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NEWS ARTICLES

Pitchmark Takes New Lines In Expansion

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Pitchmark Takes New Lines In Expansion: A family-run business based in Bristol, UK, Pitchmark has been innovative in raising the standard of line marking since the company’s inception in 2010. As expansion continues, they have made a number of new appointments and developments to consolidate the increasing demand for their range of high quality line marking paints, machines and accessories for all types of sport and sports surfaces. Pitchmark products are used in over thirty countries worldwide and were supplied to every stadium at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and UEFA Euro 2016 in France.

As part of the planning for the future, Darren Rodman (Marketing Manager), Tim Rodman (General Manager) and Jon Griffiths (Production Manager) have now become shareholders and directors of Pitchmark, working alongside existing directors Mark and Sue Rodman. The team has also been joined by Dave Blanchard who will be known to many in the industry and also represents Pitchmark’s ambition to grow the brand, while aiming to improve the quality of working life for ground staff.

Pitchmark Takes New Lines In Expansion

“We are always working tirelessly on research and development,” says Mark Rodman “and it’s all about regularly coming up with exciting and innovative ideas. That, and understanding what groundsmen want is what keeps us ahead.” The company has taken on five new staff in the six months to April this year, including a new Warehouse Manager who has been recruited to help improve processes and procedures as the business continues to grow. “These recent changes are very exciting and will allow us to secure our place at the forefront of the industry for many years to come.” Mark added.

Success has been recognised as well with Pitchmark recently winning Business Exporter of the Year for the South West in the regional FSB small business awards. The company is also shortlisted for the Bristol Post Business Awards in the Small Business of the Year category, whilst Tim Rodman has also been shortlisted in the awards for Young Business Person of the Year and was named recently on Insider Media’s ’42 under 42’ list for the South West. As a proud British manufacturer, this year Pitchmark joined the ‘Made in Britain campaign and in future will be using the distinctive logo on products and packaging. All of which is aimed at improving the standard of line marking internationally.

Call 01454 776666 or email sales@pitchmark.com and they will be happy to arrange a demo.

For more information, visit: www.pitchmark.com

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Bristol Rovers Pitch Renovations

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Bristol Rovers Pitch Renovations: Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke has praised the impressive work of the ground staff at the League One club who are going above and beyond to ensure the team have a world class playing surface this season.

The state of the Memorial Stadium pitch was a constant source of frustration last season for both the home and away sides with the turf badly cutting up at times.

However The Gas have taken dramatic steps to solve the problem, pulling up the old pitch after the final home game of the 2017/18 season and planting a new fibre one.

What the fibre does is reinforce the turf meaning it should not come up in clumps.

Talking about the new playing surface, Clarke said: “The Mem pitch is coming together really nicely. Again it is testament to the owners who have spent a fair bit of money on it.

“The ground staff have been working tremendously hard on it. I think Daryle [Sullivan] the groundsman even stayed at the ground for a week or so, sleeping at the ground, he has been working that hard.

 “That is credit to him and that is what we want at the top football club, everyone pulling together in the same direction to make things better and try and help move us forward and that is testament to the staff.”

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Kubota Invests In New R&D Centre

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Kubota Invests In New R&D Centre: Within the framework of Kubota’s ongoing growth in Europe, Kubota Corporation has announced that it will invest €55 million in a new R&D Centre in Europe. The new site will be located in Crépy-en-Valois, France and will be fully operational in 2020. 

Kubota Corporation continues to make significant investments into its expansion throughout Europe and will now invest in a brand-new R&D Centre that will be the Competence Centre of Engineering for agricultural tractor markets, and the base for Kubota’s research activities for tractors in Europe region.

Kubota Invests In New R&D Centre

By establishing a best in class R&D Centre in Europe, embedding up to date engineering and validation tools, Kubota will develop cutting edge technology for its new models to meet the specific requirements of European farmers while keeping the Group’s DNA: reliability, ease of use and best cost of ownership.

As part of Kubota’s globalisation process, Kubota Corporation intends to boost its product development, in line with its aspirations to adapt to the specific needs of its host markets. The new centre plays a vital role in this process, so Kubota will further develop agricultural machinery that is customised to work efficiently and effectively for local crops, field conditions and work processes.

Kubota, already present in more than 110 countries worldwide, aims to continue growing internationally, and this latest investment will accelerate this expansion and growth. Since Kubota Holding Europe B.V. was launched in 2017, the company has reinforced its corporate identity in Europe,  with employees  synchronising  processes and procedures so that there is a consistent approach to how all our business units work and can provide the best services and products for its dealers and end user customers.

Kubota’s tractor sales continued to grow in Europe during 2017 and its products have received prestigious recognitions and awards in Europe, including the FIMA TECHNICAL NOVELTY Award for the Agri Robo autonomous tractor, and the TRACTOR DE ESPAÑA Award in the ‘Specialty Tractor’ category for the M5101 Narrow Advance Cab model.

For more information, visit: www.kubota.com

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New TYM Tractors Dealer

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New TYM Tractors Dealer: TYM Tractors has welcomed Rafferty Newman in East Hampshire to its dealer network, and in doing so doubles TYM’s coverage to the groundscare market in the West Sussex area.

It’s not one of the biggest counties in the country, but Sussex has plenty of agricultural and groundscare customers, including private estates, smallholdings and farms in need of a compact tractor, says Mick Challen, owner of the 50-year-strong Rafferty Newman.

New TYM Tractors Dealer

“There was a demand to meet in our area. Tractors have been part of our range in the past and after hearing about TYM’s reputation for quality, we got in touch with its distributor Reesink Turfcare and joined forces with them.

“Often customers come into the shop without knowing exactly what kind of product they’re after but knowing the tasks they need it for. We’ve previously offered tractors but more recently, while we’ve been specialising in UTV and ATV vehicles, there have been times when customers’ tasks have called for more than a vehicle – for front loaders or PTOs.”

Now Mick can cater to these needs again, as he explains: “We now stock the excellent value TS25 with HST and loader, along with the popular T353 manual tractor and mid-duty T433 roll bar tractor, as we thought these would most appeal to our customer-base – clearly we were right as the latter has already sold! It’s great to know we can cater to any of our customers’ needs and order in any tractor from the TYM range, ranging from 25-105hp.”

Scott Turner, southern regional sales manager at Reesink Turfcare, comments on the new partnership: “There’s enough of a demand for TYM in Sussex to warrant two dealers meeting it and the appointment of Rafferty Newman ensures sufficient coverage in the area. There are a good many reasons why Rafferty Newman has such a strong, loyal customer-base and we are very glad to entrust them with the TYM brand by welcoming them to our ever-expanding dealer network.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Fresh Is Best In Nematodes’ Battle Against Pests

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Fresh Is Best In Nematodes’ Battle Against Pests: Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worm-like organisms that are found naturally in garden soil. They are nature’s way of controlling slugs and other garden pests and BASF, the EU’s largest specialist nematode producer, has harnessed this natural control process and grows five species that each attack different pests.

Nematodes are grown at BASF’s facility in Littlehampton, Sussex, and can be used to control slugs, vine weevil, leatherjackets, ants, chafer grubs, as well as a product containing a number of different nematode species which will protect against a range of pests that attack various fruit and vegetables.

Fresh Is Best In Nematodes' Battle Against Pests

BASF is passionate about supplying its nematodes fresh, rather than dried, as this ensures the quality of the product remains high and consistently effective.

Gavin Wood, BASF’s European account and sales manager, says “To successfully hunt down their prey, nematodes must be healthy when customers receive them. That is why we do not freeze dry them and they are delivered fresh, with enough food matter in the packet so that they remain alive. It is safe to store them in the refrigerator and use before the date shown on the packaging.”

Watered on to borders, beds, lawns, hanging baskets, houseplants and containers, nematodes are a harmless biological control that do not pose a risk to children, pets or non-target species such as birds and small mammals.

An entire season’s worth of pest control can be purchased via online stockists and delivered straight to your door throughout the season, allowing you to spend more time in the garden and rest assured that your pest control is taken care of for another year.

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