John Deere Supports The 2017 British Masters

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John Deere supports The 2017 British Masters: John Deere course maintenance equipment supplied by dealer Greenlay of Cramlington in Northumberland has been helping to prepare the Lee Westwood Colt Course at Close House for The 2017 British Masters in September – the first time the north-east venue has welcomed a European Tour event.

Supported by Sky Sports, the tournament has been hosted by the club’s attached tour professional Lee Westwood, who originally opened the Colt Course in 2011 as the world’s number one golfer. Other stars include Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, who made both his professional tournament debut and first start in a professional event in The British Masters in 2007.

Set in almost 400 acres of beautiful Northumberland countryside at Heddon-on-the-Wall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Close House was voted one of the top 100 courses in the UK just 12 months after opening in 2011, and is the only course in the north-east of England to hold that accolade.

John Deere Supports The 2017 British Masters

John Deere equipment has had a presence here from the outset, when Greenlay supplied greens, tees & surrounds and fairway mowers, an Aercore aerator and core collector, compact tractors, Gator utility vehicles and an HD200 amenity turf sprayer.

Lee Westwood has assisted in improving features on the course, and his experience in competing on the world’s best courses has allowed the Close House team to produce a golf course that provides a challenge to all levels of golfer. “It’s an undulating parkland course that is like a links to play,” says course manager Brian Clark.

Brian and his team of 20 staff maintain all areas of the estate, which has three courses including the Filly and the 9-hole Yearling par 3 in addition to the championship Colt. These are maintained to a high standard with a large equipment fleet, including the John Deere machines.

To ensure this standard is maintained throughout the four days of tournament play and ensure the smooth running of The British Masters competition, the Close House team has been assisted by 20 volunteers, while John Deere and Greenlay have also stepped in with the loan of additional equipment to supplement the existing fleet.

John Deere provided two XUV 855D S4 Gators and two greens mower trailers, two TE electric Gators and an 8000AE hybrid electric fairways mower, with Greenlay supplying a 9009A TerrainCut rough mower featuring the programmable TechControl display.

“Course preparation started 18 months ago, and there has been a lot more fine manicuring to bring the cut to PGA presentation standards,” says Brian Clark. “The 8000AE is being used on the fairways to maintain the height at 8mm throughout the tournament. Our existing John Deere 2653 utility mower helps keep the semi-rough to 30mm, and the greens are being mown at anything from 2.5 to 3mm.

“The mowers ensure a high standard of cut – whenever a new model comes onto the market I’m amazed at the improvement in cut quality. The extra Gators and mower trailers also help to ensure that we can get men and machines quickly and efficiently around the course to mow the tees, greens and approaches.

“Close House hosting The British Masters is very good for the north-east, and we very much appreciate the assistance from John Deere and Greenlay, with whom we have a good, long established relationship – the after-sales back-up the dealer provides is fantastic.”

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

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GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day

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GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day: Phil Day Sports of Worcestershire has added a GKB Machines Drainmaster to their fleet of sports ground construction and maintenance equipment.

Established in the late 1990’s Phil Day’s company has built a firm reputation as a leading sports turf contractor and specialist in the sports amenity sector. Their constant aim, they say, is to offer best value by constantly upgrading specialist equipment and machinery. They see the GKB Drainmaster as having a significant role in the work they carry out for their wide range of customers which includes Premier League football clubs, county cricket, top class rugby and golf clubs and leading independent schools.

GKB Drainmaster Makes Their Day

As every turf professional and greenkeeper knows, surface water and pitches that stay wet for too long will always be an issue along with the cost and downtime for renovation. The GKB Drainmaster offers a complete solution to improving and accelerating the drainage of surface water. Toby Grace, Business Development Manager at Phil Day Sports, had been looking at investing in a secondary drainage system for a while and was impressed by what could be achieved with the Drainmaster. He and his team decided they were going to need one for a number of pending client requirements, including work at West Bromwich Albion F.C., Wasps Rugby and the STRI. Once ordered, after tender at the beginning of 2017, the GKB machine arrived within three weeks and was put to work with immediate results. The Drainmaster excavates two or three trenches four centimetres wide which are positioned perpendicular to the existing underlying drainage. Soil removed is disposed of by means of conveyor belts and can be re-used as dressing soil. The trenches are filled with drainage sand up to the operating depth of 23cm in the same operation while the Drainmaster wheels press the sand into the trenches.

“We have found the Drainmaster does what it says with unique sandslits to the correct width and depth and we have seen excellent results.” Says Toby. “With the way the sand bunker has been developed, you can choose to operate the full length of the pitch in one operation or two across the width. The grass grows on the trenches in a matter of weeks.” The overall effect is strengthening of the grass while the drainage network ensures a higher playing capacity.

“The next real test will be in the winter months and with the changing weather we’ll be carefully monitoring the results.” Toby says. “For now we’re very happy with the quality achieved and the service we have had. GKB as the manufacturer talk to us and we’re providing feedback so it’s a two-way traffic of information that helps us all.”

GKB add that where there is a need to create a more even, well-functioning pitch you can combine the operations of the Drainmaster and their well-known Combinator for the optimum playing surface.

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

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Bobcat Dealer AMS Bobcat Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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Bobcat Dealer AMS Bobcat Celebrates 25th Anniversary: Scunthorpe-based AMS Bobcat Limited, the Authorised Bobcat Dealer for Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire in the UK, is celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary this year. 

Established in 1992, AMS Bobcat took its name from the initials of the surnames of its three founders, George Aitkenhead, Alex Murray and Peter Sowerby.

Initially set up as a hire, service and sales company for compact machinery, AMS Bobcat began business mainly hiring skid-steer loaders and mini-excavators to the steel works based in Scunthorpe.

AMS placed its first order with Bobcat in 1993 for 35 skid-steer loaders and attachments.  Soon after the order, AMS was appointed the Bobcat Dealer for Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and North Norfolk and has remained in this role ever since.  The company is one of the longest standing Bobcat dealers in the UK.

UKs first S450_AMS_Rodmell

Over the intervening years, AMS has sold in excess of 3500 new Bobcat units into a wide range of industries, including construction, agriculture, shipping, plant hire, mining, landscaping and demolition.

Managing Director, Steve McIntosh, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year.  As a Bobcat dealer for almost all of that period, there have been many memorable moments from appearing live from our stand at the Muck99 show on Channel 4’s Big Breakfast programme to several firsts including the sale of the UK’s first Bobcat 17 m telehandler in Hull Docks and the first of the very latest Bobcat S450 skid-steer loaders in the UK farming industry.“

Paul Hyslop, Bobcat District Manager (UK North & Nordics), commented:  “On behalf of Doosan Bobcat EMEA, I would like to congratulate AMS for achieving this notable milestone.  AMS is a very professional company which is easy to do business with.  With an excellent track record as a Bobcat dealer, AMS has never waivered over the last 25 years from offering the very best in customer service to match our market-leading Bobcat range.“

Prominent in Rental

With 25 years’ experience in the plant hire industry, AMS has built up a state-of-the-art rental fleet of Bobcat machinery and attachments comprising 65 skid-steer loaders, 35 compact excavators and 10 telescopic handlers.  Steve McIntosh added: “The company maintains a team of experts who are on hand to offer customers advice they might need regarding the best machinery for their project.  The high quality of the products is only matched by the high quality of the customer service and AMS takes great pride in tailoring our service to meet the specific needs of each of our customers.”

Steve (1997 – present) is one of several staff AMS has been lucky enough to have at the company for more than 20 years.  The others include founder, George Aitkenhead, who is still Chairman/Owner today, together with Hire Manager, Pauline Chafer (1995 – present); Service Manager, Kevin Barrowcliffe (1997 – present) and Service Engineers, Dave Borrell (1995 – present) and Allwyn Dalton (1997 – present).

With this level of experience, it is not surprising that AMS offers an excellent level of expertise and knowledge of the Bobcat range and the other products it offers, whether it be new and used equipment sales, parts supply, service repairs or long and short term rental.

Steve McIntosh added: “Having started with five staff members, AMS now employs 25 people including Service, Parts, Hire and Sales Managers; six service engineers, three HGV drivers, three plant operators as well as reception and accounts staff.  In acknowledgement of our high level of customer service, we have been accredited since 2003 to the highest industry standards ISO 9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001.”

AMS is responsible for sales and service of Bobcat skid-steer, compact tracked and all wheel steer loaders, compact excavators, telehandlers and attachments throughout Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.

AMS also offers a full selection of genuine Bobcat accessories and parts to support both new and existing Bobcat customers in its area.  Customers benefit from AMS’s well-established on-site service network, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance.  The company offers flexible service agreements including 24 hours a day coverage, depending on the requirements of the customer.

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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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