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NEWS ARTICLES

BAGMA Dealer Hub to be unveiled at GroundsFest

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BAGMA Dealer Hub to be unveiled at GroundsFest: BAGMA (British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association) has announced that it will be launching the new BAGMA Dealer Hub at GroundsFest, which is taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 – 21 September.

BAGMA has been representing independent garden and agricultural machinery dealers in the UK for over 100 years. Throughout that time the association has been fighting for better terms and conditions for dealers from suppliers and manufacturers, whilst drawing on the strength of its membership numbers to influence outcomes.

BAGMA Dealer Hub to be unveiled at GroundsFest

BAGMA Dealer Hub to be unveiled at GroundsFest

In an ever-changing business world, the association plays a vital role in supporting the UK dealer network, and this support will be showcased through the new BAGMA Dealer Hub at GroundsFest.

The Hub will be an opportunity for dealers, both BAGMA members and non-members, to gain industry insight, discuss relevant topics, receive support and advice, and answer any queries about membership, benefits, and training.

Commenting on the new Dealer Hub, Nick Darking, BAGMA General Manager, said: “We’re really excited to have the opportunity to be exhibiting at this new event. BAGMA having a presence at industry events is important for us as we are the association for the industry and represent dealers across groundscare, turfcare and agriculture.

“This new and exciting event is an opportunity for BAGMA to unveil the BAGMA Dealer Hub which consists of our partner services who are available to talk to visitors about how they can make your business more effective, and we will also have BAGMA trainers on hand doing demonstrations and talking to everyone about training. This is an opportunity for members and non-members to come and see what BAGMA is, what we do and how we can benefit you, your business, and the industry.”

GroundsFest’s Event Director, Christopher Bassett said: “We are delighted that BAGMA has chosen GroundsFest to launch the exciting BAGMA Dealer Hub. Dealerships are integral to the UK groundscare industry, and we are anticipating that many will attend GroundsFest in September. There will be plenty on offer at GroundsFest to interest dealers and the BAGMA Dealer Hub will further strengthen this.”

Aside from the all the fantastic opportunities available on the BAGMA Dealer Hub, the association will also have its famous Brew & Biscuit stand, so ensure that a visit to the BAGMA Dealer Hub is on your GroundsFest agenda.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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

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Paul Thomas joins Redexim

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Paul Thomas joins Redexim: Redexim UK are pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Thomas as their new Sales Manager for the Southern counties.

With more than 10 years of area sales experience in the machinery sector already under his belt, Paul brings knowledge and a customer-orientated approach to the team in, what is, an exciting period of development and growth.

Paul Thomas joins Redexim

Paul Thomas joins Redexim

After obtaining sports turf maintenance qualifications at Milton College and Shuttleworth College, Paul began his career as an assistant greenkeeper for a leisure facilities maintenance company in Cambridgeshire before moving into sales, with his first sales role at a nearby groundcare dealership. An opportunity then arose to join Ben Burgess & Co in 2016 where he held the position of Area Sales Manager. Together with visiting and supporting existing and prospective customers throughout the purchase and after-sales process, here he also gained valuable hands-on experience with a range of machinery franchises – including the Redexim natural and synthetic portfolio.

Paul joined Redexim UK in June 2023, picking up the baton for sales and service support to customers across the south, in addition to working closely alongside Redexim Partners across the region. “I’m really looking forward to representing Redexim and having the opportunity to work with the excellent network of dealers throughout the South” comments Paul. “It’s exciting to join the company at this stage of my career and, having worked within a dealership, I feel I am well placed to support my customers – understanding the demands of their business while playing my part in Redexim’s future.”

Director of Commercial Operations Paul Langford added, “We are very excited to welcome someone with Paul’s level of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to our technical team. With his in-depth understanding of the Redexim range, Paul is ready to hit the ground running in what promises to be a very busy summer ahead.”

Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his children and socialising with friends and family. He also has a keen interest in motorsport, particularly British touring cars, and can often be found attending tractor runs or maintaining and using his own vintage tractor.

Paul Thomas can be contacted by phone on 07810 071218 or via email pthomas@redeximuk.com

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Deere dealers explore technology advances

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Deere dealers explore technology advances: More than 50 John Deere dealers have been given advanced training on how greenkeepers can make the most of the latest technological innovations developed by the company.

Held at Golfpark Kurpfalz – a renowned German complex largely maintained using John Deere machinery – the event saw representatives from across Deere’s European network of dealers trained by experts from across the golf and turf division.

Deere dealers explore technology advances

Deere dealers explore technology advances

Chris Meacock, Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, said: “Our innovation pipeline looks to improve every aspect of a machine’s performance and that covers many facets of a product.

“What’s changing fast is the opportunity to use technology and data to make the process of using a John Deere product more efficient and productive for our customers.

“This event was a chance for the dealer network to see all our precision turf technology in action, working together to demonstrate the advantages of GPS-driven accuracy.”

The training centred on the direct impact precision applications can have on reducing inputs while increasing accuracy and productivity through efficiency gains.

Dealers were shown how mowers and compact tractors equipped with Deere’s satellite-steering AutoTrac technology can reduce overlaps and fuel consumption. HD200 Progator sprayers were demonstrating their ability to place fertilisers and herbicides in exactly the right place, avoiding spraying non-target areas and wastage.

The advantages of accurately mapping a course’s tees, greens, fairways, bunkers and paths was presented using Starfire GPS receivers and dealers were given further training in how the data produced could be accessed and tailored for course managers using the John Deere Operations Center.

Sessions were also run on how OnLink – the cloud-based golf course management software acquired by John Deere in 2019 – automatically synchronises any machine and operator working anywhere on the course, allowing course managers to remotely create and assign tasks and meticulously manage equipment and labour costs.

“This training sets up our dealer network to be able to work even closer with golf courses who are looking to take their maintenance and management to the next level,” Chris added.

CROSSHEAD: Satellite-steering with AutoTrac

One of John Deere’s key strengths is its ability to adapt technology from other areas of its global business and implement it in professional groundscare.

GPS steering in agriculture has been hugely popular for over 15 years, but its application on golf courses and sports pitches is now starting to develop.

The John Deere AutoTrac system used on fairway mowers and compact tractors has the potential to deliver huge benefits.

Assisted steering leads to less operator stress and reduced overlaps or gaps, which positively impacts fuel consumption and productivity.

Lazer-straight lines and cut patterns are also easier to achieve by removing operator inconsistencies, even in low-visibility conditions.

“Boundaries and guidance lines can be stored in the John Deere Operations Center too, allowing the next operator to follow the same pattern,” Chris adds.

CROSSHEAD: Spraying with more accuracy

The cost of protecting turf from pests and diseases, and nurturing it with sufficient fertiliser, is a significant cost for golf courses.

Clubs are also under increasing pressure to ensure that chemical applications do not have any detrimental impact on the environment.

It’s been 20 years since John Deere launched its HD200 sprayer, which works in tandem with a Progator utility vehicle, but its relevance to today’s turfcare profession has never been greater.

Equipped with a Starfire receiver the machine has the ability to automatically turn on or shut off individual sprayer nozzles across the boom according to its position on the course – spraying around watercourses or the fringe of a green, for example.

Accuracy can be measured down to 2.5cm.

CROSSHEAD: Remote management with OnLink

OnLink technology delivers two clever modules; OnEquip which provides a real-time feed on the machines activity, such as run time, servicing intervals and idle periods, while OnLabor schedules work and assigns it to members of the team.

OnLink connects to machines to the Operations Center so data gathered can be used to plan and improve operation efficiency – each machine’s working hours can be balanced across its life cycle to reduce the cost of ownership. Mowing patterns, reducing the time required to complete work, can also be managed.

Alerts flag when maintenance is required along with owners setting geofences and curfews to stop the machine working outside of set locations or hours, increasing its security profile.

In the future the app-based OnLink hub will offer the possibility to plan for weather conditions, track the speed of greens and monitor soil moisture while also creating accurate budget forecasts.

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

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Agrovista Amenity launches new seed brochure

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Agrovista Amenity launches new seed brochure: Agrovista Amenity, a leading supplier of professional products and specialist advice, has launched its new seed brochure for 2023/24.

The new brochure features an extensive list of Agrovista Amenity’s seed offerings, including a comprehensive range of grass and wildflower mixtures.

Agrovista Amenity launches new seed brochure

Agrovista Amenity launches new seed brochure

Many turf professionals have benefitted from using the CleenCut and TechniTurf ranges of grass seed which have been specifically selected to maximise the strengths of different cultivars and species. Readers of the brochure can discover how the CleenCut range offers mixtures at a competitive price, whilst using quality STRI listed cultivars and how every mixture in the TechniTurf range is coated with the innovative GroMax technology to maximise plant development.

The brochure will also be an opportunity to find out more about Agrovista Amenity’s wildflower meadow mixtures, the Pro Flora range, and the Colour Boost portfolio.

The wildflower meadow mixtures are designed to mimic some of the flower rich, semi-natural habitats that exist in the UK and are vital resources for wildlife; the Pro Flora range add colour, biodiversity and interest to many landscaping projects and are particularly suitable on golf courses, whilst the Colour Boost range has been designed for maximum floral impact, incorporating both wildflower and garden flowering species.

The new seed brochure comes complete with advice on how to get the best results from the products, including recommended period of use, directions for use and application rates.

Commenting on the launch of the brochure, John Marland, Agrovista Amenity’s Head of Amenity, said: “The aim of the seed brochure is not just to provide a list of seed mixtures, it should also offer support and guidance to help make clear and informed choices. Our grass seed mixtures have been carefully selected to maximise the combined strength of different cultivars and species. Tolerant of the stresses associated with their intended use whilst maximising turf quality. Agrovista Amenity partners with some of the largest breeders and producers of seed in the UK and Europe, also calling upon the expertise from our colleagues in the Agrovista Seeds business to offer you a professional seed mixture range.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Tiny by name, massive in impact

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Tiny by name, massive in impact: The purchase of a TinyLineMarker® Pro X is the latest in a long list of investments for Penwortham Priory Academy, as more of the grounds and estates management is taken in-house. Keith Bolton, Strategic Estates Development Manager, says that the TLM Pro X from Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) will reduce expenditure, improve consistency, and encourage interest from more community clubs as the academy looks to increase engagement with the local area.

TinyLineMarker robots are marketed and distributed exclusively in the UK by Origin Amenity Solutions which brings together four leading industry names – Headland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, TurfKeeper.com and Symbio.

Tiny by name, massive in impact

Tiny by name, massive in impact

Following years of maintenance by both the local authority and private contractors, Keith and the Estates Team made the call to get more hands-on with the ground’s maintenance – boosted by a successful application through the ‘Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund’. “With this grant we purchased a tractor, slitter, Quadraplay and mower meaning we’ve been largely self-sufficient for nearly a year now” he explains.

“In that time, we have welcomed three local community clubs and two neighbouring schools to our facilities which helps to generate much-needed revenue to drive further investment.” Keith continues, “With regards to line marking, we’d previously had people in to do that for us with varied levels of success and could see that having our own equipment would not only reduce cost and improve consistency, but it would also mean we could mark-out as often as we want and better accommodate the needs of those using our surfaces.”

Keith and the team compared two makes of robot marker, before deciding that the specification, price and more intuitive and user-friendly software made the TLM Pro X the perfect fit. The versatile Pro X is TinyMobileRobot’s most reliable and robust robot to date. A new hardware configuration and a wealth of new software features including custom logo and low paint alerts, makes the Pro X capable of delivering the most demanding field paint jobs with both accuracy and speed.

The TLM Pro X was delivered in early April 2023, with comprehensive training delivered by Origin Amenity’s Technical Sales Manager David Weir and Technical Area Manager Glen Howard. “I’ve worked with David increasingly over the years, providing us with fantastic guidance and advice and supplying consumables including seed and fertiliser from across the OAS portfolio. The training on the Pro X from Glen was comprehensive enough for us to start using it straight away. Weather and growth dependant, it will be used every two weeks throughout the year – redefining our winter sports pitches through the cooler season, then switching to creating a seven-lane 400m running track and other athletics facilities over the summer.”

“We’re already seeing the benefits. We’ve managed to reconfigure the site to mark an additional pitch which is another asset we can now offer to the community. We’ve also been able to save the settings on the software for even more efficiency next time and have begun exploring the possibility of using movable goals and adjusting the configuration to help us manage wear across the site during the more challenging months.”

Keith continues, “The labour that this machine will save us will be immense, freeing up all important staff-time to carry out other tasks.” He adds, “The possibilities that the TLM gives us to enhance our own site, or pop it in the back of a van and offer the service to other nearby schools, is endless helping to generate further income and investment and boost everybody’s enjoyment of the surfaces we are proud to offer.”

Free demonstrations are being offered across the UK.  To book or enquire visit https://tinymobilerobots.com/tinymobilerobots-uk/

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

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