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A glimpse into the future

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A glimpse into the future: PSD Groundscare, the UK distributor for AS Motor, is delighted to offer a glimpse of several innovative, new machines from the AS Motor range including an exciting range of eco-friendly battery mowers, being introduced during 2022.

AS Motor have built an unrivalled reputation and core competence in the market of long grass and steep slopes mowing since it was founded back in 1959. The last 60 years has seen continued development in technological advancements and these new machines are no exception.

A glimpse into the future

A glimpse into the future

AS Motor announce the introduction of 2 new product lines – the AS 1000 Ovis Remote Controlled tracked flail mower and a new range of Battery electric mowers capable for cutting long grass without compromising on performance. (For further details on the new machines please see the attached).

PSD Groundscare is the exclusive UK distributor of niche specialist landscaping equipment, with an extensive range of products from market-leading names and innovative European manufacturers AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl & TS Industrie.  The business has a strong commitment to being an eco-friendly organisation and has a commitment to improve its green credentials even further. The electrification of the AS machines is in perfect keeping with this philosophy.

The Colne -based organisation already boasts an impressive record for environmental awareness and over the past year has undertaken several new measures including investing in renewable energy, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and helping improve air quality locally.

PSD Managing Director Chris Gibson said:

“We’re extremely excited by the introduction of the new AS 1000 Ovis RC as it emphasizes our commitment to remain at the forefront of safely cutting grass and brush on the steepest of Slopes. The machine will be showcased at Saltex 2021 and available for sale during 2022”.

“The expansion of the range of battery powered equipment with extended run times will provide our customers and dealers with high performance professional low noise machines that produce zero emissions and lower hand arm vibration. Meaning they’re a win-win for customers, operators and the environment that we can’t wait to get demonstrating to our customers”.

FOR FURTHER DETAILED PRODUCT INFORMATION PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PRESS RELEASES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SCOTT GRIEVE AT PSD GROUNDSCARE

Tel: 01282 856813 Email: scott@psdgroundscare.com

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Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

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Makita launches new cordless pressure washer: Makita UK has expanded its cordless power tool range with the new 36V LXT Cordless Brushless Pressure Washer. The first of its kind from Makita, the new high Pressure Washer features a 50L storage tank enabling users to tackle dirt and grime anywhere.

Featuring a self-priming function to extract water from an external water source such as a rainwater tank, the new 2x18V (36V) LXT Pressure Washer can be supplied with water not only from a tap, tank or bucket, but features a storage case that doubles up as a 50-litre capacity water tank to create a functional pressure washer without the need for a mains water supply.

Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

Powered by two 18V LXT batteries in series to supply energy to a powerful 36V brushless motor, this cordless pressure washer offers up to 34-minutes run time when used with two 6.0Ah LXT batteries. With two pressure selections, the solution delivers an impressive pump speed of up to 3,450rpm and a maximum water flow of 380L per hour.

Perfect for outdoor stairwells, patios, washing down vehicles, or cleaning off tools at the end of the day. As well as the standard accessories supplied with the DHW080, a wide range of useful accessories are also available (sold separately) such as the curved under-body spray lance, extension pipe set, wash brush and foam nozzle perfect for cleaning vehicles. The rotating brush head accessory is ideal for cleaning smooth surfaces such as glass or garage doors.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “We are pleased to launch this useful addition to our growing cordless line up, enabling those working outdoors to work flexibly, without the constraint of cables. What’s more, as the DHW080 Pressure Washer can be used without needing to be connected to a tap, users can work with total freedom on site with the power to tackle dirt and grime in places never previously accessible.”

To find out more about Makita and the new LXT Cordless Pressure Washer DHW080, please visit www.makitauk.com

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New fleet gives The Blackwood a boost

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New fleet gives The Blackwood a boost: A switch in management policies at one of Northern Ireland’s leading golf clubs has resulted in a major £160,000 investment in new John Deere course maintenance equipment.

The Blackwood Golf Centre is situated in the heart of the Clandeboye Estate’s beautiful parklands, just at the top of the Ards Peninsula in County Down. Extending to 240ha, the club runs two 18-hole courses including the par 54 Temple and the par 71 championship Hamilton, plus a 26-bay floodlit driving range, putting green and short game area.

New fleet gives The Blackwood a boost

New fleet gives The Blackwood a boost

Historically the club has predominantly used John Deere machines, but some of the fleet had been faithful workhorses for the past 18 years and so were becoming quite aged. Last August the club underwent some fundamental changes, which included enlisting the help of independent golf management consultant Paul Gray, who has taken on the contract to manage the club.

One of Paul’s first changes was to upgrade the John Deere equipment fleet, directly liaising with course manager Jonny Eager and Ricky Neill, sales manager at the local John Deere turf dealer Johnston Gilpin & Co Ltd.

With the help of a five-year John Deere Financial package, the club bought a John Deere 8900A PrecisionCut fairway mower, 2500E hybrid electric greens triplex mower, 2653B PrecisionCut tees & surrounds triplex mower and two TH 6×4 Gator utility vehicles. Also included in the purchase were a Trimax Snake articulating rotary mower and a Buffalo debris blower.

Course manager Jonny Eager is very pleased with the new fleet and says the machines have boosted production and efficiency. “We have been using John Deere machines at The Blackwood since 2003 and have always found them very reliable and easy to use.

“With this new deal we replaced two of our older Gators with the TH 6x4s, while the rest of the machines are additions to the fleet, which now consists of 12 John Deere machines in total. They do a great job and the backup we receive from the dealer is first class. All round we think they represent longevity and good value for money.”

Blackwood Golf Centre consultant manager Paul Gray adds: “Machinery replacement in the past had been fairly neglected here, so one of the first changes I made was to embark on a new replacement programme, starting with this financed machinery purchase deal.

“Since changing to the new machines this season, members have been full of praise for how the courses look and play. Given the really difficult spring we had in terms of weather, the members have really complimented the staff for the excellent conditions the courses are in.”

“Part of the deal included full training for The Blackwood’s own mechanic, who came up to the dealership and spent some time with one of our technicians to learn how all the machines are assembled, used and operated,” explains Ricky Neill.

“We are very keen for the greenkeeping team to carry out all their own regular servicing and maintenance, with support from our expert technicians should they require it. Our dealership at Lisburn has had a good relationship over the years with The Blackwood Golf Centre, and we are here to assist them with any future machinery requirements as the club develops.”

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SpeedwayTotal the one for Weedfree

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SpeedwayTotal the one for Weedfree: Richard Stow, Managing Director of Weedfree, has revealed why the market-leading company has relied on the spray adjuvant Speedway Total for so long.

“We have been using Speedway Total to enhance the uptake and activity of our total herbicide applications for many years and we are very happy with it,” said Richard. “It always gets us good results and we wouldn’t dream of not using it.”

SpeedwayTotal the one for Weedfree

SpeedwayTotal the one for Weedfree

Weedfree has been a market leader for railway, industrial and amenity weed control for over 50 years, providing weed control and vegetation clearance services to the rail industry, local authorities, industry, utilities and power generators.

“You name it – we spray it,” said Richard, and indeed they do. The company employs up to 150 members of staff during its busiest periods with operatives spraying everything from footpaths to rail tracks and everything in between.

It is for this reason that the company needs to have confidence in a product and that is where Speedway Total comes in. However, Richard admits that this was not always the case.

“We didn’t always use Speedway,” he said. “Initially we used a competitor product, but we had lots of problems with it. The chemistry, the active ingredients – it was causing problems with our operators, who were complaining about irritation on their skin and around their eyes. We also found that, in accordance with the label, we were putting a lot of product in the tank.

“It was at this point that we discussed the issue with Ed Carter (Sales & Development Manager for ICL), and he suggested using Speedway Total. We tried it, we liked it and we have stuck with it ever since. It was less product going in the tank, there was not any reduction in efficacy, and it was very cost effective.”

ICL’s Speedway Total is a spray adjuvant that contains a blend of surfactants and spreaders. It is designed to enhance the effect of glyphosate and other total and/ or non-selective herbicide treatments. Speedway Total assists herbicide penetration into the leaf cuticle by dissolving the waxy leaf coating.

The surfactants and spreaders also aid the treatment spreading properties, reduce the risk of wash-off and increase the herbicidal uptake. It can be used speed up the response from total herbicide treatments and also enhance the uptake and control for difficult to control weeds such as rhododendron, bracken, Japanese knotweed, brush wood weeds, nettles and docks, sow thistles and others.

With more and more local authorities re-examining their use of glyphosate herbicides Richard claims that the reduced volume needed with Speedway Total was a huge selling point.

“To be honest, I was dubious to start with because it less than half the amount of volume we were using with the previous product. I was thinking – how could this possibly work! But it does work – incredibly well.

“There is a real appetite to reduce the amount of herbicide that is applied, and with Speedway Total we can reduce it down to about three and a half litres per hectare which is quite a significant reduction. We still get the results that keeps both the local authorities and us happy.

“When we tender, we find that Speedway Total may well give us the competitive edge over someone who might use a different product at a higher rate. We can certainly demonstrate that over the course of a three-year contract we can significantly reduce glyphosate while still eliminating problematic weeds.

“Ultimately, I would say that Speedway Total has helped us to be more efficient and I would highly recommend the product.”

Please contact ICL on +44 1473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Hayter celebrates 75th anniversary

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Hayter celebrates 75th anniversary: From horse-drawn to horsepower, Britain’s favourite lawnmower manufacturer Hayter is celebrating 75 years of lawn mowing.

Hayter, makers of the finest mowers, have been designed and manufactured at the Spellbrook headquarters in Hertfordshire since 1946. And the company is still operating and innovating the lawn care industry from the same site today.

Hayter celebrates 75th anniversary

Hayter celebrates 75th anniversary

Beginning with Douglas Hayter and a horse-drawn rotary motor, combined with a second hand two-stroke engine, the first ever Hayter rotary lawnmower was created. Requests then came for Douglas to create more machines for his friends and neighbours. Soon after, Hayter became incorporated as a limited company, with Douglas’ mowers entering full production.

In the following years the Hayter business went on to design and manufacture many successful lawnmowers, including the extremely popular and iconic Hayterette machine in 1957, which was awarded the BAGMA award for “Best Horticultural Machine of the Year”.

In 1960, Hayter received one of the country’s finest accolades, being granted the Royal Warrant for the supply of machinery to HM Queen Elizabeth II, an honour still retained to this day.

The 1970’s saw the introduction of Hayter’s flagship and most popular lawnmower, the Hayter Harrier, which was one of the first rotary-bladed lawnmowers to feature an integrated heavy rear-roller, enabling the user to achieve the quintessentially British, striped finish in their gardens.

Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager at Hayter said: “With the Harrier range still in production today, it is great to see Douglas Hayter’s legacy still continuing on. His eye for innovation is still at the core of everything we do at Hayter, with our new range or Harrier mowers being fully battery powered, while still retaining the power and quality of a petrol Harrier machine. We continue to design and engineer all Hayter machines in Britain, at the Spellbrook headquarters – just down the road from where Douglas lived and created the first Hayter lawnmowers.

“It is a real honour to continue Douglas’ work in this new age, 75 years on, from his original genius and innovation.”

For more information on Hayter, please visit: https://www.hayter.co.uk/

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