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NEWS ARTICLES

New Faunamaster seeders from BOSS ORV

New Faunamaster seeders from BOSS ORV: BOSS ORV has been appointed as the sole UK distributor of Faunamaster Seeders. These are multifunctional and timesaving seed drills designed for use with an ATV, UTV or tractor.

The Faunamaster, which comes from the Danish company Faunamaster ApS, sows seeds of virtually any size to a depth of up to 80mm. It is ideal for sowing into existing grass fields, wildflower meadows, tilled soil, paddocks or any area where normal planter equipment is too big. It’s of great benefit in parks and gardens to plant flowers or herbs and the compact size when used with an ATV or UTV ensures it leaves minimum marks. The seeder handles seed in many sizes, from small flower seeds to clover, alfalfa, beans, kale and corn, and can apply fertiliser at the same time as seeding. A seed table shows the settings for each type of seed. On the seed meter, there are 2 funnels: the blue is for small seeds, the yellow is for big seeds like corn, and seed blends. The capacity of the seedbox is 45 litres and the fertiliser box is 40 litres.

New Faunamaster seeders from BOSS ORV

New Faunamaster seeders from BOSS ORV

Connecting the Faunamaster to an ATV or UTV ball hitch is made easy and a built-in actuator allows the driver to operate the planter without getting off the ATV. When fully raised, the clearance is 200mm (7.87) inches and when used with an ATV, the seed flow is easily adjusted through the handlebars. The Faunamaster uses discs to cut into soil and where it is used for no-till planting, the recommended depth is not exceeding 10mm (0.4in). Depth control is via two bolts located on the wheel arm. The working width is 1050mm (41.3in). There are seven adjustable rows with the distance between them being 150mm in 7 rows, 350mm in 3 rows, 525mm in 2 rows. The Faunamaster weighs in at 260 kg and has a recommended working speed of 4-6 km/h. BOSS ORV, which is also the UK distributor of Corvus Off-Road Vehicles, will sell the Faunamaster through specially appointed dealers and their own UK dealer network. It will be shown on the BOSS/Corvus stand at the Groundsfest show at Stoneleigh in September.

For more information about the Faunamaster and Corvus Off-Road Vehicles you can call 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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Wembley brings in new pitch

Wembley brings in new pitch: Wembley Stadium, connected by EE, will have a new state-of-the-art pitch in place for this week’s FA Community Shield between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC.

The FA Community Shield is the traditional curtain-raiser to a new football season. Last year’s contest was moved to the King Power Stadium in Leicester while Wembley Stadium hosted the UEFA Women’s Euro ‘22 Final.

Wembley brings in new pitch

Wembley brings in new pitch

The fixture returns to its usual home this week, with the Wembley grounds-team adding the final touches to a playing surface, which over the summer played host to sell-out concerts attended by over half a million people.

The fact Wembley Stadium is ready to host such a prestigious football match, so soon after concert season, is down to the latest advancement in pitch technology. The hybrid carpet ‘Lay and Play’ grass pitch was grown off site, on a turf farm hundreds of miles away from the stadium. Link to timelapse video here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HEHX2zIwjzPx_wLp7qjQ6YzdbSNhD1HS?usp=sharing

Once it was ready, more than 720 rolls of the hallowed turf were put on a number of lorries and transported to the stadium, before it was laid out last week. At 10 metres long by 1.2 metres (which if end to end would be 7km in length), the whole install took 60 hours to complete.

Wembley Stadium’s Grounds Manager Karl Standley said: “Lay and Play is a game-changer for a multi-purpose venue like Wembley Stadium. Previously, it might have taken up to five weeks after a concert to get a pitch ready for a football fixture. Now this can be done in just five days.

“Growing it offsite means we can ultimately cut down the time required between concerts and football to let the pitch recover, so that Wembley can continue to keep up with global demand to stage world-class events.”

It took more than three years of research and development to get to a stage where the meticulous Wembley team was happy that lay and play technology could meet their high standards.

“The Wembley pitch is unique and has very certain requirements. It involves a specific blend of sun, water, nutrients and takes 14 weeks to get into perfect shape. Even the fertiliser plan is bespoke to our requirements,” adds Karl.

“It is like one big chemistry experiment. We had to test every stage of the process including the grow time, any potential damage during transport and how it reacts when it comes into the stadium. It is a very precise procedure, and we monitor every stage closely.

“The pitch for this week’s FA Community Shield fixture came into the stadium on July 25 and has settled in nicely. After that it will be used for the Rugby League Challenge Final before concerts and events including AEW Elite Wrestling at the stadium.

“The next step is to make the whole process sustainable with the old pitch going back into grassroots football.

“At present the old pitch goes off to a production site where the grass, sand and plastic is separated. The grass decomposes naturally, and the sand is sent back to us so it can be re-used or sent out for use on grassroot pitches.

“We are close to now finding a use for the plastic, whereby it can be melted down and used to produce equipment for sports teams. Eventually the whole process will be 100% sustainable.”

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INFINICUT® bolster sales force

INFINICUT® bolster sales force: To support their continued growth, INFINICUT® are pleased to announce the appointment of two new Territory Sales Managers in the form of Mark Clifford- Kennedy and Gareth Rogers.

Joining in the midst of a busy summer for the company, the expansion of the sales team enables further expert knowledge and support to be delivered to customers across both the Southern and Northern counties.

INFINICUT® bolster sales force

INFINICUT® bolster sales force

Mark Clifford-Kennedy becomes the new Territory Sales Manager for the south, making the transition to INFINICUT® following a successful career in the manufacturing, construction, and engineering sectors. His proven track record in sales and the delivery of outstanding technical support puts Mark in good stead for his new role, for which INFINICUT® will be supporting Mark through elements of a Level 2 Sports Turf Maintenance qualification at the Leicester City Sports Turf Academy.

Covering the northern counties, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be Gareth Rogers. Gareth’s career in turf began in 1989, working for Sennelager British Army Golf before progressing through the ranks to senior and Head Greenkeeper positions at various clubs in the two decades that followed. This foundation of knowledge and qualifications set Gareth up for key roles in sales – including Area Sales Manager for Fairways GM Ltd and, more recently, Reesink Turfcare UK.

Commenting on their appointments, INFINCUT® Managing Director John Coleman said “Having Mark and Gareth join us at such an exciting point in the INFINICUT® story is brilliant for the brand and bolsters what we can offer customers old and new across both the north and south of the UK. With the successes we have achieved with our award-winning INFINICUT® in the football market and new innovations such as the 22” cutting unit, we are well placed with the pair on board to continue our drive both here at home and across Europe.”

In their spare time, both Mark and Gareth are big sports fans – Mark playing football and completing half marathons, and Gareth a big rugby fan and keen golfer.

Mark can be contacted on 07385013157 or mark.clifford-kennedy@sbdinc.com, and Gareth on 07385013159 or gareth.rogers@sbdinc.com.

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Campey’s leading machines in action at GroundsFest

Campey’s leading machines in action at GroundsFest: Campey Turf Care Systems is ready to take full advantage of the outdoor demonstration space at GroundsFest, with the Imants ShockWave, Dakota Turf Tender, Foley Company Air2G2 336 and Campey UNIRAKE© all prepared for action on stand OSA460.

The combination of outdoor and indoor stands has made GroundsFest the perfect event for Campey to give visitors valuable in-action insights into machines, how they work and the difference they can make.

Campey's leading machines in action at GroundsFest

Campey’s leading machines in action at GroundsFest

Speaking about the inaugural event, Campey Turf Care Director Lee Morgado said: “GroundsFest is a new concept which puts the visitors at the forefront of the experience. One of those aspects is live demos, which makes the event more valuable to us as a company.

“As a machinery dealer and manufacturer, it is invaluable to show people exactly what the equipment can do, how it operates, and the results they can expect. It also allows us to answer questions in greater detail which benefits our customers, and that is what it’s all about.”

Campey has chosen machines that encompass a range of maintenance practices for the show. For variable organic matter removal, the UNIRAKE© is the perfect choice. Users can adjust the severity of grooming to remove a varying amount of organic matter or simply stand the sward up to encourage growth. Altering the severity of grooming is quick and easy and can be done in no less than 30 seconds.

The latest re-designed Imants ShockWave sporting its new livery, will be on show for wide area aeration, proving in person why it is the best linear compactor for heavily used areas where play can’t stop. It is designed to revitalise fine turf and sports fields by relieving soil compaction, improving aeration, and removing surface water, all whilst causing minimal surface disruption so play can resume quickly and safely.

In smaller or tighter areas, the Foley Air2G2 336 remains the industry’s finest pedestrian aerator. Instant results and the immediate continuation of play have set this machine apart since its release, making it a mainstay across most sports.

Completing the line-up of must-see machinery is the Dakota Turf Tender. The topdresser offers an impressive level of consistency with electric control boxes allowing users to set their width of spread an infinitely variable amount while ensuring that it can be changed and returned to that width at any time

Campey’s team of product specialists will be demonstrating the machinery and will be available throughout the two days to provide advice, answer questions or have a catch-up over a coffee.

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Turf Tank Two Launches at GroundsFest

Turf Tank Two Launches at GroundsFest: Turf Tank, the global leader in robotic line marking, is set to unveil the industry defining Turf Tank Two at the inaugural GroundsFest at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

From 21st to 22nd September on stand OSA191, visitors can experience the next step in GPS line marking as the company that built the world’s first robotic line marker continues to innovate.

Turf Tank Two Launches at GroundsFest

Turf Tank Two Launches at GroundsFest

Performance and accuracy are the hallmarks of Turf Tank, and a combination of refinements, including two motor drives for better momentum and new wheels for improved grip and traction, have led to faster marking times with the Turf Tank Two.

Enhanced Sprayer Module

While the speed and accuracy of marking are paramount to efficiency, so is the usability of the Turf Tank Two. Several sprayer module upgrades have made fine-tuning simple with the twist of a knob, including disc height, width and a disc ruler for a better overview.

Tighter tolerances ensure sharper and crisp lines between 5-15cm, with the rack-and-pinion system letting you go from minimum to maximum in a single turn. The height of the sprayer discs can be easily adjusted in increments of 5mm, allowing you to approximate the correct sprayer height. Fine-grained adjustments can be made via a turning knob to get the height precisely as you want and get consistent results every mark.

To make maintenance more manageable, the module is now an independent part. It can be removed by loosening two screws, allowing easy access to specific parts, while one-hand solenoid removal has also been made possible for quicker working.

Quick Control

A new front panel provides quick pause/resume options, LED indicators to show the robot status and a start/stop sprayer button. A LED indicator on the battery has been fitted for a quick status check – if it’s plugged in or not – and batteries can now be hot-swapped without needing to shut down the robot.

Ergonomic Improvements

Numerous ergonomic improvements have been made to make working with the Turf Tank Two quicker and easier.

A tilted pump cover allows up to 20 litres of paint to be slid into the robot rather than being lifted in and out of the top. The newly designed compartment increases efficiency by ensuring the suction rod can use all the paint, and battery access has also been simplified, with only one movement needed to slide it in place.

Additionally, handles are now on the front and back to make lifting in and out of vans and buggies easier.

New Powers in the Palm of Your Hand

New in-app guides are introduced to walk you through most features, and the new Wizard guides you through the cleaning and priming process of the paint system. To quickly troubleshoot any calibration errors, a new augmented reality guided calibration routine lets you take a picture of lines and automatically fix any calibration errors.

All of these features also work in Offline Mode, which means you have the full functionality of the Turf Tank Two in cases where an internet connection can’t be established.

Remote Support

The new software also builds on Turf Tank’s leading customer service through remote access. Turf Tank staff can assist in setting up fields, diagnose problems and provide support instantly wherever you are. A new built-in help centre is also available to answer frequently asked questions and get you marking within minutes of encountering an issue.

Turf Tank’s product specialists will be on stand to answer any questions and demonstrate the advancements made with the Turf Tank Two.

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