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Ransomes HM600 Launch

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Ransomes HM600 Launch: Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc has announced the launch of its new Ransomes® HM600 flail mower. The mower features heavy duty flail heads from the revered manufacturer, Müthing.

Building on the foundations of the Ransomes MP wide area mower platform, the HM600 features a powerful 65.2hp Kubota turbo diesel engine and has been developed to meet the expanding needs of grounds maintenance teams.

Ransomes HM600 Launch

The HM600 has a cutting width of 3.2m (1.6m at front) with all mowers engaged, combining a high cutting capacity with exceptional productivity. In fact, the HM600 has the potential to save operators up to 21.5% on cost per each m2 cut over established less productive models.

The size and design of the HM600 brings new levels of versatility to flail mowing.  It is superbly manoeuvrable, can turn fast and cut close to parkland furniture.  The fingertip control of individual units makes trimming around obstacles easy. Operators can then fold up all units securely to transport easily between work areas and access confined sites.  The unique combination of this versatility and productivity can eradicate the need for a second mowing team to travel to the same location.

“We have developed the HM600 to tackle some of the issues that grounds maintenance teams face such as extended cut cycles and an increase in the variation of topographies,” Lee Kristensen, Ransomes Product Manager, said. “The HM600 features mulching technology from Müthing, ensuring a superior after-cut appearance, and an even spread of clippings even in wet conditions. The cutting units also feature rear rollers so the option to stripe sports pitches or finer turf is available.”

This combination of technology from Ransomes and Müthing will allow users to produce a clean, fine, rolled finish for sports pitches, or make light work of routine cuts, leaving an even spread of mulched clippings. It is also able to tackle irregular cuts, bringing the lesser maintained areas back under control. The HM600 can visit one work site with the versatility to do it all, the productivity to do it fast and the technology for a superior finish.

Visit www.ransomes.com to find out more.

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DJUKE Purchase Ventrac 4500

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DJUKE Purchase Ventrac 4500: DJUKE, the specialist sports turf maintenance company, managed by former Queenwood course manager Cameron McMillan, has purchased a Ventrac 4500 compact tractor and a range of implements to bolster the company’s service portfolio to golf courses and other turf-related businesses. The new machinery package was delivered and installed by local dealer, RT Machinery, based at Nether Winchendon, Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.

Cameron McMillan, who was at Queenwood for 15 years through the initial construction phase, grow-in and the opening in 2001 until 2015, is one of the McMillian dynasty that has managed many prestigious golf courses in the south of England.

DJUKE Purchase Ventrac 4500

“We purchased the Ventrac to broaden our service offering to our growing client base,” he said. “Since establishing the company in 2015 we have become known as aeration and drainage specialists through our DryJect, Graden and PC Drainage franchises. We are now enhancing our range of services to help customers maintain everything within the boundary of their property,

“Our initial purchase included Ventrac’s ToughCut deck, the Power Rake and a Power Brush. Woodland management is a time-intensive task for any on-site greenkeeping team. The ToughCut deck is excellent for managing these areas; it can cut through bracken, brambles and young saplings with ease and leaves a very acceptable finish.”

“The Power Rake is very impressive. We had a demonstration on a foul day and it renovated the surfaces of machinery pathways and golf car paths with ease. The Power Brush is typical of Ventrac’s attachments, easy to connect to the tractor and highly efficient in use. I can’t believe how compact, powerful and manoeuvrable the Ventrac is, whichever attachment is connected.

“Without doubt this addition to our fleet will enable us to improve the non-playing surfaces for our clients and provide business opportunities that were not previously open to us. I’m delighted with the machinery package and the superb service provided by Rupert Price and his team.”

Cameron McMillan has been in the fine turf industry for 36 years, beginning his career as a trainee at Sunningdale in 1982. He moved to Liphook as head greenkeeper at the tender age of 21, before getting involved with his first construction project at Pffafing Golplatz in Bavaria in 1990. In 1992 he joined Laleham Golf Club in Chertsey as course manager, moving to Stockley Park before taking the position at Queenwood in 2000.

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Spalding’s Quick Hitch Tow Bars

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Spalding’s Quick Hitch Tow Bars: Successfully getting a tow bar and trailer lined up can be one of the most frustrating aspects of towing with a van, estate car or 4×4 – but Spaldings has a solution in a range of Quick Hitch couplings that make it much less of a hit-and-miss affair.

The Quick Hitch bolts to the back of the vehicle as usual but has a flared steel back plate that positions the trailer coupling directly over the towing ball.

Spalding's Quick Hitch Tow Bars

The vehicle can be reversed up to a trailer until the drawbar is caught by the hitch and nudged into position over the last few centimetres; it’s then just a matter of lowering the drawbar, connecting the lighting cable and the job’s done!

Anglesey farmer Ivor Williams designed the Quick Hitch when people he knew kept failing their trailer towing test on the hitching process.

“I made the first hitch, checked with the authorities that it could be used for the test, and once people heard how successful it is, I refined the design and started making them in the farm workshop,” he says.

Mr Williams now has a range of five models with bolt-on or pin balls of different sizes, and with fixed, slot-in or fold-down guide plates.

“The folding version allows you to open van doors or a pick-up tailgate on vehicles where there is little clearance above the hitch,” explains Paul Denton, Spaldings product development manager. “When folded down, the guide plate also provides a more secure footing for climbing into the vehicle – certainly better than standing on a ball hitch or a slippery plastic step.”

All Quick Hitch variants, which cost from £90, save having to man-handle the trailer or lever the drawbar into position using a fence post to get the ball and coupling lined up.

They also reduce the likelihood of damaging vehicle bodywork against the drawbar and, when reversing with the trailer attached, the guide plates stop damage by preventing the vehicle and trailer drawbar going beyond a 90degree jacknife position.

The Quick Hitch tow hitches complement the regular combined clevis and ball hitches and ball pins available via the Spaldings website (www.Spaldings.co.uk), by telephone order or through the company’s team of direct sales staff covering all areas of the UK and Ireland.

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Bernhard’s Three Peaks Challenge

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Bernhard’s Three Peaks Challenge: Fourteen members of Bernhard Company will be tackling Snowdon in Wales, Scafell, in England and Ben Nevis in Scotland in a challenge which starts at 2pm on Friday 8th June 2018.

To successfully complete the challenge, the team has set out a plan to reach each of the summits and come back down again before 7pm on Saturday 9th June. Setting off from their Factory in Haverhill, they will spend 12 hours travelling 1,258 miles across the three countries. This will leave them 4,5 hours to climb Snowdon (7 miles long, with an ascent of 723m), 5 hours to climb Scafell (6 miles long with an ascent of 989m) and 6 hours to finish the 10.5 miles with the highest ascent of 1352m of Ben Nevis.

Bernhard's Three Peaks Challenge

The team is aiming to raise £2,500 before they set off to the trek. All funds raised will go towards supporting the work Mind, the mental health charity which provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Please support Gary Bonfield, Gary Woodward, Iqtidar Hassan, Neil Hullah, Piotr Zurawski, Renata Mundim, Robert Smith, Scott Purdy, Simon Hale, Steve Church, Steven Nixon, Sue Challis, Tony Sheppard, Dale Marshall in their effort to raise money for Mind.

Thanks for your help.

Click HERE to donate

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Antonio Carraro Tractors In London

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Antonio Carraro Tractors In London: Grasslands are amongst the largest turf growing experts in the country completing jobs for the Natural History Museum, Kew Gardens, Bluewater and most recently, Leicester Square & the Tower of London!

They have been using Antonio Carraro Tractors since 1985 and have recently brought a brand new TTR 4400 from UK Importer- Kirkland UK. The multi-functional tractor comes with a 38hp engine and hydrostatic transmission.

Antonio Carraro Tractors In London

Head Landscaper, Paul Farmer has been working for Grasslands for over 15 years. He is ecstatic with their new TTR 4400:

“The reverse drive of the Antonio Carraro tractor is ideal for my line of work. Turning the seat round means I watch where I lay the turf without straining my neck giving me optimal vision.”

Simon Baxter, manager at Grasslands has dealt with Kirkland UK for years. He said:

“I chose to buy from Kirkland because they offered the right tractor at a good price and the sales service was excellent. Their after sales has been good, and we have always received the right advice plus our parts orders are all on time.”

Paul also said how the hydraulics on the reverse drive tractor are ideal for their jobs as it easily picks up their big rolls of turf measuring 12-15 metres and weighing 500kg allowing them to complete their tasks efficiently & quickly.

Antonio Carraro Tractors In London

Specially designed for ground care, the TTR 4400 can be fitted to a variety of attachments such as mowers, shredders, hedge cutters, sprayers and many more.

Paul is pleased with the versatility of the tractor:

“I would definitely recommend Antonio Carraro Tractors. as well as laying big roll, we also do prep work such as rotavating, levelling, ploughing- any job a big tractor can do, mine can do as well!”

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