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Green-tech Launches Ireland’s First Tubex Recycling Hub

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Green-tech Launches Ireland’s First Tubex Recycling Hub: Green-tech is proud to announce the launch of Ireland’s first Tubex Recycling Hub at its Irish depot in Derry.

This new facility is part of a growing initiative to support sustainability in the landscaping and forestry sectors. It offers a local, accessible solution for collecting and recycling used Tubex tree and shrub shelters.

Green-tech Launches Ireland’s First Tubex Recycling Hub

Green-tech Launches Ireland’s First Tubex Recycling Hub

The hub at Green-tech’s Irish depot follows the successful model of Green-tech’s Trade Centre in North Yorkshire, which has been an official drop-off hub for the Tubex Collection & Recycling Programme since June 2024.

The programme helps to reduce waste by collecting used tree shelters, which are then washed, shredded, and re-pelletised before being used to manufacture new products. This circular process aligns with Green-tech’s commitment to environmental responsibility and advancing sustainable practices within the landscaping industry.

Richard Gill, Sales Director at Green-tech, commented, “We’re thrilled to expand the Tubex Collection & Recycling Programme into Ireland with the launch of our dedicated recycling hub. As the first facility of its kind in the country, this hub provides an essential service for our Irish customers, providing them with the option to recycle their Tubex shelters. This initiative highlights our continued commitment to sustainability and the circular economy, ensuring that materials are reused and waste is minimised. We’re excited to see more clients participate and help us make a positive impact on the environment.”

The Irish Tubex Recycling Hub is one of 15 national collection points across the UK and Ireland, making it more convenient for customers to drop off their used shelters. Additionally, Green-tech offers collection services for larger quantities, ensuring that no shelter is left behind.

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is gearing up for a bumper edition of its annual trade show and education conference and with only a handful of exhibition stands available and education bookings at an all-time high, anticipation for the event is stronger than ever.

By early December, stand bookings had already exceeded the overall total achieved for the 2024 edition of the show, while the Continue to Learn education programme has achieved over 1,000 bookings at its earliest point ever. BIGGA is proud that BTME’s reputation as the official start of the sports turf calendar is growing, with all elements of the event increasing substantially year on year.

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

To date, 133 stands have been allocated across 4,105m2 of exhibition space at the Harrogate Convention Centre. In 2024, the total exhibition space was 4,086m2. To accommodate this demand, BIGGA has introduced innovative solutions including the debut of the Industry Launchpad attraction.

Key industry partners due to return to the event include The R&A, BAGMA, EIGCA, Grounds Management Association, England Golf and the GCMA, underscoring BTME’s influential role in the UK golf industry.

The trade show also supports BIGGA’s flagship education initiative, Continue to Learn. Open to anyone working withing golf greenkeeping and sports turf management, the programme has already seen exceptional demand with 80% of Continue to Learn: Classes already sold out. The Continue to Learn: Conference programme is also proving popular and during the first week in December, BIGGA reached its 1,000th Continue to Learn booking, a milestone achieved earlier than ever before.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the BIGGA team, whose dedication and innovation has propelled BTME and Continue to Learn to new heights. Their commitment to creating an exceptional experience for our members and the wider turf industry has established BTME as a cornerstone of the golfing calendar that is growing in size and reputation each year.

“The strong support for Continue to Learn also highlights a positive shift in attitudes towards greenkeeper education. The golf industry has a growing appetite for education and training and Continue to Learn and BTME are the ideal format for that to take place. This enthusiasm for professional development bodes well for the future of our sport and the industry as a whole.”

Robotic machinery manufacturer Kress will be exhibiting at BTME for the second time, having made its debut at BTME 2024. Kress was recently announced as headline sponsor of the BIGGA Celebration, which takes place on the opening evening of the event in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.

Nicki Jones, Kress Head of Marketing, said: “At Kress, we are delighted to attend the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and proud to host the BIGGA Celebration, including the highly regarded BIGGA Awards. We are well aware of BTME’s stellar reputation within the industry as a premier event for showcasing innovation and excellence in turf management. This makes it a particularly exciting and meaningful opportunity for us to actively participate. Kress is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the sector and we look forward to connecting with the talented professionals who make this industry thrive.”

Registration for BTME is open now. For more information about the trade show and the Continue to Learn education programme, visit www.btme.org.uk.

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GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

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GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career: The GroundsFest Education Fund is already making a significant impact on the next generation of grounds management professionals, with several students already benefitting from its support.

The most recent success story is George Legg, a student studying Sports Turf NVQ Level 2 at Wiltshire College and an Apprentice at Stanley Park Sports Ground. Thanks to the Fund, George was able to finance essential qualifications that played a key role in him securing a full-time position at Stanley Park Sports Ground after completing his Level 2 qualification.

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

One of the key certifications George was able to pursue through the Education Fund was the PA1 qualification in the Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides, as well as the PA6 qualification for the Safe Use of Pesticides with Handheld Applicators. These qualifications are crucial for anyone working in grounds management, particularly when it comes to managing fertilisers and ensuring the safe application of pesticides—a vital aspect of maintaining sports turf and other landscapes.

“The Education Fund helped massively,” George explains. “Once I had those qualifications on my CV, it was a massive boost. It made me more qualified to do certain things and definitely made me more employable.”

He continues, “I needed some extra funding to be able to do these courses, and the PA6 is especially important for grounds management with fertilisers and calibrations. It linked in perfectly with everything I was studying. Having those extra qualifications was big for me and for Stanley Park, especially because they didn’t have to fund them themselves.”

The Education Fund not only enabled George to obtain these qualifications, but it also allowed him to gain valuable skills without burdening his employer, Stanley Park Sports Ground, with the costs. This, according to George, is crucial in a time when the grounds management industry is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. “The GroundsFest Education Fund is great for creating opportunities for people like me,” he says. “It’s crucial because we are seeing more and more people drop out of the industry. There’s already a lack of groundstaff, and without funding or support, it becomes much harder for people to progress.”

In January, George will begin his new role as a full-time Groundsperson at Stanley Park, where he will be responsible for day-to-day tasks such as line marking, mowing, calibration, and operating machinery safely. Looking ahead, George hopes to continue advancing in his career. “I’d like to eventually become a Grounds Manager,” he shares.

Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest, expressed his excitement about George’s success and the broader impact of the Education Fund. “This is fantastic news,” he says. “We are currently working hard on entering the next phase of the Education Fund, which will see the profits from the event reaching an even wider range of people in the industry. Watch this space.”

The GroundsFest Education Fund is an integral part of the event’s mission to invest in the future of the grounds management industry. The Fund is helping to address the challenges facing the sector, from skills shortages to the declining number of young people entering the industry. Through initiatives like this, GroundsFest is playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of industry leaders.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

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Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME: Twelve months on from the launch of the INFINICUT® 22” FL golf cutting unit at BTME 2024, the company is set to return to Harrogate in January 2025 with two new patent-pending additions to the range.

The new design of the INFINICUT® 22” FX and 26” FX features a brand-new cutting system and attachment/removal method offering unparalleled accuracy of cut and ease of maintenance. More details can be found by visiting stand 614.

Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

Two new INFINICUT® mowers at BTME

The INFINICUT® stand is always awash with solutions designed to meet the exacting requirements for modern golf course maintenance, and BTME 2025 is shaping up to be no different. In the year since it’s launch, the 22” FL golf cutting unit has proven itself to be the most balanced mower for achieving low heights of cut with greenkeepers around the world. The two new models promise to build on this success, combining the very best in cut quality with technological advancements which not only benefit plant health, but optimise the operator experience.

Appreciating that every golf course is different and that course managers don’t necessarily follow the same maintenance doctrine, all INFINICUT® models offer the ability to quickly and easily alter a range of mower parameters via the InfiniApp™. Settings can also be stored for retrieval and/or simultaneously sent wirelessly to multiple machines in a fleet, reducing time and all-but eliminating differentiation between mowers.

One InfiniApp™ feature that has proven extremely popular with operators is ‘tilt and turn’. At the end of line turn, a sensor automatically detects that the mower is lifted and slows the unit down to a prechosen percentage of walk speed. Each individual operator can choose a slow-down rate that they are comfortable with and, when dropped back to the mow position, the regular mowing speed is engaged.

Further convenience is delivered thanks to the dedicated INFINICUT® trailer, offering the swift and safe transportation of 22” and 26” units between greens.

The technical team will be on hand across the three days to discuss the full INFINICUT® pedestrian range, together with the TMSystem™ collection of maintenance cassettes which transform the INFINICUT® or mainstream models of multi-gang mower into units for complete turf refinement.

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Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

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Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions: Kubota will be back BTME once again in January, joining Baroness on stand 624 to showcase the very best in Japanese excellence.

Complementing an array of Baroness implements, pedestrian and ride on mowers will be models from across Kubota’s RTV, mower and compact tractor range including the B2-261 and robust and versatile L2-622HST – the agile all-rounder that effortlessly tackles all maintenance tasks around the golf course.

Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

Kubota to showcase versatile greenkeeping solutions

Offering the highest rear lift capacity in its class, the Kubota L2-622 combines reliable technology and productivity with a high degree of operator comfort. At its heart is an efficient 62hp stage-V diesel engine, integrated power steering and HST hydrostatic transmission with three-stage group shift for smooth operation and complete control. Further flexibility is offered by a range of Kubota front loaders, extending its application to course renovation and end of season construction works.

Continuing the theme of versatility will be the RTV 520 from Kubota’s utility vehicle range. The Kubota RTV 520 delivers quiet, dependable power from the 18hp liquid-cooled 2-cylinder engine for work on all terrain and the timely delivery of people and materials to meet the tightest of maintenance schedules. Its heavy-duty metal load platform, solid underbody protection and high front axle ground clearance of 225mm are proof positive that compact doesn’t have to mean compromise when it comes to rugged productivity.

Completing the line-up will be a selection of ride-on mowers. Joining the highly productive FC3-261 out-front centre-collect mower will be the F-391 with 60” rear discharge deck. Renowned for its efficiency, Kubota’s F-Series of front mower delivers rugged, diesel-powered reliability for the most demanding of mowing tasks. Comfortable ergonomics are complemented by optimal cut and clipping dispersal, and equally impressive mulching quality. Available with either a 60 or 72” mower deck, and choice of side or rear discharge, the F-391 presents a versatile alternative for the cutting of long, dense roughs, practice areas and car park surrounds.

As always, the Kubota team will be on hand across the three days, happy to answer visitors’ questions and looking forward to catching up with customers old and new.

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