriculum. I see too many landscapers over 40 who are forced to shift to municipal jobs or large-scale maintenance because they can no longer cope physically. That's a real shame.'
The third version of the Elephants Trunk is a strong improvement over previous models, Schuppert knows. 'A colleague of mine knew the first version and wasn't impressed. I had him try the latest one, and he found it much better. For me, it's important that my message comes through, but that also takes time. If landscaping companies start taking these ergonomic issues seriously, not just saying "watch your back" but actually using the right tools, it will become normal, or even the standard. That would make the message much stronger. Many landscapers don't even know what's available. More visibility will help spread awareness about tools like the Elephants Trunk.'

Tino Braam during level 3 maintenance skills exam

First time during an exam

Tino Braam, now employed at Dolmans Landscaping, used the Elephants Trunk for the first time during his practical exam at Zone.college. 'Johan Schuppert once mentioned the tool in class, and that sparked my interest. When I had to list the tools for my exam, I included the Elephants Trunk. I thought: I'll use it to see how it works and if it really helps. And it did. I had to trim a fairly tall hedge, 15 metres long, and it made the work much lighter. Especially with high hedges, it saves a lot of effort.'
Now working at Dolmans Landscaping, Braam doesn't want to tackle those jobs without the Elephants Trunk. 'It's lighter, more efficient, you can keep going longer, and that means higher productivity. Your arms feel much better at the end of the day. It really works well. More people should try it. We've got a few in the company — especially in Groningen, where we have to maintain 25 kilometres of hedge.'

Johan Schuppert

Elephants Trunk 3

The Elephants Trunk 3 is an ergonomic harness that reduces the physical burden of using hedge trimmers or handheld leaf blowers. The pulley system at the lower back provides 3 kg of lifting force, shifting much of the tool's weight from the arms to the hips. This significantly reduces strain on the muscle groups most engaged during trimming or blowing, helping to prevent sore shoulders or arms.

Zone.college

GTM professional

Dolmans Landscaping Group

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