New training from BASIS and STRI

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New training from BASIS and STRI: BASIS and the STRI have joined forces to provide a new modular training course that will help greenkeepers, groundsmen and amenity contractors to protect the environments in which they work.

At a time when climate change is high on the agenda, the Managing Ecological and Environmental Landscapes (MEEL) qualification is designed for professionals involved in enhancing the ecological and environmental features of the landscape from a golf or amenity perspective.

New training from BASIS and STRI

Speaking at the launch at BTME, Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO, said the new qualification will provide a core module, followed by a choice of specialisms, one for greenkeepers, and the other for professionals managing municipal landscapes.

“The golf specialism will focus on an integrated approach to habitat management, regeneration and creation, all which the sports turf sector already recognises as vital to achieving environmental sustainability while continuing to maximise the enjoyment of golf,” he said.

“The amenity specialism is geared towards professionals involved in creating management plans for enhancing environmental features of the landscape such as woodlands, wetlands and hedgerows.

“We’re delighted to provide candidates with the opportunity to further increase knowledge and understanding of their specific role, to provide the highest quality landscapes, while playing a key part in protecting the environment,” Stephen added.

The course has been developed with the STRI over the last two years, taking industry feedback into account to ensure each module is tailored to the particular needs of greenkeepers or groundsmen and amenity contractors.

Commenting on the training structure, Dr Christian Spring, STRI research and operations manager said, over four days the course will be delivered by a team of experts at the STRI, and will combine classroom and practical learning sessions.

“This new qualification is a fantastic opportunity for those working in the amenity industry to take the next step in their career, and we look forward to the first intake later this year,” concluded Christian.

The first course is set to commence in autumn 2020, with further dates to follow. For information on dates and timings please visit https://www.basis-reg.co.uk/training or contact 01335 343945.

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Sprayer Operator winner announced

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Sprayer Operator winner announced: The Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year Award (ASOY) recognises and rewards top sprayer operators across the amenity industry. It aims to further improve standards, by identifying the best practice of individuals to enhance results – and share their experiences across the industry.

Presented for the second time at BTME Harrogate, the ASOY Awards are organised by the Amenity Forum, and generously sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, and supported by BASIS.

Sprayer Operator winner announced

As well as being the overall top operator, Paul Gater was the winner of the Sports Turf Using Tractor Mounted & Hand Held Equipment Category.

The other category winner recognised by the Awards was Ian Millward of Millward Forestry who won the Landscape and Industrial Using Hand Held & Tractor Mounted Equipment Category.

Commenting on Paul’s success, from a record entry in the fifth annual ASOY Awards, Professor John Moverley OBE, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said: ‘‘The Amenity Forum is the voluntary initiative for this important and essential sector. We promote best practice and these awards are a demonstration of the high professional standards in our sector and identify those individuals who go above and beyond in their work.

Our congratulations go all those who were shortlisted, the category winners and especially our overall winner this year – an excellent ambassador for the sector. Thanks also to our sponsors who make all this possible.”

ICL Business Development Manager, Mark Pyrah, added:

“ICL remains committed to supporting the Amenity Forum and both sponsoring and championing the ‘Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year’ award. We would like to acknowledge all those candidates that put themselves forward and for recognising the fact that accurate application remains key to good product performance.

ICL UK along with Syngenta UK looks forward to continuing to support the ‘Amenity Sprayer Operator Awards’ going forward and would encourage any individual responsible for spray application to consider putting themselves forward in 2020 and championing good practice in the art of application.”

Syngenta Technical Manager and application specialist, Glenn Kirby, highlighted the skills and experience of sprayer operators is paramount in achieving the best results possible from every application.

“All of the Awards entrants have demonstrated the essential techniques for safe and responsible spray application. Sharing their ideas and advice can help all operators to become more efficient and effective.” All entrants to the Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards will be entered into the chance to win a place at the new Syngenta Application Academy.
Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO commented:

“The Awards highlight the exceptional skills, knowledge and experience of the operators and provide a demonstration of best practice for effective results and, above all, that pesticides are used in a safe and sustainable manner in amenity situations”

OVERALL WINNER
SPRAYER OPERATOR OF THE YEAR 2019

PAUL GATER, CALDY GOLF CLUB

CATEGORY WINNERS AND RUNNERS UP
SPRAYER OPERATOR OF THE YEAR 2019

LANDSCAPE AND INDUSTRIAL
USING HAND HELD & TRACTOR MOUNTED EQUIPMENT

Winner Ian Millward, Millward Forestry

Runner Up Daniel Lewis, Manchester City

SPORTS TURF
USING TRACTOR MOUNTED & HAND HELD EQUIPMENT

Winner Paul Gater, Caldy Golf Club

Runner Up Jason Garlick, JMG Amenity

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Winning bid announced for charity auction

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Winning bid announced for charity auction: Maskinia, the Authorised Doosan Construction Equipment Dealer in Sweden based in Linköping, is delighted to announce that the winning bid of SEK 202,000 (19,100 Euros) was made by local company, CN:s Gräv AB, in the company’s on-line charity auction of a new Doosan DX10z 1 tonne mini-excavator to raise funds to fight prostate cancer.

Held as part of Sweden’s anti-prostate cancer campaign, Mustaschkampen, the DX10z auction was run in collaboration with suppliers, RF System and Engcon, and in partnership with the auction site, Klaravik.

Winning bid announced for charity auction

Doosan DX10z Blue Edition

Painted in the same blue colour used by the Mustaschkampen campaign, the DX10z carries the Mustaschkampen ‘moustache’ logo and the logos of the participating companies, RF System, Engcon and Klaravik. Designated by Maskinia as the Doosan DX10z Blue Edition, the machine has been delivered to CN:s Gräv AB, equipped with a new tiltrotator from RF System and new buckets from Engcon.

In a press announcement, CN:s Gräv AB expressed great joy and pride in being able to contribute to the fight against prostate cancer, a form of cancer that affects many people in the Linköping area. CN:s Gräv AB had been interested in the DX10z model from Doosan, so the company saw the auction as the perfect opportunity to contribute to the fight against cancer at the same time as bringing home the superior machine in its class.

Raising Funds to Fight Cancer

Two years ago, during the Svenska Maskinmässan 2018 Fair in Sweden, Maskinia auctioned off a unique black edition Doosan DX140W-5 wheeled excavator, which brought in SEK 760000 (71,850 Euros), which was divided into three equal parts between the three organizations, the Breast Cancer Association, the Prostate Cancer Association and the Child Cancer Foundation.

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

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Engcon launch safety campaign

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Engcon launch safety campaign: The amount of workplace accidents and fatalities that occur in connection with excavators makes for disappointing and distressing reading.

Engcon wants to lead the excavation industry towards zero accidents, a “zero vision” – with smart technology on all excavators.

Engcon launch safety campaign

“Dig Smart. Dig Safe” is a part of Engcon’s “Non Accident Generation” initiative that focuses on setting a new product safety standard and is designed to create a safer workplace.

Official European statistics show that more than 3000 people die each year in workplace accidents in Europe and for the industry, the number of accidents is alarming.

“Safety is often seen as a low priority in the contracting and construction sector. Unfortunately, no matter what market we are looking at these same industries are often identified as having the most workplace injuries. Some of the most common causes of accidents are due to machinery but also from tools that drop off equipment. This is unacceptable since the accidents can lead to absence from work through personal injury or in the worst cases a fatality, all of which could have been avoided”. According to Stig Engström, founder and owner of Engcon:

“An excavator often operates in a tight space or on construction sites with many people. Without the proper safety equipment employed on the machine, you can inadvertently drop gear or back over someone. Slipping and tripping accidents are also common when the driver steps out of or into the excavator”, he says.

“A zero vision can drive the industry in the right direction”
Engcon’s founder Stig Engström has taken on the fight to increase safety standards in the workplace, working hard to reduce the number of accidents in the industry to zero.

Engcon has developed the market’s safest automatic quick mounting system, warning with both sound and light alerts to prevent an excavator functioning in the event of an incorrectly coupled bucket or other tools.

In addition, a driver must set the bucket down on the ground in order to release it at a given pressure. The automatic coupling of oil, electricity and central lubrication also means that the driver can safely remain in the cab and change tools. A tiltrotator means fewer machine movements, which in itself reduces the risk of someone being hit.

“Engcon has technology that can assume parts of the operator’s responsibility when it comes to connecting tools to an excavator correctly. This smart technology makes sure it is done right. With a zero vision in combination with Engcon’s smart technology, we can help drive the industry in the right direction so that the safety issue is prioritised”, explains Stig Engström.

Fight for change – for safety to be at the top of the work agenda
Despite the fact that Engcon is at the forefront in safety, much remains to be done to achieve a zero vision and Stig Engström believes that some type of regulatory change is required along with all parties taking responsibility for safety in the workplace.

“Suppliers must develop safer products, dealers must buy them and customers must demand that they are installed and offer contracts to those that use them. We want to ensure workplace safety. The technology should prevent accidents even if the driver makes a mistake. Every accident is one too many and the goal must be to eliminate them completely” says Stig Engström.

With the safety campaign ”Dig smart. Dig Safe.” Engcon wants to raise awareness and intensify the discussion around safety in the workplace.

“We are told that the issue is taboo and that we risk criticism. I’m just saying: let the criticism come. We stand up for increased safety. We have always done that and will continue to do so. It’s time to move from discussion to action. I want all interested parties in 2020 to start taking responsibility and hope that our initiatives can be the starting point” concludes Stig Engström.

Interested in “Non Accident Generation” and “Dig Smart. Dig Safe”, you can read more here: https://engcon.com/en_gb/owning-an-engcon/safety.html

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New browntop bentgrass from Germinal

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New browntop bentgrass from Germinal: Germinal has updated two of its greens-specific bentgrass blends by adding newly listed browntop cultivar, Musket, to its Aber®Majesty and ForeFront Greens seed mixtures.

Musket is one of three new browntop bentgrass cultivars to join the BSPB’s Table G1 (greens, close mown 4-7mm trials) in 2020. It is also the latest addition to Germinal’s extensive bentgrass portfolio which includes a range of high quality browntop and creeping bentgrass mixtures to suit every circumstance and budget.

“Musket was bred using germplasm that combines early spring green-up traits with improved summer performance,” explains Richard Brown, Amenity Sales Manager for Germinal GB. “As well as offering all the intrinsic benefits of a modern browntop bentgrass such as a prostrate growth habit, high shoot density, good wear tolerance and reduced input requirement, Musket also exhibits excellent resistance to fusarium.

“With the recent loss of several key fungicides already forcing greenkeepers to overseed more frequently in order to keep their greens disease-free, selecting a naturally resistant cultivar such as Musket is the logical way forward. We have therefore added Musket to two of our specialist golf greens seed mixtures, AberMajesty and ForeFront Greens, to bolster their varietal diversity and natural disease resistance so that greenkeepers can establish and maintain high quality, consistent greens with excellent year-round playability.”

For 2020, Germinal’s AberMajesty mixture will consist of 45% Aber®Regal (browntop bent), 45% Aber®Royal (browntop bent) and 10% Musket (browntop bent).

ForeFront Greens will be made up of 40% 007 DSB (creeping bent), 25% AberRegal (browntop bent), 25% AberRoyal (browntop bent) and 10% Musket (browntop bent).

MUSKET: BSPB trial results

Shoot Density Visual Merit Mean Fineness of Leaf Winter Greenness Summer Greenness
6.6 7.0 6.8 6.7 5.9 5.8

Source: BSPB, Turfgrass Seed 2020, Table G1

For more information about any of the Germinal products mentioned, contact Germinal on 01522 868714 or visit www.germinalamenity.com

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