Royal St George’s trusts Toro

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Royal St George’s trusts Toro: Royal St George’s Golf Club has trusted in Toro since 2013. First came a fleet deal and then last year a new irrigation system was installed making it a Toro Total Solutions customer in time for the club to host the Open Championship for the 15th time.

Consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the world, Royal St George’s decision to opt for Toro machinery yet again for another five years was in large part down to its technological advances and product development.

Royal St George’s trusts Toro

In 2013 it was the very latest in green technology in the shape of four TriFlex Hybrid 3420 riding greensmowers with electric reel cutting units which particularly appealed to course manager Paul Larsen. This time it’s seven Greensmaster Flex 2120 walk-behind mowers delivering the ultimate finish.

“All the machines we chose last time have been so effective we’ve pretty much gone for the same again for our second five-year agreement,” says Paul. “In the demos, the Toro machines just did a better job on the course than everything else, and since we’ve had them they’ve proved their quality too. Five years later, the machinery from our first fleet is still as good as we wanted it to be.

“However, I’m always on the hunt for new technology, so we added in the Greensmaster Flex 2120 walk-behind mower to this deal. The results from which have particularly impressed me. The floating head prevents scalping and leaves a smooth finish every time, and we’ve seen an improvement to the greens.”

It was this faith in the brand, combined with the “brilliant service we’ve had from Reesink Turfcare” and a successful demo that resulted in the installation of a Lynx central control system and over a thousand Toro sprinklers last year. Here we take the opportunity to hear how the system’s performed since it was turned on in the spring of 2018 and faced one of the biggest tests for any irrigation system – a record-breaking heatwave!

Royal St George’s Golf Club is a traditional links course set amongst sand dunes, so of course its soil is naturally dry and fast-draining. “Hot, dry weather affects us anyway and the impact of having an old system had taken its toll over the last few years, so not only did the new system have a job in hand to bring the course back to the standard it was, but to bring further improvement too, all in the face of excessive dry weather,” says Paul.

“Despite all that we noticed instantly the difference precise and accurate control made to the course. Since we had Toro Lynx control and Toro sprinklers installed last year, we’ve been able to irrigate more precisely and, in the process, we’ve seen huge water savings and a big improvement to the course.”

Such is the relationship with Toro and Reesink that during The Open this year Reesink will be loaning the club more machines to keep up with the maintenance a tournament demands.

“We’ll start really gearing things up a couple of weeks before the tournament and then be out cutting every day during the event. Having the extra Toro machines on loan will be a huge help and is another step further strengthening our relationship with Toro and Reesink,” concludes Paul.

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EHS debut for Bobcat E10e

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EHS debut for Bobcat E10e: Bobcat’s E10e, the industry’s first battery driven, zero tail swing mini-excavator in the one tonne class, will be shown on the Doosan Bobcat Stand I40 for the first time at the Executive Hire Show (EHS), the UK’s annual national exhibition for the tools, equipment and plant hire industry, being held in Coventry, England from 5-6 February 2020.

The Doosan Bobcat stand will also present the 7/31+ compressor generator from Doosan Portable Power, which incorporates an 8.5 kVA generator and is aimed at the utilities industry and rental companies serving this sector.

EHS debut for Bobcat E10e

Launched in 2007, the Executive Hire Show is a trade-only event open to rental company executives throughout the UK and Ireland, and it has also attracted hire industry visitors from Europe and beyond. Senior executives from the procurement and purchasing departments of the national hire operations attend the Show, along with large numbers of independently-owned entrepreneurial hire outlets.

Game Changer for Indoor Work

As well as indoor work such as demolition and basement projects, there are many other sites where zero emission, low noise machines are required such as urban/city centre developments, night-time work and contracts in quiet zones such as hospitals, cemeteries, schools and so on. Until now, particularly for indoor applications, there has been no standard OEM solution for such work – many jobs had to be worked on manually with less effective tools or with aftermarket conversions providing third party machine adjustments (that often did not meet desired standards). The new Bobcat E10e mini-excavator is a unique proposition in this area.

Developed at the Bobcat EMEA Innovation Center, in conjunction with electric vehicle suppliers, the E10e is based on the design of the very successful diesel powered E10 1 tonne mini-excavator, which has achieved sales of well over 10,000 units in just 10 years [the E10 is now called the E10z to reflect that it is a zero tail swing (ZTS) mini-excavator].

The new E10e has the same ZTS profile and identical external dimensions as the standard E10/E10z machine and offers equal or better performance. For example, the E10e offers very low noise levels on site with an LpA of only 71 dBA vs 80 dBA for the standard E10/E10z. As the new machine is designed to be used in demanding indoor applications such as breaker work in demolition, it is equipped with auxiliary lines and an efficient oil cooler system for continuous hydraulic breaker operation. The cooling system capacity has been increased to meet extended demolition application requirements.

Amazingly Compact

Like the E10/E10z, the E10e is easy to transport. In addition to the access provided by its retractable undercarriage reducing its width to only 710 mm, the integrated foldable TOPS (Tip Over Protective Structure) facilitates passage through openings with low headroom, for work inside buildings and in basements. Once the excavator is positioned and ready for work, the undercarriage on the E10e can be expanded to 1100 mm, for maximum stability in all working conditions. The E10e’s minimal width enables excellent manoeuvrability in confined spaces, while the ZTS design is an additional advantage when working in tight areas.

The E10e and E10z are part of a comprehensive selection of mini-excavators from Bobcat covering models from 0.8 to 8.5 tonne, alongside a full line-up of skid-steer, compact track and all-wheel steer loaders, telehandlers and attachments, all aimed at the tool and plant hire industry and the markets it serves.

Doosan Portable Power: Meeting the Needs of the Utilities Market

Compressor generators from Doosan Portable Power are aimed at the utilities industry and rental companies serving this sector. The larger 8.5 kVA generator option meets a specific requirement in utility work to meet the demands of the latest fusion welding equipment, providing electrical power that can also be used for lights and tools together with compressed air for powering breakers and other pneumatic equipment.

The generator option is available on two machines – the 7/31+ model, providing a free air delivery of 3.0 m3/min at an output pressure of 7 bar and the larger 7/41+ portable compressor, supplying 4.0 m3/min of compressed air at 7 bar output pressure.

Another option on these compressors is the ‘Tough Top’ polymer canopy combining durability with aesthetic design, making it an especially attractive investment for everyday applications in the toughest working conditions. In addition to its outstanding durability, the Tough Top canopy is also non-corrodible. It can be supplied in customer colours and retrofitted to existing Doosan compressor units.

Like all Doosan compressors, the modular design of the 7/31+ and 7/41+ ensures that a wide range of optional equipment can be added easily. As well as the polymer canopy, they can include LED lights, a Heavy Duty light grill, a number plate clip, wheel nut indicators and a ‘bunded base’.

Doosan Portable Power offers a comprehensive range of portable compressors, generators and lighting products for the plant and tool hire industry. Completing the line-up are construction tools such as air-powered chipping hammers, pickhammers, jackhammers and paving breakers for work in demolition, utilities, quarrying and industrial markets.

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com

For more information about Doosan Portable Power products, visit the website: www.doosanportablepower.eu

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Doosan confirms dealer changes

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Doosan confirms dealer changes: Doosan Infracore Europe has confirmed new changes effective immediately in the company’s Authorised Dealer network in the Republic of Ireland.

EMS (Embankment Machinery Sales), based in Naas in County Kildare, is now responsible for sales and service for the full range of Doosan crawler and wheeled excavators in Leinster, Munster and Connacht. EMS (www.emsmachinery.com) is also the dealer in the same areas for the full range of Doosan mini- and midi-excavators from 1 to 8.5 tonne.

Doosan confirms dealer changes

Philip P. McCormack Plant, based in Clane in County Kildare (www.pmcplant.ie), is responsible for sales and servicing of the Doosan wheel loader range in Leinster, Munster and Connacht. This is in addition to the Doosan range of articulated dump trucks (ADTs) for which Philip P. McCormack Plant has been the dealer in the same areas for several years.

Commenting on the changes to the Doosan dealer network in Ireland, Anthony Pearce, UK & Nordics Regional Sales Leader for Doosan Infracore Europe, said: “Working closely with both EMS and Philip P. McCormack Plant, we are aiming to continue to grow our business in Ireland in a positive and sustainable manner. I see these latest moves as a fantastic opportunity whilst continuing to provide the Irish market with an unrivalled level of service and customer support.”

For more on Doosan construction equipment, visit the website: www.doosanequipment.eu

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University enjoys H&S benefits

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University enjoys H&S benefits: Agria UK’s remotely controlled agria 9600 hybrid bank mower makes lots of friends in high places. Recent converts include the 16 members of the University of Aberdeen’s grounds’ team, all now fully trained and regular users.

Bruce Reid, Grounds Officer in the University’s Estates and Facilities Department, said he knew instantly it was a machine that suited their purpose:

University enjoys H&S benefits

“It works well for us because it’s not complicated; it is so H&S focused and does a thoroughly good job. Tending steep banking both safely and quickly is imperative and that’s why the agria 9600 stood out. On first view at its demo, it looked like a high climbing miniature tank patrolling the grounds. We were an early adopter and purchased one of the first in July.”

“We have our fair share of extreme slopes and banked areas. There are three distinct campuses.  King’s College campus, is over 500 years old, and dominates the section of the city known as Old Aberdeen.  It lies approximately two miles north of the city centre.  To the west, there is the more recent Foresterhill campus, next door to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and home to the School of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as the School of Medical Sciences and then to the east is Hillhead campus which is predominantly student halls. Together with research and lecture buildings, all sites have bespoke grounds, sports facilities and green areas. Hillhead in particular, has purpose built student residences set among landscaped areas which house several thousand students.  Typically, it’s here where we have many steep slopes, gradients easily in the 30° to 50° range, all at varying heights. We try to cut and mulch these fortnightly during the growing season,” continued Bruce Reid.

With its low centre of gravity and rubber caterpillar tracks, the agria 9600 powers safely through heavy duty work on high slopes to 50°.  The operator uses a joy stick on a light, hand held LED display control panel to manage six key mower functions. The display shows travel speed, cutting height, hours of operation, the battery charge status, the radio signal strength and an on / off switch.

Range is an impressive 300 m at a generous forward speed of 10 km/ hr allowing some of the most difficult and awkward-to-reach terrain to be tackled from a healthy distance. Should frequency be disturbed, the remote control changes to a different band frequency automatically.

A Hybrid drive concept means the agria 9600 combines a petrol engine with being electrically driven. This set up is therefore more environmentally friendly than hydraulic systems. The petrol engine powers the mower and generator while the generator produces electricity in Safety Extra Low voltage (48V) for driving.

In two widths, 112 cm and 80 cm, it cuts and mulches in two directions and is effortless on a variety of applications, including fine turf.

“The main thing for us is health & safety,” continued Bruce Reid.  “We don’t want operators walking behind mowers on any of our banked areas. It is infinitely safer to have a remote machine perform these tasks. Like everyone else, we have risk assessments for all grounds care activities and right away, a remotely controlled mower minimises risk.

“Ours is the 80 cm wide version. It’s a very straight forward machine yet versatile. The whole team took part in a familiarisation and training session given by Agria UK so everyone is now extremely confident. They feel safe because they don’t need to remain close to the machine nor do they need to set foot on the bank. It’s surprising light machine to transport, it can be popped on a trailer and moved with an ATV which helps save time and transport costs.”

Edzard Michalsky, Product manager for Agria said: “The beauty of this machine –and indeed all remote controlled agria mowing systems – is that there are no hand-arm vibrations to factor. Everyone deserves a healthy working environment and this machine means you can spend a whole shift engaged in cutting and mulching.”

Wilson Morrison, Sales Manager from dealer Fairways GM, who distribute Agria UK products in Scotland, said: “Bruce and his team put H&S at the top of their list. The agria 9600 gives them a head start. For example, if for any reason the transmission signal between machine and operator is lost the machine automatically shuts down.  Both the machine and the remote control offer emergency shut off switches and safety flaps giving protection against thrown objects, this has been tested independently by industry experts. At 420 kgs theirs is a light easily transportable machine. Running time is approx. 15 hours on each charge.  Each unit comes with a replacement battery and charger which almost doubles the working time.  Fuel consumption is around 20 litres per six hours run time. Developments like these help future proof the industry.”

See the agria 9600 at BTME on Stand RED 202 alongside sister company, Wiedenmann UK on 218.

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Alan Prickett joins ISEKI UK

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Alan Prickett joins ISEKI UK: ISEKI UK & Ireland are pleased to announce that Alan Prickett has joined the growing team in the role of Business Development Manager, responsible for dealers in the central band of the UK, along with key and national account sales.

Alan is a very well-known figure in the industry having previously worked for many years at Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd. Prior to his leaving there in July of 2019 he held a number of positions ranging from Regional Sales Manager to Managing Director.

Alan Prickett joins ISEKI UK

In Alan’s early career he studied agricultural engineering in Oxfordshire, before commencing a career in the professional turf industry from 1981, initially working for professional machinery dealerships in the midlands, rising to the level of sales management and key accounts.

Commenting on the appointment David Withers adds; “Alan will be a great asset to the team at ISEKI, he will be looking to further drive market share gains in the compact tractor and collecting mower categories where ISEKI excel.”

For more information, visit: www.iseki.co.uk.

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