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

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos

/in , /by

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos: MM60 grass seed has helped Ryan Golding, Head Groundsperson at Leeds Rhinos, to achieve a consistently good surface all year-round despite it being the busiest ever on record.

Ryan has been working at Headingley Stadium for nearly twenty years and has been the Head Groundsperson for nine of those. As one of the most highly used surfaces in professional sport, it is safe to say that he and his three members of staff have their work cut out: “This job is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is a 365-day operation,” he said.

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos

The pitch at Headingley Stadium had over 100 usages last year which was particularly high due to several Rugby World Cup fixtures taking place. With such heavy and consistent use, a grass seed with a good wear tolerance is essential, and that is why Ryan did his research before choosing MM60.

“I originally went round to see a few venues which I knew used MM60 and the people who used it all gave good feedback,” he said. “After speaking to Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Marketing Manager) I quickly realised that it is a great company to deal with. It was refreshing that they really wanted to work with us and take the time to find out everything about our pitch and our goals. I know it sounds cliché, but Matt is always on the other end of the phone if I need them – even at weekends.

“We now use MM60 for everything including overseeding, renovating, for when we recover heavy wear areas or for hand seeding.”

MM60 grass seed is renowned for producing an excellent playing surface in a stadium environment. It is a 100% Ryegrass formula which is perfect for renovation and divot repair, has a high disease resistance, fantastic aesthetic qualities and offers extremely fast germination – which is boosted by the inclusion of Headstart® GOLD.  it is a natural revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination and is perfect for enhancing performance on grass seed coatings for sports fields, golf courses, lawns and amenity turf.

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos

MM60 stands firm for the Rhinos

“Disease tolerance is one of MM60’s best features, as is the speed of root mass and density, which is highly important because we are a fibresand pitch,” continued Ryan. “With having rugby on it, these guys are a lot heavier than footballers, and they are moving forward and back all the time, so we need to have a consistently firm, stable surface. MM60 gives us that.

“Recently, we had a winter concert on January 7 and then had to recover around 2,000 sq.m of grass from scratch before a game on January 29. We would not have been able to do that without MM60.”

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

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.

AS 1000 Ovis RC – Simply Steep Mowing

/in , /by

AS 1000 Ovis RC – Simply Steep Mowing: At the beginning of March, AS-Motor started series production of the new remote-controlled tracked flail mower AS 1000 Ovis RC. True to the motto ‘Simply steep mowing’, the mower convinces with its slope-compatibility, high mowing performance and easy handling and maintenance.

By professionals, for professionals

Noise protection and railway embankments, rainwater retention basins, solar parks and wind power plants often pose great challenges for landscape managers and service providers. The AS 1000 Ovis RC is up to the task of regular maintenance of these difficult-to-access, impassable and steep surfaces.

AS 1000 Ovis RC – Simply Steep Mowing

AS 1000 Ovis RC – Simply Steep Mowing

The power of the Vanguard Professional 2-cylinder engine with 23hp maximum output is transmitted directly and with low loss of efficiency to the blade shaft via a belt drive. The 4-stroke OHV engine with cyclone filter is equipped with a particularly strong crankshaft and has a displacement of 627cm3 at a speed of 3,600rpm. The AS 1000 Ovis RC enables a mowing speed of up to 5km/h and thus an area output of up to 5,000m2/h, with an excellent cutting pattern and even grass placement across the entire working width.

The 100cm wide flail mower, in combination with the somewhat narrower tracked undercarriage, makes it easy to mow close to the edge and comfortably to within a few centimetres of crash barriers and other obstacles.

Flexibility and suitability for slopes

Thanks to the flexibly adjustable mowing deck, the new flail mower with tracked undercarriage can be optimally adapted to all terrain conditions. Guided by a wide caster roller, the mower deck adapts perfectly to any contour. The adjustable sliding frame means that the specified minimum cutting height can be maintained throughout. Maximum traction on difficult terrain is ensured by the carried insert without ground contact. The mower’s surfing suspension, with its large pendulum travel, also adapts well to uneven ground in difficult, hilly terrain.

The AS 1000 Ovis RC with its compact design (183cm long, 114cm wide and 69cm high) mows difficult terrain and hard-to-reach areas without any problems thanks to remote control from a safe distance. The automatic, mechanical parking brake provides additional safety when working on slopes. The large track units with steel inserts ensure low ground pressure, ideal power transmission and best grip on steep slopes. The deep-seated, horizontally-mounted Vanguard Professional engine with optimised oil lubrication and the mower’s low overall height give the AS 1000 Ovis RC a low centre of gravity and makes it extremely suitable for use on slopes, allowing for mowing under deep obstacles, for example in solar parks.

The AS 1000 Ovis RC’s low weight of only 419kg not only protects the ground, but the balanced weight distribution and the robust crawler chassis also enable safe mowing of steep slopes up to 55 degrees.

Reliability and ease

In their work to develop a completely new product, AS-Motor’s development engineers have used and reimagined tried and tested components. The new AS 1000 Ovis RC uses reliable components from the YAK series, such as the robust flail mower and the belt pressure spring tensioning system. Robust hydraulic motors from large-scale production, with their enormous torque, also ensure a precise, powerful travel drive. Clear operating elements and precise controls ensure comfortable, intuitive handling and also precise manoeuvring.

Once the first service has taken place, after 100 hours of operation, long maintenance intervals of 400 hours follow. For daily cleaning, the AS 1000 Ovis RC offers excellent accessibility. Air ducts, filters and oil control are accessible without tools and the mower can be easily placed in the service position to provide optimum access to the flail mower. The defined adjustment dimension also guarantees precise track tensioning.

In the transport position, the new flail mower with tracked undercarriage is even more compact (only 159cm long), so transport to the place of use is no problem.

Ovis – the namesake

Ovis are large, strong wild sheep that live on rough mountain slopes at altitudes of up to 5,000m. They feel at home on steep terrain, are sure footed, and adapt perfectly to their environment. The new AS 1000 Ovis RC remote-controlled flail mower lives up to its name.

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.

Aspen return to The Arb Show

/in , /by

Aspen return to The Arb Show: Highlighting the benefits of ethanol-free alkylate fuel for machinery, people and the planet, Aspen will be back at The Arb Show on stand A08, as it returns to Westonbirt Arboretum this May.

Celebrating 35 years as pioneers of alkylate fuel during 2023, Aspen are delighted to be extending their ‘Experience the Difference’ trial – giving businesses the opportunity to use the 2 and 4-stroke fuel risk-free and discover the improvements for themselves… or get their money-back!

Aspen return to The Arb Show

Aspen return to The Arb Show

Being free from ethanol, benzene and most other hazardous hydrocarbons found in traditional pump petrol, Aspen Fuel powers a cleaner, greener workstyle for many leading landscape, arboriculture and ground care professionals. The cleaner burn achieved with Aspen not only makes for a more pleasant operator environment, but engine performance is maintained without many of the costly reliability issues associated with component failure – particularly when equipment is left for extended periods in storage.

Concerns around the cost or logistics can often delay the decision to make the switch to Aspen which triggered the ‘Experience the Difference’ offer, meaning business owners can trial the fuel without incurring any additional cost. “We typically find that most companies overestimate their total annual fuel consumption” explains Business Development Manager Axel Hildebrand. “Through this initiative, people discover the simple accounting and all the sustainability benefits of protecting equipment, operators and the surrounding environment that makes Aspen an option too good to ignore.”

One of those who knows how advantageous Aspen can be is Tony Gascoyne who has been using Aspen Alkylate fuel in his business, The Arborist Limited, since 2016. Tony, along with the Aspen team, will be on stand A08 across the two days to answer any visitor questions and discuss his own first-hand experience of using Aspen in his day-to-day tree management operation.

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.

EVO expansion under the spotlight

/in , /by

EVO expansion under the spotlight: After a four-year absence, May sees the return of The Arb Show, with GreenMech back and kickstarting their 30th anniversary celebrations with a showcase of their revolutionary EVO series.

The 2019 event was the launch platform for the EVO 165 range which, from introduction, set the benchmark for its category. EVO models are now available in both 6” and 8” capacities and in road-tow and tracked formats, many of which will be on display at Westonbirt Arboretum on stand C09-C10.

EVO expansion under the spotlight

EVO expansion under the spotlight

Launched in 6” diesel format, the EVO boasts more aggressive torque, more powerful bite and improved throughput. A petrol EVO 165P model quickly followed before the ‘big brother’ arrived in the form of the powerful 8” EVO 205D. GreenMech’s long and illustrious reputation for providing the ultimate tracked offering continues with the EVO Series, with fixed track, SAFE-Trak and SURE-Trak options now available.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to witness the performance first hand on GreenMech’s dedicated demonstration area, located on stand D06.

In addition to showcasing a selection of machines from the EVO Series, The Arb Show will be the first UK outing for the ECO 135 – a new concept 5” capacity entry-level woodchipper, ideally suited to the more price-conscious arborist, landscaper and rental markets.

The entire GreenMech range comes with a 3-year, no-quibble guarantee and the support of their nationwide dealer network. The team will also be on hand across the two days to answer any questions and explain the variety of flexible finance options available via GreenMech Finance.

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.

Kubota and Broekman Logistics open new location

/in , /by

Kubota and Broekman Logistics open new location: Kubota and Broekman Logistics opened a new distribution centre in Weert on Friday 14 April 2023. In the presence of the Japanese ambassador, a delegation from Kubota and Broekman Logistics performed the opening.

In the 62,000 m² state-of-the-art warehouse, Broekman Logistics facilitates storage, final assembly and also outbound logistics for Kubota Baumaschinen GmbH, part of Kubota Construction Machinery Division. Broekman Logistics also handles the Complete Knocked Down (CKD) of production parts from Weert to Kubota’s production plant in Zweibrucken (D).

Kubota and Broekman Logistics open new location

Kubota and Broekman Logistics open new location

Kubota and Broekman Logistics have been working together since 2006, initially from a European Distribution Centre (EDC) in Sittard. The entire operation moved to an existing Broekman location in Born in 2008, where a total of 40,000 m2 of new construction was built for Kubota. In good cooperation with Kubota, Broekman Logistics decided in 2019 to develop the new building location in Weert

Further efficiency
Further efficiency has been achieved in the new warehouse in Weert. The new set-up features an optimised layout of logistics and assembly operations, shortening lead times and facilitating future growth for Kubota. In addition, the building contributes to further sustainability, to which both parties attach great importance. For instance, large buffer tanks have been placed around the building to collect rainwater. Among other things, this is used for the green surroundings and the 100-year-old trees around the property.

Improving customer satisfaction
Toshitaka Matsuo, President of Kubota Baumaschinen GmbH, says: “The move to the new distribution centre in Weert is a big step forward for Kubota and symbolizes our partnership with Broekman Logistics. This expansion represents a significant investment of business activities and will not only help us further improve our current range of services, but also increase the satisfaction of dealers, distributors and ultimately, end customers. ”

Cherishable cooperation
Rik Pek, Managing Director Broekman Logistics: “The relationship with Kubota is very dear to us as a company, but also to me personally. After consecutive years of growth, it was time to further intensify our cooperation and provide Kubota with a state-of-the-art warehouse. I have been experiencing for years how well the values of our companies match. We are both very entrepreneurial, pay attention to people and value long-term relationships. We are very enthusiastic about the current cooperation with Kubota and look forward to continuing this in Weert.”

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.