New Technical Manager at AGS

/in , /by

New Technical Manager at AGS: Advance Grass Solutions is very pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Logan to the role of UK Technical Manager.

A former greenkeeper with a First-Class BSc (Hons) Degree in Turfgrass Science, Phil brings a wealth of agronomic and practical skills to support the growing AGS in field team and lead the technical department into the next phase of development.

New Technical Manager at AGS

New Technical Manager at AGS

Sam Honeyborne, MD at AGS said ‘’Phil’s appointment is an exciting one for our business. It’s very unusual to find a candidate with both a high level of technical ability coupled with senior management commercial experience. He has coordinated many turf grass research trials during his time at the STRI which will enhance and develop our current, exclusive range of products. We very much look forward to working with Phil.’’

Formerly, Phil worked at Barenbrug as Sales Manager for Ireland and Northern England.

Phil Logan said ‘’I’m very excited to be joining AGS. Their growth in recent years has not gone unnoticed and I see this as a great opportunity to influence and support future success. They have built a reputation on sustainable agronomic principles, that align with my own ethos, with a very sound product portfolio.’’

Advance Grass Solutions is a leading provider of agronomy services, products and customer

support throughout the UK, with loyal customers from lawncare and small bowling clubs to Ryder Cup venues and Premier League football clubs.

AGS supplies a UK exclusive range of high-quality products including: Growth Products, Sustane Natural Fertilizers, Polyon controlled release technology, in addition to well-known UK based suppliers such as Barenbrug and Aquatrols. Their staff hold industry recognised qualifications such as BASIS and FACTS alongside honours degrees in turfgrass, soil science and ecology disciplines.

Phil Logan BSc (Hons) / phillogan@advancegrass.com / Tel : 07774 416429

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Can-Am off-road revolution drives into LAMMA

/in , /by

Can-Am off-road revolution drives into LAMMA: Focusing on power, performance and versatility, BRP is showcasing the new Can-Am Traxter HD7 and Can-Am Traxter HD9 at LAMMA 2022 in hall six stand 6.850. These SSVs highlight that Can-Am’s off-road line-up continues to prioritise the user, as they have been designed to handle the job demands of utility riders as well as the challenging conditions they face on a daily basis.

The Can-Am Traxter HD7 is a work ready vehicle that provides the user with consistent performance, no matter the terrain. With the help of the new HD7 Rotax engine, the vehicle has been optimised for off-road use and produces 37 per cent more power than the HD5 engine it has replaced.

Can-Am off-road revolution drives into LAMMA

Can-Am off-road revolution drives into LAMMA

The Can-Am Traxter HD9 offers class-leading power and low-end torque through the new Rotax HD9 engine, so travelling up the side of hills or towing and carrying cargo on the flat is now easier and more efficient.

The other vehicles on show are made up of Can-Am’s most popular models. The price competitive Can-Am Outlander 450 is built with class-leading performance, no matter the rigours of any situation put in front of it. The Can-Am Outlander 570 XU combines controlled handling, power and performance, enabling the user to travel across multiple terrains with ease and efficiently tow and carry cargo.

A selection of Can-Am Traxter SSVs, built to take on the toughest jobs quickly, easily, efficiently and safely, will also be present on the stand.

To support the vehicles, the Can-Am off-road team will be on hand to highlight its exclusive partnership with the NFU; to communicate the importance of ATV and SSV security and the benefits of Can-Am’s Digitally Encoded Security System (D.E.S.S.) Key, which restricts access to the bike’s electronic ignition system; to highlight its responsible rider programme; and promote its road legal vehicle line-up, and the exclusive finance offer run by Société Générale.

James Dalke, BRP commercial manager UK and Ireland, says, “We are excited to physically be back at LAMMA to showcase the latest additions to our growing off-road line-up to an engaged and interested audience who use ATVs and SSVs on a daily basis. Over the last two years, the line-up has continued to evolve with the help of the BRP R&D team, who have been working tirelessly to meet the constantly changing demands of the UK utility market. This is highlighted by the new Can-Am Traxter HD7 and Can-Am Traxter HD9 models and we believe that they will provide utility users with class leading performance, power and versatility, so that jobs are completed quickly, easily, efficiently and safely. In addition, we also see this show as a great platform from which to promote and highlight the importance of rider safety to visitors and as part of this we will be hosting the Farm Safety Foundation on our stand.”

For more information visit https://uk.brp.com/off-road/ https://www.lammashow.com/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Reesink’s Master Service Technician award

/in , /by

Reesink’s Master Service Technician award: David Creasy, first response technician for Reesink Turfcare’s Sheffield Park branch, has been awarded Master Service Technician status for completing one of the most stringent and comprehensive training courses in the industry.

Reesink UK’s Master Service Technician programme is specifically designed to provide the most thorough training for technicians, ensuring their skillset is updated and meets the demands of the industry’s continuous evolution. Advanced modules ranging from First Aid Safety Training to Advanced Sprayer Service are covered.

Reesink's Master Service Technician award

Reesink’s Master Service Technician award

So, what was it that appealed to David about undertaking the course? He says: “A huge proportion of our customers work for golf clubs that are in the top 100 courses in the UK and 89 of our contacts are Master Greenkeepers. Since 99 percent of my role is customer-facing, it was only ever going to be advantageous for me to have the highest level of training there is to give the best possible advice and service.”

David says when it comes to education and training in the industry, it has for many years favoured turf, with very little available to help support the use of machines and getting the best possible results from them.

He says: “I’ve been working in the industry since leaving college in 1998 and it’s always been important to me to be able to get additional qualifications, but I’ve found education and training for technicians and workshop mechanics and those in the maintenance and servicing side of the industry to be lagging behind the rest. When Reesink launched the Master Service Technician programme I just thought: “thank goodness for that” and applied! It’s really needed to help progression in the sector.

“So often these incredibly advanced and high technological machines just aren’t being used to their full capabilities. It’s given me great job satisfaction to know I can help make sure customers take full advantage of what the machines can do, keeping them in the best possible condition and making their job that much easier.”

The training fits in well around work requirements, explains David, who was on track to have completed the course over a year ago but COVID meant his final training modules had to be put on hold: “It’s an absolutely fantastic course, really thorough and well-rounded, taking everything to that next level. It’s well-arranged, with a mix of practical and theory work and a test at the end of every module.”

Lee Rowbotham, service manager at Reesink, says: “We designed this training to be flexible. It fits in around work requirements for participants and the fact that David confirms this to be the case proves the model is effective and bodes well for its longevity. It’s a huge achievement for David to become Reesink’s first Master Service Technician, he’s worked really hard and put in the extra work to achieve his goal.”

A lot of training and courses were put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic, but Lee says there is renewed interest in uptake now with Reesink seeing training requests double each week: “There’s a lot of interest in training at the moment and it’s easy to understand why: the benefits it brings not just to the individual but for the customer too seem endless.”

Master Service Technician training is available to all those working in Reesink’s extensive dealer network. To find out more about this and the training course available from Reesink, one of the most comprehensive from a turfcare machinery and equipment distributor in the country, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk/resources/training-courses

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Lee Williams joins KAR UK

/in , /by

Lee Williams joins KAR UK: KAR UK, a leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment, has boosted its team with the appointment of Lee Williams who joins as a new area sales manager.

Lee will be covering the areas of North England, North Wales and Scotland, and brings with him a wealth of experience.

Lee Williams joins KAR UK

Lee Williams joins KAR UK

After studying for a Diploma in Horticulture at the prestigious Myerscough College, Lee started his career as an apprentice greenkeeper. He then switched golf for football when he accepted a position at Manchester City FC’s Carrington training ground – a role which saw him progress to head groundsman after just twelve months.

With further roles at Oldham Athletic FC, and as a contractor, a sales manager and a technical sports turf journalist with Pitchcare, Lee has remained in the groundscare industry for the entirety of his career.

He revealed that the opportunity to join KAR UK was just too good to turn down: “Having been in the industry a long time, it is a company I know very well,” said Lee. “I have heard a lot about the products, particularly Hunter irrigation, and everyone who has used the equipment is always full of praise. The company also has a market leading reputation and that really drew me towards accepting the job.

“KAR UK is a small but highly professional team and it has a family feel to it – everyone is there to support and help one another, and that really appeals to me.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out there and meeting new people and customers,” continued Lee. “It is a new challenge, and in a way, it will be like going back to school for me as there will be a lot to learn, but I’m looking forward to the future and hopefully playing my part in growing the business.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Ferris® Introduces FB1000

/in , /by

Ferris® Introduces FB1000: When labour is hard to find and problems are piling up, there is yet another reason to let Ferris® take care of you.

The all-new Ferris® FB1000CE Hurricane™  Stand-on Blower moves 3 to 5 times more leaves and debris compared to back-packed leaf blowers. The operator stands on an ergonomically suspended platform, has a view of the work and control over the patented left and right outlets with patented split airflow, ideal in parks and to clean up large festival areas, but thanks to its narrow perimeters also completely in place in private gardens or public green spaces with narrow access.

The Blow Force is up to 132 N (force needed to physically lift the packed leaves from the soil and push them away by volume of air), the Vanguard® 18HP in conjunction with the Hydrogear® ZT3100 delivers you zeroturn abilities and 12.8km/h ground speed and the 20×8.00-8 rear tires let you climb curbs up to 15 cm.  Ferris® spares MAN and machine, increases job satisfaction and production and reduces down time considerably.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.