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NEWS ARTICLES

BAGMA sold to the AEA

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BAGMA sold to the AEA: The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), has transferred the ownership of BAGMA, the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association, to the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) with effect from the July 1, 2021.

After a long relationship between Bira and BAGMA, this has been a difficult decision. However, it is in the best interests of both BAGMA and Bira. The AEA is more aligned to the industry sector BAGMA operates in and this will enable BAGMA to offer more support relevant to its members’ business needs.

BAGMA sold to the AEA

BAGMA sold to the AEA

Bira will maintain a working relationship with BAGMA and the AEA for at least the next 12 months, with members of BAGMA still having access to the services available from Bira, including legal advice and Bira Direct.

BAGMA Director Keith Christian and his team, Kari Hearn and Richard Jenkins, will be transferring with BAGMA, ensuring the all-important continuity in the running and operations of BAGMA.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “I, and my colleagues in Bira, are very proud to have worked closely with the BAGMA team and BAGMA members over the past 25 years. There is a strong identity among BAGMA members that is to be admired.”

Ruth Bailey, CEO of the AEA, said: “The AEA is absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to be working with BAGMA and feel extremely positive about future developments and advantages that could be brought by the two organisations joining forces.

“For many years, there has been a clear working relationship between the two Associations but in more recent times the links and directional cooperation have become closer and closer and more aligned. As a collaborative voice to government and business, there is huge potential in adding impact and in bringing a difference to the sector.

“While the AEA sees a great amount of synergy between the two organisations, it fully respects the need, however, for the continuity of membership services from BAGMA to its members and to recognise the inherent strength that the BAGMA membership brings. It is for this reason that it is very important that the highly valued and distinct identity of BAGMA is maintained and supported independently.

“We look forward to providing a clear voice to industry yet maintaining the rich heritage of each of the Associations and the value of services to their respective members.

Peter Arrand, BAGMA President, said: “The BAGMA Council of Representatives unanimously supported the purchase of BAGMA by the AEA. “The acquisition will secure a future home within industry and allow the heritage and strong brand built up over 100 years as a dealer trade association to continue. There are many synergies between the two organisations which will enable a stronger representation for the industry we operate in whilst not losing sight of the individual needs of BAGMA members.

“The advantages of being a BAGMA member have been retained and we can look forward to a bright and collaborative future.”

Keith Christian, Director of BAGMA, added: “Having been a part of the former British Hardware Federation (BHF) now the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) for the past 25 years It may be a surprise to some for BAGMA to be moving to new home.

“BAGMA’s 103-year history has always been intertwined with the AEA and whilst we represent different factions within the industry, we share a common goal in supporting the industry through both dealerships, suppliers and manufacturers.

“Whilst BAGMA will remain as an independent dealer’s association within its new home, it is expected that there will be new working relationships that will benefit BAGMA members in the future to come.”

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Charterhouse announce corporate name change

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Charterhouse announce corporate name change: Effective from the 1st July 2021, Charterhouse Turf Machinery will officially re-brand to become Redexim. While the product portfolio, premises and personnel will be unaffected, the change of name brings the UK into line with the Redexim corporate strategy adopted throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

The relationship between Charterhouse and Redexim has been ongoing for more than 35 years, when Charterhouse were appointed to distribute the now iconic Redexim Verti-Drain®. The success of this partnership then saw Charterhouse become a wholly owned subsidiary of Redexim bv in 1997. With the Verti-Drain® firmly setting the standard for professional aeration, the product portfolio has expanded significantly over the years to incorporate overseeders, topdressers, scarifiers and renovation equipment for natural surfaces, as well as a range of machinery options for artificial playing surfaces, that meet the exacting standards of today’s turf managers.

Charterhouse announce corporate name change

Charterhouse announce corporate name change

Commenting on the re-brand in the UK, Redexim Chief Operating Officer Herman de Bree said “The team at Charterhouse have done a fantastic job over the years at cementing the place of the Redexim natural and artificial ranges with leading turf managers throughout the UK. The time is now right to unify the approach with that adopted throughout the world by delivering sales, service and support under the Redexim banner. This will help to strengthen our brand awareness and global corporate identity and streamline our communication with customers around the world.”

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Wet Sand no issue with the Dakota 412

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Wet Sand no issue with the Dakota 412: As the most northern links golf course on the United Kingdom mainland, having a top dresser that can spread wet sand like the Dakota 412 from Campey Turf Care Systems is a must at Scotland’s Reay Golf Club. 

The James Braid designed course is positioned on the edge of Sandside Bay with views of the Pentland Firth and the North Atlantic from every hole. The course and its stunning views have been under the control of Head Greenkeeper Jason Norwood, since March 2021, with the new man aiming to put his stamp on the course, starting with the greens.

Wet Sand no issue with the Dakota 412

Wet Sand no issue with the Dakota 412

As the sole full-time member of staff for the main 18-hole course and junior three-hole, Jason’s priority is the greens, with volunteers giving up two days a week to assist with the fairways and roughs. The limited time available to Jason needs to be spent working, and with the Dakota 412, he’s able to top-dress as and when he needs to regardless of the sand moisture.

“I’ve tried to put my own stamp on things here with different types of machinery and different ways of working, and the club has really been on board with that, and one of those things has been buying the new Dakota top dresser,” Jason explains.

“The equipment we originally had couldn’t cope well with wet sand; it was more of a large-scale fertiliser spreader. As you can imagine at the top of Scotland, there’s a lot of rain about so any sand that we do have is normally quite wet, so that was one of the main features of the Dakota for us because it can deal with that quite easily and we still get a good even spread with it.

“We really want to push forward and make use of the North Coast 500 tourist route, which is literally on our doorstep; it passes directly in front of us, so we get a lot of passing visitors now, and I think all year-round performing greens are the main thing golfers are after on a golf course so it’s making sure that we can provide that for them.

“We’ve had the machine since the middle of April, but because of the weather chances to get it out have been limited. I’ve trialled different settings on our junior course greens to get what we want for the main course, and it’s been good so far.

“With it having four wheels the weight is distributed incredibly well, so it doesn’t leave a mark on the greens, and the first time I used it you’d have no idea that anything had been done or any heavy equipment had been over the greens it because the footprint was minimal.”

The Dakota 412 features accurate and easy to operate calibration with no manual adjustment and has four Ultra-Trac turf tyres on independent floating beam axels for maximum weight distribution, allowing Jason to work without causing viable disruption to the surface.

As part of Campey’s installation, and to help Jason get the most out of the machine, Campey Product Specialist, Richard Heywood, walked him through the various settings and features, which Jason views as an invaluable experience.

Jason explains: “Because we are so far north, there is a lot more to consider when ordering machinery. Something that was great for me was being supplied through my machinery dealer Double A with support from Campey by sending Richard to demonstrate how to use the top dresser to the best of its abilities. This proved invaluable to me not having used one before.

“He went through it all, explained what all the different settings were, how to adjust it all, and that was vital. Having someone who knows how to operate it fully really maximises its performance and helps us get the best out of the machine.”

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Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

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Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service: As the post-COVID market approaches, Campey Turf Care systems has ensured their Product Specialists stay on the road with a new fleet of Ford Rangers.

Campey has successfully navigated what has been a difficult time for the industry and has strived to keep providing outstanding customer service and support in accordance with changing regulations over the last 18 months.

Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

Ford Ranger fleet drives Campey customer service

Now, the company is looking forward to restrictions ending, and with the anticipation of higher demand, has ensured Product Specialists will always reach customers with the fleet of eight new vehicles.

Providing on-site support has always been a cornerstone of the Campey experience, from machinery recommendations to installations, and the importance of those visits to the end-users is often highlighted.

Maintaining that contact during the pandemic whenever possible was crucial for grassroots and professional clubs alike as they continued to work. Working tactfully during this time ensured Campey maintained their existing markets while concentrating on a sharp increase of interest in the second-hand market, a sector that Campey, while already established in focused on to meet the constantly changing requirements of customers.

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Warrington GC continues down electric route

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Warrington GC continues down electric route: Warrington Golf Club in Appleton, Warrington, has re-invested in Toro for another five years and has included more electric options in its new fleet from Cheshire Turf Machinery.

Joining the three Greensmaster eFlex 2100 electric pedestrian mowers from the last order are the all-electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 greensmower and two Workman GTXE electric utility vehicles.

Warrington GC continues down electric route

Warrington GC continues down electric route

Ben Goodchild, head greenkeeper, has been at the club for the past four and a half years, and he couldn’t be happier about the recent purchase from a brand he knows very well and trusts implicitly.

“We’re trying to go as ecological as possible,” says Ben. “With Toro’s electric machines, we’re cutting down on petrol and diesel usage. We are also looking at getting solar panels in our shed roof to power all the machines.”

Because the machines are so quiet, Ben’s team has a lot more flexibility to work any time of day on any part of the course, allowing them to get a lot more done and stay ahead of golfers.

“I’m super impressed with Toro,” Ben admitted. “I’ve been in the industry for 15 years now, and I first worked with Toro machines at Stockport Golf Club. I think it’s simple and very user-friendly. I’ve used other brands and nothing has ever come close to Toro. The machines and the parts cost slightly more, but the longevity and productivity are second to none and they don’t break down as much so you’re spending less in the long-run.”

Also included in the order are the Multi Pro 5800 sprayer and two Greensmaster 1026 pedestrian mowers, adding to an already impressive fleet of two Reelmaster 3550-D cylinder mowers, two Greensmaster 1600 mowers, a Reelmaster 3100-D, a Triflex 3420 and the ever-popular Procore 648 aerator.

Warrington Golf Club has kept a strong relationship with Cheshire Turf Machinery for over ten years, crediting their reliability and being a full-service dealer as the major factors behind their choice.

“They’re awfully good to us,” Ben says. “If we need something fixed or if we’ve got a small breakdown, they’ll come to us straight away and make sure we’re looked after. With other dealerships, it’s not always a fast turnaround, so Cheshire Turf are very good at that. You just need to go to one place, which makes it simple, fast and efficient. They’re as good as it gets.”

In the meantime, Warrington Golf Club is slowly trying to filter out existing machines from other brands and replacing them with Toro ones. The reasons for their decision touch upon their commitment to electric power and environmentally friendly options, which have also improved both productivity and convenience.

As for which piece of equipment stood out from the list, Ben has become enamoured with the Multi Pro 5800 sonic boom sprayer.

“It’s probably the best piece of equipment I’ve ever used in greenkeeping and I think that it’ll change the game for greenkeepers in the future. It’s very precise and very easy to use. It’s worry-free. I know there won’t be any leaks or any problems, so we’re not wasting money on chemicals or adding too much to the environment. The hose reel is also really handy for tighter areas – it’s a real game-changer!”

2020 was a strange time for the club. Despite the initial break over the pandemic, golfers promptly returned when the doors opened again and the greenkeeping team was more than pleased to finally have players to appreciate their hard work. Citing no significant struggles, Warrington Golf Club currently has 50 members on its waiting list, buzzing to start playing again.

“I like to think there were some silver linings about the whole situation,” Ben concludes. “People started appreciating the outdoors a lot more – how you’re out there, you’re alive and you’re playing golf. Appreciating the small things in life.”

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