Grillo announce new franchise

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Grillo announce new franchise: Leading Cornwall and Devon groundcare machinery dealership, Vincent Tractors & Plant, has been appointed as a Grillo AgriGarden Machines dealer for Devon and Cornwall.

This means that its branches at Fraddon, Holsworthy and Smithaleigh (Plympton) will be able to provide both sales and after-sales service for both new and existing Grillo customers.

Grillo announce new franchise

Grillo announce new franchise

Paul Vincent, Managing Director of Vincent Tractors & Plant said “We are delighted to add Grillo to our range of professional groundcare machines.  Grillo produces a superb range of machines including rotovators, walking tractors, trimmers. Sickle bars, tracked carriers, banks mowers, and a range of ride on mowers and collectors.”

“The addition of Grillo to our range of groundcare machines will allow us to offer our customers a wider range of products.  We have been listening to our customers who have said that they would like us to supply a large out-front rotary mower with central collection.  The addition of Grillo will allow us to supply this as they produce an excellent range of machines.”

To find out more about the range of Grillo products check out our website www.vincenttractors.co.uk/grillo or contact Vincent Tractors & Plant at Fraddon on 01726 860332, Holsworthy on 01409 251241 or Smithaleigh on 01752 981090.

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Vanmac become UK distributors for Brouwer Kesmac

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Vanmac become UK distributors for Brouwer Kesmac: Vanmac Ltd have announced they are now an authorised full line distributor for the Brouwer Kesmac portfolio of turf and groundcare machinery.

With a long-standing, established reputation in the turf grower sector, the Brouwer Kesmac range of harvesters and pedestrian rollers, together with trailed verti-cutters, aerators and cylinder mowers are now available to local authorities, landscapers and grounds managers via Vanmac in the UK.

Vanmac become UK distributors for Brouwer Kesmac

Vanmac become UK distributors for Brouwer Kesmac

Founded by Gerry Brouwer and his son Eric in Ontario, Canada, Brouwer Kesmac is now established worldwide, built on a reputation of developing innovative equipment solutions that deliver quality and reliability. Vanmac Ltd, known throughout the UK for the distribution of the Trilo range of blowers & vacs, will offer sales and service support across the full range of Brouwer Kesmac products, along with supplying a vast selection of spare parts – which will be available to order through Vanmac Ltd’s website.

Of particular note from the range is the five-gang Kesmac verti-cutter, based on the proven design of the Kesmac cylinder mowers. Each of the five gang reels features 21 high-quality steel blades at 31mm spacings, to cut and remove thatch build ups – and at over 3m in width, it is ideal for use on larger areas such as golf fairways and parks. Another popular machine from the Kesmac collection is the Pedestrian Turf Roller, which can be filled with water to provide a smooth, clean surface, particularly suited to landscapers and contractors.

The appointment of Vanmac Ltd in the UK extends the distribution agreement between Brouwer Kesmac and Vanmac bv across Europe. For Vanmac Ltd, Area Sales Manager Jeremy Vincent, said, “We’ve been working hard to extend our portfolio here in the UK and are delighted to have added the Brouwer Kesmac collection to our offering. The range compliments everything that we currently offer to customers in the turf grower market and extends our offering to those managing professional turf surfaces. Over the next few weeks, we will begin supporting all of the existing Brouwer Kesmac customers and are excited to hit the road and begin introducing the quality range to new facilities around the country.”

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Unicorn Athletic achieve full maintenance programme

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Unicorn Athletic achieve full maintenance programme: In March 2020, after 20-years of vying for control of their main Smiths Field site from Trafford Council, Unicorn Athletic JFC has begun life in charge with equipment from Campey Turf Care Systems.

The club is home to 34 teams and operates at different schools and pitches in the local area, with their main site used by the under-8’s Saturday club, youth teams from 14 years old and upwards and their open age group teams.

Unicorn Athletic achieve full maintenance programme

Unicorn Athletic achieve full maintenance programme

The New Holland Boomer 35, Trimax 190 Striker and SISIS Quadraplay will be vital for the community club as they aim to improve the condition of their site. The story of their pitches over two decades is a sadly familiar one, with budgets cuts in the council leading to less and less maintenance and inconsistent mowing.

For Darren Storey, treasurer, part-time groundsman and operator of the walking football team, finally taking control of the maintenance will allow the club to give children playing in their teams the pitches they deserve.

“It was unbelievable to use the new stuff. To be honest, I felt like I was ten. It was like being a kid in a candy shop,” Darren began. “The whole field was cut in an hour, and it looks the part because it’s been done with proper grounds maintenance machinery, and it looks exactly as our kids deserve.

“In the past when the council hasn’t cut the grass, we’ve begged, stole and borrowed petrol mowers and cut it by hand with a team of volunteers but those days have long gone hopefully.

“We started the process by speaking to one of the subcontractors that works for Trafford Council, Paul Grange, who has worked on our pitches and helped us with stuff in the past. Over the years the pitches have been in shocking condition because Trafford had no money, So, we used to pay extra money out of our own funds to get them upgraded.

“Campey has been ace. From costing, to specifications and the equipment that we needed, and more importantly could afford, they’ve been great. They kept us updated at each stage, and we asked for upgrades like a tracker on the tractor, and although they don’t normally do it, they sorted it. We put a grant application into the Football Foundation which they helped us with, and without that, we wouldn’t have the equipment, so John Campey and his team have been very good.”

With the first cut of many completed on the day of delivery and installation in late July 2020, Darren and the club are already looking at ways they can improve the wider area. Because it is a community field, they want to make it better for everyone, not just the players, and a part of this plan is creating a Friends of Smiths Field group. By doing this they hope to raise funds that will allow them to improve the landscaping, put in nature and fitness trails and complete other projects to make it a more usable area for the wider community.

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Dartfordians RFC upgrade with Campey

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Dartfordians RFC upgrade with Campey: Dartfordians RFC has upgraded their maintenance operation with a Trimax Striker and New Holland Boomer 40 from Campey Turf Care Systems.

Time waits for no machine, and at London based Dartfordians RFC, that meant their old Massey Ferguson tractor and gang mowers needed to be replaced so they could continue to maintain the ground to a high standard. Replacing the machinery was a joint venture between the rugby and cricket club. Both operate the site under the DCSC which manages the building, bar and groundsman, Graham Smith, who was a member of the rugby club before becoming the groundsman four years ago.

Dartfordians RFC upgrade with Campey

Dartfordians RFC upgrade with Campey

As the sole groundsman – along with some volunteers – Graham is responsible for maintaining the three rugby pitches and football pitch in the winter as well as the cricket square and outfield in the summer. Additionally, there is a park adjacent to the ground that is maintained by Graham in an ongoing arrangement between the rugby club and Bexley Council.

With the five-hectare site in constant use throughout the year, having reliable machinery is a must, and after speaking with Campey Product Specialist, Ben Taylor, Graham was confident Campey could provide what they needed.

“I’m really impressed with Ben. He’s very amenable, he talks straight, and he knew what we wanted and put together a deal that was very acceptable with us and we are looking forward to a good long relationship with equipment in the future,” Graham began.

“I think the customer service side of it is very important and it’s a big consideration when we’re buying machines. You could go somewhere else and buy a tractor, and with money constraints we could have ended up buying a second hand one without any warranty. As we bought new we have that and we know if we want to add to it in the future with a bucket or similar things like that we’ll get all the help we need.

“You want it to start, to run and a good amount of power and everything to work. With the period we’d gone through with our old machinery breaking down we’re now in a new zone. It becomes very critical at times [having reliable machinery] and really you should always have a backup and that’s what we needed. Equipment fails and suddenly you’re stuck and if it was in the cricket season and we couldn’t cut the grass then they wouldn’t be able to play and likewise with the rugby. We need to maintain the pitches and keep them cut to the right length to encourage growth.

“It’s going to make my life a lot easier with the new kit. On our particular tractor we’ve got the oversized grass tyres so there is no damage on the pitches. That’ll be especially important in the winter because we’ll still have the ability to drive across a pitch without doing any damage, whereas our old tractor had agricultural tyres and there were times of the year where you wouldn’t drive it onto a pitch.

“Having had the tractor for a few weeks now I’ve found it very good, and it’s proved to be a very good piece of machinery. Because it’s 40hp I’ve found that I can run the mower in the economy mode which cuts down the revs and saves fuel, and the tractor being powerful enough to do that is a really good thing. I think the Trimax and the way it works along with the bearings that are guaranteed for life shows the confidence that Trimax have in their own machine.”

The rugby club brings a lot of value to their local area with men’s, women’s, junior and academy rugby catering for people from U11’s and upwards. Their Dartfordians 1st XV were promoted to London1 South at the end of the 2018-19 season, an impressive feat for a community club, and have consolidated their position in the league.

Providing high quality surfaces for all of the players is the top priority for Graham, and after the initial investment he hopes the club can take advantage of their new tractor and invest in more equipment in the future.

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Four times the tine

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Four times the tine: Built to take on the toughest of tasks, Toro’s Titan tines last up to four times longer than standard tines, meaning fewer change-outs and replacements for greater productivity. 

There’s a reason the titans of the tines industry are known as the turf professional’s secret weapon when it comes to aerating. When you choose Toro’s Titan tines, you’re guaranteed more choice, more longevity, more productivity, more strength, more play and more reliability too.

Four times the tine

Four times the tine

Made by combining a strong alloy with a unique heat treatment process, Toro’s Titan tines provide maximum strength and resistance to wear. The durable tungsten-carbide tips produce superior, consistent holes for faster turf recovery and a speedier return to play.

The tough design of Toro’s Titan tines, with hard-wearing brazed tip joints for in-built resistance to separation and breakage, importantly help maintain consistent aeration depths and reduces costly change-out and associated downtime.

But the benefits don’t end there. There are over 150 Toro Titan tines available covering all possible aeration applications. Whether you’ll be coring, slicing or spiking, hollow, solid or deep tining, or using water injection cultivation or ‘linear’ aeration, there’s a Titan tine for every need. Plus, all Titan tines fit current and late model Toro aerators and the standard mount size fits other manufacturer aerators, too.

Titan tines genuinely offer customers more, just like their UK distributor Reesink Turfcare. Thanks to Reesink’s 24-hour delivery service customers can have their stock of Toro Titan tines replenished and their machines back up and running as quickly ensuring downtime is kept to a minimum.

Michael Hampton, turfcare parts manager at Reesink, says: “With Toro Titan Tines, customers don’t have to worry about reordering replacement parts as often as with will-fit parts, and when the time comes for a new set, they can be sure of a fast and reliable service with Reesink keeping productivity high and downtime low; it’s a winning combination.”

To stock up on Titan tines or for more aeration advice, customers can get in touch with their local genuine Toro parts dealer or service centre, call Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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