Discover the ‘Aspen Difference’ at BTME

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Discover the ‘Aspen Difference’ at BTME: With sustainability high on the agenda for many golf courses around the country, there has never been a better time to review all aspects of the greenkeeping operation – including the method of power.

Aspen Fuel is an alkylate petrol, 99% cleaner than traditional pump unleaded and offers a viable alternative for serviceable petrol-engined hand tools and equipment. Visitors to BTME 2025 can find out more as Aspen make their debut on stand 423.

Discover the ‘Aspen Difference’ at BTME

Discover the ‘Aspen Difference’ at BTME

Aspen Alkylate petrol offers numerous benefits to professional and commercial customers, making it a popular choice for those working in construction, landscaping and arboriculture, and already making a name for itself with golf courses around the world. Virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents, it reduces emissions and all-but eliminates odours – freeing operators from the headaches and other health implications this can cause.

Not only that, Aspen is also ethanol-free, protecting your machines during use and in storage, and extending engine life and reliability.

A growing list of UK courses have already made the switch to Aspen, including Newark Golf Club. After encountering availability issues with pump fuel during COVID, the team trialled Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 in their machinery and have not looked back since. “It’s not until you incorporate it into the day to day operations that you really begin to appreciate the improvements Aspen delivers for both the operators and the equipment. The biggest benefit for me is its shelf-life, which has seen us get equipment out of the shed that has been dormant for a year and starts again with no trouble at all” explains Course Manager Alex Clarricoates.

“We use roughly 400 litres of the 4-stroke Aspen, and 200 litres of the 2-stroke each year, both delivered in 200 litre barrels and stored exactly where we need it.” He continues, “Another benefit we’ve found is the Aspen 2 being pre-mixed which has eliminated issues we’ve experienced in the past where incorrect fuel to oil ratios have resulted in faults with some of our 2-stroke engines.”

Those wishing to trail Aspen alkylate petrol in their own businesses can now do so, risk-free, with Aspen’s money-back guarantee. If you don’t ‘Experience the Difference’ by the end of your trial period, Aspen will refund you the cost difference compared to what you would have spent on pump fuel. More details on this, and the full Aspen range, can be found by speaking to the technical team who will be available on stand 423 across the three-day show.

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Team Sprayers launch upgrades at BTME

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Team Sprayers launch upgrades at BTME: Team Sprayers are delighted to announce the launch of their upgraded Cub and Scout models at BTME 2025.

Their Cub and Scout models are mainstays of their pedestrian sprayer range. These models are perfect for grounds men and green keepers who require efficient and simple to use pedestrian sprayers.

Team Sprayers launch upgrades at BTME

Team Sprayers launch upgrades at BTME

Both the Cub and Scout models include a handle mounted on/off switching and pressure regulation control system with a clear, easy to read gauge and a spray or tank agitation valve to ensure the tank formulation is kept in suspension. They include a 2M 4 nozzle folding spray boom is removable for transportation and can be swapped for the wider 3M 6 nozzle boom or the 1M Dritftmaster covered boom system. The standard models of each machine is supplied with an 8L/M diaphragm pump and a single anti-drip check valve nozzle bodies with Lechlar IDK low-drift spray nozzles, an optional upgrade to triple nozzle assemblies is available if required. The polythene tanks are designed with a large access for easy filling and a tank drain valve for complete emptying and flushing out. The main difference between the two models is the tank capacities; the Cub has a 25 litre tank capacity and the Scout 60L.

Working in collaboration with trusted users Team have made changes to these already popular models to make them even more user friendly. These upgrades for the Team Cub and Scout models include a new compact design for easy transport and storage. There is a new plumbing system that ensures there’s no chemical wastage. There’s a new lid for easier filling and a new easy fold handle and boom.

The improved plumbing system has already been tried and tested on the new Vixen SP Pro model which launched in 2024. Other upgrades to this model, the largest of their pedestrian sprayer models with a 150l capacity tank, include a new lithium battery with Bluetooth connection to a battery APP as well as new controls for easier spray function.

Phil Hubbard, Team Sprayers’ Technical Director said ‘We are really pleased with the changes that we have made to the Cub, Scout and Vixen models in the last 12 months. We work very closely with our customers to ensure that our products exactly meet their requirements. The upgrades to the tank design, plumbing system and boom and handle folding makes these models even easier for our grounds men and green keepers to use as well as reducing any chemical wastage.’

Team Sprayers’ new sprayer models will be available to view on stand 518 at BTME 2025 at Harrogate Convention Centre on 21st – 23rd January 2025.

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is gearing up for a bumper edition of its annual trade show and education conference and with only a handful of exhibition stands available and education bookings at an all-time high, anticipation for the event is stronger than ever.

By early December, stand bookings had already exceeded the overall total achieved for the 2024 edition of the show, while the Continue to Learn education programme has achieved over 1,000 bookings at its earliest point ever. BIGGA is proud that BTME’s reputation as the official start of the sports turf calendar is growing, with all elements of the event increasing substantially year on year.

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

To date, 133 stands have been allocated across 4,105m2 of exhibition space at the Harrogate Convention Centre. In 2024, the total exhibition space was 4,086m2. To accommodate this demand, BIGGA has introduced innovative solutions including the debut of the Industry Launchpad attraction.

Key industry partners due to return to the event include The R&A, BAGMA, EIGCA, Grounds Management Association, England Golf and the GCMA, underscoring BTME’s influential role in the UK golf industry.

The trade show also supports BIGGA’s flagship education initiative, Continue to Learn. Open to anyone working withing golf greenkeeping and sports turf management, the programme has already seen exceptional demand with 80% of Continue to Learn: Classes already sold out. The Continue to Learn: Conference programme is also proving popular and during the first week in December, BIGGA reached its 1,000th Continue to Learn booking, a milestone achieved earlier than ever before.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the BIGGA team, whose dedication and innovation has propelled BTME and Continue to Learn to new heights. Their commitment to creating an exceptional experience for our members and the wider turf industry has established BTME as a cornerstone of the golfing calendar that is growing in size and reputation each year.

“The strong support for Continue to Learn also highlights a positive shift in attitudes towards greenkeeper education. The golf industry has a growing appetite for education and training and Continue to Learn and BTME are the ideal format for that to take place. This enthusiasm for professional development bodes well for the future of our sport and the industry as a whole.”

Robotic machinery manufacturer Kress will be exhibiting at BTME for the second time, having made its debut at BTME 2024. Kress was recently announced as headline sponsor of the BIGGA Celebration, which takes place on the opening evening of the event in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.

Nicki Jones, Kress Head of Marketing, said: “At Kress, we are delighted to attend the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and proud to host the BIGGA Celebration, including the highly regarded BIGGA Awards. We are well aware of BTME’s stellar reputation within the industry as a premier event for showcasing innovation and excellence in turf management. This makes it a particularly exciting and meaningful opportunity for us to actively participate. Kress is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the sector and we look forward to connecting with the talented professionals who make this industry thrive.”

Registration for BTME is open now. For more information about the trade show and the Continue to Learn education programme, visit www.btme.org.uk.

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Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

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Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME: Twelve months on from the launch of the INFINICUT® 22” FL golf cutting unit at BTME 2024, the company is set to return to Harrogate in January 2025 with two new patent-pending additions to the range.

The new design of the INFINICUT® 22” FX and 26” FX features a brand-new cutting system and attachment/removal method offering unparalleled accuracy of cut and ease of maintenance. More details can be found by visiting stand 614.

Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

The INFINICUT® stand is always awash with solutions designed to meet the exacting requirements for modern golf course maintenance, and BTME 2025 is shaping up to be no different. In the year since it’s launch, the 22” FL golf cutting unit has proven itself to be the most balanced mower for achieving low heights of cut with greenkeepers around the world. The two new models promise to build on this success, combining the very best in cut quality with technological advancements which not only benefit plant health, but optimise the operator experience.

Appreciating that every golf course is different and that course managers don’t necessarily follow the same maintenance doctrine, all INFINICUT® models offer the ability to quickly and easily alter a range of mower parameters via the InfiniApp™. Settings can also be stored for retrieval and/or simultaneously sent wirelessly to multiple machines in a fleet, reducing time and all-but eliminating differentiation between mowers.

One InfiniApp™ feature that has proven extremely popular with operators is ‘tilt and turn’. At the end of line turn, a sensor automatically detects that the mower is lifted and slows the unit down to a prechosen percentage of walk speed. Each individual operator can choose a slow-down rate that they are comfortable with and, when dropped back to the mow position, the regular mowing speed is engaged.

Further convenience is delivered thanks to the dedicated INFINICUT® trailer, offering the swift and safe transportation of 22” and 26” units between greens.

The technical team will be on hand across the three days to discuss the full INFINICUT® pedestrian range, together with the TMSystem™ collection of maintenance cassettes which transform the INFINICUT® or mainstream models of multi-gang mower into units for complete turf refinement.

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Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

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Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions: Kubota will be back BTME once again in January, joining Baroness on stand 624 to showcase the very best in Japanese excellence.

Complementing an array of Baroness implements, pedestrian and ride on mowers will be models from across Kubota’s RTV, mower and compact tractor range including the B2-261 and robust and versatile L2-622HST – the agile all-rounder that effortlessly tackles all maintenance tasks around the golf course.

Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

Offering the highest rear lift capacity in its class, the Kubota L2-622 combines reliable technology and productivity with a high degree of operator comfort. At its heart is an efficient 62hp stage-V diesel engine, integrated power steering and HST hydrostatic transmission with three-stage group shift for smooth operation and complete control. Further flexibility is offered by a range of Kubota front loaders, extending its application to course renovation and end of season construction works.

Continuing the theme of versatility will be the RTV 520 from Kubota’s utility vehicle range. The Kubota RTV 520 delivers quiet, dependable power from the 18hp liquid-cooled 2-cylinder engine for work on all terrain and the timely delivery of people and materials to meet the tightest of maintenance schedules. Its heavy-duty metal load platform, solid underbody protection and high front axle ground clearance of 225mm are proof positive that compact doesn’t have to mean compromise when it comes to rugged productivity.

Completing the line-up will be a selection of ride-on mowers. Joining the highly productive FC3-261 out-front centre-collect mower will be the F-391 with 60” rear discharge deck. Renowned for its efficiency, Kubota’s F-Series of front mower delivers rugged, diesel-powered reliability for the most demanding of mowing tasks. Comfortable ergonomics are complemented by optimal cut and clipping dispersal, and equally impressive mulching quality. Available with either a 60 or 72” mower deck, and choice of side or rear discharge, the F-391 presents a versatile alternative for the cutting of long, dense roughs, practice areas and car park surrounds.

As always, the Kubota team will be on hand across the three days, happy to answer visitors’ questions and looking forward to catching up with customers old and new.

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