Wiedenmann UK’s Trading Division Adds Two Mounted Maredo Machines

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Wiedenmann UK’s Trading Division Adds Two Mounted Maredo Machines: GroundPro, a trading division of Wiedenmann UK, has partnered with Maredo BV to offer two tractor-mounted machines to the British and Irish market.

The MT200 Flex-Verticutter and MT210 VibeSpike-Aerator will be premiered at Saltex on Nov 1 & 2. Both outstanding machines attach to tractors 25 hp and up and provide rapid responses to difficulties that may occur in the vital area lying just beneath the turf surface.

Wiedenmann UK’s Trading Division Adds Two Mounted Maredo Machines

Controlling thatch in the top layer is key; too much organic matter can be a problem. The MT200 Flex-Verticutter is a scarifier which removes thatch both cleanly and incredibly quickly. Three independent floating heads mean that any undulating surfaces pose no challenge thanks to an easy turn ‘A’ frame and pivot point.  Each head is a fraction over 63 cm wide so they combine to offer a span of 1.9 m, all working to a depth of 25 mm. Choose full depth to remove a lot of organic matter or let the blades just touch the top layer for a light grooming.

The MT210 VibeSpike-Aerator relieves compaction and allows air to permeate especially when time is at a premium.  Unlike traditional spiking, the vibration action is built in to the three separate floating heads. All six spike sections per head are mounted on a camshaft. When the PTO is engaged the spike sections start to vibrate. The vibrations shatter the compacted top layer leaving clean slit holes at the surface. Depth adjustment is tool-free, the adjustable support front roller and rear solid roller work in tandem to offer penetration from 20 mm to 55 mm.

David Rae, managing director of both GroundPro and Wiedenmann UK said:

“These are really strong offerings by Maredo, available shortly via our dealer network across the UK and Ireland.   Both are accurate and efficient with great build quality.  The new machines share the same frame so only additional heads are required to switch tasks. The triple heads tackle contours in their stride. Most of all these are built for speed suiting professionals working against the clock or with finite weather windows.”

GroundPro established its name by offering the range of Pro-Cast capacious bulk blue and green top dressers, famous for their sturdy tanks yet nimble manoeuvrability.  For more details call 0141 814 3366,  or follow on Twitter @GroundPro. See us on stand A080 at Saltex, NEC, Birmingham, Nov 1 &2.

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Line Marking Actuator Arm Patent Granted

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Line Marking Actuator Arm Patent Granted: The line marking industry has evolved dramatically over the last 20 years. Advancements in technology have revolutionised the way lines are marked on sports pitches.

Line Marking Actuator Arm Patent Granted

Moving from simple wheel-wheel to machines to ride on markers, spray machines, laser guided systems and now GNSS marking. Fleet (Line Markers) Ltd are proud to be industry leaders at the forefront of innovation and development.

A new age dawned when the BeamRider was released to the market. Laser guided marking with an arm design that creates laser straight lines every time. From the BeamRider mechanics the MAQA line marking machine was born which combines GNSS technology to reduce initial marking time by 75%

Fleet are proud to announce that a patent for using the actuator arm has been granted, MD Iain McGuffie had these words.

“Some things are worth waiting for. Our patent no. EP3045998, which protects the actuator arm concept used in the BeamRider and the MAQA line marking systems, has finally been granted. The original patent was applied for in 2006 and has now been granted by the European Patent Office, and it is now active”

The MAQA Marker is already successfully in use across the UK. These users are now benefiting from the speed and saving of a GNSS system.  Another exciting feature is the management system; this allows the customer to see their usage of the MAQA Marker. Simply logging on to the system provides the user with data on the number of fields marked, their location, speed of walking, time taken to mark the fields.

The combination of Fleet machines is where things can get really exciting! An e-ROK and a MAQA Marker will mark faster than an autonomous vehicle. MAQA Marker on an e-ROK is the ultimate productivity tool, cutting marking time by almost 90%. The e-ROK can also accommodate the Kombi, Kombi Orange , Kombi refurb’ and the BeamRider systems.

Mike Lewis of Highground Maintenance explains how the machine is saving time, money and resources.

“I can initial mark a full sized football pitch in 20 minutes, on my own! Last week I initial marked over 25miles of lines, the previous year that took two men four weeks. The results have left us speechless”

Fleet are the only British company that manufacture Satellite Guided Line Marking Machines, writes the software as well as make the paints.

To find out more, visit: www.flmuk.com

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New Renewal Agreement Sees The Roehampton Club Stay With Toro

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New Renewal Agreement Sees The Roehampton Club Stay With Toro: Multi-sports venue trusts in Toro for golf, tennis and croquet surfaces.

New Renewal Agreement Sees The Roehampton Club Stay With Toro

Constant evolution is what sees Roehampton Club remain one of the best multi-sports Clubs in the UK. Every year for the last three years, there has been a major development at this attractive Club in South West London. As it embarks on its next, which is a £3.5m investment on refurbishing its outdoor pool and adding new studios to the gym, one thing that remains the same is the club’s relationship with Toro machinery, recently confirmed again with the signing of yet another five-year exclusivity agreement.

Roehampton Club has a rich and illustrious history with its origins in polo and croquet rather than the four core sports of golf, tennis, squash and health and fitness it is known for today. Then as it is now though, Roehampton is at the heart of London sporting society.

The priority for course and grounds manager, Peter Bradburn, who heads up a team of 20 is to maintain the high standards on the golf course, tennis courts, croquet lawn and gardens. With its Toro fleet set to grow by up to 75 percent under the new agreement to include machines suitable for all three surfaces, the Club has once again chosen Toro, after conducting a thorough market testing exercise.

“I’ve been involved in the building of golf courses all around Europe,” Peter says. “And although the country – most recently Cyprus (Elea Estate Faldo design), Turkey (Maxx Royal Montgomerie design) and Italy (Palazzo Arzaga Nicklaus design) – changes, Toro has always been a constant. In fact, many projects I have worked on were intentionally undertaken because they involved working with Toro as you can rely on the quality of Toro’s equipment, aftercare and service.

“This agreement encompasses all the turf-based facilities we have here, the management of which requires a multi-disciplined approach”.

Included in the first order under the new agreement comes the Groundsmaster 4700-D and the Greensmaster 3250-D for the 18-hole parkland golf course, which in 2015 was accepted by the World of Leading Golf for the quality of the course. The reason behind choosing the GM4700-D is the greater width of cut it offers. Peter says: “We’ve changed how we manage the roughs by opting for a machine that can deliver a wide cut each time. This improves our timings working around the course, meaning we get things done more quickly.”

Improvements have also been made to the way the fairways are managed. Groomers have been added to the new GM3250-D, which Peter and the team have found enables a better quality of cut in damp conditions. “We can cut in all weathers using this machine”, he says. “And being able to get straight out on the course in the morning regardless of the dew, and start cutting, improves the day’s productivity.”

Being the course and grounds manager of a multi-sports venue involves, says Peter, “wearing many hats!” There are four croquet lawns at the club, all at international standard and reputed to be the best in the UK. Hosting the Croquet World Cup and International Open Championships each year and regular internal and external tournaments, it is essential all four lawns live up to expectations. Peter explains: “Cutting on the croquet lawns is low at 3mm to create a billiards table finish. The Toro Greensmaster 1600 pedestrian mowers fitted with 11-blades deliver a 3mm cut without losing the velvety finish our players like.”

For the 30 tennis courts, of which ten are grass, Peter has brought in Toro’s Greensmaster 1000 pedestrian mowers. “Tennis is a very different surface to manage to golf and croquet. A good, consistent bounce is required and to achieve that the courts must have a high clay content and the grass plant must be well established with a dense root mass to stabilise the ground similar to that used for the cricket field, otherwise the wear caused by play traffic would disintegrate the surface very quickly. The GM1000 mowers offer a precise but gentle cut, ideal for this surface.”

Rubbing shoulders with the other ‘greats’ in the area: The Hurlingham Club, Queens Club and the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Roehampton Club is set apart by being the only one to offer golf for its members. It is ranked one of the best sports clubs in the country and Peter and the club’s greenkeepers who skilfully maintain all grass surfaces with Toro machinery take great pride in that.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Kubota Announces New Groundcare Dealer Appointment

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Kubota Announces New Groundcare Dealer Appointment: Kubota has further strengthened its extensive UK dealer network with the appointment of Hunts Engineering Ltd as a Kubota tractor and groundcare machinery dealer for Shipston On Stour, as well as covering Coventry, Evesham and Stratford. 

Kubota Announces New Groundcare Dealer Appointment

Hunts Engineering Ltd will initially stock Kubota’s GR1600 II and GR1600ID range of ride-on mowers ready for the start of the grass cutting season, as well as an RTV X900 utility vehicle and compact tractors. Although the working relationship is still very much in its infancy, there is a great confidence that this new dealer partnership will grow the Kubota market share of all groundcare products across the region.

Peter Hunt, Managing Director at Hunts Engineering Ltd, started out as an agricultural engineer before establishing the business with Julie Hunt in 2007. Having been an agricultural engineer for so long, Hunts Engineering Ltd boasts a purpose built workshop with a team of engineers to ensure that servicing and parts are at the heart of the company.

Peter commented: “We are very excited to be working in partnership with such a prestigious company as Kubota. In addition to the great machines they manufacture, it was their commitment to aftersales care that we were really impressed with.

“Service and aftersales care is a big focal point for us and has been the driving force behind the success of our business. It’s great to be working with a company that shares these same values and I’m looking forward to what the future has in store.”

Adrian Langmead, Groundcare Business Development Manager, added: “Our dealer network is the lifeblood of our business and we are thrilled to be working alongside Hunts Engineering Ltd who share the same passion for excellent customer service as we do. I’m sure this is the beginning of what will become a very fruitful working relationship.”

For more information on Kubota and its service solutions for the groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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Twin Peaks

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Twin Peaks: Now the Polaris Ranger Diesel and Ranger XP900 are virtually identical twins and both offer peak performance. You have the choice of a petrol engine with the Ranger 68hp XP900 ProStar engine that is purpose built, tuned and designed for balanced and smooth, reliable power.

Twin Peaks

The Engine Management System (EMS) delivers the torque and horsepower you need while allowing for optimal fuel economy. Should you prefer Diesel, the Ranger Diesel HD is built for purpose as well with a 1028cc Kohler 3-cylinder overhead cam liquid-cooled engine. This proven, high performance diesel engine utilizes indirect injection and delivers smooth power with reduced combustion noise. The compact, heavy-duty design has a cast iron crankcase for durability and an aluminium cylinder head for weight reduction.

Both these twins are real workhorses with Active Descent Control for controlled hill descents, automatic four-wheel braking on steep inclines and Electronic Power Steering. To make life really comfortable, the industry exclusive Lock & Ride Pro-Fit cab system provides a new standard in accessory integration. The highly modular design offers options from robust canvas doors and a poly windscreen, to premium automotive glass tip-out windscreens and electric windows. The roof and rear panel on the Rangers come as standard. The ideal seat height combines with wide foot clearance for easy entry and exit. There’s a full ten inches of tilt steering adjustment and room for three adults. The payload capacity on these machines is 680.4 kg, with a gas-assisted rear dump box that can handle a hefty 454 kg of materials and a full-sized pallet. A 7-pin trailer socket comes fitted as standard and when it comes to towing there’s 907kg of class-leading towing capacity on tap. When the going gets rough the on-demand all-wheel drive kicks in for more forward traction when its needed, reverting back to 2WD when the terrain smoothes out.

Smooth is what these Polaris Rangers are all about, from the ride and handling to the descent down steep inclines, the 30.5cm ground clearance, power steering and VersaTrac Turf Mode that unlocks the rear differential for easier, tighter turns that won’t tear up grass. All new Polaris Rangers and Sportsman models (excluding Youth) also come fitted with CESAR security systems as standard. And if you’re not quite ready to purchase a new Ranger there is, in addition to the XP900, the even more powerful petrol Ranger XP1000 coming along for 2018.

To find out more, visit: www.polaris-britain.com

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