Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

Rigby Taylor adds spark

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Rigby Taylor’s Euroflor Urban Meadow flowers add the spark to Electricity North West’s  Substation revamp.

Rigby Taylor’s Euroflor urban meadow flower seed mixes have played a key role in the success of Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project by revamping substations throughout the region with spectacular displays of colour from flower mixes that also attract a host of pollinators.

Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

Celebrating Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project at the Smithfields substation in Egremont, including Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager (far left) and Top Green’s Euroflor consultant Howard Wood (third left)

The colourful displays produced by the Euroflor seed mixes (from Top Green, the largest seed producer in Europe) also drew laudatory comments from the local communities as well as council officials and MPs.

For example, commenting on one site, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “Electricity North West has planted what was previously grassland, requiring regular and costly maintenance, into a beautiful and environmentally beneficial wildflower oasis…This is an economic, environmental and social win, win, win project which should be replicated all over the UK.”

Angie Thornton, Electricity North West’s Groundworks Delivery Manager, who is heading up the scheme, said: “We are all absolutely delighted with the results; the sites truly have been transformed from what used to be eyesores into beautifully vibrant areas for the local communities to take pride in and spaces for revitalising insects and wildlife.

“Substations aren’t always aesthetically pleasing but they are a key part of the electricity network. The project has been extremely well received by the communities and residents are keen to get involved and replant flowers in the future.”

Eight substations were initially targeted last year and working closely with Rigby Taylor, an established supplier of amenity supplies to the electricity board (supplying the Icade, Chikara and Gallup Biograde herbicides, for example), various Euroflor urban meadow flower mixes were selected.

These included Rainbow Perennials and Flora Britannica from Euroflor’s Project Pollin-8 range specifically designed to attract pollinators while also delivering high visual impact. The displays lasted through the summer and into October and November.

Howard Wood, Top Green’s Euroflor consultant, presented classroom and on-site workshops to help guide the grounds staff in the preparation and maintenance of the flower beds, which in some cases also utilised the ‘lay down and plant’ FloraFleece biodegradable matting Euroflor option, which eliminates the need for extensive soil preparation. Bird feeders and bug hotels were also installed in some cases.

Electricity North West’s ‘Transforming our Spaces’ project will return this year with the continued support from Rigby Taylor.

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The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

Dennis & SISIS Groundcare Seminar 2020

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Dennis & SISIS Groundcare Seminar 2020: The Dennis and SISIS 2020 Groundcare Seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club’s Emirates Riverside on Tuesday 18th February and is yet again set to educate and inspire.

Sports turf is the theme and a wide range of volunteers and professionals representing schools, sports clubs, local authorities and contractors, can expect to explore a multitude of topics.

The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

The Dennis and SISIS 2020 groundcare seminar will take place at Durham County Cricket Club on 18th February.

An insightful morning will see Marcus North (Durham Director of Cricket & Former Australian Test Batsman) present Cricket Pitches on Different Continents; Dr Iain James (TGMS) will be offering some invaluable advice in the Construction and Maintenance of a Cricket Pitch seminar and the Institute of Groundsmanship’s Ian Powell is set to provide a number of helpful tips in Principles of decision making for pre-season preparations.

Rounding off the morning in style, delegates will have a rare opportunity to listen to and question an incredible line-up of some of the industry’s finest groundsmen. Hosted by Vic Demain (Durham CCC), this new feature entitled Groundsmans Corner, will see a panel of experts including Keith Kent (Head Pitch Advisor to Rugby Groundsmen Connected), Karl McDermott (MCC, Lord’s), Sean Williams (Gloucestershire CCC) and Gordon Gill (Bath Cricket Club).

A complimentary lunch will be provided in which attendees can network with one another and gain even more advice from event sponsors – Limagrain UK, Boughton Loam, Thomas Sherriff, Stuart Canvas, Fleet Line Markers, Cricket World, SIS Pitches, Poweroll, Facility and Sports Club Development and Headland Amenity.

Barry Glynn (volunteer groundsman), will kick-start proceedings after lunch and will no doubt have the audience in stitches as he reveals some home truths in his seminar entitled Frustrations of a Groundsman: Part 2.

The legendary Keith Kent will be taking to the stage in the penultimate session and will be drawing on his wealth of experience as a groundsman in Winter Sports Pitches to Cricket Outfields – what do we need to do?

To conclude the day, delegates will get the opportunity to discuss their own projects with the day’s speakers.

To register your interest please contact Roger Moore at Dennis & SISIS on 01332 824777 or email Roger Moore on roger.moore@dennisuk.com.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

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New Appointments at Doosan Bobcat

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New Product Management Appointments at Doosan Bobcat: Doosan Bobcat EMEA has announced two new product management appointments for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

Jaroslav (Jarry) Fišer has been appointed Product Line Director for the Bobcat compact loader range in EMEA and Robert Husar is now Product Line Manager for Bobcat Mini-Excavators.

Name and position: Jaroslav Fišer, Product Line Director Loaders, Doosan Bobcat EMEA

Name and position: Jaroslav Fišer, Product Line Director Loaders, Doosan Bobcat EMEA

Based in the Dobříš headquarters in the Czech Republic, Jarry Fišer is now responsible for leading the Skid-Steer and Compact Track Loader, Backhoe Loader and future loader product lines in the EMEA region. In this new role, Jarry will develop and implement the long-term strategies for the product lines, facilitate the development of business opportunities and collaborate globally with the various regional resources within Doosan Bobcat to continue the development of world-class products.

Jarry joined the company as a Design Engineer 22 years ago in 1998. He has worked in various product engineering and concept development positions, originally involved with the Backhoe Loader line and since 2005 with Bobcat’s Mini-Excavator products. In 2013, he made a change in his career and accepted a new Product Management Director role. For the last seven years, he was responsible for Mini-Excavator business development and product strategy in EMEA.

In 2008, Jarry was responsible for the launch of the best-selling 1-tonne mini-excavator in its category – the Bobcat E10 – and since then the company has sold over 10,000 of these machines. Another milestone was the launch of the revolutionary R-series excavator line-up in 2018, designed to maximize operator comfort and productivity. One of Jarry’s last projects as the Product Line Director for Mini-Excavators was the development of the E10e – the world’s first battery-powered Mini-Excavator in the 1-tonne class which came off the production line at the end of last year.

Now reporting to Jarry are Gul Nalcaci, Gabriella Arena, Jiří Karmazín and John Chattaway, all of whom who are Product Managers for Loader products.

Also located in Dobříš, Robert Husar has been promoted to the position of Product Line Manager for Bobcat Mini-Excavators in the EMEA region. In this role, he will use his vast portfolio of skills to further enhance the product strategy and business development, work globally on the long-term product plan, developing the current portfolio of 17 Mini-Excavators and drive activities to achieve Doosan Bobcat’s market share targets.

Robert joined the company in 2005 as a Sourcing Specialist and spent the next ten years in various sourcing functions, including a three-year assignment in Doosan Bobcat’s facility in Bismarck in North Dakota in the USA.

After his return to Dobříš, he joined the Mini-Excavator Product Management team as a Product Manager, further enhancing the already diverse background of the group. Robert, alongside other milestones in the Bobcat Mini-Excavator product line, is responsible for the development of the award-winning A-SAC system (Advanced Selectable Auxiliary Control). Reporting to Robert is Miroslav Koňas, Product Manager for Bobcat Mini-Excavators. There is also a vacant product manager position left in the team after Robert Husar’s promotion.

Name and position: Robert Husar, Product Line Manager Mini-Excavators, Doosan Bobcat EMEA

Name and position: Robert Husar, Product Line Manager Mini-Excavators, Doosan Bobcat EMEA

 

 

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

 

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Grist environmental turns to JCB

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Grist environmental turns to JCB for a new wheeled excavator: Grist Environmental has taken delivery of a JCB JS200W wheeled excavator, from local dealer Holt JCB, to work on its waste transfer site in Devizes, Wiltshire.

The JCB vehicle is a straight replacement for an existing excavator, which was part of Grist’s 25-strong fleet supplied over the years by another manufacturer.  Service and back up to eliminate downtime means a lot to James Grist, Director of Grist Environmental and was the prime reason for turning to Holt JCB.

JCB Wheeled Excavator at Grist Environmental site

JCB Wheeled Excavator at Grist Environmental waste transfer site in Devizes, Wiltshire.

He said: “The service from Holt JCB is just spot on and it has been a real pleasure to do business with them. We looked to JCB and also had quotes from competitors but the decision was not down to price but the warranty and service back up. Those offered by other suppliers saw benefits start to drop off after the first year. JCB however offered a full warranty for the full length of time.”

Established in 1972 by James’s father Nigel, family-run Grist Environmental is a waste recycling business that is expanding year-on-year. Its 200-strong team provides a broad range of services in the waste management and automotive sectors across several sites in and around Devizes. Through its investment in new technologies and expert industry knowledge, Grist operates a ‘Zero to Landfill’ policy on the 2000-2500 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste it collects each week for sorting on its picking line.

The JCB JS200W is being put to work loading wood into slow and high-speed shredders, and is also being used to load articulated trucks and walking floor trailers coming on to the site. Weighing in at around 22 tonnes, this excavator has a closed box-section revolving frame, which increases strength and reduces stress. It also makes this excavator highly resistant to impact damage.

Simultaneous moving and excavating is smooth and fast with an intuitive multifunction operation, and four operating work modes allow a JS200W wheeled excavator operator to tailor performance to any application.  Auto, Economy, Precision and Lifting modes provide different optimised settings.  A 70/30 front screen split for a clear view forwards, plus a large laminated glass roof window provide this wheeled excavator with exceptional all-round visibility.

JCB Wheeled Excavator at Grist Environmental waste transfer site in Devizes, Wiltshire.

JCB Wheeled Excavator at Grist Environmental waste transfer site in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Features of the JCB JS200W highlighted by James Grist include the convenience provided by the JCB LiveLink telematics system that provides remote monitoring capabilities; a comfortable and quiet high-rise cab that gives good visibility; smooth performance; and reverse fans that are ideal for operating in dirty and dusty environment. But above all, the back up was key for James Grist.

He said: “Nobody else could match JCB’s warranty. Not only are Holt JCB friendly but if you call them to do something, they get it done.”

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Rigby taylor stand buzzing at the recent BTME exhibition

Rigby Taylor’s success at BTME

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Rigby Taylor’s pictorial round-up of success at  BTME : Rigby Taylor enjoyed a very successful BTME this year, with a constant stream of customers – existing and new – to its impressive stand. 

Here’s a pictorial review of just some of the company’s highlights at this year’s event.

Rigby taylor stand buzzing at the recent BTME exhibition

Rigby taylor stand buzzing at the recent BTME exhibition

Winner of the BIGGA Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year, sponsored by Rigby Taylor, was presented to Course Manager Grant Peters and his team at Parkstone Golf Club for hosting the European Ladies Amateur Championship.

Photo shows, from left: Ben Adams, Grant Peters, Phil Dewhurst (Rigby Taylor), George Holt and Eric Linge

Photo shows, from left: Ben Adams, Grant Peters, Phil Dewhurst (Rigby Taylor), George Holt and Eric Linge

Alan Ferguson, FIFA Senior Pitch Management Manager, was the special guest at the Rigby Taylor ‘after show’ event hosted together with Rain Bird, Tillers Turf and Top Green. Alan gave the audience of more than 100 grounds professionals an insight into his role and an update on the progress of the Qatar 2022 World Cup stadia where he and his team will have responsibility for pitch installation and management.

Alan Ferguson giving FIFA Presentation

Alan Ferguson giving FIFA Presentation

The Rigby Taylor stand attracted a huge number of visitors and was constantly busy throughout the show. Richard Fry, Rigby Taylor’s Marketing Director, commented: “This year’s show was busy from the morning of the first day and it was notable for not just the quality but also the quality of visitors. In addition, a large number of overseas visitors provided an international dimension to the show”

 

James Moverley (left), Rigby Taylor’s recently-appointed technical sales trainee, congratulates Alex Cox on receiving a Young greenkeeper’s scholarship, sponsored by Rigby Taylor and BIGGA Midlands region

James Moverley (left), Rigby Taylor’s recently-appointed technical sales trainee, congratulates Alex Cox on receiving a Young greenkeeper’s scholarship, sponsored by Rigby Taylor and BIGGA Midlands region

Mark Keysell (right), Rigby Taylor’s Technical Sales Manager, receives an irrigation business development award from Rain Bird’s Alistair Higgs

Mark Keysell (right), Rigby Taylor’s Technical Sales Manager, receives an irrigation business development award from Rain Bird’s Alistair Higgs

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