Sports turf consortium formed

Sports turf consortium formed: Elite Pitch Alliance, a consortium of industry leaders in the consultancy, design, construction, and management of professional sports fields, launched today with a mission of providing solutions to stadium venues and training facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 renewal will be the first competition hosted by three nations, while also being the first to include 48 teams.

The consortium’s founding members STRI, DA Hogan & Associates, and Sports Fields Inc. will look to assist venues in providing bespoke natural grass fields in conformance with the exacting standards required by FIFA. The group brings together decades of experience in the design, construction, management, maintenance and inspection of sports facilities, turf fields and international tournaments in North America and around the globe.

Sports turf consortium formed

Sports turf consortium formed

“This is an exciting step forward for the development of World Cup venues throughout Canada, USA and Mexico, enabling facilities to provide world class surfaces for this prestigious event” said Andrew Brooker, Commercial Director for STRI Group. “STRI Group is very pleased to have partnered with DA Hogan & Associates, and Sports Fields Inc, companies who share our company’s vision of delivering excellence in sports surfaces across a multitude of sectors”.

D.A. Hogan principal Dave Anderson added “Our Alliance uniquely combines extensive World Cup and NFL playing field experience.  DA Hogan & Associates is very excited to be collaborating with STRI, Dr. Andy McNitt, and Sport Fields Inc. to provide FIFA compliant pitches of the highest quality for the 2026 World Cup as well as ensuring the NFL venues are fully restored with the appropriate surface for the 2026 NFL season”.

“This collaboration opens up a unique opportunity to bring the best in business to the table for a common goal – design, building and maintaining world class surfaces for the 2026 World Cup” said President and CEO of Sports Fields Inc., Mark Stalnaker. “We are tremendously excited to build upon our portfolio of successful projects and use that experience to support the selected venues in preparing for a generational opportunity”.

The overarching goal of the consortium is to provide venue specific permanent and temporary pitch solutions which are cost conscious, environmentally responsible, and minimize the disruption to existing tenants and operations.

As the group begins to work together, STRI, Sports Fields Inc., DA Hogan can look forward to future jointly developed projects and shared resources for years to come.

ABOUT STRI

STRI is the leading global pitch design and consultancy specialist for the development of elite standard sports surfaces in stadia. We were established in 1929 in Yorkshire, England and now operate globally.

We have successfully masterminded the installation of over 180 stadium pitches in 30 countries at the highest-level including FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships and Olympic Games. Our expertise is in the delivery of a comprehensive solution where a multi-faceted approach is required to understand the venues environmental, economic, and operational requirements to deliver the optimal code compliant sporting surfaces.

Our vastly experienced teams of consultants, researchers, designers, planners and engineers provide comprehensive science backed turf solutions. Our technical teams are at the cutting edge, incorporating innovation and sustainable thinking in out practice. STRI has seen considerable growth, which has been connected to increased demand and a clear desire from clients to receive sustainable, high-quality end to end solutions.

ABOUT DA HOGAN AND ASSOCIATES

D.A. Hogan & Associates is a consulting engineering and landscape architecture firm based in Seattle, Washington that was formed in 1960. The firm specializes in outdoor athletic,

physical education, recreational, and sports facilities.

Over the last 60 years we have provided design and construction management services for more than 500 sports facilities including natural and artificial. This experience has provided us with an exceptional level of expertise relating to the design concepts and attention to detail that is required to ensure a successful field installation.

ABOUT SPORTS FIELDS INC.

Sports Fields Inc. (SFI) is a leading sports field planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations organization headquartered in the greater Atlanta area. The company provides end-to-end or single-source solutions to professional sports organizations, municipal governments, non-profits, and higher education clients who are seeking to address unique sports challenges & opportunities.  SFI was launched in 2005 and quickly earned a reputation for quality workmanship and outstanding customer service.  SFI is an industry leader in the construction of synthetic & natural turf construction and has completed dozens of projects for organizations within Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).   SFI is recognised for successful, on-time completion of time-sensitive, high-profile professional sports projects.

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Battery power with no limits

Battery power with no limits: Outdoor power equipment specialist EGO has launched a new battery size and charging options to give gardening, landscaping and grounds care specialists increased run-time and no limits when it comes to battery power.

Addressing a common concern with battery power, EGO has launched its CHU6000 Professional Multi-Port Charging Case (RRP £519.00) which is able to charge any combination of up to six EGO portable batteries at the same time. Working with the industry’s fastest charger, the new CHV1600E 1600W Multi-Port Charger (RRP £259.00), a typical 60Ah setup will charge in just three hours meaning users can comfortably work continuously throughout the day.

Battery power with no limits

Battery power with no limits

With a wheeled case for easy loading and unloading from the van, EGO’s Multi-Port Charging Case uses an intelligent power management system that replenishes batteries with the lowest level of charge first, then brings all the batteries up to full charge at the same rate.

Also, part of the EGO Professional range, the new 12Ah BA6720T battery (RRP £529.00) is now the largest in its range and increases run time by up to 20 per cent across all EGO products. With EGO’s 12Ah battery, users can mow up to 1900sqm (almost 8 tennis courts) on a single charge, while offering up to 6 hours of run time for selected hedge trimmers and line trimmers.

Joining six smaller sized batteries in the range, the battery is interchangeable with all EGO tools, and uses patented 56V ARC Lithium™ technology to provide the best balance between required performance and usable power. It also makes use of EGO’s KeepCool™ technology to keep the temperature of battery cells lower for longer, preventing overheating. Internal microprocessors and software control every cell for delivery of optimal power, performance, and runtime.

Vince Brauns, European Product Manager at EGO, said: “Our new 12Ah battery and multiport charger combine to resolve one of the biggest barriers to battery-powered tool uptake in the professional market – battery capacity and speed of charging. With the ability to provide optimum power and performance too, our continual innovation in battery technology mean it is becoming virtually impossible for many professionals to justify their use of petrol-powered tools”

For more information, visit www.egopowerplus.co.uk.

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Kubota announces expansion with Lister Wilder

Kubota announces expansion with Lister Wilder: Kubota (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that Lister Wilder is to further widen its geographical area, reaching into parts of South West of England.

This progressive extension of its sales area and customer base, will see the dealership expand into Somerset to support agricultural and ground care customers across the South West of England from its newest Kubota centre, located at Keynsham, Bristol.

Kubota announces expansion with Lister Wilder

Kubota announces expansion with Lister Wilder

“Lister Wilder’s expansion further strengthens Kubota’s commitment to its customers and the markets in which our business operates,” says Henry Bredin, general manager of Kubota (UK)’s Tractor Business Unit. “This move sees Lister Wilder continue to strengthen its partnership with Kubota, as it actively supports a wider customer base in both agricultural and ground care sectors.”

It may be recalled that Lister Wilder became the first full-line Kubota dealer in Europe, and its business expansion plans have already seen the first of its new Kubota centres established at Meadowlands, Bibury in Gloucestershire, and also at Keynsham, Bristol.

Both these new Kubota centres have led to the creation of new jobs within sales, after-sales and service, plus parts and warranty departments, stimulating the local economies in which Lister Wilder operates.

Lister Wilder’s Bristol-based Kubota centre is scheduled to open on 3rd May 2022 on Burnett Business Park. Its location enables the dealership to support customers in north Somerset and the Mendip Hills, reaching south to Bridgwater and the Quantocks.

“We’re pleased to be a part of this exciting journey with Kubota, but just as importantly, we’re looking forward to welcoming new and existing agricultural and ground care customers through the doors at Keynsham,” says Phill Hughes, sales director for Lister Wilder.

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The Cordless Hover Mower ‘Typhoon’

The Cordless Hover Mower ‘Typhoon’: A tornado of mowing fabulousness has just blown in from Mountfield and it is available to buy now from B&Q!

‘Typhoon’ is a cordless hover mower which will allow you to mow with the flow! This easy to use and easy to manoeuvre wonder of Mountfield mowing technology glides across grass, forwards, backwards and side to side, with the grace of a ballerina!…. And with no cord to get tangled in bushes, hedges, or garden furniture.

The Cordless Hover Mower 'Typhoon'

The Cordless Hover Mower ‘Typhoon’

The Typhoon is powered by 2 x 4Ah (20V) smart Stiga e-power batteries that provide ample power to cut lawns up to 100sqm from one charge.  The unique cutting deck traps the air to create the right amount of energy to produce the cushioning effect that lifts the mower from the ground similar to a hovercraft. The blade has been specially designed for maximum cutting efficiency without disturbing air flow.

As it is so lightweight, just 7kg, it is very easy to  transport to areas around the garden that require cutting.  It is also easy to store in any garden shed or garage, flat against the wall from a single hook.

The mower comes with 2 x 20V 4Ah batteries and a dual charger, the batteries are interchangeable within other products in the Freedom100 cordless range such as a grass trimmer, blower, vacuum shredder, hedge trimmer and multi-tool as well as a selection of 3 collecting mowers.

Easy mows it … it’s a lot less bother with a Mountfield!

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