Doosan Bobcat EMEA HQ wins award

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Doosan Bobcat EMEA HQ wins award: The recently opened Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters for Doosan Bobcat in Dobris in the Czech Republic has just won a ‘Healthiest Office’ Award.

The new headquarters won in the ‘Healthy Environment and Sustainability’ category in the CBRE Art of Space Awards. The company was among the finalists in the categories of Workspace Design – Industrial and The Most Attractive Meeting Point.

Doosan Bobcat EMEA HQ wins award

Doosan Bobcat EMEA HQ wins award

The headquarters building was built last year on the Doosan Bobcat campus in Dobris and is the centre of operations for the EMEA region. It is home on the campus to the Doosan Bobcat management and approximately 200 other employees at the company. The new headquarters sits alongside the Dobris manufacturing plant and the training and innovation center at the campus, where compact construction, agricultural and other Bobcat machines are produced for the EMEA region and the rest of the world.

In the CBRE Art of Space Awards, almost 250 candidates competed for victory in six main categories across the entire spectrum of commercial real estate.

Proud of the ‘Healthiest Office’ Accolade

“Thanks to our win in this key category, we can be rightfully proud of one of the healthiest work environments in the Czech Republic. With the new headquarters in Dobris, we have completed an investment which, thanks to the concentration of development, production and management of the company in one place, is of socio-economic importance for the entire region and is exceptional within our field.”

“Over time, we have invested approximately 120 million Euros in Doosan Bobcat’s operations in the Czech Republic, and the current CBRE Art of Space Award provides more proof that we have set out on the right path,” says Sebastien Millet, Vice President, Procurement, Doosan Bobcat EMEA, responsible for construction of the new headquarters.

Experts evaluated the new building as follows: ‘In its new headquarters in Dobris, Doosan Bobcat EMEA has included many materials that are typical of the industries in which it works, such as metal, concrete, straw and stone. Among other things, the company has emphasized room acoustics, proper daylight and greenery’.

The ‘Healthy Environment and Sustainability’ category was decided through the assessment of experts from the Czech Green Building Council, who judged this part of the competition and performed an audit of the internal environment for the submitted projects.

“Compared to previous years, it can be seen that the number of interiors that work with the first-rate design wow effect is decreasing, and the number of high-quality, conceptually designed spaces is increasing.

“The proof is there in this year’s winner, which received the highest rating from the jury for the spatial concept and good air quality. The offices were well regulated in terms of CO2 concentrations and air humidity, which is still not a matter of course in many designs. At the same time, the jury highlighted the intensive incorporation of greenery into the office concept,” said Simona Kalvoda, Executive Director of the Czech Green Building Council.

The new EUR 10 million three-storey, Doosan Bobcat EMEA headquarters building covers an area of ​​1561 sq m and offers more than 3370 sq m of usable office space for 200 employees. In addition, there are sufficient parking spaces, including charging stations for electric cars. Investments were also made in the construction of green areas covering an area of ​​more than 7000 sq m.

About Doosan Bobcat EMEA

Doosan Bobcat EMEA is responsible for about a third of the worldwide production of Bobcat products. These include compact construction and agricultural machinery, such as skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, mini-excavators, telehandlers and a wide range of more than 130 types of attachments. The company also manufactures air compressors, lighting towers and generators under the Doosan Portable Power brand.

You can find out more about the CBRE Art of Space Awards at www.artofspace.cz

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

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A spotlight on Allan Wright

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A spotlight on Allan Wright: From groundsman to greenkeeper, contractor to sales advisor – the experienced Allan Wright has turned his hand to most jobs in the turf and amenity industry.

“In all of the positions that I’ve had in my career, I’ve always looked at the next step as a new challenge,” he said. “I’m certainly not looking to move anywhere else now. I love what I do here, we have great support from the hierarchy of the business and it really is a fantastic company to work for.”

A spotlight on Allan Wright

A spotlight on Allan Wright

Allan first learnt his craft when he started his journey in the eighties as an apprentice groundsman at Stirling University. By working in a multi-sports facility, he gained broad experience in a variety of sports turf – including golf, football, rugby and cricket.

Having been particularly fond of maintaining the nine-hole golf course at Stirling University, he moved into greenkeeping and went on to work at two different golf clubs.

After seven years he accepted a position as the assistant head groundsman at a private school before Falkirk Football Club came calling. For most of the nineties he was head groundsman at this great Scottish football club.

However, as the millennium approached, Allan felt that it was time to pursue new opportunities outside of the turf and amenity industry. “I started managing a pub, but it didn’t last long,” he said. “Quite honestly, I just didn’t like working inside! I couldn’t wait to get back to what I knew best.”

It was at this point in 2001 that Allan began working for Terra Firma, one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets. It was the perfect fit.

“The best part of my job is the variety of it all – I like speaking with customers, demonstrating products and I visit a multitude of different sites too. You never know what each day will bring – and I like it that way.”

Terra Firma became part of Agrovista in 2017 and Allan claims his role has not changed. He still gets to do what he loves and that is working with machinery. In fact, Allan has been integral in increasing the company’s groundcare machinery portfolio by adding several key brands such as Pellenc, Kioti and Shibaura, and says that he is incredibly selective when it comes to machinery and partnerships.

“I will only go for what I see real value in and what I believe will be of benefit to our customers. We look for unique products; equipment that we will have exclusivity on. Our portfolio consists of innovative products, – the Pellenc brand is a prime example of that.”

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

A spotlight on Allan Wright

A spotlight on Allan Wright

“I see battery technology as the way forward,” continued Allan. “It’s something that the whole industry is embracing – particularly local authorities. They are looking at their carbon footprint, the low vibration levels, the cost of fuel and it just all makes sense.”

Allan admits that when he started out as an apprentice groundsman in the eighties, he never could have dreamed of one day using an electric mower or an electric chainsaw to carry out commercial work. However, the industry has moved at an incredibly fast pace and not just in its technological advancements.

“The biggest change I’ve seen throughout my career is the rise in education – and it’s great to see. A lot of people know the science behind a grass plant now, which is a huge change from 35 years ago. In my opinion, the most notable rise in education has been in greenkeeping. I speak to a lot of greenkeepers and golf course managers and they are all very well educated – it will result in a great future for the sector.

“Agrovista is fully committed to the training and development of its people. Back in my day we only had the tools to work with, but now companies such as Agrovista are providing the younger generation with a world of opportunity.”

As Allan says, the Agrovista Academy was created to provide opportunities for every employee to progress, which includes; agronomy and technical training, customer service training, warehousing and logistics training and more. The aim is to provide a framework of learning experiences that will help its staff to continue to develop their key skills and behaviours throughout their career.

While Allan is optimistic about a bright future, he has no plans to stop just yet. When he does, he is looking forward to jumping in his touring caravan and spending more quality time with his wife and two Labradors at their favourite spot in the Moray Firth.

When that time comes, there is no doubt that his name will be fondly remembered in the turf and amenity industry for years to come.

For more information, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity.

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Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

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Jeff Anguige takes early retirement: Reesink Turfcare has announced the retirement of its national sales manager Jeff Anguige after 21 years working with the Toro UK distributor and its predecessor Lely UK, and a total of 46 years serving the turfcare industry.

Jeff, 63, began working in the industry straight after leaving college, learning the business working at golf and grounds dealerships and turf machinery manufacturers such as Ransomes. In 1999 he joined the then Toro UK distributor Lely UK, with headquarters at St Neots, Cambs., as national Toro sales manager, responsible for spearheading sales of its golf course and sports turf maintenance machinery.

Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

Jeff Anguige takes early retirement

At Lely, and latterly Reesink, he has played a leading role in helping develop the Toro name and reputation for quality products that today sees it as the market-leading brand it has become.

It is, he says, his biggest career achievement: “Toro has been the constant in my working life at Lely and Reesink,” says Jeff. “For over two decades I’ve worked with a brilliant team to help it grow to where it is today – in my view, holding the number one spot for quality with its reputation preceding it.

“I’ve always had total belief in Toro. So many of my career highlights have come from witnessing how Toro has made such a huge difference for our customers. How it has greatly improved the quality of the golf course, made tasks easier for the greenkeeping team or solved a particular problem.  In my time I’ve seen Toro go to the top of not only the golf industry, but the sports sector and other fine turf sites, too. It’s now at a point where around 80 percent of Premiership football clubs, as well as other major sporting venues in, for example, cricket, rugby and tennis, also use Toro.”

Jeff has seen many big changes throughout his time in the industry. Among the biggest, he says, is the way in which clubs now buy their machinery. He says: “When I started, people tended to get their cheque book out and buy one piece of equipment at a time, outright. Now the majority of customers invest in fleet deals on finance. It gives the option to have more machines straightaway for the same level of investment, as well as the latest technology to maintain playing surfaces. The upscale is huge, as is the improvement in quality of playing surfaces. It’s certainly a very different market to when I started, and very much for the better.”

David Cole, managing director at Reesink, pays tribute to Jeff and the instrumental role he’s played with the company: “Jeff has been at the forefront of the Toro equipment success for over twenty years and his focus and dedication will be challenging for the business to replace. I am sure that the extensive contacts and colleagues Jeff has built up during his time in the industry will want to join us at Reesink in wishing him all the very best for a well-earned and enjoyable retirement. Jeff will always be able to look back with pride on his role with the Toro brand, as a job well done”.

Jeff plans to spend his retirement in his native Yorkshire, where he lives in Gomersal with his wife, Julie, enjoying time with his family and grandchildren – and, of course, playing golf!

A man who enjoys huge respect and fondness from among his many friends and colleagues in the industry, Jeff says: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working in the industry and am delighted to have been a part of it. It’s a relationship industry and I’ve gained friends for life. I believe it still offers great career opportunities for young people and will watch with interest as the next generation comes through.

“Despite the current difficulties presented by Covid-19, I’m confident that Reesink, Toro and the turfcare industry has an exciting future,” he says. “Yes, there will be challenges and changes ahead, but also plenty of opportunities. I wish it and all my friends and colleagues in the industry every success for the future.”

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