Upkeep Of City Of Culture’s Green Spaces Entrusted To Toro

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Upkeep Of City Of Culture’s Green Spaces Entrusted To Toro – Kingstown Works Limited (KWL) based in Kingston upon Hull, this year’s City of Culture, has recently invested in seven Toro Groundsmaster 3400 out-front rotary mowers to be operated by its largest client Hull City Council. The seven machines will play a key role in keeping the green spaces of the city in the best possible condition during this all-important year. 

Upkeep Of City Of Culture's Green Spaces Entrusted To Toro

In a tender process, completed by Russell Groundcare, via the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation, Toro achieved the best results for price, capability and delivery, and it isn’t for the first time. KWL is an existing Toro customer and the acquisition is part of a replacement programme for older Toro triple mowers coming out of service.

The decision for KWL to purchase rotary mowers is a move away from traditionally opting for cylinder mowers to maintain the city’s parks, sports fields, horticultural areas and municipalities. And the reason for this says Garry Middleton, business unit leader at KWL Fleet, is down to a rotary mower’s ability to work on longer grass at a higher output rate with ease.

He says: “Our client needed to marginally extend periods between cutting and, based on this, required a machine that could cope with cutting longer grass while still providing a good finish, which the Groundsmaster is more than capable of. Russell Groundcare and Toro performed well in the tender process as our experience of working with both has always been a good one: the service from Russell and indeed Reesink Turfcare [UK distributor of Toro] is excellent and the rate of cut and quality from Toro prove outstanding.”

In terms of the machines’ capabilities, such an important consideration in the tender process, it’s easy to see why the GM3400 scored so highly. Constructed from high-strength seven gauge welded steel, 33 per-cent thicker and 75 percent stronger than ordinary ten gauge commercial steel, the GM3400 is robust and tough. A Kubota four-cylinder diesel engine, delivering 26.5 kW (35.5hp), means it’s powerful with a high performance rate, too.

With a tilting operator platform, large opening engine cover and easy-to-remove access panels, maintenance is unrestricted. Within minutes, an operator or service technician can achieve direct access, reducing daily check and cleaning times as well as service maintenance downtime. The GM3400 also benefits from low maintenance costs and a high 15.5mph transport mode to ensure fast logistics between sites, all of which increases uptime, minimises costs and improves productivity.

And when it comes to the final result you have, says Garry, a “decent trim, clean finish and a good turn rate around trees and other obstacles. While purchase price is of course a major factor, we always consider the anticipated operational and maintenance costs and, given that the Toro retains a good residual value, this also forms an important consideration as part of our overall costing.”

So, what impact does Hull being the UK’s City of Culture have on Garry and the team’s work? Garry says: “Expectations haven’t changed in terms of the results our client quite rightly wants for the public and open spaces of Hull, which require a quality finish, but with all eyes on the City this year that does add a bit of extra pressure! Having a brand new Toro fleet means we can rest assured that the quality and consistency of cut will be delivered.”

Landini Compacts Have Proven Features For Turf And Groundscare Work

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New-look Landini compacts have proven features for turf and groundscare work – A stylish new appearance for the Landini compact tractor is combined with proven specifications and features to make an attractive choice of power units for all groundscare operations.Landini Compacts Have Proven Features For Turf And Groundscare Work

The new three-model Landini 2 Series, which has replaced the well-known Mistral, sports new family-look styling for the engine hood to match the rest of the comprehensive Landini range and an all-new roof panel housing the ventilation system on the cabbed version.

The new hood retains the clamshell format of the previous design, with a high-lifting upper section giving ready access to all routine service points, while detachable lower panels completely expose the engine and its ancillary equipment.

Standard open platform versions of the 2 Series have been joined by the ‘GE’ model, which has a new front axle and modifications that shave 94mm off the height of the tractor. That can be significant for work amongst trees with low-hanging branches and other situations where the lower height is an advantage.

The GE and Standard versions have the same choice of 30kph 12×12 or 16×16 creeper gearboxes with synchro shuttle selection of forward and reverse. Likewise, the two-speed independent rear power take-off, which provides one setting for ‘power’ and one for ‘economy’.

“With implements that don’t need a lot of power, the ‘economy’ pto gearing allows the engine to be run at a lower speed to reduce both noise output and fuel consumption,” points out Ray Spinks, sales director at Landini distributor AgriArgo UK.

“A ground-drive setting relates the speed of the pto to the forward speed of the tractor, which is useful for maintaining correct application rates with sand spreaders and similar machines.”

To ensure sufficient oil flow at all times, the tractors follow the Landini philosophy of installing two pumps. In this case, a 19.7-litre/min unit is dedicated to the steering system and a 28-litre/min pump supplies the 1200kg rear implement linkage (and optional 400kg front linkage if fitted), and up to three remote services valves.

Latest-specification Yanmar engines provide the power – 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre non-turbo units delivering 44hp and 47hp in the Landini 2-045 and 2-050, and a turbo version of the 2.0-litre engine generating 54hp for the 2-060 model.

Thanks to a 40-litre fuel tank, these economical engines ensure the new Landini 2 Series tractors work long hours between refills as they tackle all groundscare tasks from grass aeration and mowing to sweeping and trailer work.

Electro-hydraulic engagement of the rear axle differential lock for maximum traction and a generous 55deg steering lock on the front axle for maximum manoeuvrability ensure the Landini 2 Series tractors have the performance needed for all groundscare applications.

Once A Red Always A Red

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Once A Red Always A Red – Former Arsenal FC groundsman invests in Toro for lawn and turfcare management business

Once A Red Always A Red

It’s hard to imagine better credentials than those of ex-Arsenal Football Club groundsman, Mark Pettit, and IOG recognised young groundsman, Josef Farrow, when it comes to the management of your lawn or pitch. The two professionals are now partners in business, having transferred their skills to the domestic, commercial and professional market through their company Premiership Lawncare Limited.

Couple that level of expertise with the build-quality of Toro machinery, and it’s safe to say Premiership Lawncare has everything it needs to deliver a professional finish for its clients.

Based in Northamptonshire, Premiership Lawncare was established in 2015 to answer a need Mark and Josef identified for someone to provide top-flight lawncare, sports facility management, spraying services, aeration, commercial site management and renovations. Mark says: “We believe we can bring our professional experience to various facilities across the region as well as to the domestic market.”

When there are such high expectations to meet, Premiership Lawncare chooses only the best, hence the recent investment in a Toro ProCore 648 pedestrian aerator and Toro Z Master 7000 rotary mower.

Aeration is an essential part of professional turf maintenance. There are few single procedures than can produce as many benefits for the grass, creating a healthier plant and a better quality playing surface. So when Mark and Josef decided to invest in an aerator they “looked no further than Toro.”

“I’ve used the ProCore many times before as it was ever-present in Arsenal’s shed and it is, in my opinion, the best there is for professional spiking. Having this pedestrian machine means we can offer aeration services to a range of challenging facilities across the region. It also makes a great tool for the renovation services we offer to local cricket and bowls clubs,” says Mark.

Meanwhile rotary mowers are expected to cope with a variety of grueling mowing tasks, while always delivering a good finish with well-contained clippings, sometimes in far from ideal conditions. Therefore, it’s no wonder Mark and Josef trusted in the powerful and reliable Z Master 7000 that gets around with ease thanks to its zero-turn ability, so they can be assured of maximum productivity whatever the terrain and conditions. Mark says: “We decided to buy this mower to use for the commercial sites we look after, it’s a fantastic machine which helps us achieve a great finish and enables us to get the job done more efficiently.”

“We look forward to bringing in more red machines as we believe the best machinery will only strengthen our business and ensure we continue to offer premiership-level, professional services to our clients.”

For more information, please visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

The Trilo S3 Is A ‘Revelation’ To Robert Cleisham Of Northenden GC

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The Trilo S3 Is A ‘Revelation’ To Robert Cleisham Of Northenden GC –  The Trilo S3 vacuum sweeper is a versatile and adaptable machine to easily collect grass clippings, leaves and litter and finds a natural home on the golf course.

The Trilo S3 Is A ‘Revelation’ To Robert Cleisham Of Northenden GC

Suitable for year-round use, the S3 was designed in direct response to industry demands for a light-weight unit working at a respectable 1.5m width.  At only 1200kg it only needs a mid-range 30HP compact tractor, however, the full floating brush head, and low ground pressure, allows the machine to work under the heaviest of conditions where others may struggle.

The modular design of the Trilo S3 means users can tailor elements of the machine, including brakes and tyre options, to their specific requirements. It comes with the options of a scarifier, flail shaft and gulley brush rotor giving the operator the ability to conduct multiple turf maintenance tasks all with one unit. These heads are interchangeable and can be swapped in and out in under one hour resulting in less time spent in the workshop and more out in the field. The vacuums power is provided by a 700mm, 4-bladed fan which lifts and holds the grass vertically to deliver a higher quality of cut and finish.

The material is then removed and collected into a 3m3 hopper which can be emptied via the S3’s 1.6m high tip facility. Utilising a single ram lifting and tipping system is just one way that the Trilo machines are built with low maintenance in mind. The S3 also features a 5m long, 200mm diameter wander hose to allow for easy cleaning of confined or restricted areas such as bunkers, shrubberies or refuse bins.

Over at Northenden Golf Club, Course Manager Robert Cleisham calls their Trilo S3 a ‘revelation’, making the job of debris collection a task which his team now enjoy. “Seeing the improved course presentation once the leaves are collected is quite rewarding” says Robert. “The wander hose is particularly useful for getting down into the ditches, taking even wet leaves easily in its stride. Thanks to the S3, the job of clearing long stretches of ditch, which used to take the best part of a day now takes just an hour or two.”

Understanding The Role Of Bedknives

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Understanding The Role Of Bedknives. True or false – the fine finish from a cylinder mower is down to luck?

Understanding The Role Of Bedknives

It’s the time of year when advice on checking bedknives is regularly dispensed, and rightly so with high season fast approaching. However, it’s good to stop for a moment and understand how and why operating, adjustment and maintenance procedures are so important, especially when it comes to the critical end of the grass cutting process.

Michael Hampton at Reesink Turfcare, the UK distributor of all genuine Toro parts, explains here the important role bedknives play in the fine finish expected from a cylinder mower: “Along with the cylinder and the frame, the bedknife is one of the three main structural members in a cylinder cutting unit. The bedknife is attached to the bedbar and the assembly is mounted to the main frame in a manner that allows for paralleling and adjustment to the cylinder.

“A cylinder mower cuts grass with a scissor-like shearing action as the moving helix shaped blades pass over the stationary bedknife. The cutting action requires the bedknife and cylinder blades to be sharp, matched and in close relationship with each other and the bedknife sharpened to be flat and square so the sharp edge touches the cylinder blades across their entire length.

“If the bedknife is not perfectly flat it is impossible to get the bedknife to touch the entire length of the cylinder. This is an essential part of the construction, making cylinder mowers precision cutting tools. Adjust any part of the construction process with, for example, ‘will-fit’ parts and the fit, form and function are affected leaving a less attractive and less consistent after-cut appearance.

“To understand the cylinder cutting theory fully though, you need to understand the concept of the clip and shear point. A shear point is any single point of contact made between the cylinder blade and bedknife. The clip is the forward distance travelled between successive blade contacts at one shear point. As the cylinder moves forward it pushes the grass in front of it, while the cylinder blade gathers the grass as it moves toward the bedknife. The bedknife then pushes the grass toward the shear point, while the cylinder blade gathers it in front, creating a triangle.”

Michael concludes: “The fine finish expected from a cylinder mower is not down to luck, far from it. Understanding and appreciating that cylinder mowers are precision machines, requiring precision-engineered parts in order to achieve the best possible finish should help make the decision that ‘will-fit’ parts aren’t worth the negative impact on the turf.”

The quote: the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten, rings true here. So our recommendation is: don’t fall foul to the temptation. Toro bedknifes are precision-engineered for a superior quality of cut. Every bedknife Toro manufactures is designed to meet strict Toro engineering specifications to ensure the best quality of cut and after-cut appearance, and to last as long as possible until replacement.

A true flatness of the knife extends their life and maximises the quality of cut. They’re made of high carbon steel for ultimate durability and longevity and retain their edge for longer meaning greenkeepers and groundsmen can mow longer without the need to adjust or replace frequently.

To avoid downtime and ensure a premium after-cut appearance for longer, contact distributor Reesink Turfcare’s Toro parts department on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.