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Exhibitors praise ‘Valuable’ SALTEX

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Exhibitors praise ‘valuable’ SALTEX: The SALTEX 2018 post-show survey has revealed that an overwhelming amount of exhibitors reported hugely successful business results with many claiming that it was the most valuable event to date.

The 300 SALTEX exhibitors travelled from 18 countries to SALTEX 2018 with the majority being based in the UK. European exhibitors included those from the Netherlands, Finland, Turkey, Sweden, Israel, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and France. Further afield, exhibitors travelled from North America, Korea, Canada and China to showcase their products and services at SALTEX 2018.

The core area at SALTEX was the machinery, power and hand tools segment with over half (56 per cent) of all exhibitors showcasing equipment in this category. A further 28 per cent specialised in sports surfaces and facilities; 27 per cent represented landscaping products and services; 24 per cent were from the turf, seeds, aggregates and treatments sector; 15 per cent represented arboriculture and horticulture; 13 per cent showcased commercial vehicles; 9 per cent specialised in synthetic surfaces and 7 per cent were manufacturers of play equipment.

The post show exhibitor survey revealed that more than 82 per cent of these exhibitors feel that exhibiting at SALTEX is integral to their overall business strategy.

“We come to SALTEX because it plays an important part within our marketing platform,” said Roger Moore, Dennis & SISIS sales and marketing manager. “We find the show ideal for the launching of new products and to meet existing as well as new customers. It is a fantastic flag-waving exercise. The 2018 show was incredibly busy, so SALTEX is very important to us.”

Survey results confirmed that every exhibitor was in agreement after an incredible 100 per cent of exhibitors thought that by attending the show they were able to maintain and promote their company profile. Ninety-six per cent said that they generated new leads, 87 per cent used SALTEX as a platform to launch new products and 82 per cent took orders as a direct result of the event.

“It was another successful show for us,” said Karen Proctor, director of global marketing at Ransomes. “It’s always a fantastic opportunity to network, meet current and potential customers, and to showcase our latest machinery to the industry. We had a lot of good leads at the show including many demonstration requests.”

Echoing Karen was Louise Amos, business communications and marketing support manager at Aquatrols, who said: “We had a busy stand and plenty of engagement with groundsmen and women that weren’t previously aware of our products. We felt the audience was right for the direction we’re going in and the general feeling from the team is that it was our most valuable SALTEX yet.”

Further results from the post-show survey revealed that 84 per cent of exhibitors rated the quality of visitors as excellent and it certainly didn’t go un-noticed that visitors from 44 different countries were in attendance.

“SALTEX is a great time of year for visitors and the NEC has great travel links, which is great for overseas visitors,” said Derek Smith amenity sales and marketing manager for Johnsons Sports Seeds: “We’ve had visitors to our stand from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain, Denmark and Norway, so we’ve had a very good show and we are really pleased.”

Vince Brauns, European product manager at EGO Europe, believes that SALTEX offers a fantastic platform to showcase EGO products to a dedicated audience.

“We chose to attend SALTEX because we feel that it is a good platform to get close to the dealers and large end users, especially if we are promoting new products. There isn’t another show in the UK which has the same type of audience.

“The show seems to grow year on year – from 9am all the way through until close we were really busy on the stand.”

SALTEX 2019 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on October 30 and 31.

For more information visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX

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New Pellenc Distributor in Ireland

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New Pellenc Distributor in Ireland: Etesia UK has announced a new partnership with Camsaw Ltd, which will see the County Laois based business exclusively distribute Pellenc battery powered equipment throughout the Republic of Ireland.

Established in 1987 by Philip Carney, Camsaw Ltd is one of Ireland’s leading providers and distributors of garden machinery and equipment and is the official Irish agent of Olec-mac and Weibang garden and forestry machines. Camsaw also manufacture its own Legacy brand of steel deck push lawnmowers.

After 31 successful years in business, the family owned company is renowned for providing customers with quality products and exceptional service. Phillip’s son, Paul Carney, took over the business in 2005 and explained that this new partnership outlines the future vision of the company.

“We are delighted to partner with a company like Pellenc. They have shown that their pathway to growth is through new product developments and innovations. It is an exciting opportunity for Camsaw to partner with a company so far ahead of its competitors in the market.”

“The market is more open to battery powered products than ever before and at Camsaw we wanted to take our first step into this sector by providing the highest quality product in the marketplace. In our opinion – that is Pellenc.”

In recent years, Pellenc has gained market recognition by offering a unique range of ‘zero emission’ battery-powered tools, thanks to the development of Lithium-ion ultra-high performance batteries. This technology, which is exclusive to Pellenc, allows for a drastic reduction in the production of greenhouse gases and noise pollution. It is also comfortable for users, meets new sustainable development demands and offers excellent economic profitability.

The extensive product range features an impressive portfolio – from chainsaws, pole saws and hedge cutters to grass strimmers, brushcutters and mowers and is unrivalled in terms of performance, lightness and durability. Not only will users be able to comfortably achieve a full day’s work without having to re-charge the battery but they will see a huge amount of savings by eliminating the necessity of purchasing fuel.
“We feel that Pellenc is the premium product in the marketplace – and we believe that it will be a huge benefit to end users from a safety and performance point of view,” Paul continued.
“We would like to establish ourselves with dealerships in Ireland and really become the go-to company for professional battery powered products, particularly with the likes of local councils, contractors and professional landscaping and maintenance companies.”

Stephen Muir, Etesia UK’s business development manager, commented: “We are delighted with this new partnership. Camsaw is an established business with a large dealer network within the country and is a well-known and respected business. We want to be associated with a company that can successfully promote and enhance the sales of Pellenc equipment in Ireland and we very much believe we have that in Camsaw.”

To speak to Camsaw about Pellenc equipment, please contact Paul on +353 (0) 57 8623809 or visit www.camsaw.ie.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.pellencuk.com

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

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Makita Launch New Cordless Chainsaws

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Makita Launch New Cordless Chainsaws: Makita chainsaws are renowned amongst forestry professionals for power, performance, reliability and great value.  The new Makita DUC355Z and DUC405Z twin 18V Brushless LXT Chainsaws supply energy to the powerful 36V DC motor drive system inherent in these models.  Combining the power and market-leading features that the industry has asked for, these new chainsaws are expected to be well received.

Compact and lightweight, these rear-handled chainsaws, with bar lengths of 35cm and 40cm respectively, can utilise twin Makita 18V Lithium-Ion batteries that generate a 1100 watt output to run the 3/8th inch chain over the 35cm and 40cm bars at up to 20 metres per second.  This exceeds the performance of Makita’s mains powered machines.  The Brushless motor ensures longer runtime, substantially greater power and overall lower maintenance.

Makita Launch New Cordless Chainsaws

Recognised as an industry benchmark these new models feature the main power switch with the Auto power-off function making them ultra-safe in use.  This function automatically turns the machine off, to protect the operator from unintentional start up should the switch trigger not be pulled for a period of a few seconds after the main power switch has been turned off.

Weighing 4.8kg, without batteries, these cordless machines feature a variable speed control trigger, electric chain brake, kick-back chain brake and battery protection circuit.  Sold as body only machines these LXT chainsaws have a constant speed control; adjustable automatic chain lubrication and oil capacity display, as well as a comfortable ergonomic grip and metal spike bar that enables a firm grip to the timber.

Both models feature captive nuts designed to satisfy industry demand.  This facility prevents loss of nuts when removing the sprocket cover to replace the guide bar, or saw chain, which greatly improves operator convenience and ease of use.

Makita Launch New Cordless Chainsaws

These powerful chainsaws provide the additional benefits of low noise in operation, low vibration of 5.3 m/s² for operator protection and comfort when cutting into wood, unbeatable charge times and zero emissions for improved environmental and sustainability qualities.

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com.  Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk

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Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

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Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver: A top golf venue has reduced greens rolling time by nearly a third after investing in leading-edge machinery.

Since purchasing two Salsco HP11-III greens rollers, The Royal Automobile Club has cut time devoted to the task from five and a half hours to three and a half hours daily, it reports.

Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

“This is a massive reduction,” states Golf Course Manager Lee Strutt, who test-drove the machine on a visit to the Golf Industry Show in 2017. “The time saved frees up operators for other duties and that’s a major benefit.”

The HP11-III’s powerful Honda petrol engine delivers speeds up to 11mph, while three independently controlled rollers with 73in operating width cut a swathe through the time operators have traditionally taken for this aspect of greens upkeep.

“The rollers average five to six minutes a green,” explains Lee, who manages the 36-hole Championship Old and Coronation courses with a team of up to 26.  In his three and half years in post, Lee has rung the changes in cultural practices across the 36-holes of what is one of Britain’s most prestigious member clubs and the HP11-IIIs fit into that strategy.

His investment in the high-end rollers is delivering benefits for both the greens team and players, by improving presentation and playability.

“I had met Salsco’s owner on their stand at the GIS, tested the roller and liked it instantly but my biggest issue was that the team would be unable to try it first as it was important that they enjoyed using the machine,” Lee explains.

“The performance of the HP11-III gave me the confidence to buy and it was well-founded, as the team really like working with the rollers. We also use them after topdressing instead of brushing-in and the powered brushes ensure there is no debris build up on the rollers, so leaving a clean finish”.

“Dual drive oscillating rollers and articulated steering provide consistent roll to ground contact, which helps improve surface smoothness and trueness, all factors key to providing the level of quality our members expect.”

Salsco Greens Rollers A Timesaver

“Speed, productivity, robustness, build quality and ease of use, with strong dealer support, are all wins for us,” he adds.

“The HP11-III can cover a serious amount of green quickly, without compromising quality of finish,” confirms Peter Stanley, Sales Representative for sole Salsco UK distributor CLS Selfdrive.

Lee was aware of the roller from his US greenkeeping visits and could see the design and build quality could further improve the courses. The rollers would have a big impact on both the greens and time taken for rolling them, so was delighted when Salsco appointed CLS as UK dealer.

Since then, sales confirm the benefits the rollers offer hard-pressed greens teams. The club savings in green rolling time is particularly impressive when you consider that travelling between greens is the same, whichever brand of roller teams use. Rolling is a skill usually left to a particular team member but the Salsco opens it up to anyone.”

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An Update From Scott MacCallum

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An Update From Scott MacCallum: Well, that’s the main exhibition season over for the next 11 months. With Saltex and BTME coming so close together, particularly with the festive period slap bang in the middle, it is probably the most intense time of the year… for the likes of us that is who don’t have sports pitches and golf courses to look after.

It was great to see so many people at both shows taking advantage of what the two shows have to offer – new products, professional development and mingling with like minded people. From a personal perspective it was also lovely to see how well Turf Matters – both the magazine and the website – is being received by its readership. So many people stopped Sinead and I to compliment us on Turf Matters and it makes us both believe that we are moving in the right direction as a title.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

We do care about what you want from your trade media and try to ensure that whatever we do is relevant and of interest to you. We will continue to produce well written, well presented features for you, as well as acting as a conduit for all the news and views from throughout our wonderful industry.

As I write, and look out of the window, we are in the middle of the coldest snap of the year. At least I hope it’s the middle and not just the start of a prolonged period of sub zero temperatures and all that that brings.

It’s at times like these that we all yearn from those heady days when the shorts are out and our knees are sunburnt. Hang in there guys and gals. It’s only a few months until spring!

Scott MacCallum