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Dennis & SISIS To Exhibit At STMA

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Dennis & SISIS To Exhibit At STMA: Dennis and SISIS will be heading to Arizona in January to showcase an all-star line-up of equipment at the 2019 Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) Conference and Exhibition, including the recently launched Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower and the Syn-Pro SVR 1500 synthetic turf cleaner.

As Dennis and SISIS continue to fly the flag for British turf maintenance equipment, it is no surprise that many of the machines are being relied upon by a large number of turf managers in the states. The British manufacturers have been regular exhibitors at the annual STMA Conference and Exhibition and have reported great success over recent years.

Dennis & SISIS To Exhibit At STMA

When the 30th STMA Conference and Exhibition takes place January 22 -25 in Phoenix, Arizona, Dennis and SISIS will be looking forward to continuing this trend as they introduce new products to existing and new customers.

One of which will be the hotly anticipated and newly launched Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower. This unique 34” (860mm) rotary mower has been designed to help turf managers achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently. The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

The PRO 34R features 5 forward and 1 reverse selection for speed of operation, a front brush for standing grasses upright and a 2 section cast aluminium rear roller for that all-important presentation.

Visitors to the Dennis and SISIS stand will also be pleased to see the new SVR 1500 synthetic turf cleaner which is the latest product to be added to the Syn-Pro range. The SVR 1500 deep turf cleaner is a tractor mounted system that removes not only large debris from the infill but also finer dust particles before returning the ‘cleaned’ infill back to the surface.

Designed for use on either sand or rubber filled surfaces, the SVR 1500 is ideal for deep cleaning and aiding de-compaction. Operators will notice that this process allows water to permeate through, which can help to reduce bacteria, algae and moss and minimize the risk of player injury.

Dennis & SISIS To Exhibit At STMA

No doubt many visitors will already be familiar with the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid 1500 tractor mounted vertical action aerator, which has gained plaudits from turf managers, organisations and independent research institutes. This popular machine injects air directly into the root zone speeding up the aeration process, moving air uniformly throughout the root zone for complete aeration and not just where the tines have penetrated the surface. Those operating the Javelin Aer-Aid have the flexibility to alternate tines for other operations such as hollow coring prior to top dressing. Other benefits include a fast forward speed for excellent productivity, minimal maintenance and a smooth and quiet operation.

Also featuring prominently on the stand will be the SISIS SSS1000 – a tractor mounted sweeper which can be pulled by any machine. There are no tools required for the adjustment of the brush or the angle of the draw bar and to make storage easy the draw bar lifts to an upright position. With an aluminium hopper with stainless steel mesh, any infill that is collected when using the machine is returned back down to the surface leaving it free from contamination of debris.

Last but certainly not least is the Dennis G860 cylinder mower which is used at many high-profile stadia. The mower features a large diameter front roller with an adjustable scraper which has been designed for a precise height of cut control, giving an excellent finish.

Weighing just 166kg, it is light and extremely versatile due to the interchangeable cassette system. With a simple one minute changeover, users have the option of fitting eleven different types of heads including scarifiers, verticutters, brushes, spikers, slitters and cutting cylinders.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

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Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention

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Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention: Toro machinery has been instrumental in the reinvention of two municipal golf clubs located in the South Liverpool and Merseyside areas.

Managed by golf operators Green Circles Estates, there has been a heavy investment in the vision to create two venues providing accessible, affordable golf for all. As a result, Allerton Manor Golf Club in South Liverpool and Sherdley Park Golf Course in St Helens, Merseyside have both undergone significant transformations in recent years.

Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention

When Green Circle Estates became the Operating Partner with Liverpool City Council in 2015 for Allerton Manor Golf Course, it was an easy decision to purchase a fleet of Toro machinery to maintain the greens. Confidence in Toro was confirmed when Green Circle Estates became the Operating Partner of St Helens Council in May 2018 for Sherdley Park Golf Course and additional Toro machinery was purchased.

Significant investment has gone into the leisure facilities at Allerton Manor Golf Club, there is The Old Stables Restaurant, The Hay Loft Function Room and Fletcher’s Bar. There are plans in place for a new clubhouse at Sherdley Park Golf Course and both have benefitted from substantial investment to the golf courses.

Bryan Joelson-Mulhall, director of golf says: “The investment and redevelopment of each is in a bid to provide an affordable and accessible golf offering true to the courses’ pay and play roots, but with the kind of facilities and standards expected at private members’ golf clubs. We support public access and welcome anyone to play and enjoy the facilities at either of these fantastic golfing locations.”

Allerton Manor Golf Club has benefitted from new Championship tees, bunkers and reshaped fairways, and Bryan says: “The investment in state-of-the-art Toro greenkeeping machinery will now improve the playability of the course, focusing on raising the standard and improving the quality of the turf across the site. Only Toro was ever considered for this role.”

Toro is used exclusively at both clubs and Richie Shields, as Allerton Manor’s new head greenkeeper explains: “I’ve used all the brands in my career and I always revert back to Toro thanks to its exceptional track record for performance and for, time and again, delivering a good result. It has been great to join Allerton Manor Golf Club at this exciting stage in its development, with investment being made, plans being realised and a brand-new fleet of machinery, to ensure we achieve the objectives for the course.”

The fleet deal includes the Reelmaster 3100-D, two Greensmaster 1600 and two Greensmaster 1000 pedestrian mowers, a Greensmaster TriFlex 3400, a Reelmaster 5510-D, Groundsmaster 3500-D and two Groundsmaster 4000-D machines. These are joined by two aerators in the ProCore 648 and SR48, the ProPass 200 topdresser, two Workman HDX utility vehicles, a debris blower 600 and a TYM T353 compact tractor, all supplied by dealer Cheshire Turf Machinery and Reesink Turfcare, a UK distributor of Toro and TYM Tractors.

It’s the pedestrian mowers Richie is so pleased to see arrive: “I’m very much in favour of hand-cutting the greens, there’s less disruption, you can get a faster pace on the greens and it improves presentation.”

Allerton Manor Golf Club is the first municipal pay and play golf course in the UK to undergo this kind of high-level refurbishment. Alongside the work being done to reinvent the Manor House and put the newly refurbished leisure and dining facilities on the South Liverpool map, are plans for lengthening the par 67 18-hole course to a par 72 Championship course.

The next course operated by Green Circle Estates to benefit from similar refurbishment is Sherdley Park Golf Course. Aiding the large-scale improvement works there are a new Reelmaster 6700-D fairway mower, Groundsmaster 4000-D for cutting roughs and surrounds, Greensmaster TriFlex 3400 for pristine tees and greens and the durable Workman HDX utility vehicle.

Partnering with Green Circle has enabled Liverpool City Council and St Helen’s Council to bring to an end to the uncertainty over the sites’ futures, breathing life back into the community surrounding each and creating leisure resorts and golfing facilities for all to access and enjoy.

There are exciting future plans for both clubs, both on and off the course and Toro will play a key part in on-course developments across the Green Circle Estates portfolio.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Aqua Aid BTME Preview

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Aqua Aid BTME Preview: Aqua Aid Europe BV is bringing an exclusive range of patented Makro Organics’ turf grass, soil and water treatment products to Harrogate for BTME 2019 in Red Hall, Stand 238.

South African company, Makro Organics, currently offer their products in seven international regions and 17 countries with Aqua Aid Europe becoming their exclusive distributor them in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Aqua Aid BTME Preview

Makro Organics are pioneers in environmental technology and offer alternatives to conventional chemical treatments and perfectly match the ethos of Aqua Aid Europe whose products fit into natural programmes.

Both companies recognise the impending shift away from chemicals in sports turf and the challenges that bring, along with weather factors, and guarantee to resolve common issues faced in the industry on a daily basis.

Owner and Managing Director of Aqua Aid Europe, Hans de Kort, is excited to be launching these products to the UK and European turf industry at BTME 2019 in Harrogate.

He said: “As an industry, there are clear demands for an environmentally conscious approach and Marko Organics can help greenkeepers achieve that.

“In Holland, all sports turf will be chemical free in 2020 and there will inevitably be similar initiatives throughout Europe. This is causing greenkeepers and groundsmen to source new solutions to common issues and as product suppliers, it is our job to offer these solutions.

“I strongly believe we have what is needed by the industry going forward and I am very proud to add such a successful range of products to our catalogue, and I look forward to introducing everyone to them at the show.”

The range of products tackles common issues in turf, soil and water. OxyTurf provides a solution to black layer and compaction while increasing percolation and compaction by introducing low levels of oxygen as part of a biological process.

Aqua Aid BTME Preview

OxyFlow provides a solution for pipe and irrigation systems, cleaning and flushing pipelines and canals of organic matter, scale and calcification as well as unblocking nozzles and filters. No control measures are required when releasing OxyFlow

OxyCure is applied to lakes & ponds, effluent streams and process water systems to reduce eutrophication that results in unnatural algae blooms and rapid aquatic plant expansion. It reduces filter clogging and accumulation in pipes and systems and has its results confirmed by world-renowned water consultants.

This range of products joins the already successful VerdeCal G, WormPower Turf, PBS-150, OARS HS and PS and Aquifer in offering greenkeepers an environmentally conscious approach that won’t be affected by law changes.

For more information on the range of products please visit www.aquaaid.eu

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50 Year Milestone For Johnston Gilpin

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50 Year Milestone For Johnston Gilpin: 2018 marked a special milestone for the Johnston Gilpin & Co Ltd John Deere agricultural and turf equipment dealership based near Lisburn in Northern Ireland, as it celebrated 50 years in business.

In honour of the occasion the dealership team organised a two-day exhibition in November at the nearby Eikon Centre, showcasing current John Deere tractors and machinery, as well as some historic – and iconic – favourites. Over 4000 existing and potential John Deere customers came to support this popular business and view the latest equipment on offer from the manufacturer.

50 Year Milestone For Johnston Gilpin

Johnston Gilpin & Co Ltd dates back to 1968 when it was started by Donn McConnell on Waterloo Road, close to the location of the current dealership at Lisnoe Road. Donn’s son Randal McConnell is now managing director of the business, while Randal’s brother Neale runs the domestic groundscare division at another site just a few miles away.

“It was a superb event and we are very pleased with how it all went,” said Randal. “To see so many people come and support us was really encouraging and there were a few deals initiated that we will be following up!”

Company founder Donn McConnell also attended the show, along with a number of VIPs including John Deere Limited’s divisional sales manager Chris Meacock. “My father is still involved in the business and comes in every day,” Randal added. “He has taken a back seat over the last 10 years but still keeps an eye on things. He turned 80 this year, so it has been a big year for us all round.”

Tractors of all shapes and sizes were a dominant part of the John Deere display at the anniversary event, alongside self-propelled forage harvesters, combines and a special new airless radial tyre.

“We had almost the full current agricultural tractor range from John Deere on display, right up to the monster 9RX four-track machine,” said Randal. “We also launched the new 9900i self-propelled forage harvester in Northern Ireland. Among the other machines on display were combines, drills, compact tractors and the new X Tweel Turf puncture proof tyres from Michelin, as featured on John Deere’s ZTrak 900 Series commercial zero-turn rotary mower range.”

The turfcare department also showed a full line of commercial, domestic, golf and turf machinery as well as large displays from the dealership’s other suppliers. In addition, the E-Zone featured demonstrations of electric powered wheel loaders from Kramer, Mean Green Mowers and Cramer hand tools.

John Deere’s oldest tractor, the 100 year old Waterloo Boy, made an appearance, lent by local man Graham Crymble. Another of the vintage and classic tractors on display was a 1951 John Deere Model B that belongs to the McConnell family and was restored around 15 years ago.

“This has been an important milestone for us as a company to reach,” said Randal. “For us to be trading successfully and indeed expanding in today’s volatile business climate is a magnificent achievement. We see this special anniversary event as a show of strength, a sign of our professionalism and the culmination of my father’s hard work and dedication to the John Deere brand over the last 50 years.

“We are very proud as a family and as a company to be one of the oldest John Deere dealers in the UK and the oldest in Ireland. This show was probably the largest single indoor dealer exhibition of its kind in the country and was an indication of our enthusiasm to grow the business even further and become the pre-eminent John Deere dealer for Northern Ireland.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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ECHO’s New 58V Battery Chainsaw

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ECHO’s New 58V Battery Chainsaw: ECHO has launched an all-new 58V battery chainsaw to their growing range of lithium ion outdoor power equipment. The CS-58V4AH has the cutting performance of its petrol counterparts, with the additional benefits of battery power.  Low noise and low vibration are immediately evident in this effortless yet powerful product. It makes little noise when running, while the lack of vibration compared to a petrol model greatly reduces stress and fatigue for the user. What also makes a real difference to the working environment is the fact that with battery power you have no emissions, no fuel filling with two-stroke and there is no need to store petrol.

The CS-58V4AH is easy to use. With battery power you just charge up and go! The chainsaw uses a 4Ah battery which gives you plenty of run time for logging and felling small trees, and the quick charger will have it rapidly charged to reduce downtime. The lithium ion battery also fits other 58V battery products in the range so you can run a trimmer, hedge trimmer, lawn mower and power blower using the same battery. Additional batteries can be purchased as a back-up for when you need to get on with bigger jobs without interruption.

ECHO's New 58V Battery Chainsaw

Using the chainsaw you’ll find the 0.043 gauge cutting bar gives a sharp and smooth cut and the automatic oiler gives the chain optimum oiling for longer life. There is easy side access to the chain tensioner to allow quick chain adjustment, and the oil tank is translucent for easy level checks. The power comes from the long-lasting brushless motor which requires minimal maintenance due to non-wearing parts, which means you save on servicing costs as well as petrol bills.

For the home owner and semi-professional it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t choose the benefits of the CS-58V4AH. The chainsaw comes with a two-year domestic or one-year professional warranty and the 58V battery carries a two-year warranty for added peace of mind.

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