When tool reliability issues kept recurring in Certus Construction’s two-stroke disc cutters, plant and fleet manager James Kite resolved to identify the source of the failures.
After he’d pinpointed incorrect fuel mix as the issue, James happened on the solution by chance – one that’s stopped costly repairs and downtime and improved work conditions for its vast team of operators.
Ten years in the sector, Certus undertakes major groundwork projects across commercial, retail, leisure,8 education and healthcare across South Wales and the Southwest. Often working to tight deadlines, repeated failures of disc cutters were not only causing costly delays to the schedule but also hitting the firm hard in the pocket.
“Operators would have to down tools after finding that pots and pistons had seized,” explains James, “sometimes these could be repaired but often the damage was so severe, we had no choice but to write the kit off.

Pre-mixed alkylate success
“In looking for an alternative to operators mixing their own fuel and 2-stroke oil, we stumbled across Aspen’s pre-mixed alkylate alternative. Discovering how well it worked after just a couple of cans, we fully switched over a couple of years ago and we’ve not had a single mechanical issue since.”
Aspen 2 alkylate petrol is pre-mixed at a 50:1 ratio with fully-synthetic biodegradable 2-stroke oil. Virtually free from hazardous hydrocarbons, the cleaner formula significantly reduces carbon build-up and deposits in the engine chamber, enhancing performance and extending service life. And being ethanol-free also means it can be stored for long periods without marring quality, so engines start easier even after extensive standstill periods.
“We order Aspen by the pallet, making use of the smaller, portable cans to simplify operations for our site teams. Workers can easily and safely carry only the fuel they need, avoiding trips to the forecourt which also helps to save time and keep projects on schedule,” James explains.
“We’re increasingly under pressure to demonstrate cleaner practices to our clients. Aspen helps us meet that expectation, keeping our team safer and reducing the impact our work has on the wider environment.”
www.aspenfuel.co.uk