Club Company’s fourth Ventrac 4500

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Club Company’s fourth Ventrac 4500: The Club Company, which owns and operates 14 Country Clubs across the UK, has taken delivery of a further Ventrac 4500 compact tractor with Contour mowing deck and blower attachments. This latest combination has been delivered to Woodbury Park Hotel, Golf and Leisure near Exeter and brings the total of Ventrac machines within the group to four.

Chris Brook is the Group Courses Manager, with responsibility for all greenkeeping activities across the company. He is also the Course Manager at the company’s flagship property, Castle Royle Golf and Country Club near Reading.

Club Company's fourth Ventrac 4500

“We already have three Ventracs across the group and they have performed exceptionally well,” he said. “They are brilliant in wet conditions as they only generate 6 psi and can get out onto the course when other equipment would seriously damage the surfaces. This Ventrac at Woodbury Park is our fourth within the group, the other three being at Nizels Golf and Country Club in Kent, The Club at Meyrick Park in Bournemouth and The Tytherington near Macclesfield.

“I was quite sceptical when the machine arrived for a demonstration at Castle Royle back in 2017, but was pleasantly surprised, and delighted, at the machine’s capabilities. Considering it is under 25 hp it is remarkably powerful and can go anywhere.”

The third machine in the group was delivered to The Tytherington in 2018, where the golf course was constructed using clay spoil from the building of the housing estate back in the 1960s. The underlying clay profile can be quite wet during the winter months and difficult to maintain.

Course Manager Gareth Tucker is in his second spell with the group. He was Deputy Course Manager in 2015 before taking up the post of Course Manager at Glossop; two years later he returned in his current role.

“This is an exceptional machine combination,” he said. “Unlike some parts of the country, we had a very wet summer and it has continued into the autumn. This has created some challenges for the greenkeeping team, but the Ventrac has got us out of jail on many occasions. With its minimal ground pressure it can go out in all weather. The Contour deck is used on the semi-rough and the quality of finish for Captain’s Day this year was exceptional; we can lift the height of cut and also use it on the rough.

“The Turbine Blower attachment is very good; some years we get a gradual leaf fall in autumn, but this year we’ve had a heavy fall in a short space of time.  Add to this the wet conditions and the Ventrac has been brilliant. We can get onto the green surrounds, very close to the green edges, blow away the leaves without marking and keeping our members happy.”

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Pellenc’s latest battery technology

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Pellenc’s latest battery technology: Extra thin, compact and lightweight, the Pellenc ULiB 750 battery revises all ergonomic standards with an unequalled power to weight ratio.

Developed to work with all Pellenc battery tools in the range, the ULiB 750 has a sleek and compact design, weighing less than 4.5kg, making this backpack battery the ideal power source for tree surgeons as well as grounds maintenance professionals.

Pellenc's latest battery technology

It has a full LCD display on the front of the battery which allows the operator to see power consumed, cost of fuel saved in terms of petrol, the tools that have been used and a battery life indicator.

The new battery is also IP54 water-proof rated, meaning that the worry some users have of working in the rain with a battery-powered product is no longer an issue.

It also comes complete with the new battery harness designed around user comfort which allows the battery to be stood upright when taken off of the operator. Another new feature is that it can be fitted in either direction on to the operator allowing the cable to come out of the top or bottom depending on the type of machine being used.

Technical Specifications of the Pellenc ULiB 750 battery:

  • Capacity is 745 Wh for 16.5 Ah
  • Outstanding power / weight ratio of 166.67 Wh per kg
  • Compatible with all Pellenc battery tools
  • Autonomy from 2h30 to 1.5 working days depending on tool used
  • Can be used in all weathers thanks to an IP54 sealing level
  • Visible at night or in difficult weather conditions thanks to its 4 reflectors and its flashing screen

All Pellenc batteries and tools come complete with a three-year commercial warranty as standard – the first manufacturer to offer this on battery-powered tools.

Pellenc is exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Etesia UK.

To view the all-new dedicated Pellenc website please visit www.pellencuk.com

You can also follow Pellenc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PellencUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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GXi8 HD a difference at Banchory GC

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GXi8 HD a difference at Banchory GC: Three years ago, an Aberdeenshire golf club with a keen focus on ecological, environmental and sustainable best practice, chose a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8  HD deep aerator. It was the first purchase made by the then newly appointed course manager at Banchory GC, Richard Mullen.

“Aeration needed to be done quickly without compromising standards.  The GXi8 meant we could reduce operator time, reduce fuel and importantly use just one machine,” said Richard Mullen.

GXi8 HD a difference at Banchory GC

Banchory GC sits on the banks of the River Dee, in the heart of Royal Deeside. In the last year the club has received huge plaudits for its biodiversity initiatives in creating both an excellent golfing surface and a welcoming habitat for nature.

“We didn’t start off as a GEO certified golf course when the aerator arrived and we certainly weren’t sustainable. Now three years down the line we’re getting better. The fungicide usage has been reduced by half and we haven’t used any insecticides at all in that time,” he continued.

“We’re like a links course inland. We share many characteristics of a links course.  We’ve sandy soil and the terrain has been naturally formed.  It’s maybe not the largest of courses but the GXi8 goes everywhere; wall-to-wall if you like, fairways, greens, tees, approaches; it misses nothing.

“On any modern course, golfers hate the sight of holes. Frequently it’s so clean our golfers are unaware we’ve actually been out.  If your golfers aren’t noticing holes then that’s a huge bonus. Instantly you’ve got more options. “

Wiedenmann’s GXi8 HD offers a patented Advanced Tine Control (ATC) system. ATC controls the entry point of the tine into the turf. All moving parts of the system like springs and heave linkages are positioned behind covers at the front of the machine away from the workings and ‘dirt area’. Wear and tear is reduced and the covers help quieten the machine.  The centre of gravity being closer to the tractor makes it exceptionally stable.   The tines on the GXi are nearer to the front roller ensuring a uniform job as the spiking action is exceptionally precise and accurate.  Constant hole-spacing is maintained even at high fast forward speed so when following the contours of the ground the quality of work does not falter.

“In a year the GXi8 can be out about 50 times but all the while helping the soil biology of our site.  It’s not uncommon for us to give the greens two passes, using 14mm solids, one at 5mm with 75mm centres and then 200mm deep with 10% heave at 50mm centres. Any oxygen can then be used by plants roots and soil microbes during respiration while carbon dioxide is released allowing nutrient uptake”

Richard, working with just two other colleagues, has made huge strides which have been welcomed by the local community. Already in 2019 Banchory has been a finalist in the 2019 Golf Environment and 2019 inspiring Aberdeenshire Awards.

“With a small team you appreciate the versatility and the ease of use of the GXi8.  There’s nothing time consuming about the machine at all. You can be doing fairways with 20mm tines then later in the session be on greens with 8 mm tines. Switching tines is super-fast. Indeed if we had a different type of deep aerator I don’t think we would get half the things done that we achieve at the moment.  It makes that big a difference to us.” concluded Richard Mullen.

Local dealer Fairways GM supplied the club with their Wiedenmann aerator. Banchory GC also has a Wiedenmann Super 500 and Whisper Twister in its fleet.

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Sodexo turn to Husqvarna

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Sodexo turn to Husqvarna: Global food services and facilities management company, Sodexo, has steadily increased its use of Husqvarna battery products in order to work towards a greener future for the company.

Today David Ramsay, Plant Manager at Sodexo Horticultural Services, shares his experience with battery products and explains how it’s positively impacting the work of the company.

Sodexo turn to Husqvarna

Sodexo delivers a wide range of services and is committed to sourcing responsibly and providing services that reduce carbon emissions. Over the past five years the company has steadily increased the use of battery-powered products supplied by Husqvarna and now has a policy to use battery-powered products where possible.

David Ramsay has overseen the adoption of professional battery products and, after trials with several manufacturers, decided upon Husqvarna. Discussing Sodexo’s adoption of battery power products he explained: “Husqvarna battery products are playing a major role in helping us reduce the impact our services have on the environment by reducing the amount of petrol and diesel we use. The change towards battery-powered products has taken some time, but we are happy that we have been able to make the move.”

He continued: “The battery-powered products we are using are performing beyond what we were expecting – they are just as powerful as their petrol-fuelled equivalents. Each product is comfortable, lightweight and easy to use for our landscapers, which has increased staff productivity as they are able to use the products for longer periods.”

“Tools such as Husqvarna battery powered hedge trimmers are particularly popular with staff because of their light weight and flexibility. Using a hedge trimmer is often very taxing on the arms of the operator so it’s great for us to have a professional option which is lightweight and easy to use but is still packed with power.”

World leader in outdoor solutions, Husqvarna, ticked many boxes as a supplier for Sodexo. The company was adamant that whoever it partnered with was committed to battery-powered products long-term, to support it towards becoming a greener business.

Husqvarna’s battery-powered equipment means Sodexo’s grounds team are able to work without having to worry about harmful fumes, carbon emissions, and fuel consumption. Equipment provides comfortable working situations and low disturbance for others when compared to petrol-driven equivalents.

David added: “The use of battery products has changed the way our staff work. Many of our jobs are in locations such as office blocks, cemeteries, schools and housing estates with workers using blowers, hedge trimmers and brushcutters to complete tasks” said David.

“The low noise of battery in comparison to petrol means we no longer cause a disturbance to people in these areas, allowing us to work more quietly and efficiently without stoppages. This is of benefit to everyone as it means we can successfully complete jobs quicker, with minimal noise, in sensitive areas.”

One battery fits all with Husqvarna battery-powered products. Sodexo’s team can simply switch the same battery between grass trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers, increasing flexibility and variety when working. These operational aspects have been a favoured benefit as it allows landscapers to work more efficiently with plenty of variety.

Every Husqvarna product in its battery range is easy to use, lightweight and designed for comfort.
Naturally low vibration levels on battery machinery relieves stress, sparing workers’ arms and hands to enable comfort during long shifts and reduces the risk of injury.

David explained: “At Sodexo, safety is paramount. These battery-powered machines produce less vibration, meaning comfortable operation day-to-day for our teams. We’re very excited to be working with Husqvarna and by supplying its battery-powered products we’ve already seen positive results. We’re looking forward to what the future has to offer”.

To learn more about Husqvarna battery products visit: https://www.husqvarna.com/uk/

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Etesia launch new Hydro 80

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Etesia launch new Hydro 80: Etesia chose SALTEX to officially launch the new Hydro 80 MKHP5 ride-on mower ahead of its official 2020 release.

The Hydro 80 MKHP5 can cut and collect in all conditions with the added benefit of a differential lock. The new model joins the popular Hydro 80 range and will give operators extra traction and stability on difficult, uneven and undulating terrain by reducing wheel spin, reducing damage to the grass and aid in cutting presentation.

Etesia launch new Hydro 80

The versatile mower also benefits from a mulching insert included as standard. The 80cm cutting width, 240 litre collecting box and impressive Kawasaki FS481H 11.7 kW engine give it the cutting performance and raw power to impress while operating.

Thanks to a range of additional accessories including a snow plough, users are able to extend the versatility of the machine so that it is ready for any scenario 365-days-a-year.

The Hydro 80 MKHP5 cuts and collects both long and short grass – without clogging.

Add to that its compact dimensions measuring just 1.98 m x 0.90 m wide, it is easily transported in a van or trailer. It can pass through most gateways and its tight turning circle make it ideal for small or awkward areas. It mows close to walls and fences and is highly manoeuvrable and efficient offering the kind of output that would easily replace three walk-behind mowers.

Cutting height and emptying of the grass collector can all be adjusted or carried out from the driving seat, while the steering console is fitted with a timer, rev counter and electric starter.

A hose pipe fitting makes cleaning the cutting system quick and easy, while the tool-free access to the engine allows for easy maintenance thanks to quick access to all mechanical parts.

As with all Etesia machines, the new Hydro 80 MKHP5 ride-on mower comes standard with a comprehensive two-year commercial and three-year domestic warranty.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK.

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