Michelin X® Tweel™ Eliminates Punctures

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Michelin X® Tweel™ Eliminates Punctures: Millstream Estate Services has turned to the airless Michelin X® Tweel™ Turf to eliminate a growing number of punctures across its grass cutting fleet.

The Milton Keynes-based business now has the tyre and wheel combination running on five of its six Kubota ZD 1211 zero-turn mowers, with plans to upgrade the remaining machine in the near future.

Michelin X® Tweel™ Eliminates Punctures

Michelin X® Tweel™ Eliminates Punctures

Having regularly suffered up to three punctures a week during its operations for West Bletchley and Stony Stratford Town Councils, Millstream Director Neil Keenan equipped three of his mowers with the Michelin X® Tweel™ fitments during 2023. He was so impressed with the results that he has since specified two new Kubota machines with the airless-technology tyres.

“I first heard of the Tweel a few years back and instantly thought it was a good idea,” explains Keenan. “Most of the mowers are out cutting council verges, parks and open spaces and the things that people leave on the ground is quite staggering – glass bottles, nails, broken fence posts, you name it. The number of punctures we were seeing was getting ridiculous, but the Tweel has completely solved that problem for us.”

The Michelin X® Tweel™ performs like a pneumatic tyre, but without the risk and downtime associated with punctures and impact damage. It is one single unit, replacing the whole tyre and wheel assembly. There is no need for complex mounting equipment and once it is bolted on, there is no air pressure to maintain.

The tread is optimised for long wear life and offers high impact resistance. Its flexible poly-resin spokes carry weight in tension and absorb impacts, helping make the ride smoother, and provide an energy transfer that reduces tyre bounce. The shear beam and spokes are designed to be flexible and deformable, which allows them to conform to the contours of the ground and provide excellent traction, grip and stability.

“The initial cost is obviously a little higher than a standard tyre, but with the punctures we were seeing it will certainly save us money in the long run,” adds Keenan. “We’ve been impressed with the performance. It’s proved to be the perfect solution for our mower fleet.”

Supplied through Michelin agents and specialist tyre suppliers Tyre-Line Ltd, who’s Aftermarket division have been working with Michelin to bring the X® Tweel™ range of Airless tyres to the UK, the Millstream success story shows the “Huge time saving benefits and substantial tyre repair / replacement & downtime cost savings for users suffering from puncture issues across their mowing fleet” said Tyre-Line’s Richard Cook. With more sizes and fitments being added all the time, the Tweel™ Turf range of airless tyres are now available for most makes and models of ZTR mowers available in the UK.

Specialists in outdoor estate infrastructure, Millstream Estate Services offers a spectrum of professional commercial expertise. Its work includes construction, grounds maintenance, winter maintenance, environmental services, hard and soft landscaping as well as playground design and installation.

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Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

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Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’: A donation of football equipment from Scots Turf may seem like a simple gesture, but Motherwell Football Club Chief Executive Dawn Middleton is certain it will change the lives of the local community.

In partnership with New World Sport, Scots Turf donated footballs, bibs, markers, coaches’ notebooks and more following a second successful Scots Turf show. It has always been the aim of organisers Richard Heywood and Alan Thomson to give back to sport-focused charities in Scotland, and the Motherwell FC Community Trust is the first.

Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

Scots Turf Donation Will ‘Change Lives’

As the official charity of Motherwell FC, the Trust leverages the club’s brand and the unifying power of football to drive positive change in the local community. In 2021, a UEFA Social Return and Investment report revealed that the charity’s initiatives resulted in £13.64 million worth of health benefits, saving the NHS money on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, mental health and more.

With no core income, the charity relies on fundraising and donations to operate. While you might think money is what’s needed, Dawn explains that football equipment is much more important than that.

“Firstly, I’d like to express our gratitude for the donation, which really makes a difference and does change lives,” Dawn began. “Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, it would be great if you got money,’ but it’s not about money. This donation was far more valuable to us than money.

“It’s absolutely fantastic for us because equipment is expensive, and you can never have enough. Andy, our Head of Community Football does an excellent job, and coaches always ask him to spend money on equipment. It was great for us to be able to go back and supply it.

“The Trust supports a diverse range of 29 community teams, spanning from children born in 2019 to walking footballers in their 80s, women’s recreational football, and disability football. Each of these groups requires their own footballs, bibs, and markers, which often get lost or damaged. The donation from Scots Turf has significantly reduced the financial , burden on the Trust, ensuring the affordability of participation for all.”

The Motherwell FC Community Trust operates in one of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Due to increasing mortgage rates, food prices, and fuel costs, the community team experiences a lot of in-work poverty. Through donations, however, they have been able to limit the rise in community team monthly subscription costs to just 5p over seven years, which is invaluable for those participating.

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh: Kubota (UK) has appointed Gary Walsh as agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland.

Gary has considerable experience working in the sector, both at manufacturer and dealer level. After leaving school, he embarked on a career as a technician following completion of a four-year apprenticeship in Ireland.

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

He has been with Kubota (UK) for the last eight years, where his previous roles included that of regional sales representative across all Kubota’s business sectors, and latterly spending two years as aftersales dealer manager for Ireland.

“I’m delighted to be able to step-up and take on the role of agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland,” explains Gary. “This is a great opportunity to work much more closely with my dealers, to support them as they grow their businesses by introducing the Kubota brand to a wider audience.”

Gary is passionate about farming and machinery, and comes from a background that introduced him to machinery at an early age. Two of his uncles ran contracting businesses, and after leaving school, much of his spare time was spent either repairing or operating equipment. It was an experience that cemented his decision to remain involved with the sector.

Speaking about Gary’s appointment as a dealer manager, Kubota’s agricultural and groundcare sales manager Tim Yates said: “Gary’s knowledge provides us with a great opportunity to continue supporting dealers as they continue to build on the growth already achieved in agricultural and groundcare markets across Ireland.”

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The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

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The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC: Located in the stunning Snowdonia National Park, Aberdovey Golf Club in Aberdyfi, Wales, stands as a testament to the beauty and challenges of links golf. Overseeing this picturesque yet demanding course is Course Manager Nigel Green, whose dedication to excellence has been furthered by innovative solutions from Agrovista Amenity, particularly BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator.

Aberdovey Golf Club spans over 6,500 yards and has earned a reputation for testing even the most skilled golfers. However, it isn’t just the golfers who have their work cut out according to Nigel. “It is challenging conditions for both golfers and greenkeepers alike,” he says.

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

Nigel has been working at the club for an impressive 38 years and he highlights how standards at the club have improved. “The course has benefited over the years because the industry has progressed in terms of technology, machinery and products.”

One of the products central to Nigel’s success is Attraxor, a plant growth regulator developed by BASF. Containing prohexadione calcium, this innovative solution offers precise control over turf growth while promoting root development and enhancing turf quality. What sets Attraxor apart is its fast-acting formulation, providing almost instant results and flexibility in application timing, even in cooler conditions.

Nigel’s journey with Attraxor began with a conversation with Chris Knowles from Agrovista Amenity. Intrigued by its potential to reduce seed heads in addition to plant growth plant growth regulation, Nigel decided to give Attraxor a try. The results were nothing short of remarkable. Nigel observed a significant reduction in seed heads, particularly on the greens, prompting him to expand its usage across the course.

Starting cautiously, Nigel trialled Attraxor on the main putting green before gradually increasing the application rate to 600 grams per hectare. He applies Attraxor every three weeks from January to August, sometimes extending into September due to its effectiveness. Moreover, recent independent trials commissioned by Agrovista also confirm benefits of winter application.

Nigel’s meticulous approach also involves tank-mixing Attraxor with Aquatrols’ Premium N, ensuring optimal performance and consistent results.

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

The Attraxor Advantage at Aberdovey GC

In addition to Attraxor, Nigel highlights the efficacy of BASF’s Maxtima fungicide. Trialling Maxtima early on as a trial before it was launched, Nigel found it to be incredibly effective against Dollar Spot, minimising the need for additional treatments and showcasing outstanding results.

Nigel underlines the invaluable support and expertise provided by Agrovista Amenity and Chris Knowles. “The technical advice and support I receive from Agrovista Amenity and Chris Knowles is very good. If you have any questions or are not too sure about something, you can always get an answer from them. It is a very good relationship.”

As greenkeeping continues to evolve, Nigel emphasises the importance of working with knowledgeable partners like Agrovista Amenity. With impending challenges and restrictions on chemical usage, Nigel believes that innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be essential for maintaining the standards of courses like Aberdovey.

Through strategic partnerships with companies like Agrovista Amenity and the adoption of cutting-edge products like Attraxor and Maxtima, Nigel has elevated the standards of course maintenance while navigating the evolving landscape of greenkeeping.

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

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