AMS Expands Into Pitch Mowing

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AMS Expands Into Pitch Mowing: Automated Managed Services Ltd (AMS) is the UK’s official distributors for Belrobotics robots and offers a contract based robotic maintenance service solution for turf care. With the aim of building on its undoubted success in the golf industry, AMS is kick-starting its expansion into sport pitch/field care with upcoming installations at Barking FC and Halesowen FC.

These football clubs will be home to the new BigMow Connected Line robotic mower, released into the UK market in April of this year it will be showcased at this years SALTEX show. Its features include a large working area capacity of 24,000 m2, up from the 20,000m2 coverage offered by its predecessor the BigMow Classic. Design improvements to the shell/body design contribute to low noise level output of 52db. It has five sonars used to navigate its surroundings and to perform effective obstacle avoidance. A Belrobotics smartphone app has also been introduced to allow customers to programme mowing schedules and monitor performance.

AMS Expands Into Pitch Mowing

With 45 plus robot locations across the UK, a single BigMow robotic mower can mow a pitch 5 to 7 times per week and imposes no stress to the grass due to its lightweight design. It has 15 razor sharp blades that trim the top of the grass into tiny clippings, which then decompose quickly acting as a natural fertiliser. This in turn reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and frees up personnel to focus on other aspects of pitch care. The BigMow’s manicure style mulching also means there is no green waste to collect, store or remove.

Additionally due to a regular mowing schedule, the grass roots grip is strengthen allowing better anchoring into the soil. Creating a denser sward that is better resistant to wear and tear. This means frequent traffic areas like goalmouths become more shear resistant due natural ample continuous grass growth. With the overall quality of the pitch becoming softer and more homogenous, results in a better ball flight, shot accuracy and playing experience for users.

AMS’s automated maintenance service solution requires no capital outlay and is run on an affordable monthly service contract.  Sport facilities with limited resources can also benefit due to the availability of turf care grants, meaning cash strapped facilities can also reap the benefits robotic mowing provides. A typical robot mower installation involves the install of a docking station and a perimeter wire.  The docking station is where the robot goes to recharge and the perimeter wire emits a magnetic field acting as an underground boundary to guide the robot.

“We’ve had a lot of keen interest from grassroot sport facilities over the last few months, which have lead to installations at Hitchin Town FC and Old Halesonians RFC. With several other installs already in the pipeline, the potential benefits of redeploying personnel to other tasks, operational cost savings, overall health benefits to turf and the availability of grants offered by the FA, ECB and the RFU, are just some of the reasons robotic mowing is fast becoming a desirable turf maintenance option. “  Philip Sear Managing Director of Automated Managed Services Ltd

Visitors to Saltex 2018 at NEC Birmingham, October 31st – 1st November, can see the BigMow Connected Mower in action at Stand A090 or alternatively visit www.automatedmanagedservices.com or call 01462 676 222 for more information.

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Made for Golf and Groundsmen

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Made for Golf and Groundsmen: From the tee to the green, from natural to synthetic sports pitches, as a greenkeeper or groundsman your primary aim will be perfection. Achieving this and maintaining your course and grounds to the highest possible standards requires specialist equipment you can trust. Machinery that gets the job done in the minimum time, is durable and affordable and above all, designed to specifically meet your needs. GKB Machines have been making a name for themselves with high praises from greenkeepers and groundsmen around the UK.

Seeding and surface aerating in one pass

Take the GKB Combiseeder for example. It offers a fast, efficient way of seeding and surface aerating with virtually no surface disturbance. Creating over 1500 holes per m² it provides accurate seed application at various rates to suit different seed mixes, with drag brushes to incorporate seed and topdressing. The Combiseeder can be used for overseeding and initial seeding and offers a fast and efficient way of seeding and surface aerating, with virtually no surface disturbance. There’s a large seed hopper with agitator brush and you get accurate seed distribution from all seed mixes. There are models from 1.2m to 2.1m and there are options of a multi spike cast ring roller or Cambridge roll cast ring roller.

Made for Golf and Groundsmen

Improve and maintain drainage with the GKB Sandfiller

Every professional knows scarifying and sand filling are the perfect combination to improve and maintain drainage on the course. The problem is, it can be a time-consuming task requiring dedicated equipment for each process. GKB have come up with the ideal solution, saving you time and expense and leaving you free to get on with other jobs.
GKB Sandfiller combines in one operation scarifying, removal and sand filling. Which means the operation can be carried out by one person, saving on time and cost. The principle of the Sandfiller is based on the much praised GKB Combinator. The slitting rotor utilises carbide scarifying blades that create wind in order to lift the removed material. The blades remove thatch to a depth of 4cm and the debris is immediately distributed to a sideways tipping container. Dried sand is instantly applied from the hopper to the trench the moment the scarifying is complete. The result is the area is once again available for use immediately.

Top dresser that’s always in fashion

When it comes to top dressing there’s a GKB machine that is just the job. The GKB SP100 has been developed on the back of the success of GKB’s trailed versions and to meet your needs with straightforward mounting onto turf trucks using a simple bolt-on system. Stand legs allow the SP100 to be quickly set up or removed. With its 1m3 hopper capacity the machine suits a variety of purposes, evenly distributing materials, such as sand and mulch with variable spread widths and depths. It’s easily fitted with electro-hydraulic controls and runs directly off the hydraulics of the chosen turf truck. Furthermore, the Sandspreader is available in four different designs which range from 1m3 to 4m3. While the SP100 is suitable for assembling on a turf truck: the ProGator, Truckster or Workman for example, other designs are provided with four pivoting balloon tires, for the perfect distribution of the weight on your golf course.

If you would like to know more about how GKB Machines can help improve and maintain your course or sports pitches a have a chat with Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617 or visit www.gkbmachines.com

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GKB At “The Most Beautiful Ground”

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GKB At “The Most Beautiful Ground”: Cricket Manager and former head groundsman for the Wormsley estate, Simon Tremlin heads the team responsible for maintaining the Wormsley Cricket Pitch in Buckinghamshire, which is often referred to as ‘the most beautiful ground in Britain’.

When Mick Jagger introduced Sir Paul Getty to cricket, the millionaire philanthropist formed such an affection for the sport he had a replica of The Oval built on the grounds of his estate. The pitch was completed in 1992 and the first match played there was attended by Her Majesty The Queen Mother, the then Prime Minister John Major, Sir Michael Caine and cricket legends Denis Compton and Brian Johnston. What is now known as ‘Sir Paul Getty’s Ground’, Wormsley has in recent years played host to England Women’s test matches against Australia and India.

GKB At "The Most Beautiful Ground"

With such a reputation to live up to he’s naturally very selective about the machinery he uses and a requirement for a scarifier and seeder led him to official GKB dealers RT Machinery near Aylesbury.

“We do a lot of contracting work as well as looking after Wormsley,” says Simon “and it’s important to know the machines we use are sturdy enough to meet our needs. Last year we did forty- two cricket squares as well as rugby and football pitches.” RT Machinery arranged with GKB Machines’ Tom Shinkins for demonstrations of GKB’s VStrong and Combiseeder at Wormsley. “We wanted a scarifier that collects as well and the VStrong showed us it’s ideal for that, leaving a tidy finish and saving time, especially in damp conditions.” Simon adds.

The VStrong follows in the tradition of GKB’s Combinator and employs generically developed 3mm carbide scarifying blades attached to the rotor using their Quick-Lock system. An operating depth of 5cm is easily attained without missing any areas. The operating speed of up to 12km/h is a real benefit for the professional contractor, with fast removal of thatch and weed with the ability to collect at the same time.

The GKB Combiseeder can be used for overseeding and initial seeding and features two spiked rollers that open up the soil for the seed to then be spread accurately across the full width, in and around the holes. Creating over 1500 holes per m² the Combiseeder provides accurate seed application at various rates to suit different seed mixes, with drag brushes to incorporate seed and topdressing for minimal surface disruption.

“We’ve gone with the GKB machines for the way they perform and they are robust enough to withstand the punishment of contracting work,” says Simon, “and we have plenty of that ahead as well as maintaining Sir Paul Getty’s Ground.” GKB machines can be seen at work in an open day at RT Machinery, Nether Winchendon near Aylesbury on the 5th September 2018 and local demonstrations can be arranged.

For more information, visit: www.gkbmachines.com

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New John Deere Turf Outlet Opens

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New John Deere Turf Outlet Opens: New Forest Farm Machinery Ltd, a John Deere dealer, has recently opened a new turf equipment outlet. Based at Cadbury Business Park in Sparkford, near Yeovil in Somerset, the premises serve the dealer’s extended trading area that was initially established in 2014 after New Forest took over the professional turf business of Rochford Garden Machinery.

The dealership offers John Deere’s full range of professional golf and amenity turf equipment including mowers, aerators, sprayers, tractors and Gator utility vehicles, as well as homeowner and construction equipment.

New John Deere Turf Outlet Opens

Based at Ringwood in Hampshire, New Forest Farm Machinery has been a John Deere agricultural dealer since 1979 and has held the turf franchise since John Deere’s commercial and consumer equipment business, as it was then known, started in 1986. New Forest currently employs 43 people altogether and sells to turf customers in the counties of Hampshire, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.

“As a long established, independent family-owned business we are always striving to improve our company offering, through focusing on customer support and investing for the future,” says managing director Ed Smales. “The new premises at Sparkford are ideally located to cover our extended trading area and increase our presence in the marketplace.

“We intend to maintain our traditional high standard of product sales, parts and service support in the various turf equipment markets that we serve, and we look forward to welcoming both existing and new customers to the dealership.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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Case IH A SALTEX Newcomer

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Case IH A SALTEX Newcomer: Leading agricultural machinery manufacturer, Case IH, which has been producing agricultural machinery for more than 175 years, will be exhibiting at the upcoming SALTEX for the first time. Held at the NEC, the exhibition is the the premier event for the sports, amenities and landscaping trades.

Case IH produces a range of tractors from 55hp to 628hp, with the 55hp to 150hp models perfectly suited to many applications in amenity use. All these models share the Case IH tradition of safety and operator comfort and can be specified with a range of implements including loaders, as well as tyres to match the demands of every application.

Case IH A SALTEX Newcomer

Case IH tractors have proven reliability and are supported by a network of 81 dealers across the UK and Ireland, providing a guarantee of personal and professional after-sales support.

Case IH can be found on stand D032 and will be exhibiting a Case IH Farmall 75C, fitted with a loader.

Commenting, Andy Whiley, Case IH Key Accounts Manager, said:

“Case IH aims to be the preferred partner in bringing innovative products and market-leading solutions and services to customers around the world. Our tractors have proven performance and reliability, offering best-in-class total cost of ownership, and our range offers the right machine for every task, backed up by an extensive dealer network. We look forward to meeting customers old and new at the SALTEX exhibition.”

The Case IH range includes the following series of tractors suited to sports, amenity, snow clearing, municipal and landscaping use:

Quantum V/F

If you are looking for a specialist tractor when narrow access is required, then the Case IH Quantum series provides the right machine for the task at hand. Ranging from 65 to 106hp they offer excellent performance for work such as pavement sweeping or snow-blowing, or for maintenance work on lawns and sports grounds or any type of facility management.

Farmall

The Farmall name is deeply rooted in the history of Case IH, with the first tractors to bear this name being produced back in 1923. Today’s Farmall tractors range from 55 to 114hp and share a design emphasis on manoeuvrability, compact dimensions, ease of operation and a high power-to-weight ratio. This means that whether you are working with mounted machinery, trailed equipment, transport duties or with a loader, there’s a Farmall to suit your needs.

 Maxxum

The Maxxum series is available from 116 to 145hp and offers superior performance and fuel efficiency thanks to the use of Efficient Power technology. Available with a range of transmission options including a 16F/16R four-speed powershift, our award-winning ActiveDrive 8 24F/24R eight-speed powershift that delivers class-leading fuel efficiency, or a CVXDrive for the ultimate stepless transmission, the Maxxum makes work easy.

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