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Construction begins on Avant Tecno UK’s HQ

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Construction begins on Avant Tecno UK’s HQ: Construction has commenced on the new multimillion pound headquarters for Avant Tecno UK at Suffolk Business Park in Bury St Edmunds.

The development of the 32,200sq ft facility is being led by Churchmanor Estates and built by SEH French.

Construction begins on Avant Tecno UK’s HQ

Construction begins on Avant Tecno UK’s HQ

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 19 to mark the start of works with representatives from Avant Tecno UK, SEH French, Churchmanor Estates, Robinson Arnold, Holmes Plant & Construction, LSI Architects, Conisbee, Richard Utting Associates and members of West Suffolk District Council.

Due for completion in August 2024, the site will be home to the company’s UK operations. The company says it will boast dedicated dealer training facilities, flexible collaborative workspaces, efficient and automated warehouse technology, and a technical workshop.

The new development will see the company move from its rural base near Thetford, where it has been located since it began operating the in the UK in 1994.

Raimo Ala-Korpi, Managing Director of Avant Tecno UK, commented: “This ceremony marks the start of an exciting era for Avant Tecno UK.

“Avant has enjoyed a sustained period of growth in recent years and, as a consequence, we have outgrown our existing warehouse and office facilities. Our new purpose-built UK headquarters represents a significant investment and is a commitment to the future for our dealers and end user customers.

“We’re looking forward to seeing work get underway on the construction of our new premises.”

Avant Tecno UK provides multi-functional loaders for use in various areas including farming, landscaping and construction.

Neil Pryke, Contracts Manager for SEH French, said: “The team is thrilled to be involved in this project to deliver Avant Tecno UK’s new headquarters.

“Suffolk Business Park is a great example of the opportunities available in the county for large companies like Avant, and we are honoured to be supporting them in their growth.

“Our appointment is testament to the quality of work we deliver, and we look forward to working with partners on this exciting development.”

Matt Cloke, Development Director at Churchmanor Estates, commented: “Avant Tecno are the acknowledged market leader in their sector, and so we were delighted to be asked to work with them to bring to life their vision for a new bespoke UK HQ, warehouse, and showroom.

“This is an important investment not just for Suffolk Business Park, but for West Suffolk as well, and we’re looking forward to seeing the project progress over the next 10 months.”

For more information, please visit www.avant.co.uk

For more information on the developer please visit www.churchmanor.com

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Greenkeepers selected to support PGA Tour’s flagship event

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Greenkeepers selected to support PGA Tour’s flagship event: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner John Deere have revealed the six greenkeepers who will head to TPC Sawgrass to join the agronomy team for The Players Championship 2024.

The five BIGGA members from the UK and an international member from Canada will be completely immersed in the hosting of the PGA Tour’s flagship event, with flights, accommodation and other costs included. While there, the greenkeepers will work alongside more than 100 turf professionals from across the globe and gain experience of elite championship agronomy, which they can bring back to their home venues.

Greenkeepers selected to support PGA Tour’s flagship event

Greenkeepers selected to support PGA Tour’s flagship event

The scheme is open to full BIGGA members over the age of 21 and the trip takes place from 9-19 March 2024.

Lucas Andrews, assistant director of agronomy at TPC Sawgrass, said: “We’ve been working with BIGGA and John Deere for the last 10 years, bringing in delegates to join our tournament support team for The Players Championship. The energy and drive they bring is phenomenal. This is a special place and the volunteers have their own expectations of us and we strive to live up to those. We look forward to continuing this programme for many years to come.”

You can hear more from Lucas on the BIGGA YouTube channel.

Chris Meacock, John Deere’s Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, said: “This partnership between BIGGA, John Deere and TPC Sawgrass goes from strength to strength, as evidenced by the record number of applications received this year. Those who have been successful will embark on a unique, career-enhancing experience, being involved in one of the greatest tournaments in golf. John Deere is extremely proud to be able to help these ambitious greenkeepers build contacts and see new techniques, which will inspire fresh thinking for when they return to their home clubs.”

The 2024 BIGGA volunteers are:

  • Aidan Wright, deputy course manager, Camberley Heath Golf Club
  • Adam Brackley, head greenkeeper, La Grand Mare Hotel
  • Colin Hopper, head greenkeeper, Elsham Golf Club
  • Ian Kirwan, course manager, Chorlton-cum-Hardy Golf Club
  • David Feeney, deputy head greenkeeper, Prestwick Golf Club
  • Adam Champion, superintendent, Bearspaw Golf Club, Canada

Head to the BIGGA YouTube channel to meet the 2024 volunteers.

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Henton & Chattell to be appointed Baroness dealer

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Henton & Chattell to be appointed Baroness dealer: Henton & Chattell, a well-established family-owned company founded in 1931, is delighted to announce its forthcoming appointment as a Baroness dealer in the East Midlands region.

With decades of experience in serving golf courses, ground care contractors, and local authorities in the Midlands, Henton & Chattell has earned a respected reputation for its customer-focused approach and exceptional after-sales support. It is this reputation that led to Baroness’s decision to welcome Henton & Chattell to its dealer network.

Henton & Chattell to be appointed Baroness dealer

Henton & Chattell to be appointed Baroness dealer

Adam Butler, sales director of Baroness adds, “It’s very exciting times for Baroness. To stay in line with our company’s business plan for the continued growth of Baroness & AgriMetal products in the UK, and our association with other Japanese made products. We really feel our new partnership with Henton & Chattell is a great fit for all and very much look forward to working with the whole team. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the team at PS Marsden, who have done a fantastic job supporting Baroness in the area over the past few years, and wish them all the very best for the future.”

Baroness, renowned for its high-quality mowers and meticulous craftsmanship by Japanese engineers, has gained recognition worldwide for delivering impressive cutting quality. The longevity of Baroness products is exemplified by their durable cylinder blades and bed knives. With over a century of successful operations, Baroness continues to be a market leader globally.

“We are excited to be joining the Baroness dealer network later this year,” said Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Henton & Chattell. “Baroness machinery is well-regarded for its market-leading cut quality and impressive blade durability, which has led to a growing number of golf courses making the switch to Baroness. Additionally, the shorter lead times on deliveries from Japan present a major advantage for our customers.”

As a family business with strong roots in Nottingham, Henton & Chattell takes immense pride in its 85-strong workforce. The company is actively engaged in developing its presence in golf course, ground care, and agricultural markets. Additionally, the company operates a successful wholesale and distribution business, serving the needs of over 1,500 garden machinery dealers across the UK and Ireland.

The upcoming partnership between Henton & Chattell and Baroness promises to provide customers in the East Midlands with top-tier expertise and reliable solutions for their diverse needs.

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New community sport zone at SALTEX

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New community sport zone at SALTEX: New to SALTEX 2023 is the Community Sport Zone which presents a range of grass pitch maintenance machinery curated to be of specific interest to grassroots and community football, rugby union and rugby league clubs – all of which can be purchased through funding schemes.

Spokespeople from the brands will be present alongside the GMA’s Regional Pitch Advisors to guide visitors through the features and benefits of the machinery, answer questions and explain how this machinery is available to purchase thanks to the millions of pounds of funding that has been awarded via the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation to support grassroots football, as well as for Rugby League and Rugby Union in England.

New community sport zone at SALTEX

New community sport zone at SALTEX

In the zone, located alongside the GMA Hub, will be compact tractors from Campey Turf Care and Iseki, combination grooming tools such as Quadraplay, tractor mounted slitters from Greentek Solutions, tractor mounted fertiliser spreaders, cricket mowers, and line markers from Fleet Ltd.

The GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service is made up of grass pitch experts and understands volunteer and community sport grounds staff better than anyone else. The Pitch Advisory Service works throughout the year to support sport’s National Governing Bodies in improving the quality of grass pitches across the country and at all levels of sport, with particular focus on community sport.

The machinery on display in the Community Sport Zone has been curated from Pitch Advisory Service recommendations in their grass pitch reports facilitated through the Football Foundation’s PitchPower web-based app.

Jason Booth, chief operating office at the GMA, says: “We’re always looking at new ways to bring value and valuable experiences to visitors at SALTEX, hence the introduction of the Community Sport Zone at this year’s event.

“It will showcase key machinery that will directly benefit grounds people at a recreational level and is an opportunity not to be missed for grassroots clubs needing an introduction to the machinery and the funding opportunities available.

“We are extremely proud of the work our Pitch Advisory Service does year-round to support community sport across the country in collaboration with our partners at the National Governing Bodies – the machinery on show wouldn’t be possible for community clubs to acquire if it wasn’t often funded through the Football Foundation’s Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund.

“We appreciate the National Governing Bodies’ support and look forward to introducing a new audience to the world of benefits that SALTEX can offer grounds care professionals at all levels of sport.”

There will also be a guided tour with the GMA’s Regional Pitch Advisors taking visitors around the show floor to see the exhibitors displaying more specialised equipment.

To take advantage of this unique opportunity, register now for Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023 at: https://bit.ly/456l0dA

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Fall into autumn with Mountfield

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Fall into autumn with Mountfield: With winter just around the corner, the Mountfield team’s aim is clear, to offer everything needed to their customers to make all mowing jobs as easy as possible for the colder months and beyond!

Mountfield offers a range of accessories to help you get the most from their products. Fuel stabiliser, oil, combi carts, ballast rollers and fertiliser spreaders are just a few of the accessories available to purchase online on the Mountfield website.

Fall into autumn with Mountfield

Fall into autumn with Mountfield

With the weather so unpredictable these days, and many a named storm sure to head to the UK in the coming months, it is a good idea to keep tractors covered when not in use.  The Mountfield Protective Cover is a must for those who want to keep their tractor debris-free.  This cover is made of sturdy waterproof nylon which allows the lawn mower to be protected from atmospheric agents, dust and dirt when standing dormant.

– Dimensions 180 x 60 x 115 cm
– Grey colour
– Made of waterproof nylon
– 1 year of warranty from purchase date

Not only is our protective cover getting the full five-star review treatment from customers who reviewed it on Trustpilot, it now has the added bonus of FREE DELIVERY!

Mountfield has you and your tractor covered…whatever the weather!

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

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