When Ed Csenge goes out to look at a new project, he is concerned with things “from the ground down.” Csenge runs two businesses in Sullivan, N.H. — Ed Csenge & Son LLC and its subsidiary, Septic Manager.

Csenge, a mechanical engineer, founded Ed Csenge & Son in the early ’80s when he left the corporate world to become a builder of custom homes. Eventually, Csenge decided that his real interest was in septic and site work. So in 1987, he got his license from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for the installation of septic systems. Csenge continued to work in excavation and site work of all sorts, both residential and small commercial projects.

Septic Manager, Csenge’s second business, was formed in 2004. The full-service septic company employs “juggler technology,” an environmentally sound method for emptying septic tanks. And, according to Csenge, “this technology, along with the 2006 acquisition of D&D Septic, a Rindge-based septic pumping company, makes our operation the most complete service in Cheshire County.”

Csenge’s well-stocked equipment shed houses two 16-yard Volvo dump trucks; a Hitachi 400, a John Deere 160, 80 and mini excavators; a John Deere H450 dozer; a Hyundai 740 loader; a Morbark 18-in. whole tree chipper; lasers; plate compactors; two septic tankers (3,600 gal. and 4,200 gal.) and more.

But even people who have been in the industry for years are sometimes surprised by new products that make their jobs easier. For Csenge, that product is the Gravelizer, which was invented by Norm Vaine, Keene, N.H., eight years ago, when he was using an excavator to move a large amount of material. The material needed to be screened, so Vaine took an old screen and welded it to the top of the excavator bucket to see how it would work. It worked well, except that the larger rocks were getting stuck partway through. Vaine solved that problem by putting a hinge on the top of the bucket so the bottom could be made to fall away completely and the Gravelizer was born.

A year after purchasing the Gravelizer, it has become an indispensable part of Csenge’s arsenal of equipment. He uses it on a John Deere 160 excavator.

“The Gravelizer is a handy tool when you’re on site and you want to recycle the rocks out or if you’re processing piles that you’ve accumulated over time. You can process any size rocks that you want to using this machine. It’s nice to be able to prescreen rocks from loam, especially when you’re right on site. Also if you’re doing a demo, you can separate the material into smaller piles. Nothing else does this that’s as simple and as inexpensive. Perfect for small batches. Can’t beat it,” Csenge said.

According to the manufacturer, the Gravelizer can produce 2,000 to 4,000 cu. yd. (1,529 to 3,058 cu m) per day. The machine can screen from 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) cloth up to 36-in. (91.4 cm) screen. It fits on any size excavator and can be used with a thumb. One person can change screens in less than six minutes. And, because the Gravelizer does not require any hydraulic attachments and is powered by gravity alone, it is an environmentally friendly green product. CEG

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