A FATHER and son from Lisnaskea who have developed a unique hydraulic saw, are set to appear on RTE’s Dragon’s Den this Sunday night, April 14.
The show has already been recorded.
Sean Leonard and his son, Daniel are directors of Crafty Creations NI Ltd, the company which designed the Hydrasaw – a hydraulic chainsaw which is powered by the hydraulics of a tractor.
Sean explained that they have been working on this saw for approximately the past three years and, now, they have a number of working prototypes which they are showcasing at agricultural shows up and down the country and beyond.
“With Hydrasaw, there is no vibration and no fumes, as there is no petrol engine.”
The Hydrasaw is marketed as an evolution of the chainsaw which uses hydraulic fluid from a tractor connected to the tractor by 9mm high pressure hoses.
Noise levels are reduced to the point where ear muffs or ear plugs are no longer required, and vibration previously transmitted through the hand grip handles of a conventional model has been totally eliminated.
Consequently, the medically termed ‘white finger disease’ has been eradicated.
Due to the design, the saw can also be used underwater.
“It can run off a tractor, JCB or digger. And, we are in the process of kitting out a Ford Transit that we can use to demonstrate the saw (at shows).” Also use it with a Range Rover or a power pack.
Sean described appearing before the Dragons as ‘a great experience’: “The comments from some of the dragons were very interesting. Looking back on it, we should have done an actual demonstration instead of just showing the dragon’s the static saw”, he admitted.
“As one of the dragon’s said ‘seeing is believing’.
Sean Leonard had worked with the Quinn Group for a number of years as a toolmaker, before he turned his attention to inventing. And son Daniel runs the Donn Carragh Hotel in Lisnaskea.
“We are just looking for some investment to take Hydrasaw further, and, we are also looking at a number of other avenues.”
Due to programme confidentiality, he explained he couldn’t say how things will go on Sunday night but, he did admit that, overall, things were looking promising (‘we are hopeful of getting the product up and running’).
Daniel said the company is now working with Invest Northern Ireland and hopes to set up a factory manufacturing these saws in the not too distant future.
For more information about Hydrasaw go to ‘www.hydrasaw.co.uk or e-mail info@hydrasaw.co.uk. Or you can call 028 67721206 00353 879313652.
Episode seven of series five of ‘Dragon’s Den’ will be screened on Sunday night at 9.30pm on RTE1.
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