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NEWS ARTICLES

ISEKI UK & Ireland Launch

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ISEKI UK & Ireland Launch: ISEKI UK & Ireland hosted an official opening at its new Ipswich home last week.

Since being founded in 1926, ISEKI has contributed to the modernisation of Japan’s agricultural industry as a full-time manufacturer specialising in farming machinery. ISEKI prides itself on extensive research and development that is matched with high quality manufacturing and assembly processes to produce a range of machinery for today’s demanding applications in many global markets.

Recent years have certainly proved successful when it comes to the distribution of ISEKI products throughout the UK and Europe by Ransomes Jacobsen. Following such successes David Withers, Managing Director at ISEKI UK and former President of Jacobsen, is understandably excited about seeing a wider acceptance of products through expanding markets and building yet more awareness, trust, and demand for ISEKI’s tractors and mowers.

ISEKI UK & Ireland Launch

“I started to work with Iseki when the product line came to Jacobsen in 1996 and I’ve always enjoyed being involved with such an exciting and reliable product line. When ISEKI outlined their strategic vision of getting closer to customers by investing in their own distribution within the UK it made sense and this is a really exciting time for the brand” said David.

Kazuya Tani, the European Managing Director of ISEKI, is also extremely excited by this latest investment, saying “We’ll be investing more in marketing and promotions of the ISEKI brand and want to see a wider acceptance of our products through expanding our markets and getting more share from our current customers. The commitment of ISEKI to the UK Market will be significant and we trust that the market will react positively to this approach.”

ISEKI UK & Ireland Launch

With the exception of some new key additions, the dealer network will mostly remain the same. For more information, contact ISEKI UK and Ireland on 01473 599266.

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ICL Cure Greens At Blackwell GC

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ICL Cure Greens At Blackwell GC: After some shading issues were resolved at the exclusive Blackwell Golf Club located in Worcestershire, Head Greenkeeper Rhys Thomas has since restored the greens back to their full health thanks to a range of fertilizers from ICL.

Blackwell Golf Club may well be the most exclusive club in the Midlands. With approximately 170 members, but despite the club always having a small membership, it has never stopped the club from achieving. In fact, Blackwell has been ranked in the top 100 UK courses for a number of years, boasts three English Amateur Champions, has hosted the Open Championship Regional Qualifying Event six times and was home to the Midland Boys Championship, won one year by a 14 year old Sandy Lyle.

ICL Cure Greens At Blackwell GC

Blackwell Golf Club will be celebrating its 125th centenary and throughout that time the course hasn’t changed much from the original 18 hole design. The truth is – it hasn’t really needed to, which is perhaps testament to the vision of Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson who designed the course in 1923.

“Following a ecology report from the STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute), we decided to remove the trees around the greens and tees that had been planted 50 years ago,” says Rhys. “The trees had had little maintenance and the greens were in the shade and we’d struggle to get growth through the winter. Obviously, they would have a lot of wear during the summer and they never had an opportunity to recover.”

After the trees were removed, it was apparent that the greens would need a lot of attention after being in the shade for such a long time. Disease had crept in, which had resulted in a few scars and damage, and in Rhys’ own words – “If someone has a cold or is ill and they don’t take any medicine, then they don’t get any better. It’s the same with the greens – they need good products to keep them healthy.”

“ICL’s Greenmaster Pro-Lite Cold Start is great for the spring,” Rhys continues. “We know that the greens will kick-off immediately once we get it applied in March. Previously, members used to say the greens were not playing well until June. The right products are being used now and the members have certainly noticed the difference.”

Rhys was also quick to highlight Sierraform GT K-STEP 6-0-27+2MgO+TE, which has a high potassium content to harden the turf in particularly stressful winter conditions.

ICL Cure Greens At Blackwell GC

“In January or February, we turn to Sierraform GT K-STEP which trickles along nicely and we normally get a good amount of growth following application. We may also re-apply it in March if we are doing some renovation work just to give us a bit of recovery.

“Because of the microclimate we have here at Blackwell, it does make it hard to have a strict programme in place – we just have to judge it as and when. But I’ve been using ICL products for a long time and I use them because I know how they work and I can judge the timing of the fertilizers.

“The ICL fertilizers have significantly improved the greens because they are a lot healthier now.

On hand to offer Rhys all-year-round assistance is ICL’s Emma Kilby and he revealed that she has been instrumental in helping him bring the greens back to the standard expected by Blackwell members.

“I have a great relationship with Emma and she is always available if I need her.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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Eden Project’s Robotic Gardener

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Eden Project’s Robotic Gardener: The Eden Project, a popular visitor destination, has added a new member to its horticultural team this spring.

Husqvarna Automower®, a robotic lawnmower which works unassisted throughout the day and night, has been installed at the Cornwall site to maintain the grounds surrounding the famous iconic bubble-like Biomes.

Eden Project's Robotic Gardener

Nestled in a huge crater the size of 30 football pitches, the Eden Project Horticultural team have a job on their hands keeping the lawns in immaculate condition all year round. To help save time, the team turned to Husqvarna for an eco-friendly solution.

Kevin Ashmore, Husqvarna Professional UK Manager said: “With sustainability at the heart of the Eden Project it was important that whatever solution we provided was as eco-friendly as possible and Husqvarna Automower® fits the bill.”

With over one million visitors a year, the Eden Project was impressed with Husqvarna’s battery ranges and the low noise and zero-emission features of Husqvarna Automower®.

Kevin added: “One of the key decision makers for the Eden Project was that Automower® could be programmed to run through the night so as not to impact on any visitors during the day.”

Niki Hall, Specialist Horticulturist at the Eden Project said: “Husqvarna Automower® brings fantastic benefits to our team. The arena is now in top condition and this allows more time for the horticulture team to spend in other areas rather than cutting the lawns. It is quiet and unobtrusive, though very funky – like a Formula One mower. It has no emissions and low energy consumption. It can also be used in all weathers.”

How does it work?

Husqvarna Automower® works via the installation of an electrical boundary wire around the desired cutting area. With a range of models capable of managing lawn sizes up to 5,000m² in any weather, Husqvarna Automower® can tackle even the most complex of lawns, including those with rough terrain and slopes up to 45%. For areas above 5,000m² more than one machine can be used to increase area coverage.

Cutting just a few millimetres of grass at a time, Automower® keeps lawns neat and healthy by distributing small grass clippings back into the lawn to act as a natural fertiliser. This means there is no need for the collection and disposal of grass clippings.

Husqvarna has been the world leader in robotic lawnmowers since it pioneered the technology in 1995, constantly refining and improving its machines to fit the needs of consumers. Today’s Automower® can work in rain or shine, day or night. Its clever system allows it to cut the lawn in random directions, making sure that each square foot is covered. When the mower’s charge runs low, it returns to its charging bay unassisted, meaning lawns become a hassle-free environment, affording you spare time to do other things.

To learn more about the Husqvarna Automower® range, visit: http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/robotic-lawn-mowers/

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Dennis & SISIS Announce Seminars

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Dennis & SISIS Announce Seminars: Dennis and SISIS have confirmed key dates and locations for their 2018 series of bowling green maintenance seminars.

Committed to educating greenkeepers and raising the standards of bowling greens, Dennis and SISIS have long supported the sport of bowls. Their bowling green maintenance seminars continue to go from strength to strength with delegates praising them for helping make an improvement to their greens.

Dennis & SISIS Announce Seminars

The informative, educational and interactive seminars combine insightful seminars and practical tips while a number of industry experts also take to the stage to discuss a wide range of key topics.

Attendees can expect tips on early spring maintenance of bowling greens, grant funding support, and choosing the correct grass seed. A complimentary lunch, which signals the halfway point, offers great networking opportunities before attendees make their way outside to an on-the-green demonstration. The demonstration not only provides a perfect opportunity to see some of the sport’s best maintenance equipment in action but also brings together the morning education with the practical elements of applying it to the greens.

In the afternoon, delegates can gain a greater understanding of chemicals and fertilizers before the day concludes with the hugely popular Turf Clinic Q&A session – allowing attendees to ask advice about their own projects or any issues that they may have.

Dennis & SISIS Announce Seminars

The seminar schedule can be found below:

  • April 17th – Herne Bay Bowls Club, Kent
  • April 18th – Townsend Hook Bowls Club, Kent
  • April 24th – Exonia Bowls Club, Devon
  • April 25th – Oxford City & County Bowls Club, Oxford
  • April 26th – Ye Olde Knowle Bowls Club, Solihull
  • May 15th – Hunmanby Bowls Club, North Yorkshire
  • May 16th – Roundwood Sports & Social Club, Rawmarsh
  • May 17th – Tadcaster Magnet Sports & Social Club, Tadcaster

All seminars start with registration at 9am. To register for the FREE and highly informative seminars, please contact Roger Moore on 01332 824777 or email roger.moore@dennisuk.com.

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

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New Kubota Sole Dealer

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New Kubota Sole Dealer: Kubota UK has announced the appointment of leading European service-logistics specialist, Carousel, as its sole distribution partner, fulfilling all spare part requirements for its extensive dealer network, as well as optimising the manufacturer’s logistics services in support of enhanced customer satisfaction and long-term growth of the business.

Effective immediately, Carousel will oversee all Kubota UK and European dealer deliveries, collections and returns. Kubota’s network currently consists of more than 200 dealers across Europe, including key service areas in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany.

New Kubota Sole Dealer

As part of the solution deployment, Carousel will work in collaboration with Kubota’s UK warehouse partner Unipart Logistics, operating from its central hub in Birmingham. Kubota’s dealer network will benefit from an enhanced delivery service for replacement parts, a self-service booking portal, as well as greater visibility over shipments, all of which will significantly improve customer experience.

Mike Ardolino, Business Development Manager (Parts) at Kubota UK, said: “Service excellence is the life blood of the Kubota business and the fact that Carousel mirrors this in its own customer-first ethos was of vital importance when making this business decision. Our partnership with Carousel will not only help us increase our service levels even further, but also helps us achieve new standards of customer aftercare.

“Carousel’s innovative solutions bring our customers a seamless order and delivery process, plus complete visibility and control over their fast and slow-moving parts. Furthermore, with Carousel’s extensive expertise in delivering service-led logistics, we can now grow the business at pace with the confidence that we can consistently deliver the service our customers have come to expect from the Kubota brand.”

Morton Griffiths, UK Managing Director at Carousel, said: “For organisations like Kubota with complex delivery requirements, the logistics process offers one of the best opportunities to impact customer experience directly. By combining technology, efficient processes, industry relationships and service excellence, we are well placed to support Kubota in improving its customer satisfaction and carve out an even greater competitive advantage within their market.

“Using our own technology solutions, we are able to help Kubota take its customer experience to the next level, whilst also bringing significant efficiency gains across all areas of its operation. It’s a step-change that will allow Kubota to meet the changing needs of its aftermarket, while also supporting its on-going ambitious growth plans.”

For more information on Kubota and its range of parts and aftersales solutions, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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