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NEWS ARTICLES

Developing skills and knowledge at BTME

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Developing skills and knowledge at BTME: Lantra is excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at the leading premier turf management exhibition, hosted in Harrogate from 21st to 23rd January 2025.

The industry-leading event brings together professionals from across the industry, including those working in turf management and groundskeeping, which will provide Lantra with a valuable opportunity to engage with experts, employers, and prospective learners.

Developing skills and knowledge at BTME

Developing skills and knowledge at BTME

Lantra will be showcasing its wide variety of qualifications, which are designed with input from industry, to enhance the skills and careers of those working in the land-based and environment sector. With a focus on developing a skilled workforce, the team from Lantra will be on hand to discuss career development, training opportunities, and qualifications, for personal and professional development.

Our presence at this year’s BTME event highlights our ongoing commitment to meeting the skills needs and challenges of the industry. Attendees at the event will have the opportunity to explore various qualifications and training pathways in areas such as turf management and machinery operation, all aimed at supporting career growth and the enhancement of industry standards.

You can visit Lantra’s stand at BTME – Hall 1, stand 146, to discover how investing in skills, training, and qualifications can help shape your career in the industry.

For more information, visit Lantra’s website: www.lantra.co.uk

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Royal St George’s, John Deere & Tuckwells strike major partnership

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Royal St George’s, John Deere & Tuckwells strike major partnership: The Royal St George’s Golf Club has confirmed a groundbreaking long-term partnership with John Deere and Tuckwells designed to take the course and its greenkeepers to new highs. 

The agreement will see 70 new pieces of machinery installed at the prestigious Kent venue by dealer Tuckwells, including a full cutting fleet, tractors and utility vehicles from John Deere alongside other essential groundscare equipment.

Royal St George’s, John Deere & Tuckwells strike major partnership

Royal St George’s, John Deere & Tuckwells strike major partnership

Greenkeepers will be given support from John Deere to complete a wide range of professional training and offered opportunities to travel to other world-renowned courses to grow their expertise.

The latest technology will be deployed across Royal St George’s with machinery connected by satellite and John Deere Operations Center PRO Golf course management software to assign and track the progress of every daily task.

Tuckwells will provide The Open venue with all equipment and deliver a full package of operator training as well as rapid parts back-up for essential maintenance for the duration of the initial five-year agreement.

John Deere Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, Chris Meacock, said: “The Royal St George’s Club has earned an incredible reputation worldwide and needs the best equipment and service to maintain that hard-earned recognition.

“We wanted to form a partnership that showed belief in our machinery and technology while also demonstrating a strong commitment to the operators who will use it daily.”

Colin Sinclair, Secretary at The Royal St George’s Club, said: “We have enormous pride in our course, not just the fairways and greens but our people and the facilities on offer.

“This is a partnership that will benefit the people who work here as well as golfers.

“We were extremely impressed with the whole package on offer from John Deere which will keep us at the cutting edge of greenkeeping technology, give our team the best tools for the job, and ensure that anyone who maintains our grounds has the opportunity to progress their career.”

As part of the agreement Tuckwells will provide extra machines and labour to support tournaments held at Royal St George’s.

The Club’s greenkeepers will also be offered the chance to travel to TPC Deere Run to help prepare the course for the John Deere Classic, or see first-hand how the TPC Sawgrass is set up for The Players Championship.

James Tuckwell, Dealer Principal at Tuckwells, said: “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Royal St George’s and thank Colin, Head Greenkeeper Greig Easton, and the whole team for putting its trust in us and John Deere. It is an honour to be working with not only one of the region’s best clubs but one of The Open’s most iconic venues.

“We are looking forward to helping unlock the potential of the machinery and its technology to the benefit of the course and its members.”

Delivery of the new equipment will begin in 2025 for completion in Spring 2026. It includes the latest in John Deere’s innovation turf machinery including the recently released battery powered 225E walk-behind and 2775E riding greens mowers.

The course has also ordered two 2030A GPS sprayers which use satellite guidance for precision application of chemicals and fertilisers, reducing overlap and input costs.

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JCB’s hydrogen engine approved for use

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JCB’s hydrogen engine approved for use: JCB has cleared significant hurdles in its development of the world’s first hydrogen combustion engine after securing landmark rulings from licensing authorities allowing it to be used commercially in machines, the company announced today.

JCB is the first construction equipment company to develop a fully working combustion engine fuelled by hydrogen and a team of 150 engineers has been working on the exciting £100 million development for over three years.

JCB's hydrogen engine approved for use

JCB’s hydrogen engine approved for use

Today JCB confirmed that 11 licensing authorities across Europe have now given permission for JCB’s hydrogen engine to be sold across Europe – with authorities in other countries set to follow suit with certification in 2025.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford, who has led the company’s hydrogen engine project, said: “This is a very significant moment for JCB. To start the New Year with certification in place in so many European countries bodes very well for the future of hydrogen combustion technology. JCB has proved in recent years that it is a proper zero emissions solution for construction and agricultural equipment.

“This formal type approval/certification paves the way for the sale and use of hydrogen engines right across the UK and Europe. I couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the year. Most of all, I am delighted for our team of British engineers who have worked tirelessly to reach this stage.”

JCB confirmed that the Netherlands’ Vehicle Authority RDW was the first licensing authority to issue official certification, giving permission for the engine to sold in The Netherlands. Other licensing bodies across Europe have followed RDW’s lead by issuing the necessary certification, including Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Licensing authorities in other countries are set to follow with certification during 2025.

JCB has already produced more than 130 evaluation engines which are powering backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers and generator sets. Real-world testing of JCB’s hydrogen equipment on customers’ sites is now at an advanced stage and progressing well.

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Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025

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Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025: The global market leader in all-terrain spider lifts, Leguan Lifts, has kicked off the new fiscal year with a rocket start, with order intake up nearly 60% compared to the same period last year.

The company’s latest achievements underscore its commitment to market leading innovation, customer-centric product development, and its growing influence across global markets.

Success in new and established markets

Leguan Lifts is making significant inroads in sales growth on key market areas such as North America and Asia where the adoption of spider lifts is on the rise. Customers in these regions are discovering the efficiency of spider lifts as both a superior alternative to traditional methods and a complementary addition to their existing bucket truck fleets.

Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025

Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025

Leguan has also kept securing major contracts with significant key accounts in Norway, Austria, Germany and Benelux countries. This continuing success was made possible with the factory’s committed co-operation between importers, dealers and end-customers alike.

“It is great to see the results of our product strategy that has been improved constantly with the help of our international customers. We have been able to launch multiple market-redefining all-terrain lifts with unmatched speed and ease of use. Automatic functions not only make work more efficient but also eliminate operator errors, making these lifts great equipment for larger fleets.”, Jori Mylläri, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Strategic dedication to developing and implementing technological innovations

Leguan’s strategic commitment to invest in developing and implementing user-friendly technological innovations in the spider lift industry has been identified as one of the key drivers in their success.

Recently finalised operating system the Leguan EDX (Efficiency Driven Experience) seamlessly combines safety, speed, user-friendly automation, and intelligent diagnostics into one cohesive framework.

Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025

Leguan Lifts Reports Rocket Start to 2025

The Leguan EDX operating system, which is now fitted in every Leguan All-terrain spider lift models, integrates advanced features that address key aspects of performance, usability and maintenance:

  • Technological Aspect: The EDX is an intelligent, self-learning operating system that enhances efficiency and reliability.
  • Operator Aspect: The system redefines the operator experience with intuitive controls and automation, making it easier and safer to use, with minimal training.
  • After-Sales Aspect: Automated diagnostics and proactive fault detection streamline maintenance and minimise downtime.

Scaling Up to Meet Demand

To keep pace with growing global demand, Leguan Lifts is investing in expansion of production capacity. The company also plans to launch their biggest spider lift to date early 2025.

Leguan Lifts continues to lead the industry with its forward-thinking approach, proving that innovation, customer focus, performance-driven design and investment in professional dealer network are the keys to long-term success in the competitive spider lift market.

For more information, please visit www.avanttecno.com/uk/leguan

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New Evopac from Syngenta

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New Evopac from Syngenta: Greenkeepers and turf managers in the UK and Ireland will be among the world’s first to experience the innovative new Syngenta Evopac packaging this season. The Evopac makes spraying operations simpler and safer, while also being fully compatible with closed transfer systems (CTS) using the easyconnect coupling.

On display for the first time at BTME in Harrogate (21 – 23 January 2025), Evopac and easyconnect offers ease of handling packaging, accurate measuring and fast sprayer filling essential for timely turf applications. The new packaging will start to arrive with turf managers from January 2025, and introduced across the company’s range of liquid products over coming months.

New Evopac from Syngenta

New Evopac from Syngenta

Designed in close collaboration with practical sprayer operators in the UK, the Evopac includes a range of features for ease of handling and safe use. It has significant advances for use with conventional measure and pour sprayer filling, as well as the new CTS technology.

The ergonomic pack includes handles that are designed to rotate for left or right-handed operators, as well as being large enough to work easily when wearing protective gloves. The handle design enables operators to easily remove packs from the box, as well as to carry multiple packs.

A translucent pack allows operators to clearly see the contents, along with graduations of measurements marked upàdown and downàup – to show remaining contents when pouring manually, or when using upside down on a CTS dispenser to measure part packs. The pack also means operators can visually check that the container has rinsed fully.

When used in conjunction with a CTS – as will increasingly become the norm for operators – products can be transferred direct into the sprayer without the need to open or pour the container manually, thereby eliminating the risk of associated spills or any operator exposure.

The symmetrical Evopac design is balanced and stable when mounted on the CTS. It also facilitates more efficient automatic container rinsing that ensures all the product ends up in the tank and working on the turf, as well as creating clean packaging for 100% recycling. The easyconnect caps on the Evopac are made from the same material as the bottle, so can be left on to drain and recycle together.

Introducing the Evopac, Sarah Hughes, Syngenta Turf Business Mangers for the UK & Ireland, said: “Evopac plays a key role in Syngenta’s sustainability responsibilities, as well as providing a better experience for customers.

“Turf protection products can have risks associated with them when it comes to their handling and useage. Evopac and closed transfer systems are an important step in mitigating those risks for operators, customers’ businesses and the environment.”

Leading sprayer operator, Iain Robertson, added: “The features of the Evopac we’re most excited about is the translucent pack, so you can see what’s in the can and check the rinsing after use. The fact that the labels aren’t wrapped all around the can, so you can see the graduations. Plus, you can invert the pack and the graduations still work in both orientations for how much is in there.

“The new caps are fantastic too, as you can either use it as a conventional lid by unscrewing it, or with the CTS unit. No foils, it’s Syngenta standard, but love that. The handles are rigid enough to feel safe lifting them, but pliable enough to fold out of the way. Little grips on the bottom make it easy to handle when you’ve got your PPE on.

“When you use the Evopac in practice, you realise that all the little wish lists as an operator have been ticked. The whole package makes it safer and easier for everyone to use.”

Evopac will become the standard packaging for all Syngenta liquid products for turf supplied in 1, 3, 5 and 10 litre packs.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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