Ransomes Jacobsen at Newcastle United

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Ransomes Jacobsen at Newcastle United: Since 2002 the pitches at Newcastle United’s Darsley Park training ground have been cut with Ransomes and Jacobsen mowers.

Currently, three LF570s and five Mastiffs are used to cut the 13 pitches that are maintained by head groundsman, Mick Curran, and his staff with two of the original Mastiffs from 2002 still in use.

Ransomes Jacobsen at Newcastle United

Through the years Newcastle’s ride-on fleet has graduated through the LF range, and it is the new features and excellent service from Ransomes Jacobsen dealer, Rickerby, that has kept Mick cutting with orange and green for almost three decades.

“I started off with the LF’s in 2002, and they’ve got better as the years have gone on,” Mick said. “On the newer model you can set the reel speed and forward speed, so if I think the lads are cutting too fast, I can peg them back, and that’s a big point. It helps with the consistency of cutting across the site, and the cut we get from the mowers is first-class.

“Reliability, quality of cut and being able to get spare parts easily has kept me using them for 17-years along with the service and back-up we’ve received from Rickerby which has been excellent.

“It’s very important for us if we get a break down in the summer when we’re cutting 24/7 that we can get a part or have it fixed as soon as possible. Nine times out of ten they’ll be out the same day sorting the problem, and that really is important for us.”

While the LF570’s are in action for the summer, once winter rolls around the Mastiffs take over. Like most training grounds, Mick is under pressure to keep the pitches cut and ready for use, and the warmer wet weather in September and October 2019 has highlighted the importance of having reliable pedestrian machines.

“The little club I started at had Mastiffs, so I’ve been brought up on them. It’s in wet conditions like we’ve had over September and October this year that the Mastiff’s really work well for us. The quality of cut is second to none, the finish has always been good, the blade setting and height of cut is dead easy to set, and the maintenance of them is easy as well.

“We need the reliability from the mowers because if you get behind it can be really difficult to catch up. We’ve had horrendous weather in these last two weeks, and the grass is still ticking away where you need to cut it twice a week. So, when you get that sort of weather this time of year, and you can’t cut for two or three days you start falling behind.

“In the winter, we put the LF’s away, they get cleaned down and serviced, and we get the Mastiff’s out. We use them in the winter when the grass isn’t growing as much, and you’re looking to avoid stressing the turf and using the pedestrian machines rather than the ride-ons is perfect for that.”

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Proline H800 for holiday park

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Proline H800 for holiday park: A demonstration of the Toro ProLine H800 for Haven Seashore Holiday Park was all it took to bring improvement to the grounds of the 57-acre site in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

As part of a national portfolio of 40 holiday parks and with a rolling investment programme to bring improvements to all, the timing for the ProLine coming on board and resulting in the quality of the grounds having never been better according to site manager John Zoet, is exemplary.

Proline H800 for holiday park

“The company has invested more in Seashore after seeing how well the park has been doing,” says John. “We have a new swimming pool and restaurant among other additions, and now there’s pressure to raise the bar of the park’s grounds in line with the improvements to the park’s facilities. With Toro on board that has been easy to do – the ProLine has definitely improved the grounds here; in fact they’ve never been better.”

As a direct collect rotary mower, the ProLine H800 combines the precision cutting expected of a Toro rotary mower with an added high volume 810 litre hopper allowing customers to cut more and stop less. Resulting in hassle-free grounds maintenance and minimised downtime, the features of the ProLine have certainly impressed at Seashore Holiday Park.

“The ProLine H800 picks up all the cuttings while still leaving a beautiful cut,” John explains. “It’s absolutely the best mower we’ve got, and the quality is incredible. We normally go with another brand for our maintenance equipment, but then we had a demonstration and saw the ProLine in action. It was eye opening to see.

“The way the ProLine H800 works is just perfect for us. After mowing we can easily tip the contents of the hopper into any skip we have on site,” continues John. “Plus, the maintenance is easier. Unlike other mowers we have, you don’t have to take the deck off to clean it, it just flips up easily which was something that really stood out when we had the demonstration.”

And the ProLine hasn’t failed to keep impressing since its demonstration says John: “The grounds maintenance here is a never ending job, so having a robust machine able to handle that, reduce downtime and still provide excellent results – well, it speaks for itself the value that brings.”

Since its launch two years ago the ProLine has been making its mark on both grounds and fine-turf customers, such is its versatility, and the fact that it can trim right up to the edges of pathways and borders is a huge plus for parks and urban areas.

“Customers notice the little things,” says John. “The fine finish around the caravans for example and around playgrounds and trees. It’s this level of care and attention that keeps people coming back and another reason why we opted for Toro.”

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Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders

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Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders: The top-of-the-range TL43.80HF Agri telescopic loader will be shown for the first time on the Doosan Bobcat Stand No 17.310 in Hall 17 at the LAMMA agricultural machinery show in Birmingham in the UK from 7-8 January 2020.

Bobcat will also show the TL30.60 model, which with the TL43.80HF is part of the newly expanded Bobcat range of seven telescopic loaders for the farming market covering maximum lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.3 tonne with lifting heights from 6 to 8 m.

Bobcat presents new telescopic loaders

Another feature of the Bobcat LAMMA stand will be tracked loaders from Bobcat, emphasising some of the advantages they offer over wheeled machines in terms of traction, stability and lift capacity. These will include the first appearance in the UK of the Bobcat S70 quad-tracked concept machine, featuring quad-tracks that are bolted on to the frame of the loader. Alongside, Bobcat will also be showing the company’s smallest compact track loader – the T450.

Best Loading Productivity for Agriculture

The TL43.80HF Agri*** provides a real solution for the heavy-duty, high-productivity segment of the agricultural market, combining several new features to take lift capacity, lifting height and breakout force to unprecedented levels. Thanks to a maximum lift capacity of 4.3 tonne and a maximum lift height of almost 8 m, combined with the fastest boom movement available in this market and the high 190 l/min hydraulic flow, farmers are now able to lift more, faster and to use higher capacity buckets for the highest loading productivity available.

In addition, unlike any other manufacturer on the market, all Bobcat telescopic loaders including the TL43.80HF and TL30.60 are covered by a three year/3000-hour warranty as standard. There is also the option of extending the warranty to five years/5000 hours.

Adapting For Any Terrain With Tracks

The T450 presents what is already available in the market-leading compact track loader range from Bobcat. This is due to their unique characteristics as tool carriers and the wide array of attachments that they can work with, from trenchers, augers, graders, soil conditioners, scarifiers and dozer blades to more specialist attachments such as flail cutters and wood chippers. As tool carriers, compact track loaders can provide increased productivity in many conditions with a lifting capacity approximately 25% more than the equivalently sized wheeled loaders.

Low Ground Pressure

Approximately three times less than wheeled machines, the low ground disturbance of compact track loaders allows them to work on delicate surfaces, such as established lawns or asphalt roads for surface repair and utility work, minimizing damage and reducing the need for tidying up after the job is complete. While wheeled machines may outperform tracked machines for sheer manoeuvrability on hard surfaces, the rubber tracked undercarriage on track loaders ensures improved traction and stability on rough terrain; soft, sandy surfaces and in wet, muddy conditions.

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com

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Grangers no strangers to Toro

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Grangers no strangers to Toro: Marking a 20-year relationship Grangers Ground Maintenance, based in Hitchin, has taken delivery of two new Toro machines.

Since its inception in 1986 company director Martin Granger has built Grangers Ground Maintenance up from a solo enterprise to a company now employing over 25 people and for most of that time Toro has been aiding its growth.

Grangers no strangers to Toro

The company, which provides services to local authorities and associations, has chosen two Toro zero-turn rotary mowers for grounds contracts in the east of England. Martin picked the Groundsmaster 7210 with durable heavy-duty seven-gauge deck construction and the industry’s toughest spindle assembly for guaranteed longevity and the Z Master 7000 for its multi-use productivity. This joins the Toro STX Stump Grinder already part of Grangers Ground Maintenance’s fleet.

“We chose the Z Master 7000 because it really impressed us at a demonstration,” Martin says. “It’s an incredibly well-built machine with an impressive ground speed that allows it to cover a lot of area quickly. The biggest benefit though is probably its size – as a smaller model it’s able to get into some tighter spaces and manoeuvre within them effectively. We’ve been able to use it in places where we’d normally be using a walk behind mower, so it’s saved us time and made the team more productive!

“In fact, the time savings we’ve seen with the new Toro machines is really quite impressive. We’re currently down a member of the team, but getting the same amount of work done, thanks to how productive these machines are. When we’re back to full capacity, we’ll be finishing each job well within our timeframe which will be a big bonus for our customers.”

And it’s the perfect combination of the quality of Toro machines and the excellent back up service from distributor Reesink Turfcare that sees this relationship continuing, says Martin.

“Toro machines are always solid and well built, but the service from Reesink, particularly from rep Julian Copping, is just brilliant. We have a tight schedule here, so things need to be fixed quickly if there are ever any issues and machines have to be delivered on time when ordered. With Reesink, there’s always a quick turnaround, they’re always on the end of the phone when you need them and if they say they’re going to do something, they do it. I’ve never been let down.”

With the benefits that both Toro and Reesink bring, Martin says there’s never a doubt in his mind when it comes to choosing Toro.

“They can provide what other competitors can’t,” Martin concludes. “From the technical side with benefits like hydraulic lift on decks which other brands lack, to always knowing where you are with Reesink. Everything about Toro and Reesink Turfcare is brilliant.”

Despite this trust in Toro and Reesink, Martin is vigilant in his research. He says: “We replace our mowers every two years but always look at all the options available before making any decisions. With our experience of Toro stretching back 20 years, it was no surprise to us that they proved the best solution again.”

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Campey’s new AllTrec Tool Carrier

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Campey’s new AllTrec Tool Carrier: Campey Turf Care Systems has launched the 100% electric AllTrec Tool Carrier to the UK market, with zero CO2-emissions during operation and low noise output.

Being environmentally responsible is an important cause of many companies and councils. Using the AllTrec allows essential maintenance to be completed with zero emissions, helping to improve green spaces without damaging the wider environment.

Campey's new AllTrec Tool Carrier

The machine has been designed by Dutch manufacturer, WeedControl B.V., to be the perfect solution for zero-emissions mowing. With its sharp turning capabilities, it is agile enough to work in small enclosed spaces while also having been designed to work on large areas with a long-lasting battery to match its versatility. The running time is entirely dependent on the circumstances, but when cutting with the four-blade 180cm deck, the battery will typically last for 6-8 hours and 7-9 hours using the three-blade 130cm deck. Both decks feature rear ejection and allow height of cut adjustments from 30mm-110mm.

It can also be used with a number of other attachments including the weed controller, weed brush, and hedge cutter.

The electrically driven hedge cutter can be fully operated using a joystick, making it easy to operate for a day of work, while the LPG tanks used for the E-Variator Weed Burner can be mounted to the back of the AllTrec, with a connection for the automatic tank heater to prevent them from freezing. Weeds can also be tackled using the Weedbrush, which can be hydraulically adjusted to any angle, and used for a full day without any worry of batteries running out.

Campey's new AllTrec Tool Carrier

A large-action radius and highly efficient attachments combined with low operation and maintenance costs makes the AllTrec perfect for use in urban environments, sports complexes, holiday resorts and parks by contractors, local authorities and landscapers.

All batteries come with a three-year warranty and have a lifetime of + – 2500 charge discharge cycles. The 48VDC battery uses LifePO4 technology with a capacity of 20kwh or an optional 30kwh, with onboard charging taking 4-8 hours.

For more information on making your mowing and other maintenance operations 100% electric and emissions free, contact Campey at info@campeyturfcare.com.

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