Spurred on to enter the industry

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Spurred on to enter the industry: Little did Spurs fan Harley Coplen know that his visit to last year’s WorldSkills UK LIVE exhibition would culminate in him winning a tour of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the club’s training ground – and spur thoughts of him and a fellow student entering industry apprenticeships.

Entering the prize draw on the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Young Board’s ‘careers in grounds management’ stand at the Birmingham NEC event in November with tutors and fellow students from the Robert Clack School of Science in Dagenham, Essex, Harley won the trip for him and a group of peers from more than 200 entries.

Spurred on to enter the industry

Spurred on to enter the industry

“I am proud to say that I am a Spurs fan,” says Harley, “and the stadium is phenomenal. I was taken aback by just how big it is and especially by how much work goes into the pitch to make it look so good for the spectators and for it to accommodate the players’ needs. I have learned a lot about becoming a groundsman and the hard work involved, and I have decided that I would like to pursue an apprenticeship in the industry.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to the IOG and everyone at the stadium and training ground for the experience, and for ensuring we got the most out of our trip.”

Jane Meaden, one of the tutors who accompanied the group, added: “A big thank you to the Spurs grounds staff who gave us an incredible tour and insight into the workings of the training ground and the stadium – where we saw how things worked pitch-side as well as ‘underground’ where the sliding pitch is stored.

“We all had a great time and we now have a couple of future groundsmen in the making.  A special thank you to Darren Baldwin, head of playing surfaces and estates at Tottenham Hotspur FC, for making the day so entertaining.”

WorldSkills UK LIVE at the NEC is one of a number of events attended by the IOG‘s Young Board to raise awareness of the industry as a career option, highlighting the sector’s inherent science and technology to also aid teachers in contextualising maths and science in the classroom. The Young Board strategy is based on developing promotional material and engaging with young people, guiding them towards a clear pathway into a rewarding career in grounds management. Young Board members give up their own time to organise and support Young IOG initiatives attending and supporting a range of career events through the year.

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Primo and Ryder get SUPERSIZED

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Primo and Ryder get SUPERSIZED: ICL has announced that Syngenta’s Primo Maxx II growth regulator and Ryder turf pigment are now available in larger sized packs. 

With immediate effect, turf managers now have the option of purchasing Primo Maxx II in 20-litre drums and Ryder in 5-litre bottles. Both are significant increases on the former sized containers and are set to provide better turf at better value.

Primo and Ryder get SUPERSIZED

Primo and Ryder get SUPERSIZED

The new pack sizes mean that Primo Maxx II is now available in 5 litre, 10 litre and 20 litre packs whilst Ryder is available in 1 litre and 5 litre bottles.

Primo Maxx II is the number one choice for industry professionals who want to create stronger, healthier turf and a better playing surface. The growth regulator works by obstructing the grass plant’s production of gibberellic acid, which is accountable for vertical growth. Where Primo Maxx II excels and other growth regulators fall short, Primo Maxx II creates the obstruction late in the growth cycle, which serves to stop cell elongation and keep shoots and stems short.

Launched just last year, Ryder has gained rave reviews from users with many praising its ability to instantly enhance the colour and visual appearance of turf. The innovative technology behind Ryder also protects leaves from the harmful effects of excessive sunlight and instead manages light more effectively. Furthermore, the intensity of colour produced by Ryder can be selected through adjustments to application rate, frequency and integrated turf management programmes.

If you are interested in the larger sized packs, please speak to your ICL area sales manager or distributor representative for more details.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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JCB stops production as demand slows

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JCB stops production as demand slows: JCB is today stopping production at all of its UK manufacturing plants as disruption resulting from the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic causes an unprecedented reduction in global demand.

The company is halting production for the rest of this week and the whole of next week at its nine manufacturing plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham.  Shop floor employees affected by the move will be paid in full during this period.  No decision has yet been taken on what happens from the week commencing Monday, March 30th and beyond. Office staff will continue to work a 39-hour week, with many working from home, in support of the Government’s social distancing policy.

JCB stops production as demand slows

JCB stops production as demand slows

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “These measures are unprecedented in the history of JCB but are absolutely necessary to protect the business. As we continue to deal with the health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more challenging to maintain business continuity in this volatile economic climate. JCB is a global exporter and worldwide demand for our products has dropped sharply as customers cancel orders and defer deliveries. This is not just a UK issue, it is worldwide and with countries like France, Spain and Italy going into lock-down, those key markets for construction equipment disappear overnight.

“In light of this fast-changing situation, we need to re-plan our production and, as a result, manufacturing at all UK factories will cease for the rest of this week and all of next week. This will allow us to take stock of the situation, re-plan our order book, prioritise products that are definitely required by customers, and ensure parts and components are reassigned to support the production of these products.”

JCB’s plant in Pudong, near Shanghai, ceased production last month as the impact of the pandemic initially took hold. After several weeks of disruption, the factory is now fully operational again.

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Kubota launch R070 and R090

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Kubota launch R070 and R090: Kubota, a leading manufacturer of construction and agricultural machinery, today announces the launch of its next-generation wheel loaders, the R070 and R090.

The new machines are suitable for use in agricultural, construction and groundcare environments.

Kubota launch R070 and R090

Kubota launch R070 and R090

Redesigned inside and out, the new machines are built to get the job done quickly, easily and efficiently. Both the R070 and R090 wheel loaders boast a fully enclosed glass cabin for improved visibility, as well as a more ergonomic control layout. New features include:

  • High visibility cabin                                            –   Enlarged glass surface
  • Full opening right window                                   –   Air conditioning (optional)
  • New loader boom design                                   –   Adjustable right wrist rest
  • Digital display                                                    –   Large foot space
  • Full suspension seat                                          –   Tiltable steering wheel

Long reach and excellent lifting power ensures superior performance for a wide range of loader tasks. Both machines have a high lifting capacity (R070: 1880 kgf, R090: 2160 kgf), enabling operators to smoothly manoeuvre materials. All major loader functions are on a single RH lever that is easy to operate with just one hand, both on the R070 and R090. The 2-step speed control switch enables the operator to quickly change speeds for optimum efficiency.

Kubota’s V2607 direct-injection engine is now fully Stage-V compliant and fuel efficient. Additionally, the new and improved DPF reduces maintenance by increasing the service intervals.

“We know our customers want versatile, reliable, low maintenance machines, which is why the R070 and R090 are designed to meet Kubota’s exacting standards of quality and performance. The wheel loaders are designed to be easy to maintain, with areas that require routine maintenance easily accessible for fast and straight forward servicing.”, said Rob Edwards, Business Development Manager for Agriculture at Kubota UK.

Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager for Construction at Kubota UK, said “We’re really proud to introduce our new and improved wheel loading machines. Both the R070 and R090 are built for enhanced performance, with productivity features and power to spare. They’re also built for safe and simple operation, even by operators with no loader experience.”

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