Makita launches new two piece LXT combo kit

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Makita launches new two piece LXT combo kit: Makita has launched the new DLX2537ST 18V LXT Brushless Combo Kit, which includes a DHP490 Combi Drill, a DTD153 Impact Driver, as well as two BL1850B 5.0Ah LXT Batteries and a DC18SD Battery Charger. All of this comes packed in the popular 821551-8 Makpac Type 3 Carry Case for easy transportation. 

With an efficient motor and a lightweight design optimised for user comfort, the DHP490 Combi Drill Brushless LXT provides the ideal blend of power and practicality. Weighing just 1.7kg with a battery, the drill’s compact design reduces fatigue and aids manoeuvrability. Combined with 65Nm of maximum torque, two mechanical speeds and variable speed controlled through the trigger, the DHP490 offers professionals a great all-round solution.

Makita launches new two piece LXT combo kit

Makita launches new two piece LXT combo kit

Similarly, the DTD153 Impact Driver also balances power output and user comfort. With a maximum fastening torque of 170Nm, it provides ample power for driving screws and fixings into a range of different materials. However, its rubberised, ergonomic grip and light weight of just 1.6kg with battery means that the tool is comfortable and easy to hold for extended periods.

Both tools in the kit also utilise Makita’s brushless motor, which reduces the need for maintenance and helps improve the longevity of the tool. The drill and impact driver are both compatible with the BL1850B 5.0Ah batteries, which feature a handy charge indicator display and can be used with any of Makita’s LXT lineup, which features over 300 tools.

“We are very pleased to introduce the new DLX2537ST 18V LXT Combo Kit to customers,” commented Kevin Brannigan Marketing Manager at Makita UK. “Our kits provide a great way for customers to get everything they need in one place, giving you all the tools you need to get the job done properly.”

For more information on the Combo Kit and the promotion, go to www.makitauk.com.

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OAS showcases trusted solutions at BTME

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OAS showcases trusted solutions at BTME: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS), the leading complete turf solutions provider, will be a key exhibitor at BTME 2026. Visitors to stands 230 and 200 can meet the team and explore the full range of turf management, irrigation, fertiliser, nutrition and digital solutions, designed to help greenkeepers deliver high-quality, playable surfaces efficiently and sustainably.

Comprehensive Solutions on Stand 230

OAS will feature the latest Top Green R Range grass seed, developed in partnership with Europe’s leading turfgrass breeder, Top Green. Alongside this, the company will showcase its plant nutrition products and soil enhancers, demonstrating how every aspect of turf management works together.

OAS showcases trusted solutions at BTME

OAS showcases trusted solutions at BTME

Demonstrations of the digital platforms TurfKeeper and MachineKeeper will illustrate how teams can monitor turf and machinery, optimise resources, and improve operational efficiency. Complementing this, Rain Bird irrigation systems, including the Cirrus PRO central control system, will highlight how precise water management supports healthier turf while promoting sustainable water use.

Visitors will also have access to OAS’s technical team for advice on Plant Protection Products (PPP) and can collect a free IPM Wall Planner to support practical planning and future reference.

Fertiliser Focus on Stand 200
Stand 200 will highlight OAS’s extensive range of fertilisers, including NutriLink, MicroLite, and Xtend CRF, all proven to deliver outstanding results in turf performance. Experienced advisors will be on hand to explain how each product promotes healthy growth, enhances resilience, and supports long-term turf sustainability. This is an opportunity to explore OAS’s innovative fertiliser solutions and see firsthand why they are trusted by turf professionals across the UK.

Innovation and Expertise with Top Green

OAS’s long-standing partnership with Top Green brings proven European breeding expertise to UK turf management. Their programme at Les Allueds, France, combines scientific rigour with practical field performance to produce seed varieties selected for rapid establishment, resilience, wear tolerance, and year-round playability.

This ensures OAS customers have access to high-performance, trial-proven grass seed, while initiatives such as Carbon4Grass demonstrate a shared commitment to innovation and sustainable turf solutions.

Visitors can also enter a multiple-winner competition to visit Top Green’s breeding facility in France, hosted by OAS. Full entry details are available on the main stand.

Educational Sessions
OAS technical experts will lead a series of sessions as part of BIGGA’s Continue to Learn programme, offering practical advice and insights to help attendees improve turf quality and irrigation management:

  • Collecting & Using Data to Optimise Surface Performance – Sunday 18 January
    Kelly Clack demonstrates how to use site-specific data to enhance turf quality and inform management decisions.
  • Building a Fertiliser Plan for Beginners – Monday 19 January
    Kelly Clack shares practical strategies for creating effective fertiliser programmes.
  • Simple Repairs to Your Irrigation System – Wednesday 21 January
    Peter Robin delivers hands-on guidance for maintaining and repairing irrigation systems.
  • Emerging Technologies for Disease Control – Wednesday 21 January
    Kelly Clack explores sustainable approaches to turf disease management.

Free Coffee and Expert Advice at BTME 2026
Whether you are exploring new technology, looking to refine your turf care programme, or want to see what is new in the sector, the OAS team will be ready to welcome you. Enjoy free barista-style coffee while speaking with the technical team. It’s a stand no greenkeeper should miss.

For more information, visit www.originamenity.com or contact the OAS team on 0800 138 7222.

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STIGA Robots Are Winning Hands Down

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STIGA Robots Are Winning Hands Down: STIGA’s robot mowers are proving so talented that the team is beginning to wonder if there’s anything they can’t groom to perfection. Their newest prodigy has now joined Great Yarmouth Racecourse, where it received a name worthy of a champion.

Meet SHADOW OF LIGHT (Shadow), named after the star racehorse who first tasted victory here before galloping off to become Europe’s top two-year-old in 2024. No pressure, little robot!

STIGA Robots Are Winning Hands Down

STIGA Robots Are Winning Hands Down

Richard Aldous​​​​, Clerk of the Course, Gt Yarmouth & Regional Clerk (East) shared: “We find Shadow so useful, he keeps the height of cut regulated in all weathers and at all times of the year.  This robot cuts our parade ring daily and five other lawns 3 days a week, but is out every day working somewhere. The saving of staff hours allows them to do other important jobs.  The presentation of our site is very important to us as a business, and especially being part of ARENA RACING COMPANY.”

With racing events dating back to 1715, Great Yarmouth boasts more than 300 years of proud horseracing history. The racecourse, which was moved from South Yarmouth to its current location in the 1920s, now stages a vibrant summer season of 24 flat race meetings, drawing top jockeys and spotlighting promising two-year-old horses, some of which progress to win major international races in places such as the USA and Brazil.

Richard continued, “We love the mower, it saves staff time, keeps our lawns in good order all year round and surprisingly, I find people standing watching it, saying they find it therapeutic!”

Now that’s what the STIGA team loves to hear: a mower that cuts grass and delivers a little slice of Zen! Hooray for Shadow of Light!”

You can read more about STIGA’s autonomous robot mowers and other STIGA products here: www.stiga.com/uk/

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STIHL unveils WSA 40 battery-powered water supply unit

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STIHL unveils WSA 40 battery-powered water supply unit: STIHL has introduced the WSA 40, a compact battery-powered pressurised water container engineered to provide a reliable, hassle-free water feed for cut-off machines. By removing the need for manual pumping, the WSA 40 helps professionals work faster and with less effort on site.

Part of the STIHL AS System and operating at a consistent pressure of 1.5 to 2.5 bars, the unit ensures a steady water flow to support dust suppression and cooling during cutting. With one AS battery, the WSA 40 can deliver water continuously for up to 30 minutes or the equivalent of seven full tanks, giving operators excellent runtime for day-to-day tasks. With a 10-litre capacity, it is designed to handle demanding applications with ease.

STIHL unveils WSA 40 battery-powered water supply unit

STIHL unveils WSA 40 battery-powered water supply unit

The system has been designed with practicality front of mind. Automatic shut-off conserves energy and extends battery service life by stopping operation when the tank runs empty or the container is no longer in use. A transparent fill-level indicator, variable pressure control and clear battery status display further support easy and efficient operation.

At just over 3kg, the container is lightweight to carry and simple to manoeuvre around site. Supplied with a four-metre hose and standard coupling, the WSA 40 provides the reach needed to cover larger working areas without repeatedly relocating the unit, enhancing convenience on the job.

To learn more about the STIHL WSA 40 pressurised water container, visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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EcoBunker Pre-Cut Revolution Halves Bunker Build Time

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EcoBunker Pre-Cut Revolution Halves Bunker Build Time: 18 years after Richard Allen first conceived the idea of using synthetic turf to create low maintenance, high durability edging for bunker walls, industry pioneers EcoBunker have announced the latest in their long line of innovations in the sector – Pre-Cut synthetic tiles.

“EcoBunker Advanced was the last big step forward we took in bunker edge technology,” said Richard Allen, CEO of EcoBunker and inventor of synthetic bunker edging. “That enabled us to build bigger, stronger walls with fewer synthetic tiles, so the impact on the business and our bunkers was very dramatic. While our latest innovation, pre-cut tiles, might not be as obviously impactful, the results we are seeing from early adopters are quite remarkable.”

EcoBunker Pre-Cut Revolution Halves Bunker Build Time

EcoBunker Pre-Cut Revolution Halves Bunker Build Time

The process of installing traditional EcoBunker Advanced walls and edging involves the individual cutting of each tile to provide the flexibility required to shape the bunker wall. With the new pre-cut tiles, build time on each project is dramatically reduced, while quality, consistency and safety are all increasing.

“Pre-cut might not sound much, but an average bunker uses 750 synthetic tiles so that’s a lot of time saved! But it’s not just the cutting time,” continued Richard. “Greenkeeping staff have to wet pallets if they become dry, handle tiles with care when they turn them over, and they have to use a Stanley knife to hand-cut each tile. When you also account for all that time unstacking and re-stacking, we have been able to reduce the average bunker build by half on several projects. And when we pre-cut, each tile has exactly the same cut. This all adds up to a very high level of quality, consistency and durability.”

One club that has already used pre-cut tiles in the third phase of their work with EcoBunker is Lundin Links. Having previously used traditional EcoBunker Advanced technology, course manager, Gavin Neill, noticed an immediate and significant impact.

He said, “For the first two phases of our bunker restoration project we used EcoBunker Advanced and the results have been fantastic. The new bunkers look great and have significantly cut down on maintenance time. For the most recent phase we used the new EcoBunker pre-cut tiles and couldn’t believe the time we saved on installation. We are now able to build bunkers in half the time. Eliminating all on-site cutting also means that not only is it quicker, but it’s safer and reduces the number of waste tiles.”

While the introduction of pre-cut offers immediate advantages for clubs who are looking to build new bunkers themselves, the benefits of the new system are also available for clubs who want to commission a bunker project.

“As a contractor who regularly installs EcoBunker products, having the option to buy pre-cut Advanced Tiles is a major advantage for us. It removes the need to spend time on site cutting tiles, which immediately reduces labour hours, accommodation and travel costs, and allows us to offer more competitive and transparent quotes to clubs,” commented Andrew Greenslade, Managing Director at AMG golf course renovation. “Pre-cut tiles also mean we can start construction as soon as we arrive, rather than losing one or two days preparing materials. This keeps the programme tight and helps us deliver projects more efficiently.”

“We’ve introduced several advancements to the bunker sector, but this has actually been one of the most difficult to perfect.” concluded Richard. “Now we have the tooling and methodology to create consistent cuts every time, this will revolutionise the way in which greenkeeping teams approach a bunker project. All the advantages of EcoBunker technology remain – significantly lower maintenance, increased longevity, sustainability and zero sand contamination – and all of that is now accessible in half the time.”

For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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