Turf News is the perfect place for professionals working within the UK’s vibrant turf industry – keeping you up-to-date with topical news, latest market developments and much more across all areas of the industry.
NEWS ARTICLES

Makita’s new range of XGT chainsaws

/in , /by

Makita’s new range of XGT chainsaws: Makita has expanded its impressive chainsaw collection with the launch of the UC022G, UC024G, UC025G and UC026G 40VMax XGT Rear-Handle Brushless Chainsaws. As part of Makita’s powerful XGT series, the new chainsaws combine power, efficiency, and convenience for effortlessly tackling cutting tasks both large and small.

All the new models are built on Makita’s advanced 40VMax XGT platform to deliver robust performance and extended runtimes and each have been manufactured with the same body and motor design. The key differences between each model sits with the choice of chain bar lengths that are available – the UC022G at 350 mm, the UC024G at 300 mm, the UC025G at 350 mm and the UC026G at 400 mm. Furthermore, the UC022G doesn’t require any tools for chain tensioning thanks to the easy operable handle for tool-less adjustment, whilst the UC024G, UC025G, and UC026G utilise captive bar nuts.

Makita's new range of XGT chainsaws

Makita’s new range of XGT chainsaws

At the heart of the new chainsaws is a high-powered brushless motor that generates an outstanding 1.6kW of maximum output power that is comparable to 35cc 2 stroke petrol chainsaw. This impressive speed allows the blade to cut through the thickest branches with chain speeds up to 25.5m/s.

Operators will enjoy the improved trigger response rate that provides acceleration from ‘Trigger ON’ to full speed in under one second. Furthermore, should the chain lock due to load, the tool is able to restart immediately upon removing the blade from the load, without the need to retrigger, making it possible to resume cutting operations straight away.

As users would expect from the leading power tool manufacturer, Makita has included several thoughtful features into the design of these machines. Each has a highly visible felling line as well as an onboard automatic oiler with an adjustable flow rate. For user comfort and optimal handling, the models are equipped with an ergonomic soft grip that reduces vibration and fatigue during prolonged use. Their lightweight design further improves manoeuvrability and control, making them easier to handle in various cutting conditions, and safety features include a chain brake for added protection against kickback as well as a protective hand guard.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “These lightweight cordless machines are a perfect companion for those needing to work on a range of different cutting applications with both speed and efficiency. With zero emissions, lower noise, and a brushless motor system that ensures you get all the power you need, when you need it while reducing the need for ongoing maintenance, the new XGT chainsaws are a fantastic addition to our powerful and expanding 40VMax XGT portfolio.”

To find out more about Makita’s XGT Outdoor Power Equipment, please visit: www.makitauk.com

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

/in , /by

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School: While the challenges of managing the multi-sport surfaces at Cranleigh School may be akin to those faced by most in the education sector, here they’re on a mammoth scale!

With 248 acres of sports pitches, grounds and gardens to keep in quality condition year-round, the priorities when it comes to seed selection is reliability, versatility and tolerance for wear and tear. This, according to Deputy Grounds Manager Andy Burke, they’re achieving with mixtures from across the DLF and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges.

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

DLF supports top-level sport at Cranleigh School

Cranleigh is one of Surrey’s leading co-educational independent schools and notes a number of leading public figures and some seriously sporty alumni over its 150+ year history. Its high sporting calibre is perhaps unsurprising given the scope of the surfaces available to pupils which includes 21 winter sports pitches, 8 cricket pitches and a 9-hole golf course. When Andy joined the school 9 and a half years ago, mixtures from the Masterline and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges were already used site-wide, and he goes on to explain why this has continued.

“In our environment, and with the sheer scale of facilities, our scheduling of operations and renovations has to be pretty strict which ultimately means we are often putting seed in the ground when conditions aren’t perhaps optimal. For example, in the Spring of 2022 we carried out extensive overseeding on our cricket outfields and winter sports pitches using Johnsons J4Turf and PM81 from the Masterline seed range. Then, despite seeing very little rain until the start of September, our grounds team were incredibly impressed that after a dormant period we saw strong growth and incredible drought recovery at the first drop of moisture. The result was quality playing surfaces that looked good and performed evenly.”

Johnsons J 4Turf and J Premier Wicket are used on the cricket outfields and squares, which host upwards of 250 games a year. “The turnaround and level of wear is intensive, but we’ve found this combination of mixtures withstands the high level of play, recovering quickly and coping with climatic conditions – be those dry like last summer or wetter as we’ve had throughout 2024.”

The cricket outfields are cut down to 16mm until the last game of the season, then will be left to grow to 32mm where they will then play a critical part in a packed rugby programme. “This is where the seed really gets tested as the demands of rugby will push wear tolerance to the limit! We’ve always found the strong bladed and deep rooting DLF and Johnsons mixtures can handle that, before being taken down to 26mm for football.”

Masterline PM81 is ideally suited to the renovation and repair of winter sports pitches, multi-purpose fields and racecourses. The 100% perennial ryegrass mix delivers outstanding versatility, sward density and year-round colour. Beside this, J 4turf and J Premier Wicket, Andy and the team are also using Johnsons J Rye Green on their golf greens and Masterline PM51 Greenscape as a general, high-performance mixture for landscaping and hard-wearing lawns.

He concludes, “It’s ultimately these mixtures that are the foundation to everything we oversee in our department and that year after year give us the quality and, importantly, the versatility to sustain such a high level of sport.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Foamstream at SALTEX

/in , , /by

Foamstream at SALTEX: Visitors to SALTEX looking to discover the future of weed control need look no further than stand H068 – where they can find the world-leading non-herbicidal solution, Foamstream.

Following another busy 12 months which has seen the appointment of distributors Campey Turf Care Systems and a continuation of the popular rental programme, it has never been easier to discover the many benefits of chemical-free control.

Foamstream at SALTEX

Foamstream at SALTEX

Powered by a range of patented machinery developed by Weedingtech, Foamstream has been proven in numerous independent academic trials to deliver efficacy comparable to traditional chemical treatments on moss and a wide range of weed species. It combines hot water and an organic, biodegradable foam made from plant oils and sugars which insulates the water to retain the heat, ensuring it effectively penetrates the plant and its roots. Together with eradicating the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores, reducing future weed growth, treatment cycles and cost.

A popular choice with facilities pursuing a more environmentally-friendly maintenance programme, including a number of Premier League football clubs, Foamstream’s all-natural composition means it is safe for application in a broad range of scenarios such as waterways, schools and other areas in close proximity to children or animals.

Weedingtech’s delivery system brings further benefit for operators like local authorities, in the form of effective high-pressure cleaning for gum and graffiti and sanitisation of surfaces and street furniture.

Those wishing to get to grips with Foamstream can now do so in a number of ways, such as their popular rental service. The rental package includes the latest high-specification machinery and full technical training for a set monthly rate – with additional discounts available for long-term hire and the option to purchase the equipment if desired. Together with improving accessibility and eliminating the complex capital procurement process, the rental programme also includes an information of things (IOT) to provide accurate measurement of output for a more informed weed control management plan.

For more information on Foamstream and the options available to rent or buy, please speak to the technical team on stand H068 at SALTEX this October.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Trilo to showcase versatile vacuum sweepers at SALTEX

/in , , /by

Trilo to showcase versatile vacuum sweepers at SALTEX: Trilo return to SALTEX 2024, promising to showcase the very best in versatile vacuum sweepers on stand K058.

Visitors this October can expect to find the M3 from the Trilo Multipurpose range on display, alongside the range of shaft options which effortlessly transforms the 3m3 collector into a maintenance machine for all seasons.

Trilo to showcase versatile vacuum sweepers at SALTEX

Trilo to showcase versatile vacuum sweepers at SALTEX

Long regarded as the industry-leader in leaf and debris collectors, the Trilo range spans models from 3-30m3 to suit a range of environments from roadside verges to sports turf, golf courses to green spaces. Powerful suction combined with clever, modular construction makes for effortless removal of leaves, pine needles, clippings and other debris, making light work of the most time-consuming tasks of the autumn and winter months. The unique configuration of the Trilo vacuums provides the option of a cab-controlled hose or handheld wanderhose, bringing further efficiencies to the clearance of ditches, gulleys and other hard to reach spaces.

When leaf fall season is complete, and other vacuum sweepers are resigned to the sidelines, the Trilo Multipurpose works on. A range of attachments are available for effective scarification or convenient cut and collect, all of which can be swapped in and out in under an hour, with minimal tools, for less time in the workshop and more time in the field.

The Trilo scarifier shaft is available with a range of knife options, to suit the scarification of large areas such as fairways or public parks, with the extracted material collected into the high-capacity hopper in the same pass. Alternatively, a flail shaft can be fitted for the efficient cut and collection of golf roughs, highway verges or the annual maintenance of wildflower meadows.

Whether it’s leaves, organic matter or clippings, all waste can be easily emptied thanks to the Trilo hydraulic high-tip function, offering the controlled disposal into compost or waste containers.

More information on the Trilo range, together with other offerings from Trilo such as the Progressive portfolio of trailed and mounted rotary mowers, can be found by speaking to the technical team on stand K058 across the two days.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

MAJOR To Launch Upgraded TDR at SALTEX

/in , , /by

MAJOR To Launch Upgraded TDR at SALTEX: Major Equipment Ltd, a leader in tractor-powered groundcare mowers, is delighted to introduce its upgraded TDR Rotary Mower at SALTEX 2024. Designed for maintaining parklands, sports pitches, and golf courses, the new TDR model boasts several enhancements for improved durability, precision, and efficiency.

Key upgrades include a fully galvanised body for enhanced rust resistance, 5mm blades for a cleaner cut and hydraulic brakes for better operator safety. The heavy-duty driveline ensures consistent performance even in tough conditions, while the simple height adjustment feature allows for versatile cutting from 10-140mm. Additionally, the rear deck can be detached and used independently, adding operational flexibility.

MAJOR To Launch Upgraded TDR at SALTEX

MAJOR To Launch Upgraded TDR at SALTEX

Available in 4.90m and 6.1m widths, the TDR is ideal for local authorities and contractors managing large green spaces. Major Equipment will showcase the TDR at SALTEX 2024 at stand J112, where visitors can see the mower, speak with product specialists and arrange demonstrations.

For more information or to schedule a demo, contact Major Equipment Ltd at 01524 850501 or visit www.major-equipment.com.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.