Dennis & SISIS Acquire Foley Grinder

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Dennis & SISIS Acquire Foley Grinder: Dennis & SISIS have bolstered their production line with the addition of a Foley Accu-Pro 673 to ensure perfect OEM specification grinding.

The renowned mower manufacturer had very specific requirements when it came to choosing the machine that would grind all of the bedknives for their mowers, citing reliability, flexibility and accuracy as the top three priorities.

Dennis & SISIS Acquire Foley Grinder

As part of the production line, the Accu-Pro 673 fully automatic Bedknife grinder is in constant use and will grind thousands of bedknives a year, with the machine having already delivered between 500 to 600 blades in its first three months.

These blades are manufactured in-house through Dennis Sisis’ sister company, Crocodile Precision Ltd, and Ian Howard, managing director of Dennis Sisis, explains the importance of having a high-quality reliable grinder as the company moves through their busiest year to date.

“Our specification for a grinder differs slightly from a golf course or football club because of the amount of time our grinders are working,” Ian began. “We’re having our busiest year to date, our order books are full, sales are booming, and demand is increasing all the time, so this increases our need for reliability and quality in the production line.

“Every bedknife we produce has to be individually ground to the correct OEM specification on the bedknife carrier, prior to mower assembly. We need a grinder that makes efficient use of workshop time by being quick and easy to set-up particularly as we are constantly swapping between different length blades.

“Our customers expect accurately ground relief angles on the blade, and the Accu-Pro 673 consistently delivers top-quality performance.”

The robust construction and features of the Foley machine made it a more attractive grinder for Ian and the Dennis Sisis team. The innovative mounting system uses powerful electromagnets to hold the bed bar in place and Positive Gauge Stops to make set-up simple and fast.

Fast angle set-up provides repeatability without recalibration. Set the Angle Stops once and the 673 will grind the same angle over and over. Changing from grinding the front face to the top face is as simple as pushing a button and watching as the powered Tool Bar rotates into the position.

Automation is at the core of the 673’s success, with the pre-set programmes automatically starting the grinder, traversing the grinding head, in-feeding the grinding head and stopping the grinding process.

One man who experiences the full benefit of these features is Dennis & SISIS senior grinding technician, Tony Snaith. “I’ve been delighted with the performance and speed the blades can be set-up and ground,” he said.

“The Accu-Pro 673 has performed consistently, efficiently and accurately and has coped with the constant demands of the production line. It has really proven itself to be the perfect machine for what we need.”

Foley grinders claim to deliver the best grinding solution available on the market. Be it for high output in a production line, contractor, local authority or the more measured approach of affordable in-house grinding for golf courses and football clubs.

For more information, visit: www.foleyunited.com

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New Etesia Brushcutters At SALTEX

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New Etesia Brushcutters At SALTEX: Etesia UK have confirmed that visitors to stand C050 at this year’s SALTEX will have an opportunity to see new products, with the launch of two new Attila pedestrian brushcutter models at the show.

With built-in rugged reliability as standard, the new Etesia AK60 and AH75 pedestrian brushcutters have been designed to work in the toughest of conditions. These powerful workhorses effectively deal with clearing vegetation from a wide variety of sites – long grass, weeds, bracken and brambles on woodland paths or orchards. Ease of operation and manoeuvrability ensure total efficiency and high output.

New Etesia Brushcutters At SALTEX

Both models will be fitted with a T3 transmission with differential lock and front wheel locking system with a simple height of cut adjustment from the new handle bar design.

The AK60 model is fitted with a Kawasaki FJ180 OHV engine with a 60cm cutting width, while the AH75 is fitted with a Honda GXV 390 engine with a 75cm cutting width. Both new models also feature a new handle bar system with central cable protection allowing movement into offset and storage positions.

The two new models join the Attila AK51 Kawasaki 51cm cutting width model already in the range.

Also available to view at the 2018 show will be a range of Etesia pedestrian and ride-on mowers.

New Etesia Brushcutters At SALTEX

New product brochures ahead of the 2019 season will also be available.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

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Toro’s Great Results At Carnoustie

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Toro’s Great Results At Carnoustie: This year’s hot, dry summer led to Sandy Reid, links superintendent at Carnoustie Golf Links, facing an unusual set of circumstances in the lead up to, and during, the Open Championship.

Weather prior to the Championship had produced the fast-running links conditions many had dreamt of, but the turf was so dry it was barely growing, and vehicles travelling over the course were causing damage.

Toro's Great Results At Carnoustie

“We were delighted with the conditions as it shows links golf off to the very best,” says Sandy. “But we were also apprehensive because we weren’t used to it and we had never prepared the course in conditions like that before. It was just so dry.”

So, to give the fairways all they needed throughout the Championship – a gentle trim – the Toro Reelmaster 3555-D fairway mower was perfectly suited for the task.

“We brought in a vehicle and buggy ban inside the ropes for a week in advance of the Championship and for the week itself, and this applied to everyone from the contractors, the TV camera crews, the R&A and ourselves,” explains Sandy, who together with Championship Course head greenkeeper, Craig Boath, managed a large team, and support staff for the week.

“The RM3555 fairway mower was absolutely perfect as, with three wheels and slick tyres, we could use it with the confidence that it was not going to damage the turf and as it uses the same cutting units as the Reelmaster 5410 we knew we would get consistency of cut.”

As usual Carnoustie produced a fantastically exciting Open with Italian, Francesco Molinari, producing a bogey-free weekend to top a leaderboard stacked with big names. Before Molinari had holed his final putt both Tiger Woods, leading with just nine holes to play for the first time in 10 years, and Rory McIlroy, tied second, had the galleries roaring their approval.

With three courses to maintain, Carnoustie Links have a substantial fleet of Toro equipment from a long-standing agreement with Reesink. But for such a huge championship extra equipment, plus Toro tournament support staff, were brought in for the week.

“It was great to have this equipment ready and waiting even if it wasn’t used as much as other tournaments. However, there was rain overnight on the Friday, which created some growth, and having additional fairway mowers meant that we could cut them from one direction, tee to green,” says Sandy.

And of course, the work didn’t stop when the players and public galleries returned home, then began the recovery work!

“We had the ProCore 648s doing solid tining and mini coring in some of the well-trafficked areas, so we could get some air into them and some seeding done. The HydroJect have also been very useful. We’ve got a couple of pedestrian ones, but we still have a trailed one which we put on the back of a Workman with some wetting agent in the tanks for some of the barer spectator routes.”

Having been head greenkeeper on the Championship course, working under links superintendent, John Philp, at the last Carnoustie Open in 2007, Sandy is well placed to assess the development of equipment in the intervening 11 years.

“I would say that there have been improvements. We’ve moved to 11-blade units, even on our triples, while we find the latest machines’ ability to follow contours and curves, particularly with the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420s, so much better. The balance of the wheels and tyres means that you don’t see wheel marks to the same degree as you used to. They don’t put the pressure on the turf that the older machines used to.”

He is delighted with the support Carnoustie Links gets from Toro and distributor Reesink Turfcare, while the quality of the equipment itself pleases not only him, but his team of greenkeepers.

“It is first class machinery throughout the fleet and we have full confidence that whatever task we are doing we will get a great quality finish. The guys all love using it as it is comfortable, understandable and easy to use.”

‘Rest’ is a four-letter word not often heard at Carnoustie and there won’t be much of it coming up as the annual Dunhill Links Championship, with its host of celebrity golfers, takes place over Carnoustie, The Old Course, and Kingsbarns, in October.

Nothing to faze Sandy and his team, however, and, with the support of Toro and Reesink, it will all be taken in the Carnoustie stride.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Power And Speed For WOLF-Garten At GLEE

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Power And Speed For WOLF-Garten At GLEE: WOLF-Garten will be unveiling a variety of new products at Glee, all designed to deliver next level expertise to gardeners whilst boosting convenience.

The first is the RS800V lopper which has the innovative feature of being able to switch between two cutting modes. The V in the name means “Vario” which signifies that the cutting mode can effortlessly change from Speed Cut to Power Cut. When in Speed mode, branches can be tidied quickly courtesy of the small spread angle of the blade. Switch to Power mode to tackle thicker, tougher branches. The lopper has non-stick coated blades for easier cutting and cleaning, and can cut through branches up to 50mm thick. It is designed with gardener comfort in mind so has lightweight aluminium handles with ergonomic soft grips.

Power And Speed For WOLF-Garten At GLEE

The new products will see WOLF-Garten adding lightweight, modern, contemporary usable long handled digging tools to its range with two spades being added. Each priced £54.99, the two spades are made using an induction-hardened boron steel with stiffened grooves which enable them to penetrate the ground without the risk of bending the tool, adding to the durability and longevity of the product. The two options are a straight spade with an ergonomic D-grip handle, and a pointed spade which is best suited for harder, stony soil.

Other new additions to the WOLF-Garten range are two gift sets. The Mini Tool Gift Set contains four products – a pair of bypass secateurs, a trowel, a hand grubber and a scraper – all essentials for any gardener! The second set, the Mini Multi-Change Gift Set, is ideal for smaller gardens and tasks, such as on balconies and terraces or in beds and planters. It has four heads and a handle to offer something for all tasks from planting and loosening to weeding and cleaning with a trowel, small cultivator, small lawn rake and double hoe. It is part of the iconic WOLF-Garten Multi-Change® range and so is compatible with the full system.

The Multi-Change® range is also being extended with two new products. A 4-in-1 leaf rake has been introduced, as well as a gutter cleaner. The leaf rake has three working widths (20cm, 48cm and 76cm), enabling to remove leaves and garden waste from both small and large areas. It can also be dismantled into three parts for easy storage, as well as this the removable head and can be collapsed to be used as a scoop for collecting debris once gathered. The gutter cleaner has two elements – a leaf scoop and a gutter brush. It has a replaceable body brush with integrated scraper to remove stubborn dirt and leaves.

These products will be showcased on stand 7J30-L31, alongside the full range of WOLF-Garten products.

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New Toro Machines At SALTEX

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New Toro Machines At SALTEX: Toro distributor Reesink Turfcare is bringing the first super-duty utility vehicle, the Outcross 9060, and the brand’s new 12ft pull-behind rotary mower to SALTEX 2018. Both machines are designed to ensure groundsmen can do a lot more, with less, and will be on show on stand H010.

Jeff Anguige, national sales manager for Reesink, says: “The launch of the Outcross 9060 marks the first of its kind to be purpose-built for the management of fine turf. It combines the best elements of a tractor with a utility vehicle and delivers a machine that can do the work of multiple machines in one compact package.”

New Toro Machines At SALTEX

Powered by a 59.8-horsepower Yanmar liquid-cooled diesel engine, the Outcross can tow up to 16,000lbs and has an optional cargo bed that can hold 4,500lbs of materials. It simplifies operation, optimises power and brings the option of dozens of attachments to perform hundreds of tasks.

Following hot on the Outcross’s heels for making the groundsman’s life easier is the Groundsmaster 1200 pull-behind rotary mower. What’s interesting about this new machine is that it is, says Toro, a pull-behind more than worthy of being called a Groundsmaster such are its capabilities.

Productivity is high with a 12ft wide cutting width thanks to three decks which flow with the contours of the terrain for example and dual full width rollers which leave a well-groomed after-cut appearance. The height of cut can be adjusted from 0.5 to four inches, and its wing decks folded up to create a narrow 86-inch transportation width making it easy to get from site to site. Plus, the transport wheels feature a torsion axle and integrated torsion spring which means it can do its job smoothly and comfortably for the operator.

Jeff says of these new launches: “As with the entire grounds range, Toro focusses on productivity, versatility, flexibility and durability, and the Outcross and Groundsmaster are the perfect embodiment of all these things. Toro understands its market and that today’s groundsmen need to do more with less. Plus, they complement each other so well.”

In addition, there will be a full line-up from Reesink and all its brands. From the grounds machinery range will be the LT-F3000 triple flail mower and its innovative cylinder attachment option, and the large volume direct collect ProLine H800, which launched at last year’s show.

Representing Toro’s irrigation range will be the Lynx Central Control system and Infinity 55 sprinklers with Smart Access, TS90 and T7 sprinklers with TurfCup, a feature for hidden infield irrigation and seamless-looking turf, and the Flex 55 sprinklers.

For those managing ponds and lakes, needing to optimise oxygen levels to keep water healthy, there will be Otterbine’s best-selling Fractional five-in-one aerator which delivers the highest performance rate of any fractional aerator on the market. It will be joined on stand by the Concept 3, the aerating fountain that perfectly illustrates how industrial aerators can give the best of both worlds offering function and beauty.

Reesink will again have two stands with H080 being entirely dedicated to TYM’s range of compact tractors and accessories.

Reesink’s marketing manager Holly Jones, says: “There’s lots to look forward to for this year’s show. To have not one but two Toro launches is great for the sports and amenities market and I predict there will be a lot of interest on the stand as a result. We welcome everyone to come and see the line-up, discuss their needs and share experiences and advice with our specialist groundscare machinery team.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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