Koro FTM At Cricket Demo Day

Koro FTM At Cricket Demo Day: Campey Turf Care Systems in association with their Cambridgeshire dealer, Scamblers, held a successful demonstration day at Clare College, Cambridge, to show what the Koro FIELD TOP-MAKER can do on a cricket square.

The Imants machine was originally used to strip the organic matter off of football pitches and has gone on to be used in rugby, golf and tennis with cricket becoming the latest adopter of the technology.

Koro FTM At Cricket Demo Day

Cambridge United use the Clare College site for training and because of this head groundsman, Robbie Nightingale knows the difference removing the organic matter can make to a football pitch and was keen to test it out on his cricket square.

“There is a lot of good quality cricket played in the county and there is an opening for a few Colleges or clubs to pitch in together to get a Koro FTM,” he explained. “Using the machine in different sports to what it was originally used for is something that’s a growing trend and you read and see a lot about people using it, so we thought we’d have a look and see what it’s about.

“Because it’s a demonstration day and the first time we used the machine we wanted to start at 3mm and go down very gradually so we could take out whatever we wanted to. Going to 3mm is ideal for us because we wouldn’t have been able to do that with the machinery that we have so it’s been a fantastic opportunity for us, and others, to see it on our own square.

30 turf professionals from 28 different cricket clubs, football clubs and colleges from the Cambridgeshire region attended the event which also included a demonstration of the Air2G2 GT Air Inject.

Campey product specialist, Simon Holland, ran the practical side of the event and has seen an increased number of cricket groundsmen enquire about using the Koro FTM on their squares.

Koro FTM At Cricket Demo Day

“Koro-ing has become more popular within cricket at all levels of the game,” he said. “I’m going to Edgbaston Cricket Ground to Koro a wicket there that has SIS Grass reinforcement, so that’ll be an interesting project to work on because it’ll be the first time it’s been done on a cricket pitch that’s reinforced.

“But although today is mainly cricket we do have people from other sports attending because they want to see the Koro FTM working. I think there’s a growing interest from the cricket side because it isn’t something they’ve adopted fully yet, but they can see the benefits of using it.

“The idea is to level the pitch, particularly the saddles, and pull 90% of the organic matter out so they’ve got a blank canvass to work with.”

For more information, visit: www.campeyturfcare.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Whisper Twister Perfect For Coxmoor

Whisper Twister Perfect For Coxmoor: Coxmoor Golf Club, an accredited England Golf Championship venue, is in its fourth year of a major ten year redevelopment, working closely with architects, Creative Golf Design. The progressive Nottinghamshire club has an innovative programme of bunker and tee improvements to future proof the course which are already elevating its stature. 

Running alongside is a ten year woodlands plan in partnership with The Sherwood Forest Trust and the Forestry Commission.  The goal is to restore the Sutton-in-Ashfield club to its natural heathland habitat with a better understanding of woodland management.  Over 1500 trees have been thinned out making way for the best indigenous species, the focus on selecting trees across a spectrum of life cycle stages. By necessity, Course Manager, Ben Cumberland and his greenkeeping team of seven, adopt very effective solutions for removing leaf debris.

Whisper Twister Perfect For Coxmoor

Central to their operation is a previously under-used John Deere 3730 tractor, which now supports a Wiedenmann Whisper Twister blower on the front and a variety of equipment on the back.

“When I joined Coxmoor, the 3730 tractor was a couple of years old with its three point front linkage kit untouched and no obvious plans to put it to use. With front linkage in place it made sense to attach a blower which could stay on for two to three months at a time,” explained Ben Cumberland.  “James Robson from dealer Henton and Chatell got on the case and brought the Whisper Twister for demo and we kept it.

“It’s fortunate the John Deere has low ground pressure and Galaxy flotation tyres so it can be over the greens for most of the year, leaving no imprint whatsoever. The Whisper Twister balances on a low pressure wheel so together they are perfect for fine turf. When it’s dry, the blower goes round the greens that need it in the morning to tidy them. We drive right up to a bunker, point the nozzle, rotate if required and the leaves are taken out easily. Because the driver’s view is to the front, you see everything; no awkward neck twisting trying to look behind,” continued Ben Cumberland.

Whisper Twister Perfect For Coxmoor

“Only in the depths of winter will we go over the greens and blow leaves by hand. But for other parts of the course when it is damp and the leaves are dormant and bedded into the grass, we will pair the blower with the Wiedenmann Terra Rake.  The scarifying tines on the rake go through the longer grass, teasing the leaves out from the bottom; the leaves are blown out and then we rake them up.

“Having the blower to the front is so versatile; the set up gives scope to do more and more. We will put another machine on the back and tidy as we go, especially with aeration work on the greens, or with the slitter, the sorrel roller, the brush… even down to blowing tees before we spray them with the sprayer attached. We often do two jobs in one. Kill two birds with the one stone if you like.”

For more information, visit: www.wiedenmann.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Compact Spider Mower To Launch At SALTEX

Compact Spider Mower To Launch At SALTEX: The name Spider is synonymous in the sector for innovative, industry-leading machinery that tackles even the most challenging terrain.

Designed and built at high-tech premises in the Czech Republic by the team at Dvorak, Spider slope mowers are the only remote-controlled, robotic mowers in the world that offer zero-turn capability to cut grass on slopes up to 55 degrees. Now, the Spider team from the Czech Republic and the UK distributor T H WHITE Machinery Imports are excited to unveil a brand-new slope mower, launching at SALTEX at the end of October on stand H190.

Compact Spider Mower To Launch At SALTEX

The new Spider X Line is their smallest commercial machine to date, offering a compact profile with huge performance. The X Line includes all the benefits of a larger Spider slope mower in a 1m2 sized machine, enabling users to get the very best performance while being able to transport the mower easily on a trailer or in the back of van. With an integrated winch, until now only seen on the larger Spider mowers, the X Line is capable of mowing slopes up to 55° – that’s 17° more than the worlds steepest ski slope, Harikari in Austria – which boasts an eyewatering 38° pitch!

With an incline as steep as that, there is naturally great concern in mowing grass with an operator using a ride-on or pedestrian mower, or strimmer. This is where the Spider X Line will excel, remote-controlled from a distance to ensure complete operator safety. The remote control also removes the operator from the working area of the mower, away from noise and vibration, meaning there is no limit on safe use considering HAVs, WBVs and Noise. Not only that, the X Line can mow at speeds of up to 6 km/h with a 65cm mulch cutting deck, meaning you can cut more grass in less time. The unique wheel stowage design enables the incorporation of a specially designed terrain-following mowing deck, giving you a consistent, high quality cut on the most uneven turf.

In fact, the X Line has a cutting capacity equivalent to 3 operatives with brush cutters, meaning that not only is the job completed faster and more efficiently, but it also allows for operatives to be redeployed to other tasks while one person controls the Spider.

Unique to Spider is the ‘Dancing Step’ drive system, which enables the X Line to move with zero turn capability. This is supremely useful when mowing around obstacles or when coming up against boundaries, saving time on each turn compared to other robotic mowers.

Finally, in addition to its powerful Honda GXV390 10.2hp petrol engine, the X Line boasts a lightweight chassis and four-wheel drive, giving it exceptional traction with gentle treatment of turf even in wet or soft conditions and eliminating erosion on slopes.

In addition to exceptional performance on slopes and inclines, Spider mowers are proven to excel in other unsafe or challenging environments across the UK, including airports, motorway and railway verges, lakes and riverbanks, around reservoirs, powerplants and solar farms, orchards and vineyards and in military facilities. Machinery Imports Director, Tim Lane, is looking forward to showcasing the new X Line at SALTEX ahead of it’s release to the market in 2019. “This is an exciting time for Spider and Machinery Imports, and we are pleased to launch a new commercial mower to the industry for 2019. The X Line is a true all-round robotic mower, offering features that are unrivalled in the market at the moment and the ability to outperform its competitors on sloping and even ground. We’re looking forward to demonstrating the X Line in the New Year to interested customers and working with our extensive dealer network to promote this innovative machine.”

As part of the Machinery Imports stand at SALTEX this year, the Spider X Line will be proudly displayed for visitors to find out more about it and see the innovation for themselves. We welcome all visitors to the event to see us at stand H190 to learn more.

Specifications:

• Honda GXV390 petrol engine, 10.2-gross HP.
• Hydrostatic transmission
• Ground speed up to 6kph/3.7mph with productivity equivalent to 3 operatives with brushcutters
• Skid steering ‘Dancing Step’ zero-turn drive system
• 65cm / 25.6 inch cutting width with mulching deck
• 4-12cm / 1.6-4.7 inch cutting height range
• 1-2 litre per hour fuel consumption
• 55° / 143% climbing ability with integrated winch
• 95 x 105 x 65cm dimensions

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

IBEA’s SALTEX Launch

IBEA’s SALTEX Launch: Ibea are launching the all new 5370SB Professional Mulching mower at the upcoming SALTEX Exhibition on stand number K020 at the NEC in Birmingham on October 31st and November 1st.

This mower is designed and built with professional contractors and councils in mind who want to cut grass fast without the need to collect and dispose of  the grass, available with either  Steel or Aluminium deck.

IBEA's SALTEX Launch

The product offers low hand arm vibration figures through its anti vibration system that does not compromise the toughness and reliability of the product. Other features include central cutting height adjustment with 6 height options, single speed transmission with Aluminium case, hardened steel gears and a TEM belt without tensioner.

To help with transportation on trailers or vans the handles fold completely taking up less space and with an engine brake as standard additional safety is offered powered with a Briggs & Stratton 800 Series OHV power unit.

For more information or demo’ call Andy on 01342 870242 or e mail tradesales@autoculture.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New Holland’s Compact Tractors & Mini Excavator At SALTEX

New Holland’s Compact Tractors & Mini Excavator At SALTEX: New Holland are heading to the NEC for SALTEX on 31st October and 1st November, and will showcase a selection of compact tractors ideal for grass and landscape management along with a mini crawler excavator from the construction range.

Tractors

New Holland Boomer tractors are compact, manoeuvrable and versatile and are divided into three power classes; the Boomer 30 and Boomer 40 will be available to view on stand.

New Holland's Compact Tractors & Mini Excavator At SALTEX

Boomer tractors are known for their ease of use. With well-placed controls, and adjustable seat and steering wheel allowing plenty of legroom for different height drivers. Controls are colour-coded and clearly marked so that even new operators are confident when behind the wheel.

Boomer tractors are extremely versatile. Able to work with various attachments and implements they can undertake jobs such as lawn maintenance, digging drains, clearing snow and fence installation.  In addition, with a dedicated power steering pump there is no loss of hydraulic performance, even in limited space when tight turns are required.

Boomer 30 models offer four-cyclinder engines producing 28hp or 38h and a three-range hydrostatic or 12×12 synchromesh transmission.  Boomer 40 models offer four-cylinder engines producing  41hp or 47hp and a three-range hydrostatic or 16×16 synchromesh transmission with creeper option.

The Boomer 40 is now available with a spacious new factory installed Boomer SuiteTM cab which includes air conditioning as standard, opening rear side windows, radio, high comfort seat and excellent rear visibility.  

New Holland will also showcase its T4S compact tractor.  Representing a revolution in comfort and versatility within the sub-80hp tractor sector, the T4S series delivers the perfect balance between affordability and performance.

Purpose developed for the T4S, the new four-post cab offers exceptional space and all-round visibility. An opening roof panel offers additional sightline when working with a raised front-end loader.

A flat cab floor provides exceptional comfort and foot space for this tractor category, making access into and out of the tractor easy. Powerful heating and air conditioning complete a comfort package designed for reduced operator fatigue.

Mini Crawler Excavator

Also on the New Holland stand will be the E17C mini crawler excavator from its construction range.   With a capacity ranging from 1.7 to 6.0 tonnes and a choice of canopy and cab to choose from.  The mini excavator is ideally suited to landscaping, amenity work and estate management. Varied applications include, irrigation and drainage scheme construction and maintenance through to fence and temporary building erection.

The compact dimensions enable New Holland mini-crawler excavators to access difficult work areas. Designed for day-long working, each model has class leading excavation performance with the versatility to power a wide range of attachments including, hydraulically powered soil augers, flail hedge and verge mowers, cutterbars and saws.  The boom and dipper offer power arm versatility but with the build strength of an excavator.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.