In the world of hands-on work, your tools can make all the difference; a lesson students in the Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Program (LHAP) at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology are learning thanks to a generous grant and collaborative industry relationships.
The Concrete Masonry Hardscape Association (CMHA) Tools for Schools grant, valued at approximately $20,000 USD or $27,000 CAD, was used by Olds College to purchase a collection of Weber MT battery-powered compaction equipment. Through the College’s relationship with Weber, the equipment was secured at a significant discount, allowing the grant funding to go much further with a purchase through Rogers Rent-All and landing equipment in students' hands with an approximate retail value of $76,000.
The equipment was sourced through Weber USA, with support from Todd DeWindt of Weber, who also worked with Honda USA to secure donated batteries and chargers for the equipment. Weber Germany, the company’s head office, also supported the initiative by helping reduce the cost of the equipment. The machines provided to Olds College had previously been used as demonstration units at trade shows and were essentially new.
The result is a significant addition to the hands-on learning environment in the College’s Landscape Construction Pavilion, where LHAP students develop practical skills in segmental retaining wall and paving stone construction.
“This equipment gives our students hands-on experience with technology they may not otherwise have an opportunity to use,” says Terry Warke, CMHA Certified and Master Instructor, Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Program. “The industry is changing, and it’s important that our students leave Olds College with experience using current equipment and an understanding of where these technologies can be applied.”
The new equipment includes four battery-powered Weber MT machines, each providing students with experience using specialized equipment for different stages of hardscape construction.
The Weber SRE 590 DC rammer is used to compact aggregate bases for segmental retaining walls and paving stone installations. Its design makes it particularly useful in tight spaces and along edges, where proper compaction is critical to the success of an installation.
The Weber VPR 700 DC paver roller gives students experience with equipment designed specifically for large-format paving stones. As the use of large-format paving products continues to grow, the roller provides an alternative to traditional plate compactors, which can apply too much force to some installations.
Students will also work with the Weber CF 3 DC and CR 2 DC battery-powered vibratory plate compactors to prepare compacted aggregate bases. The reversible CR 2 DC allows operators to easily change direction in confined spaces without having to turn the machine around.
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Beyond the practical skills gained from operating the equipment, the battery-powered technology provides another benefit in the College’s indoor construction environment. Unlike traditional internal combustion equipment, the machines produce no localized exhaust emissions, helping improve air quality in the Landscape Construction Pavilion while introducing students to lower-emission equipment used in modern construction.
For students, the equipment provides an opportunity to work directly with technology that is evolving in the landscape construction industry.
Olds College has offered the Concrete Paver Installer course for over 30 years, with an estimated 500 students completing the course under Warke’s instruction. The College continues to offer the course annually, giving students opportunities to develop practical, industry-relevant skills through hands-on training.
The CMHA Tools for Schools grant, combined with support from Weber and Honda, means those students will now have access to equipment that would otherwise have represented a significant investment for the program.
“This is a valuable addition to our program, our instructors and most importantly, our students,” says Warke. “They’re not just learning about this technology — they’re getting to use it.”