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NEWS ARTICLES

Kubota appoints Will Barker

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Kubota appoints Will Barker: Kubota (UK) has appointed Will Barker as agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for the east Midlands and Eastern Counties.

Will is passionate about machinery and farming, coming from a family-owned dairy farm in Buckinghamshire that operates two Kubota tractors and a utility vehicle, supplied by local dealer George Browns.

Kubota appoints Will Barker

Kubota appoints Will Barker

“Coming into the tractor business as a former end-user, I have an appreciation of what customers expect from their relationships with dealers,” explains Will. “And this is a great opportunity to introduce more customers to the ambitions and capabilities of Kubota agricultural and groundcare machinery.”

As part of his university education, Will joined Kubota’s marketing department as a placement student, providing him with a taste of the tractor manufacturing business. On graduating from Harper Adams University with a degree in business management and marketing, he headed to New Zealand to widen his practical experience working with an agricultural contractor.

Returning to the family farm for a two-year period, Will realised that his future in the industry

was beyond the farm gates. He joined the marketing department of an industrial lighting company to gain supply chain and distribution experience, before returning to Kubota earlier this year as a regional dealer manager.

Speaking about Will’s appointment, Kubota’s agricultural and groundcare sales manager Tim Yates said: “Will’s youthful energy provides us with a great opportunity to continue supporting dealers as they continue to build on the growth already achieved in agricultural and groundcare markets across the East Midlands and Eastern Counties.”

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Cain Markings claim Aspen Fuel to be the perfect choice

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Cain Markings claim Aspen Fuel to be the perfect choice: After choosing Aspen Fuel to power their business just six months after opening in 2017, Cain Markings now claim to be firm believers of the product and the benefits it brings to the operator, their machinery and the surrounding environment.

Fuelling a range of 2 and 4-stroke equipment for sports maintenance and line marking, Owner Sam Cain explains how efficiency and reliability have improved saving the team time and reducing costly repair bills!

Cain Markings claim Aspen Fuel to be the perfect choice

Cain Markings claim Aspen Fuel to be the perfect choice

Young GMA Board Member Sam Cain founded Cain Markings alongside his parents six years ago, the three-strong team providing a range of contract services to commercial customers in Hertfordshire and across the South East. “We were undergoing training on some new equipment with High Five Training who asked us whether we’d considered using Aspen Fuel” explains Sam. “The first thing I thought was the advantage of Aspen 2 being pre-mixed which eliminates the risk of getting the ratios wrong but the more I read, the more benefits I discovered, and it quickly became a no-brainer. We’ve never looked back.”

Being virtually free from sulphur, benzene and other solvents means Aspen Alkylate Fuel burns cleaner, reducing harmful emissions – important for many businesses, but a necessity for Sam who delivers a large number of contracts in schools and other enclosed environments. “The reduction in pollution and smell is a major plus and makes for a much more pleasant environment for the operator and those in and around the worksite.”

“We’re using Aspen in all of our petrol equipment including blowers, strimmers, hedge cutters and some of our ride-on artificial turf equipment.” He continues, “The majority of our work is conducted between the spring and autumn which sometimes means our kit will spend periods of the year in storage. Because Aspen is ethanol-free, we find that we can get equipment out after being dormant for months and it will still start first-time.”

“That extends more generally to the overall health of our machines. We definitely see fewer engine-related issues and, when we do, as soon as we tell the mechanic we use Aspen they all-but eliminate it being a fuel problem.”

Sam purchases the Alkylate Fuel from Hertfordshire Garden Machinery, adding convenience and control to their supply. “We easily keep track of how much we’re using which helps us with budgeting etc.” He concludes, “We tell other contractors about the benefits and as soon as people try it, then see exactly what we mean… Even down to the can and automatic stopping nozzle which reduces spillages – it’s great!”

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OAS will be making their mark at GroundsFest 2023

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OAS will be making their mark at GroundsFest 2023: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) will be exhibiting at the first ever GroundsFest with two stands. Their new branded trailer can be found in the outdoor arena on stand 250, whilst their indoor presence on stand 20 in hall 1 will be highlighting the wealth and breadth of the Origin Amenity Solutions brand.

In an exciting strategic development for OAS, the company will be launching their new Line Marking division at GroundsFest. With an enhanced team of line marking specialists, they are positioned to provide the most comprehensive line marking product and support offering in the UK.  The team will be on site with a range of line marking machines, from pedestrian spray markers to the latest technology in GPS guided robot line markers; alongside its industry-leading line marking IMPACT ready to use paint range.

OAS will be making their mark at GroundsFest 2023

OAS will be making their mark at GroundsFest 2023

Well known for their commitment to educating the industry, Chemicals & Digital Technical Manager Peter Corbett will be presenting at 2pm on day 1 in Theatre 2 about the changing face of Chemicals and the effect this will have on the industry. Whilst OAS Research & Development Director Geoff Fenn will discuss Microdochium Disease management and winter fertiliser recovery in Theatre 1 on day 2 at 11am.Continuing on the education theme, OAS will be working with Grounds Training to support them with their line marking interactive training sessions. Grounds Training deliver independently accredited training courses across the UK. OAS will be supplying line marking machinery, paint, and accessories for participants to ‘have a go’ at their training sessions with an Introduction to Sports Line Marking (Winter Games) on day 1 and an Introduction to Sports Line Marking (Athletics) on day 2.

The company has announced it will have a number of special show offers, as well as a competition to give away a free iGO Premier pedestrian line marker and two 10 litre drums of IMPACT paint – a fantastic prize and one that is sure to keep the stands busy.

OAS Portfolio Director Jayne Leyland comments, “It’s a really exciting time for OAS. The transformation within the business following the merging of four individual brands has been fantastic to see.  Behind the scenes we are making a lot of strategic changes which will bring significant benefits to our customers. The launch of a dedicated line marking division is hugely exciting. We will have the largest choice of line marking equipment, paints and accessories and the biggest sales and support team in the UK. I am incredibly proud to be able to offer this service to the industry.”

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Cobra to showcase key products at Saltex and Groundsfest

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Cobra to showcase key products at Saltex and Groundsfest: Henton and Chattell has announced that it will be showcasing the Cobra brand at two upcoming events this year. The company will be returning to Saltex, held on 1st and 2nd November at the NEC in Birmingham, and is excited to announce its debut at GroundsFest, taking place at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 20th and 21st September.

The two events represent key industry opportunities to showcase the Cobra range to customers, dealers and stockists – as well as presenting invaluable chances to network, including directly with buyers.

Cobra to showcase key products at Saltex and Groundsfest

Cobra to showcase key products at Saltex and Groundsfest

Both Saltex and GroundsFest will also be a great chance for Cobra to demonstrate the capabilities of the Fortis cylinder mowers and lawn tractor ranges – both of which were launched earlier this year.

The Fortis range combines eight machines in one to give the ultimate package for creating picture perfect lawns, and are the first powered cylinder mowers to be launched by Cobra. It features four mowers, starting with a compact 14” model powered by a Loncin petrol engine, and then the 17”, 20” and 25” all featuring Briggs & Stratton engines for extra power for larger lawns.

What makes the Fortis machines the ultimate in lawncare however, is their ability to transform into seven other machines to ensure that lawns are immaculate and healthy. The Fortis six-bladed cassette can simply be removed and replaced with another accessory cassette in the range to switch its use. Other cartridges include a verticutter, scarifier, dethatcher, aerator, turf rake, lawn brush and 10-blade cassette.

For those with larger lawns to tend to, Cobra’s new range of ride-on lawnmowers provides a high-quality, yet wallet-friendly option. Starting with compact LT62 rider models, each with a 24” cutting width and comfortable seat, these have a particular focus on manoeuvrability, allowing gardeners to flow and mow around their lawns.

Those with larger areas to mow will appreciate one of the other new six ride-on tractors available. With cutting widths ranging from 33” up to 42”, and choices again being manual and hydrostatic gear changing, as well as a twin cutting blade and the option to collect the cuttings, release them back to the ground or turn them to mulch. They also offer enhanced comfort with a padded seat and easy electric key starting.

To find out more about these new ranges, to see them demonstrated, meet the team and discover the difference a Cobra lawnmower can make, be sure to visit GroundsFest and Saltex this year. GroundsFest combines indoor business and education opportunities with outdoor demonstrations, providing an interactive experience which strengthens the connection between exhibitors and visitors. Saltex is Europe’s largest free turf management show, where visitors can hear from industry experts, and see the latest technologies and product development from over 400 leading brands. To pick up tickets for Groundsfest, visit https://groundsfest.com/ and for Saltex visit https://www.saltex.org.uk/.

For further information about Cobra, please visit www.cobragarden.co.uk.

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MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

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MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest: An impressive range of MM grass seed mixtures will be showcased at GroundsFest 2023, and visitors will get the chance to find out how the innovative seed technology could vastly benefit their sports pitches.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the mixtures on display at GroundsFest.

MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

MM Seed to be showcased at GroundsFest

MM50

MM50 is perfect for cricket squares, tennis courts and also golf tees and fairways. This hard-wearing mix has rapid germination, extremely fine leaved appearance, high shoot density and is tolerant to very close mowing, as low as 5mm, along with high disease resistance. All these attributes together produce a fantastic sward.

MM60

MM60 is a 100% Ryegrass formula and the UK’s leading winter sports renovation mixture. It is well-known for its extremely fast germination and its high wear tolerance plus excellent disease resistance.

MM Tetrasport

A traditional repair mixture, especially useful for overseeding of high quality sportsfields to improve sward composition and aid recovery from disease scarring, Tetra Sport consists of Tetraploid Ryegrasses and is ideal for when the cooler weather arrives.

All mixtures in the MM range, are treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid, even germination.

Research and development play a key factor in MM’s success and the extremely high standards are achieved through rigorous testing procedures in a licensed seed testing facility. In addition, all varieties used in the MM range have been thoroughly tested at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), so you can be sure they will meet your requirements for play, appearance and maintenance.

If you are seeking advice for your natural turf projects – no matter how big or small, then pay a visit to the DLF stand (OSA481), where the MM Sports Seed specialist team will be on hand.

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

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

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