Quadraplay signals improvements at Wolverhampton

/in , , /by

Quadraplay signals improvements at Wolverhampton: Andrew Brough, head groundsman at Wolverhampton Rugby Union Football Club, claims that the SISIS Quadraplay single pass maintenance system, has helped him in his personal quest to improve the standard of pitches.

It is safe to say that Andrew is Wolverhampton Rugby Union Football Club through and through. He has played for the club since he was a child and his own children have followed in his footsteps and currently represent the junior teams. He also runs the bar in the club house and when he is not pulling pints or ordering more stock he is tending to the pitches.

Quadraplay signals improvements at Wolverhampton

Andrew admits that his role of head groundsman is his greatest responsibility and it is certainly not a role he has taken lightly since his appointment two years ago.

“Quite simply, my aim here is to improve the standard of the pitches and make sure they are as playable as possible,” he said. “In the past we have had to cancel a lot of games because the pitches haven’t been draining very well and we just never used to have the equipment – but now we have.”

One of Andrew’s first tasks as head groundsmen was to sign-up to the RFU’s Groundsmen Connected initiative which is an easy access, two-way communication network between the RFU and rugby union groundsmen. It is the main communication channel for the RFU to provide information and advice to groundsmen and also has special offers and exclusive benefits for members.

Members have a direct communication channel on pitch maintenance issues with Twickenham’s head groundsman Keith Kent, and it was Keith’s advice which prompted Andrew to purchase the SISIS Quadraplay.

“I went to a seminar through the Groundsmen Connected scheme and I saw Keith who stressed the importance of aeration. Keith told me a lot about his thoughts on basic pitch requirements, what he felt was the best approach and also the best equipment to use. He told me that in his opinion he thought that the SISIS Quadraplay was the best way forward for us.”

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously – the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many groundsmen.

“It’s a brilliant piece of kit – we’ve got a cutting deck on our tractor which came with the deal that allows us to basically cut the pitch and then we use the Quadraplay to finish off the pitch. It has made a huge difference to our aeration.

“I also really like the roller which is great for presentation. It does everything I need it to do and I’m really pleased with it. I actually think that most rugby clubs could do with a Quadraplay because it would make their pitches a lot better. We haven’t had to cancel any games since we’ve been using it.”

As part of the package, Andrew also purchased the SISIS Multitiner – a tractor mounted aerator. Based on his experience of using the two new machines he later purchased a SISIS Variseeder – a tractor mounted overseeder; and he revealed his plans for using them.

“I’ll be using the Multitiner to spike the pitches and obviously by doing that we will be able to go into the holes with sand. We will then go along the pitches and sweep all that nice sand into the ground and give it a bit more drainage and help to get rid of some of those holes and ditches.”

“The pitches are a bit patchy at the moment and I want to reseed the pitches so I’ll use the Variseeder to make sure we get more seed into the ground. Hopefully with more grass in the ground the pitches will repair a bit quicker and they will be nice and lush in time for the new season.”

“Ultimately, with the SISIS machinery I feel confident that I’ve got some really great equipment in place now which will absolutely improve the pitches.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd

/in , , /by

New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd: Specialists in all aspects of Sportsturf, construction, drainage, renovation and maintenance.  The Company originated in the 1960s from a background in agricultural land drainage. Duncan Ross Ltd, have invested in a GKB Drainmaster for full drainage schemes for a variety of clients.

Joe Ross, Manager at Duncan Ross Ltd, explains how impressed they were with their new GKB Drainmaster.  Duncan Ross – Managing Director had initially seen the machine exhibited at BTME and was so impressed by the design and quality of the workmanship.” He adds, “ultimately, this was a key factor which encouraged us to purchase the reliable and refined machine.”

New GKB Drainmaster for Duncan Ross Ltd

“We have been delighted with the service and attention we’ve received from GKB since purchasing the GKB Drainmaster, Joe Ross explained. The machine is very well engineered and makes the job easy!”

Having been in continuous development since 1985, the concept of the GKB Drainmaster has been completely refined. The system has been developed not only to improve the drainage of surface water but also the acceleration. Duncan Ross Ltd have used their machine to “complete a full drainage scheme and intensified the system using the GKB Drainmaster. The results were excellent.” With the GKB Drainmaster, the stability and quality of your grass will improve.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Pellenc launch new Rasion 2 Models

/in , , /by

Pellenc launch new Rasion 2 Models: Pellenc UK has announced the launch of the all new Rasion Easy 2 and Rasion Smart 2 battery powered pedestrian rotary mowers.

The original Rasion Easy was launched back in 2016 which was a combination of the previous two models in the Rasion rotary mower range – the Basic and the Smart. Feedback from users revealed that commercial operators found the manual operation of the Rasion Basic more appropriate yet they also liked the self-propelled element of the Rasion Smart.

Pellenc launch new Rasion 2 Models

Therefore, the Rasion Easy was launched to offer a combination from both models.

2019 sees a new and improved Easy model with a number of exciting key features.

Mow in silent harmony with the environment

  • New silent Brushless wheel motor with direct drive.
  • 91 dB at speed 3 and 93 dB at maximum power.

Mowing with consideration for the user’s well-being

  • Exceptionally low vibration rate of 0.7 m/s² (compared to 4.5 m/s² for a petrol mower).
  • An easy-to-handle lawn mower: Single front wheel facilitating stability and work flow. 2 wheel-locking positions: free/idle wheels or guided steering – flexible and smooth.

Enables intensive mowing over extended periods

  • New electronic management by the IMS (insulated metallic substrate) circuit board. This allows for improved heat dissipation, absorbing power peaks during intensive mowing without reducing the blade speed.
  • Optimised anti-jam system, reverse rotation of the blades to remove excess grass from the housing while keeping the mower running.
  • The ICC (intelligent cutting control) sensors will now be available as an option (not standard) on the Easy 2. This patented feature exclusive to Pellenc allows the mower to detect the height and density of the grass and change the engine speed accordingly. This saves power as operators do not have to run the machine under full-load unnecessarily.

A cutting width of 60cm with height of cut between 25-75mm, 70 litre grass box capacity and two front swivel wheels ensure the Rasion Easy 2 is ultra-manoeuvrable. Weighing less than 30kgs and folding handlebars means that transportation between sites is effortless. The Rasion Easy 2 also has an IP54 water rating, which as time goes on will be the standard through the rest of the Pellenc tool range.

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.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Duncan Ross at Queen Elizabeth’s

/in , , /by

Duncan Ross at Queen Elizabeth’s: Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn, aim to increase the use of their sports field using new primary and secondary drainage from Duncan Ross Ltd.

The pitches on the field are used every day throughout the school year and are home to two local football teams at the weekends, consisting of two adult teams and one junior section.

Duncan Ross at Queen Elizabeth’s

In the two years before the work, the pitches began to hold water during the winter months, preventing students using them regularly and causing fixtures to be called off.

Having recognised the issue, the school, through director of business and finance, Paul Atkinson, enlisted Professional Sportsturf Design (PSD) to carry out an initial survey of the site.

Paul explained: “There was an existing drainage system that had been installed several years ago, but it was no longer doing the job, and as a result, the pitches started to become unplayable in the winter. That then began to affect our students who couldn’t use them regularly and our income at the weekends because the fixtures would be called off.

“Now the pitches are looking fine, and we’re confident that they’ll be ready for the new school year. We did all the work in one go with a view to having them in operation for the academic year, which is the 2nd September 2019, and we’re confident that will be the case.

“Working with Duncan Ross has been very smooth. They stuck to the programme of works and kept us informed with what was going on. They worked well with our groundsman, and he was also kept informed about everything. He’s very happy, and he’ll start to mark the pitches out in the next couple of weeks, and he’s very confident that we’ll be playing on them in September. We’re looking forward to using the pitches all year round, especially throughout the winter months.”

The initial survey was done by PSD project manager, Mark Higgs, who recognised the need to install new pipe drainage to replace the older pipes that had become capped off over time. Secondary slit drains were also installed to make the pitches better equipped to deal with downpours and ensure water drained efficiently from the surface.

Duncan Ross at Queen Elizabeth’s

As well as the drainage work on the entire field, particular attention was paid to Pitch 1, the main match pitch, which had a layer of thatch. This pitch was fraise mowed with the Koro Field Topmaker to remove 85-90% of the existing vegetation before the pipe and slit drains were installed and the surface seeded.

Mark has now worked with Duncan Ross Ltd on a number of projects and commends Duncan’s ability to think on his feet and offer quick solutions when issues arise.

He said: “Duncan went to the site prior to the drainage installation and he had to dig down and prove some of the existing drainage. He phoned me straight away to tell me he’d found something that meant we had to adjust our specification slightly. What’s good when you’re dealing with Duncan is that he’ll improvise, he doesn’t just phone you up and say ‘that won’t work’, he’ll say ‘I’ve found this, it isn’t ideal, but I’ve thought about it, and this is how I think we can achieve the finish on the job’. That proactive approach makes the process a lot quicker and reduces any downtime, which means we’re able to meet our deadlines.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Bobcat launch new Stage V M-Series

/in , /by

Bobcat launch new Stage V M-Series: Enhancing Bobcat’s leadership of the skid-steer loader market in Europe, the company has launched new versions of its market-leading M-Series S450, S510 and S530 models, the first in the range to feature a specially developed Stage V compliant Bobcat engine.

All of the new skid-steer loader models are manufactured at the Bobcat compact equipment plant in Dobris in the Czech Republic.

Bobcat launch new Stage V M-Series

The new Stage V M-Series loaders provide operators with increased performance, enhanced comfort and optimised maintenance requirements to maximise job site efficiency. They are designed to continue the success of the Bobcat range globally, where nearly one out of every two skid-steer loaders on the market is a Bobcat machine.

Mike Vought, Senior Director, Product Management, commented: “M-series loaders are some of the best-selling models for Bobcat in Europe and the new Stage V machines build on the legacy set by their predecessors. Customers will benefit from the compact size coupled with the high torque and performance of the new engines. The Stage V engines also allow us to add the popular air conditioning and high flow hydraulics options to the 500 series models further increasing operator comfort and performance.”

More Power but Still Compact

Compactness within this performance class was the key benefit appreciated by Bobcat customers. Skilful design work has ensured that even with the Bobcat Stage V engine incorporated, the small dimensions of the new S450, S510 and S530 skid-steer loaders are maintained, offering a truly compact size and low weight, so they can work/manoeuvre easily in tight spaces and can be easily transported.

The new Bobcat engine provides 37% more torque and fast recovery from overload compared to the previous machines, which ensures increased comfort for the operator as they can work with the same power at lower RPM, at lower noise levels and with lower fuel consumption for the same jobs.

New High-Flow Hydraulics Option

Another very important advantage derived from the Bobcat engine is the availability of a new high-flow hydraulics option for the S510 and S530 Stage V models. This further expands the exceptional versatility of these machines allowing them to be used with higher flow attachments such as sweepers, planers and wheel saws. There is also a new air conditioning option on the S510 and S530.

By offering the same power at lower RPM, the new Bobcat engine provides a significant decrease in noise levels, reducing operator fatigue and lowering fuel consumption for the same type of work. In addition, with an engine equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) as standard, users can work in emission-regulated zones such as city and town centres.

The new Bobcat engine has also allowed the company to extend maintenance intervals with the first service now being after 500 hours and to reduce the number of fuel filter replacements required.

Innovative Machine Styling and Built-in Technologies

The new Stage V M-Series machines are the first models in the Bobcat compact equipment range in Europe to have the company’s innovative new machine styling scheme, which includes 3D decals for the first time.

The new Stage V loaders now feature the previously optional Deluxe control panel as standard, offering a choice of different languages and telematics to protect machines and to monitor their performance. Bobcat has also extended the choice of factory installed tyres for the three models, ensuring they can be more closely matched to customers’ applications right from the start.

The cab on the new loaders is radio ready with a 12 volt power outlet for charging mobile phones and other devices, a cup holder, added storage compartments and new full-colour, deluxe instrument panels.

The ‘Swiss Knife’ of the Compact Equipment Market

As well as their compactness, the S450, S510 and S530 skid-steer loaders can be supplied with a comprehensive choice of over 50 different product families of approved attachments, offering solutions for a very wide range of applications and providing a perfect illustration of the Bobcat Tool Carrier concept common to all Bobcat compact loaders.

The S450 and S510 radius lift path loaders combine excellent manoeuvrability in tight areas with the reach and visibility needed for applications such as dumping materials over walls, backfilling or loading flatbed trucks. The S530 model features vertical lift path boom arms particularly suited to lift and carry as well as material-handling applications.

All three skid-steer loader models offer a two-speed option which boosts the maximum travel speed from 11.4 km/h in low range to 17.3 km/h in high range. The hydraulic bucket positioning option keeps the loader bucket level as the lift arms travel upward, enabling operators to spill less and work faster.

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.