Kubota UK Top of the Class

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Kubota UK Top of the Class: The top educators in the agricultural machinery sector chose Kubota UK to host their annual conference, ensuring they are up to speed with the latest machinery and technology offered by the manufacturer. 

The Association of Lecturers In Agriculture Machinery (ALAM), whose members boast academic staff from top colleges across the country, including Harper Adams and Hartpury College, were treated to a host of lectures and workshops covering Kubota’s global business heritage, its product offering and plans for the future, whilst also getting hands on experience with Kubota machinery and visiting local dealers from Kubota’s network.

Kubota UK Top of the Class

Ian Coleman, Chairman of ALAM and lecturer at Hartpury College, said: “The function of ALAM is to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and to disseminate current practices and focuses to our members, ensuring that what we teach our students across the country reflects the modern industry. Holding our conference at Kubota UK this year has filled us with confidence that we are up to speed with technological advances, trends for the future and updating our knowledge on Kubota’s product portfolio, from horticulture right the way through to agriculture.

“Technical updates are vital for both ALAM and our students, so another advantage of working with Kubota is that we can look outside of the standard agricultural box into other sectors, giving us a rounded view and ensuring that we have our finger on the pulse of the industry as a whole. The three days were hugely beneficial and demonstrated the clear advantages of networking between colleges, colleagues and manufacturers.”

Keith Miller, Service and Training Manager at Kubota UK, added: “For Kubota, the relationship with all the UK agricultural colleges is really important. We understand that communicating the essential principles of machinery and their operation to the colleges makes a real contribution to the future learning of the students and the sector as a whole, injecting a high number of skilled engineers into the industry.

“It’s for these reasons that we put so much effort into the ALAM conference, with a rigorous itinerary that included getting hands on experience with a number of machine models, including the new Kubota M7001 series, plus visiting two of our leading dealers, Lister Wilder and George Browns, to give insights from their perspective too. We really wanted Ian and the whole ALAM team to get as much out of the three days as possible and the feedback we’ve had has been very positive.”

Dave Roberts, Kubota UK Managing Director, closed by adding: “It has been a great pleasure welcoming ALAM to Kubota UK for the team’s annual conference. There’s a real synergy between our organisations, not only in the agricultural machinery we manufacture, but also in the need for all stakeholders in the industry to work together to ensure that we are all aligned in promoting the best practice for agricultural and horticultural engineering. This is essential in keeping the full and sustainable availability of quality engineers to support the market, which is increasingly complex and diverse.

“We also have a strong affinity with ALAM as we currently have 4 apprentices in our business, and a number of our team, including myself, went through the agricultural machinery education system.”

“The visit has also given us the opportunity to showcase our latest innovations, not only in the agricultural machinery arena, but in our engine technologies. The visit demonstrated how Kubota, with technology such as autonomous tractors, is pioneering for the future.”

To watch video highlights and interviews from the ALAM conference, click here: https://youtu.be/04qphWlefm8

For more information on Kubota’s and its expansive range of solutions for the agriculture, construction and groundcare sectors or to find your nearest dealer, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day

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GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day: Phil Day Sports of Worcestershire has added a GKB Machines Drainmaster to their fleet of sports ground construction and maintenance equipment.

Established in the late 1990’s Phil Day’s company has built a firm reputation as a leading sports turf contractor and specialist in the sports amenity sector. Their constant aim, they say, is to offer best value by constantly upgrading specialist equipment and machinery. They see the GKB Drainmaster as having a significant role in the work they carry out for their wide range of customers which includes Premier League football clubs, county cricket, top class rugby and golf clubs and leading independent schools.

GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day

As every turf professional and greenkeeper knows, surface water and pitches that stay wet for too long will always be an issue along with the cost and downtime for renovation. The GKB Drainmaster offers a complete solution to improving and accelerating the drainage of surface water. Toby Grace, Business Development Manager at Phil Day Sports, had been looking at investing in a secondary drainage system for a while and was impressed by what could be achieved with the Drainmaster. He and his team decided they were going to need one for a number of pending client requirements, including work at West Bromwich Albion F.C., Wasps Rugby and the STRI. Once ordered, after tender at the beginning of 2017, the GKB machine arrived within three weeks and was put to work with immediate results. The Drainmaster excavates two or three trenches four centimetres wide which are positioned perpendicular to the existing underlying drainage. Soil removed is disposed of by means of conveyor belts and can be re-used as dressing soil. The trenches are filled with drainage sand up to the operating depth of 23cm in the same operation while the Drainmaster wheels press the sand into the trenches.

“We have found the Drainmaster does what it says with unique sandslits to the correct width and depth and we have seen excellent results.” Says Toby. “With the way the sand bunker has been developed, you can choose to operate the full length of the pitch in one operation or two across the width. The grass grows on the trenches in a matter of weeks.” The overall effect is strengthening of the grass while the drainage network ensures a higher playing capacity.

“The next real test will be in the winter months and with the changing weather we’ll be carefully monitoring the results.” Toby says. “For now we’re very happy with the quality achieved and the service we have had. GKB as the manufacturer talk to us and we’re providing feedback so it’s a two-way traffic of information that helps us all.”

GKB add that where there is a need to create a more even, well-functioning pitch you can combine the operations of the Drainmaster and their well-known Combinator for the optimum playing surface.

To find out more, visit: www.gkbmachines.com

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