SALTEX Learning Live programme revealed

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SALTEX Learning Live programme revealed: Designed to bring people together for the greater good of grounds, SALTEX’s comprehensive and extensive Learning LIVE programme for 2023 is now live on the exhibition’s website – www.saltex.org.uk/learning-live.

Months in the making, all of the industry’s hottest topics are covered across the three stages over two days.

SALTEX Learning Live programme revealed

SALTEX Learning Live programme revealed

On the Spotlight Stage on Wednesday 1 November, the ‘Messi of mowing’ John Ledwidge, head of grounds and landscapes at Manchester City FC, Nick Taylor, managing director of Greycircle and Adrian Kay, York Racecourse Grounds Manager, host a discussion on skillful leadership best practice and the importance of team culture.

How do you deliver a major sporting event? Grounds managers at England’s most iconic cricketing venues talk about that and overcoming the challenges in hosting this year’s Ashes tournament on the Main Stage. Visitors can also meet the team behind the Women’s Ashes’ pitch delivery. These female pioneers will discuss how they got involved in this initiative and how they’d like its legacy to help promote grounds management as a career option for women and girls.

Also on Wednesday, attendees will get the chance to take part in an interactive panel discussion on the Main Stage with GMA consultant, Tim Nicholls and the Rugby Football League’s, Pat Clusky. The topic of discussion will be the GMA’s newly launched Grounds Management Framework which offers new and existing grounds staff a clear career pathway aligned with the necessary tools and qualifications needed to improve pitch standards and progress within the industry.

On day two, the Main Stage is busy celebrating volunteer heroes. Wes Matthews from Cranfield FC & Luton Town FC, GMA award winner Dean Gibbons from Wantage Bowls Club and Liam Murgatroyd from Queensferry ARLFC talk about working around the day job, finding funding opportunities and making the all-important budget spread further.

The requirement to reduce non-household water usage by nine percent by 2037 has created the perfect storm for leisure turf irrigation, resulting in requirements to reduce both abstraction volumes and mains use at the same time. At Learning LIVE visitors can find out how water availability will change and what should be considered in the search for alternative sustainable water sources.

Tony Hanson, Planet Mark Associate and Golf Environment Organisation Sustainability Associate, who is hosting a session on this subject says: “Water availability is changing – historically high personal consumption, population growth, climate change, increasing incidence of drought and flooding, over abstraction and pollution have all contributed to problems we now have to solve around water resource and quality. The leisure sector can protect future water sources and be part of the solution at SALTEX.”

Speaking of climate change and what comes next, over on the Spotlight Stage on day one, an important audience participation event concerning where we were, where we are now and where we are going with concern to UK weather under the umbrella of a rapidly changing world is hosted by Jim Dale – senior meteorological consultant, British Weather Services.

While on day two, the Spotlight Stage shines a spotlight on building relations with key stakeholders and justifying capital expenditure. The seminar is delivered by Callum Allsop from Leicester City FC, Adrian Kay from York Racecourse and Niall Hazelhurst from Warrington Wolves.

And finally the Eco Stage, on day one an update on sustainable installation and maintenance of synthetic turf, the current EU regulations on rubber crumb and recycling solutions is hosted by Alistair Cox from Loughborough University, Colin Corline from SAPCA, Chris Barry from Football Foundation and Eric O’Donnell from Sports Labs.
Following the sustainable theme, on day two Dr John Dempsey discusses non-pesticidal disease management. The independent turfgrass researcher says: “With all the restrictions on pesticides and the ambition of turfgrass managers to maintain their facilities and control disease in a sustainable manner, non-pesticidal disease management presents ways in which to do this without recourse to pesticides and by utilising the turfgrass’s own defence mechanisms.

“My seminar covers several research projects carried out over the past three years and presents results on surfactant effects on soil moisture and turfgrass quality, rootzone amendment’s effect on turfgrass growth, reduction of earthworm casting and the uptake and accumulation potassium phosphite.”

All Learning LIVE sessions qualify for both BASIS and BIGGA CPD points with 2 BASIS CPD points gained for attending SALTEX this year and a point for each session attended (up to four per day). BIGGA Networking Credits are also available with one for attending SALTEX and a one BIGGA education credit per hour for each Learning LIVE seminar attended.

More information about the SALTEX 2023 Learning LIVE programme can be found on the event’s website at www.saltex.org.uk/learning-live. Free visitor registration is now open. Visit saltex.org.uk or register here.

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Certis Belchim Growing with the Amenity Industry at SALTEX

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Certis Belchim Growing with the Amenity Industry at SALTEX: With a legacy of trusted weed and surface management solutions and a focus on sustainable time saving practices, Certis Belchim Amenity and its products play a fundamental role in landscape and grounds management throughout the UK.

’We have the gold standard non-selective residual herbicide in Chikara Weed Control’ says Dom Corbett, Technical Support Advisor ‘as well as it’s efficacy Chikara Weed Control offers versatility of application with pre and early post emergence timing and a wise range of surfaces with amenity vegetation (around), natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation, permeable surfaces overlying soil, and hard surfaces (railway ballast only)’.

Certis Belchim Growing with the Amenity Industry at SALTEX

Certis Belchim Growing with the Amenity Industry at SALTEX

Fewer applications thanks to the lower application rate and control for up to 5 months mean less resources to get the job done. All in all, Chikara Weed Control is one of the most cost effective tools available for total weed control.

Another of our non-selective products and derived from sustainable plant-based sources is Katoun Gold. This is a contact acting herbicide, again for total weed control on amenity vegetation, natural surfaces not intended to bear vegetation, and permeable surfaces overlying soil. Dom adds ‘Katoun Gold is very fast acting thanks to its mode of action and affects can even be seen within a couple of hours of application. Plus, with its low water rate it is easy to apply and cover large areas quickly.’

Winner of the Saltex innovation award in 2021, Enclean is a novel biocide for the control of green deposits on a wide range of surfaces; Patios, roofs, artificial surfaces like tennis courts, fences and more. Dom says ‘It was great when we introduced Enclean to get the recognition at Saltex for the work that went into developing and launching this product. It has a novel mode of action, fast acting and quick to apply making it more cost effective than conventional QAC products, a real innovation.’

To learn more about our range, come and see our dedicated team of Basis qualified professionals who bring expertise and insight across a wide variety of situations from industrial to fine turf on stand H110. If you can’t make the show you can always find us at www.certisbelchim.co.uk as well as on social media:

X/Twitter: @CB_Amenity_UK, LinkedIn: Certis Belchim Amenity and Instagram: @certis_belchim_amenityuk

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Foamstream at SALTEX

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Foamstream at SALTEX: A hugely busy summer season for the team at Weedingtech will culminate in them returning to SALTEX this November, showcasing their world-leading commercial herbicide-free weed control solution – Foamstream.

Proven in trials to deliver comparable efficacy to traditional chemical controls, Foamstream has been adopted by facilities across the sports and grounds sector, with all the details available to visitors on stand E057.

Foamstream at SALTEX

Foamstream at SALTEX

Delivered by a range of patented machinery, Foamstream combines hot water and a biodegradable foam, made from natural plant oils and sugars, to offer an organically certified and herbicide-free alternative to weed and moss control. The hot water is ‘insulated’ by the foam, ensuring that the heat penetrates the waxy outer layer of the leaf, travels down the stem and into the roots, killing or severely damaging the plant. In addition to eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores, helping to reduce future weed growth – reducing treatment cycles and overhead costs.

The all-natural ingredients also mean it is safe for applications around people, animals and sensitive environments making it a viable solution for, schools, local authorities parks and housing associations. 2023 has also seen a surge in sales at top-flight sports turf facilities, including a number of Premier League football clubs, most recently Chelsea FC, using Foamstream to control vegetation on pathways, car parks and other hard surfaces.

The exponential rise in demand for Foamstream systems has seen the growth of Weedingtech’s rental offering, with customers citing the benefits in accessibility and eliminating the sometimes lengthy and complex capital procurement process. Foamstream’s rental package includes the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set weekly rate. In addition, an information of things (IOT) tracker is included as standard, to provide accurate measurement of output and ongoing remote support. Discounts are available for long-term hire of more than six months, with an additional option to purchase the equipment if desired, where 80% of the rental value is returned.

More information on the system, and options available for rent or purchase can be found by speaking with the technical team on hand on stand E057 across the two days.

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Vanmac not to be missed at SALTEX

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Vanmac not to be missed at SALTEX: A stop by the Vanmac stand at SALTEX 2023 is one that can’t be missed… literally! Retaking their place on K070 directly in-front of the show entrance, the stand will be jam-packed with equipment from leading brands including Progressive and Trilo.

Particular highlights promise to be the multi-functional Trilo M4 collector and the Progressive TDR-15 – the ideal roller finishing mower for local authorities, estates and sports facilities.

Vanmac not to be missed at SALTEX

Vanmac not to be missed at SALTEX

Where other vacuum collectors spend the months outside of leaf-fall season in the shed, the M4 from Trilo works on. Proving that multi-purpose doesn’t have to mean a compromise in performance, a range of shaft options are available for the M4 making it ideal for tasks around the maintenance calendar. When not collecting leaves, clippings and other debris in the autumn, the modular unit can be equipped with a scarifier shaft for the effective scarification of large areas such as parks or fairways – with all material collected into the 4m3 hopper on the same single pass. Alternatively, a flail shaft can be fitted for quick and convenient cut and collection of areas such as golf roughs and roadside verges.

If it is leaf collection on the agenda, then Vanmac will also be showcasing a number of other solutions in the form of the towable SU60 vacuum collector and the BL960 blower. As the largest blower in the Trilo range, the BL960 requires a 50hp tractor, has a capacity of 385m3/min and delivers an airspeed of 75m/s which makes it a popular choice for large areas. In addition, the exhaust spout can be hydraulically adjusted to deliver powerful airflow in any desired direction.

From the Progressive portfolio of trailed and mounted rotary mowers, the TDR-15 will be the focus. With a combined cutting width of just over 4.5m across the three decks, the versatile TDR-15 combines efficiency with superior cut quality and presentation thanks to the high-tip speed blades and full-width, heavy-duty rollers which deliver an impeccable stripe. Changing the height of cut is easy, while Progressive’s Pro Lift-N-Turn™ feature allows the decks to be raised slightly with the PTO still engaged to make manoeuvring around the course or around obstacles quick and simple.

The Vanmac technical team will be on hand on stand K070 across the two days to discuss the full range of machinery from their grounds and greenkeeping portfolio.

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice: Turf Tank, the global leader in robotic line marking, is bringing the industry defining Turf Tank Two to Saltex 2023.

The Turf Tank is going from strength to strength, not only is it popular at Premier League level with 50% of Premier League Football Clubs owning a Turf Tank robot, but the number of other users has also increased dramatically. Grass roots clubs, independent and state schools, local authorities, contractors, league football/rugby/hockey and other sports are also finding the Turf Tank ideal and affordable for their clubs too.

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Your opportunity to see the new model Turf Tank Two will be at the NEC on 1st and 2nd November, where Turf Tank is exhibiting on stand F102. Visitors can experience the next step in GPS line marking as the company that built the world’s first robotic line marker continues to innovate.

Performance and accuracy are the hallmarks of Turf Tank, and a combination of refinements, including two motor drives for better momentum and new wheels for improved grip and traction, have led to faster marking times with the Turf Tank Two.

Enhanced Sprayer Module

While the speed and accuracy of marking are paramount to efficiency, so is the usability of the Turf Tank Two. Several sprayer module upgrades have made fine-tuning simple with the twist of a knob, including disc height, width and a disc ruler for a better overview.

Tighter tolerances ensure sharper and crisp lines between 5-15cm, with the rack-and-pinion system letting you go from minimum to maximum in a single turn. The height of the sprayer discs can be easily adjusted in increments of 5mm, allowing you to approximate the correct sprayer height. Fine-grained adjustments can be made via a turning knob to get the height precisely as you want and get consistent results every mark.

To make maintenance more manageable, the module is now an independent part. It can be removed by loosening two screws, allowing easy access to specific parts, while one-hand solenoid removal has also been made possible for quicker working.

Quick Control

A new front panel provides quick pause/resume options, LED indicators to show the robot status and a start/stop sprayer button. A LED indicator on the battery has been fitted for a quick status check – if it’s plugged in or not – and batteries can now be hot-swapped without needing to shut down the robot.

Ergonomic Improvements

Numerous ergonomic improvements have been made to make working with the Turf Tank Two quicker and easier.

A tilted pump cover allows up to 20 litres of paint to be slid into the robot rather than being lifted in and out of the top. The newly designed compartment increases efficiency by ensuring the suction rod can use all the paint, and battery access has also been simplified, with only one movement needed to slide it in place.

Additionally, handles are now on the front and back to make lifting in and out of vans and buggies easier.

New Powers in the Palm of Your Hand

New in-app guides are introduced to walk you through most features, and the new Wizard guides you through the cleaning and priming process of the paint system. To quickly troubleshoot any calibration errors, a new augmented reality guided calibration routine lets you take a picture of lines and automatically fix any calibration errors.

All of these features also work in Offline Mode, which means you have the full functionality of the Turf Tank Two in cases where an internet connection can’t be established.

Remote Support

The new software also builds on Turf Tank’s leading customer service through remote access. Turf Tank staff can assist in setting up fields, diagnose problems and provide support instantly wherever you are. A new built-in help centre is also available to answer frequently asked questions and get you marking within minutes of encountering an issue.

Turf Tank’s product specialists will be on stand to answer any questions and demonstrate the advancements made with the Turf Tank Two.

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