Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

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Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB: The new HRX476 XB has a 47cm cutting width and a high performance 1.8kW battery-powered motor. A new bespoke deck and low friction blade make the most of the power available, contributing to extended operating times between charges and great results – even when cutting long or damp grass.

Premium Interface

Mower operation is through a new Premium Interface which is conveniently mounted on the handlebar. With Select Drive the blade and variable-speed wheel drive are engaged by separate levers which are ergonomically designed for comfort and ease of use. Travel speeds between 0–1.3 m/sec are available to suit the user and conditions, which allows a speed to be set and stored for cruise-like control.

Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

Additional functions include a battery charge level indicator so the user can check the remaining capacity at a glance, and a Quiet-Mode selector button.

Quiet operation

Quiet-Mode reduces the blade speed from 2,600 to 2,200 rpm, with a significant reduction in operating noise from 92 dB in Standard to 87 dB in Quiet-Mode. The high-performance brushless motor achieves similar torque operating in Quiet-Mode as it does in standard setting, and in normal working conditions there is little difference in cutting and collecting performance. However, for heavier conditions including damp or long grass, Standard Mode is recommended.

Variable mulching

The HRX476 XB also has Honda’s unique Versamow™ variable mulching system. A convenient deck-mounted selector allows users to easily switch between mulching and collecting grass or achieve a combination of the two. Equipped with a large 69-litre grass bag, and the powerful filling action makes the most of the capacity even in challenging conditions.

Practical and convenient

Cutting height is easily adjusted using a single, deck-mounted lever between 25mm and 79mm.
Battery capacities of 6Ah and 9Ah are available, allowing users to select the size to suit their lawn area and situation, and Honda’s rapid charger will fully charge the 6Ah battery in less than one hour. Honda’s Universal Battery System allows batteries to be shared between compatible products, adding convenience, and reducing cost of ownership.

The new HRX476 XB achieves best-in-class cutting and collecting performance, and will appeal to customers needing a durable, quiet, and environmentally friendly mower for domestic and professional use. The attractive but functional styling is easy to look after and keep smart.

Find out more about our new HRX range here https://www.honda.co.uk/lawn-and-garden/products/lawnmowers/hrx/overview.html

Buy now HRX476 XB

Sales advice and service support are available through Honda’s authorised dealer network.

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Foley bring automatic quality to BTME

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Foley bring automatic quality to BTME: American grinder manufacturer, Foley Company, is bringing automatic quality to BTME 2022 with their range of fully and semi-automatic spin and relief grinders.

In the months leading up to the show at the end of March, Foley’s UK and Ireland distributor, ProSport UK Ltd, has completed the installation of several units. Golf clubs including St Annes Old Links, West Sussex, The Hertsmere, Radlett, The Buckinghamshire and Kingsbarns are only some to have purchased cylinder or bedknife grinders as well as contractors Gibson Groundcare Machinery.

Foley bring automatic quality to BTME

Foley bring automatic quality to BTME

For many, the automated process of the Accu-Pro models ranging from the 633 reel grinder to the 673 automated bedknife grinder was the main reason behind their decision. This and the ability to relief grind back to OEM specifications are the reasons why so many turf professionals in the UK, Ireland and worldwide are opting for Foley.

“In the first few months of 2022, it has been brilliant to get out to our customers with their new grinders,” Managing Director of ProSport UK Ltd, Ian Robson, said. “We have found that in-house grinding is becoming an increasingly viable and popular option for clubs and contractors, and the automation and relief grinding options we provide really appeal to those who are looking into it for the first time.

“What is equally pleasing for us is clubs such as The Buckinghamshire and Carnoustie who have done their grinding for several years but have seen the difference a Foley Company machine can make for them. In many cases, this is quality and time saving, which are of paramount importance.

“BTME 2022 gives us a chance to catch up with these clubs and introduce new people to what Foley has to offer, so we’re excited about the exhibition. We’ll have working grinders on the stand, so attendees can have a hands-on demonstration of the machines in action and have any questions they have answered.”

The 633 Accu-Pro is an industry leader in versatility and can complete quick touch-up spin grinds or return the reel to manufacturers specifications through relief grinding. The operation is fast and straightforward with the Accu-Reel Selector, and cylinder height stop automatically locating the reel for spin and relief grinding in one set-up. Pre-set relief angles are easily identified on the relief angle adjuster, which makes it effortless to grind the correct angles and achieve proper clearances for each reel type.

Using the optional Accu-Touch 3 Control makes this even easier. You tell the machine what you’re working on and it does the rest using pre-programmed spin speeds, relief torque and in-feeds. With or without the Accu-Touch 3, once the grinder has started, operators are free to continue with other tasks while grinding is completed.

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The science behind healthy water

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The science behind healthy water: Water management for clean, healthy water is critical. But how do you know your aerator is a sound investment, delivering the best aeration to tackle poor quality water? Otterbine explains how Oxygen Transfer Rates are essential.

The scientific measure of an aerator’s capability to supply oxygen to water is its ‘Oxygen Transfer Rate’. Defined by The American Society of Civil Engineers, it’s the gold standard for the measure of how much oxygen an aeration system transfers and for addressing all the reasons why aeration is needed.

The science behind healthy water

The science behind healthy water

Any manufacturer serious about helping customers achieve a balanced ecosystem will provide oxygen transfer tests performed by an independent third party. Otterbine’s, for example, are tested by the University of Minnesota and Gerry Shell Environmental Labs, the results from which can be found online at otterbine.com.

Aeration helps with algae and aquatic weed control, reduces odours, eliminates chemicals, reduces phosphorus, eliminates fish kills, helps with the oxidation of iron and heavy metals, acts as a mosquito breeding deterent, benefits aquatic animal life and the ecosystem, prolongs the life of the pond/lake/reservoir and is great for public safety because aeration prevents diseases associated with stagnant water.

By simply adding dissolved oxygen to water, you are supporting the aerobic and oxidative processes of the water. The oxygen attaches to the phosphorus and converts it into an insoluble form, making it unavailable to plants as a nutrient.

So, by simply adding an aerator to the water, you are preventing all 10 reasons for poor quality, smelly, bug-infested, unappealing water – we promised you a hassle-free solution!

You may wonder how the Oxygen Transfer Rate of different aerators vary. Surface spray and diffused aerators are the most common and in terms of the amount of oxygen transferred that can range from 1.59lbs of oxygen per horsepower hour in 8ft of water from a diffused aerator to 3lbs of oxygen per horsepower hours regardless of depth from a surface spray aerator. Which one you choose depends on the size of the body of water you’re looking to aerate;  just remember oxygen transfer rates are the key to success

There are experts in water management at Reesink Turfcare, UK Otterbine distributor, who will be happy to help guide you in the decision-making process. Contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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“It’s been superb!” Compact sprayer gets top praise

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“It’s been superb!” Compact sprayer gets top praise: The demands from spraying contractors extend far beyond just reliability when it comes to their sprayers. Strength, durability, and flexibility are all factors that need to be considered for the operator to tackle a wide range of spraying situations.

UK compact sprayer manufacturer Martin Lishman Ltd has embraced industry changes and stringent customer requirements to drive the development of their sprayer range to the point where they now offer a whole plethora of options and sizes to cater for almost any situation.

“It’s been superb!” Compact sprayer gets top praise

“It’s been superb!” Compact sprayer gets top praise

Sam Vickers of SMV Contract Services LTD, Stamford, Lincolnshire covers all aspects of ground care maintenance. The spraying sector of the business covers agriculture, sports turf, and amenity sites across the UK. A continually growing list of clients meant it was time for him to expand his sprayer fleet.

For Sam the choice was easy – another Martin Lishman sprayer: “We bought our first Martin Lishman sprayer 4 years ago, a 400-litre model with a 6-metre boom, and it’s been superb! So much so, that we haven’t replaced but added to the fleet with a new 600 litre, 8m metre boom pro-specification version. The tractor mounted option suits our needs for transport and utilises the compact tractors we have. The new sprayer also joins a new Martin Lishman compact 70 litre quad bike sprayer with a 3 metre boom for smaller jobs.”

Combining amenity specification and flexibility with agricultural strength and durability has been the key design element of Martin Lishman compact sprayers since production began in the 1980’s. Designed and manufactured in England at their site in Bourne, Lincolnshire, specialist or bespoke requests can often be catered for. Their design allows considerable variation of models to meet the specialist needs of customers, with many looking to diversify into a wide range of spraying jobs.

“The need for a solid design for amenity work became clear very quickly” explains Gavin Lishman, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “In the early days we designed our sprayers for use in agriculture; we had the experience and a strong foothold in the industry, so we knew what we were up against. The sprayers needed to be able to withstand the rigors of farm use and always work when needed. As the demand for small sprayers grew in the amenity market, we were ready to bring our tried and tested designs into the industry. We are starting to see more contractors like Sam cover both the agriculture and amenity sectors, and we believe that our sprayers are almost unique on the market in offering the range and versatility needed for this kind of work”.

The Martin Lishman compact sprayer range includes trailed, ATV mounted, demountable and self-propelled models with tank sizes ranging from 70 to 600 litres and boom widths from 1 metre to 8 metres. Sam’s new pro-spec tractor mounted sprayer consists of a 600-litre tank, PTO-driven pump, 8m pro-spec folding boom, 9m hose reel with hand lance, full electric controls, chemical induction hopper and bout marker.

“The sprayer is mainly used for liquid fertiliser and herbicide applications, our compact tractors run on auto steer GPS guidance to ensure total accuracy”, explains Sam. “The new sprayer has been very reliable, and full credit goes to your workshop team should I need any replacement nozzles, pipes or wearing parts. The service from Martin Lishman has been exemplary, and I look forward to many more years of business together as we expand.”

For spraying and other groundcare enquires, Sam of SMV Contract Services LTD can be contacted on info@smvcontractservices.co.uk or 01780 693 017. Follow Sam on Facebook (@smvcontractservices) to keep up with the latest jobs and developments.

For more information on Martin Lishman compact sprayers, visit their website at www.martinlishman.com. Sales enquires can be made directly to sales@martinlishman.com

Stay up to date, follow Martin Lishman on:

Twitter: @Martin_Lishman

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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/martin-lishman-ltd

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When 3 cylinders are better than 4

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When 3 cylinders are better than 4: Specialist turf growers, County Turf, farm in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire with a fleet of 24 tractors. A strong relationship with local dealer Peacock & Binnington saw the company introduce a Fendt 211 to the fleet in 2020. The Fendt has since done over 3000 hours and has helped director Chris Medley reduce fuel costs and improve the efficiency of loading work.

“We run four-cylinder tractors for most of our general production work. I was advised that the three-cylinder Fendt would manage the work well whilst offering a significant fuel saving. It has been an eye-opener because we have reduced our fuel consumption by at least 25 percent and yet the tractor has performed admirably,” he explains.

When 3 cylinders are better than 4

When 3 cylinders are better than 4

There are five models in the 200 range: the 207, 208, 209, 210 and top of the range 211. Power outputs start at 79 horsepower and extend to 124 horsepower. All models are available as Power, Profi and Profi+ with AGCO’s three-cylinder 3.3 litre engine.

The latest model 211 benefits from a power boost called ‘Dynamic Performance’ which releases an additional ten horsepower on demand. The system detects when components such as the PTO, hydraulics, engine fan and air-con need more power, and then provides that added power through smart control. “If I had one criticism of our 211 it is that it is a little short of power for some applications. The new model may be an option for us in the future if the boost function provides the extra power that we need,” says Mr Medley.

The 69 plate 211 at County Turf has been used mostly for loading. With a Fendt loader on the front and pallet tines on the three-point linkage it has become a popular choice for loading work and Mr Medley suggests it is more useful than a telehandler. “It has very sensitive controls for loading work and the joystick is ergonomic to use, so operators prefer it to a telehandler. It also has the advantage of carrying at the front and rear so it can move more in a day.”

Being a light tractor, it is also easier to transport. The Fendt is regularly deployed to sports grounds where it loads fresh turf and moves sand. “When we install pitches, we need lighter machines to reduce any potential damage to the turf. The Fendt is perfect for this because it has sufficient power without the greater weight that four-cylinder tractors carry.”

The cab is typically Fendt. Quiet, comfortable, and ergonomic. It is spacious and more akin to the larger models in the range. The high seating position offers the operator better vision over the loader and gives an overall feeling of space. “The view from the Fendt is great for our operators when they are moving turf. Operators also enjoy the comfort, especially when they are using it for long shifts.”

The land used to grow turf is dry and coarse which makes establishment tricky at times, especially with the high winds experienced in the area. The 211 is regularly used for mowing and irrigation work but is also versatile enough to work with a harvester, loading lorries. “We can move the Fendt from one job to another really easily. It has enough power to pull mowers and transport irrigation equipment whilst also having the loading capability to move turf.”

Comfort has always been a distinguishing part of the Fendt brand and the 200 series is no exception. Despite being a compact machine with a turning circle of just 4.2 metres, the cabin feels every bit like that of one of the larger models. The seat offers excellent cushioning and support which will help those intending to do long stints behind the wheel. “Our operators really appreciate the Fendt for its comfort and prefer to use the 211 if they can.”

County Turf has a constant churn of tractors, choosing to replace each tractor in the fleet within three years to keep within the warranty period. With excellent support from Peacock & Binnington, Mr Medley is never left without a machine and servicing has been completed quickly and efficiently. “It is vital that we avoid downtime. The Fendt has not let us down in over 3000 hours, so we are really pleased with the reliability and the service we have had from P&B.”

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