Avant Optitemp® Cube Provides Portable Power

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Avant Optitemp® Cube Provides Portable Power: Avant Tecno’s subsidiary Avant Power started manufacturing batteries for their electric loaders in 2024. They have produced over 500 battery packs that enable a full day of work with a single charge for the Avant e-series loaders.

Quickly gaining popularity, the OptiTemp® batteries signaled a new era for electric loaders in terms of capacity, longer operating time and lifecycle, safety, sustainability, and affordability. Now they’re taking the OptiTemp® concept further by introducing Avant Power’s first mobile and compact energy storage solution: the OptiTemp® Cube product line.

Avant Optitemp® Cube Provides Portable Power

Avant Optitemp® Cube Provides Portable Power

Mobile power for any application

The OptiTemp® Cube 50 is Avant Power’s answer to a growing demand for portable energy storage solutions in the loader and work machine market. It is an ideal companion for Avant’s e-series electric loaders. The OptiTemp® Cube 50 can provide the 27 kWh OptiTemp® battery with two full charges, and four charges for the 13,5 kWh battery.

“As our battery production increases and more e-series loaders are being adopted, we have discovered that the OptiTemp® technology works equally well within portable energy solutions. Our loaders are often used at work sites without charging facilities. A portable power unit is ideal for providing more juice at construction sites, remote outdoor locations, forests, events, and many other applications. They are also great accessories for rental and leasing companies,” Avant Power’s COO Mikko Piepponen highlights.

While similar solutions exist, the OptiTemp® Cube is a unique product thanks to its immersion cooling technology, robust structure, and reliable performance in any environment. “The OptiTemp® Cubes are like our loaders in many respects: they are compact, durable, highly portable, quiet, and extremely safe,” Mikko says.

OptiTemp® guarantees premium performance

Despite their compact size, OptiTemp® batteries have a high power density that enables premium capacity and rapid charging. The OptiTemp® thermal management system keeps temperatures optimized when the battery is in use or plugged into a charger.

All cells are surrounded by a cooling liquid in the battery’s submersible structure. The immersion cooling system controls temperature and guarantees optimized performance in both freezing and hot weather. In cold conditions, the battery automatically pre-heats before use, and the temperature management system maintains operating temperature during use.

The system also ensures that the battery won’t overheat, making it extremely safe to use.

“While the OptiTemp® Cube 50 is intended primarily as a companion for Avant loaders, the upcoming OptiTemp® Cube 100 will provide portable energy for all kinds of machinery, including mining and forestry. These products will pave the way for our larger solutions in the future. Stay tuned!” Mikko concludes.

OptiTemp® Cube 50 Specifications

Dimensions:  120 x 80 x 116 cm (L x W x H)

Weight: 700 kg

Protection: IP54

Capacity:  50 kWh, nominal voltage 400 VDC

Input: Type 2, 220–250 VAC, 3,3 kW

Output for Avant charging:  48 VDC, 150 A

Output for external socket:  230 VAC, 10 A, 50 Hz

Internal protection for overload,  overheat, short circuit, low battery

Readiness for bidirectional charging

For more information, please visit www.avanttecno.com/uk

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Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

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Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground: Rare exhibits and landmark anniversaries will take centre stage at this weekend’s Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. 

Event organisers the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society (NNAS) is calling on enthusiasts and families to book their last-minute tickets ahead of what promises to be one of the standout heritage events of the year.

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Over 1,000 pieces of machinery are being shown by enthusiasts to a crowd exceeding 10,000 people.

Alongside the diverse array of tractors, commercial vehicles, and stationary engines will be a whole host of trade stands and food stalls.

Vehicles, implements, and parts will be sold off as part of Saturday’s auction, and a Sunday Sortout will give owners the opportunity to buy and sell parts which are too good to scrap.

Remembrance Day will also be marked with a traditional service on Sunday morning.

A show full of celebrations

This year’s show is packed with milestone celebrations, from Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary to 80 years of the Fordson Major E27N and the Field Marshall Series One.

It’s also 60 years of Cummins engines and six decades since the first imports of Zetor equipment into the UK.

The show will reflect on one of the most defining moments in tractor industry history: the 40th anniversary of Case’s takeover of International Harvester.

Philip Ponton, who worked for International Harvester at the time and later continued his career with Case IH, says the significance of the change cannot be overstated.

“The main feeling at the time of the takeover was shock. It was a buyout with worldwide consequences,” he said. “Our immediate thoughts were about what was going to happen to the Doncaster factory where the International Harvesters were made. It was eventually divested as part of the takeover to Landini, which went on to produce McCormick tractors there.”

He expects many former IH and Case staff and supporters to gather at Newark. “There are lots of people involved in the Case IH Club who will be coming down to Newark this weekend and I expect there will be some good stories about the history of the company. There will be no shortage of machines for people to see on the stand too.”

Eye-catching commercial vehicles on show will include a rare Ford D Series Chinese Six, marking 60 years since its launch.

Believed to be the only original surviving example of its type in the UK, the 1980 twin-steer lorry belongs to Hertfordshire enthusiast Brian Gardner.

Originally used by Tetley Brewery in Hull, the lorry had passed through several owners and was in poor condition when Brian acquired it in 2017. Rather than settle for patch repairs, he and his family stripped it down to the chassis and rebuilt it piece by piece.

“It had been partly done, but I wanted a full restoration,” says Brian. “I stripped it right back to the chassis, rebuilt the engine, replaced the body, brakes and tyres, and fitted a new cab that I sourced from Dorset. My boys, my wife and my father-in-law all helped. It’s really been a family restoration.”

The result is a striking and authentic survivor that will appear on the Fordson Club stand and is expected to be one of the talking points of the weekend.

The NNAS says the show’s appeal lies not only in the machines but in the community and stories behind them.

CEO Simon Eccleston said: “If you want to experience mechanical history up close and hear first-hand stories from those who lived it, Newark is the place to be this weekend.”

Gates open both days at Newark Showground. Children aged 16 and under enter free. Tickets sales are online at www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com

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Future-Proofed Irrigation at Bedford School

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Future-Proofed Irrigation at Bedford School: Bedford School’s cricket facilities have undergone a significant transformation following the installation of a fully automated Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK and installed by JK Irrigation. The upgrade has not only boosted efficiency but also future-proofed the grounds for continued development over the next decade.

At the heart of the new system is the Hunter ACC2 controller, complete with an internet module that gives Head Groundsman George Mills and his team full remote access. Each grounds team member is responsible for a different area, and thanks to the Centralus platform, they can now manage their irrigation schedules from their phones, no matter where they are.

Future-Proofed Irrigation at Bedford School

Future-Proofed Irrigation at Bedford School

“We’ve got all the grounds team set up with their own logins,” George explained. “Chris, my deputy, manages the first team square, Glenn looks after the second team square, Anthony does the grass nets, and I focus on the smaller third team square. That bit of ownership means everyone really takes pride in their area – and yes, there’s a bit of healthy competition too!”

The system features Hunter G-800 TTS valve-in-head sprinklers around the main cricket squares and Hunter I-25 sprinklers for the smaller areas. Two 25,000-litre tanks water storage tanks and a Lowara pump system, controlled via an integrated unit, ensure powerful and consistent pressure – around seven bar – which is a dramatic improvement on the school’s previous setup.

“Our mains pressure was poor – barely one bar,” George said. “Before, we were moving a single sprinkler eight to ten times just to get coverage. Now we can water the first team square in 15 to 20 minutes at night when it’s more efficient and better for the plant.”

Two thousand metres of pipework now runs beneath the surface, installed by JK Irrigation with help from the in-house team for reinstatement works. The installation also includes 13 strategically placed water boxes across the site, all configured to accommodate future system expansion.

“We’ve designed this with the long term in mind,” George added. “We’re hoping to add a fourth cricket square soon, and we’ve already got the infrastructure in place to irrigate it. We’re also planning a full renovation of the first-team rugby pitch, and the irrigation will go in first so we can reseed quickly and maintain momentum.”

The system has already proven invaluable during periods of dry weather. The team can now reliably water in granular fertilisers – even in hot conditions – and maintain the feeding schedule without compromising on turf health.

“We’re applying a granular every month,” George said. “Being able to water it in properly means we’re seeing better uptake and performance. It’s a huge advantage, particularly in seasons like this where rainfall can’t be relied on.”

Beyond the immediate benefits, George sees the project as an investment in both the grounds and the people who manage them.

“Everything we’ve done – the system, the infrastructure, the way it’s all been set up – is about improving the site for the next 10 years and more.”

With strong support from the school, a dedicated team, and a robust irrigation system in place, Bedford School is perfectly positioned to deliver top-quality playing surfaces well into the future.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

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

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Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

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Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership: The British and International Golf Greenkeeping Association (BIGGA), Lantra and Land-Based Assessment Ltd (LBAL) have commenced a strategic partnership designed to boost skills development across the greenkeeping sector through high quality apprenticeships and robust assessment. The collaboration prioritises clear progression routes via the BIGGA Formal Education Pathway and sector wide Apprenticeship awareness.

The partnership commits to shared evidence and continuous improvement for greenkeeping apprenticeships, with Lantra working closely with BIGGA to support the apprenticeship routes at Level 2, Level 3, and Level 5.

Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

Lantra will be at BIGGA’s annual flagship event, BTME in January 2026, joining GTC Approved Training Providers at a collaborative exhibition in the GTC Education Hub. Furthermore, to mark the strategic partnership, BIGGA have been announced as a sponsor of the Land-Based and Environment Learner of the Year Awards, which is set to take place later this month at the National Conference Centre, in Solihull.

Commenting on the partnership, Jo-Anne Bryan, Head of Apprenticeships and Standards at Lantra said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with BIGGA on championing apprenticeships within golf greenkeeping.

Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for new entrants starting out as a Golf Greenkeeper, to then progress to an Advanced Sports Turf Technician, at Level 3, and for those wanting to excel to a Golf Course Manager at Level 5. These apprenticeships provide a great career pathway within the industry.

Rob Phillips, Learning and Development Manager – Technical, at BIGGA also commented “This partnership marks an important step forward in uniting our efforts to deliver exceptional education and career development for greenkeepers. By aligning the BIGGA Formal Education Pathway, industry recognized apprenticeship standards, and Lantra’s ongoing commitment to robust assessment, we are creating a clear and credible route for progression that strengthens the future of the profession.”

Together, BIGGA, Lantra, and LBAL will deliver a coordinated programme of promotion and on the ground engagement to strengthen apprenticeship outcomes and professional standards in greenkeeping.

BTME 2026 will take place from 20 to 22 January at the Harrogate Convention Centre, when exhibitors can look forward to an optimised event experience supported by FFAIR’s award-winning technology.

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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Smarter Mowing at Your Fingertips: Trimax Launches OptiAdjust

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Smarter Mowing at Your Fingertips: Trimax Launches OptiAdjust: Trimax Mowing Systems is set to unveil its latest innovation, OptiAdjust, at Saltex 2025 — a system designed to redefine mowing efficiency, safety, and precision. Developed as an evolution of the ever-popular Pegasus S5, the Trimax OptiAdjust system allows operators to change mowing heights between 10–80 mm without leaving the cab.

Using the intuitive Trimax Connect app, available for both Android and iOS devices, operators can make instant height adjustments from inside the tractor. The result is less downtime, greater accuracy, and improved presentation across every pass — whether maintaining sports fields, large estates, or municipal spaces.

Smarter Mowing at Your Fingertips: Trimax Launches OptiAdjust

Smarter Mowing at Your Fingertips: Trimax Launches OptiAdjust

“OptiAdjust takes everything operators love about the Pegasus S5 and makes it even smarter,” says Rikki Bown, Business Development Manager at Trimax.
“The ability to change cutting heights in seconds — from the seat of the tractor — is a real step forward in mower efficiency and ease of use.”

Precision and Productivity Combined

OptiAdjust brings measurable benefits across key areas of turf management:

  • Increased Productivity: Operators no longer need to stop and manually adjust the mower. This reduces downtime and allows for efficient coverage of large areas.
  • Enhanced Safety: Adjustments from within the cab reduce direct contact with the mower, minimising operator risk.
  • Quality Control: Automated height control ensures a precise, consistent cut for a cleaner, high-quality finish, eliminating the need for rework.
  • Smarter Mowing Management: With OptiAdjust, changing heights takes seconds rather than minutes, allowing operators to easily adapt to grass growth and presentation requirements for consistent results year-round.

Built on Proven Trimax Engineering

By combining the latest technology with Trimax’s renowned build quality and engineering, OptiAdjust represents a natural evolution in mower performance. The system not only enhances mowing efficiency but also supports turf health — making smaller, more frequent height changes during high-growth periods helps maintain turf quality and reduce disease risk.

OptiAdjust has been designed to integrate seamlessly with the Pegasus S5 platform, trusted by grounds professionals worldwide for its reliability and performance.

See It Live at Saltex 2025

Visitors to Saltex 2025 can see OptiAdjust in action on the Trimax stand H082, where the system will be demonstrated alongside the company’s trusted range of commercial rotary and flail mowers.

OptiAdjust is available as an optional feature on new Pegasus S5 models.

For more information, or to watch the system in action, visit:
https://trimaxmowers.co.uk/trimax-optiadjust/

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