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NEWS ARTICLES

KAR UK announces new Hunter products

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KAR UK announces new Hunter products: KAR UK, a leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment and distributor of Hunter products, has announced some exciting new product launches.

NEW EZ-DT diagnostic tool

The industry’s simplest two-wire system just got easier with the new handheld EZ-DT diagnostic tool from Hunter. It uses wireless technology to streamline installation and maintenance of EZ Decoder Systems.

KAR UK announces new Hunter products

KAR UK announces new Hunter products

Contractors can use the EZ-DT to quickly and easily assess system health from within the valve box — without having to uninstall the decoders — reducing time and labour.

The reliable, battery-operated EZ-DT lets EZ-1 decoder users:

  • Detect faults and perform electrical troubleshooting in the field without uninstalling decoders.
  • Quickly read decoder status, station address, current draw, and two-wire voltage to simplify maintenance.
  • Program decoder station address via wired connection to speed up installation and save time on-site.
  • Update controller face pack or decoder module firmware via ribbon cable connection for flexibility when updating systems.
  • Communicate in their preferred language using the multilingual user interface.
  • Work efficiently on the go with power supplied by four AAA batteries.

NEW MP Stake

Native plant restoration projects and subsurface drip irrigation systems often require temporary overhead watering to support delicate plants.

Designed for use with any water-efficient MP Rotator nozzle, MP Stake kits come preassembled for simple installation. Quickly give fragile plants the supplemental irrigation they need without adding significant labour.

KAR UK announces new Hunter products

KAR UK announces new Hunter products

Other key benefits include:

  • Pair with any high-efficiency MP Rotator nozzle to simplify temporary irrigation.
  • Preassembled for fast and easy installation in the field.
  • Standard kit includes a 66 cm stake, nozzle adapter, 0.345″ tubing, and ½” threaded male fitting for quick connection.
  • For maximum water savings, upgrade to a 2.8 bar (280 kPa) pressure regulator and Hunter Check Valve.

The new Hunter products are available from KAR UK with immediate effect.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Multevo to host sustainable weed control virtual demo

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Multevo to host sustainable weed control virtual demo: Looking to reduce your dependence on conventional chemical weed killers? Learn how to kill weeds with nothing but hot water using Multevo’s innovative equipment in their first ever live virtual demonstration.

Multevo are inviting organisations who are looking to stop or limit the use of chemical spraying to join the live webinar which will provide guidance on how hot water weed control methods can be implemented and outline the benefits customers have achieved.

Multevo to host sustainable weed control virtual demo

Multevo to host sustainable weed control virtual demo

Multevo currently have five models in the range which all use Waterkracht’s Boiling Hot water Technique® to provide an effective and environmentally friendly solution to weed control. The water is delivered at a low pressure consistently at 98 degrees to kill the root completely.

Hot water weed control is the most efficient and most sustainable way to treat weeds and all machines are multi-purpose to add value all-year-round. For example, the high-pressure lance can be utilised for chewing gum removal, cleansing of street furniture as well as graffiti increasing your return on investment.

Multevo are the UK market leader for hot water weed control having launched the product in 2015 and the seminar will share customer success stories as well as feature a live virtual demonstration of the equipment.

The event will take place on Wednesday the 17th of March between 11:00am – 12:00pm and will feature a walkaround of the equipment, the operational advantages, footage of its capabilities finished up with a live Q&A session.

Josh Sweeney, Director of Marketing and Growth said: “We’re extremely excited to share this innovative equipment to the market virtually. We have reduced the amount of in-person demonstrations due to COVID-19 but there is clearly an appetite for chemical-free weed control in the UK, more than ever, so we wanted to try something different to showcase a proven method that is tried and tested in Europe.”

Register for the event here: https://multevo.clickmeeting.com/hot-water-weed-control-virtual-demo/register

You can find more information at www.hotwaterweedcontrol.co.uk or call 01254 703212 as well as email info@multevo.co.uk

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BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

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BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) have welcomed today’s announcement regarding the reopening of golf courses in Wales following an easing of restrictions and it is heartening that the Welsh Parliament has recognised the incredible role golf can play in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle in a COVID-safe manner.

As welcoming as the relaxing of restrictions are, the incredibly short notice of just one day presents a significant challenge for the golf facilities of Wales to achieve readiness. There are many logistical challenges to opening a facility at short notice and a number of facilities will be part-way through significant on or off course projects that may take time to complete.

BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

Golfers will no doubt be eager to head back out on the course as soon as they can get an available tee time and we look forward to golf clubs becoming thriving hubs of activity once again as people enjoy the many benefits that golf can bring.

However, on behalf of our members, both BIGGA and the GCMA ask for consideration from golfers and an understanding that courses may not be able to open immediately and, when they do, they may not be prepared to the usual standards golfers have come to expect. It can be reasonably anticipated that limitations on winter maintenance and renovations caused by an exceedingly wet winter, restrictions on activities due to COVID safety measures and the potential placing of staff onto furlough to protect the golf club business will have restricted what the team have been able to achieve. Additionally 2020 saw participation at unprecendented levels which reduced maintenance opportunities and created more wear and tear on turf and other areas than usual.

The preparation and maintenance of a golf course is a year-round process; as life returns to the golf club following the reopening, so too will life return to the course itself. Spring will hopefully bring drier and warmer weather aiding turfgrass plants to come out of dormancy, meaning they recover from damage quicker. While drier conditions will mean less damage from divots or compaction of the turf. As golfers return to the fairways, we ask for patience and consideration of the activities of the entire golf club team, from managers through front-of-house staff and the greenkeepers who have, like each of us at some time in the past year, worried about their livelihoods, their personal health and wellbeing, and who take great pride in their work but due to circumstances beyond their control have perhaps been unable to achieve the high standards they set for themselves.

If you have any questions about the maintenance of the course, please contact your club manager, course manager or head greenkeeper, who will be able to offer more information about the site-specific activities that have taken place at your golf club.

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Jacobsen double from Fairways GM

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Jacobsen double from Fairways GM: Track Manager, Darren Bissett, says Hamilton Park’s turf will be more than ready for the start of their flat racing season scheduled to begin in May. 

“Course maintenance wise we are on schedule with the first cut of both the track and the lawns due within the next week, assuming conditions prevail,” said Darren.

Jacobsen double from Fairways GM

Jacobsen double from Fairways GM

Darren joined the team at Hamilton Park from Ayr Racecourse exactly 12 months ago, and his first year in the job could hardly have been more unexpected.

In June 2020, a delayed and shortened fixture list got underway with eleven race meetings successfully staged behind closed doors by the time the season concluded at the end of September.

One huge positive for 2020 was that local grounds care dealer, Fairways GM, delivered two new Jacobsen mowers – the HR500 Rotary Mower for the track and the TR320 for Hamilton Park’s extensive fine turf areas.

“The machines were ordered by my predecessor after several very positive recommendations. They’ve worked fantastically and I’m genuinely very impressed at how effective they are. The HR500 has great width at 3.5 metres which allows us to cut the whole track with just five circuits in around 2.5 hours. It makes quick work and leaves a very clean cut.  The room that you get in the cab is exceptional; really spacious, so it’s great for the operator. Also, once you are finished, it’s incredibly easy to maintain.

“In March, we will probably only cut the track once a week until it gets a bit warmer and soil temperatures rise, however come May we’ll have increased that to at least twice a week.  Over the summer months cutting increases to three or four times a week as the fertilisation programme takes effect.

During the racing season we like to cut the day before a fixture, and then again 48 hours afterwards. Height of the cut is set at 6cm for the next month or so and when racing starts, we’ll allow it to grow a bit longer before cutting it to around 9cm. Changing the height of cut on the decks takes around half an hour and it’s a case of moving just ten pins, so it’s very straightforward.”

“Away from the track, our lawns are a great backdrop for weddings and events as well as racedays, and hopefully this summer they will see a lot more visitors. Because it’s been a bit milder these past few weeks the lawns are starting to grow. The TR320 delivers an exceptionally fine, effective cut and it is so good at striping the lawns and leaving a professional finish – everything is really level. We cut the track and the lawns on the same day so there will be times when we are cutting lawns four times a week throughout the summer.

Last year, sadly, we were unable to welcome racegoers and event guests alike and so we’re working hard to ensure the grounds will be at their spectacular best for when we can open our gates to the public once more.

Rob Hogarth, Fairways GM’s Area Sales Manager, said: The HR500 can cut all day long.  Robust and smooth, it has built in consistency delivered via a feature called Automated Assist Drive, so no matter the conditions the finish remains clean and sharp. The big cab that Darren likes gives the operator a superior view of what’s going on out-front; controls are positioned exactly where they are required, so you can also be extremely precise. The TR320 is good in tight spaces and challenging terrain.  It’s a wizard at stripes so is great at keeping locations pristine and interesting, a nice touch for important wedding photography.”

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Pellenc is the way for Border Lawns

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Pellenc is the way for Border Lawns: Angus Roberts believes he has an opportunity to make his new business – Border Lawns, stand out from the competition and he claims that his recent investment in a range of Pellenc products will certainly help his cause.

Angus recently announced that he was stepping away from greenkeeping to set-up a new landscaping business called Border Lawns in Scotland. He admits to it being not without risk though, especially as he held a prominent position as the deputy course manager at the Roxburghe Hotel & Golf Course. However, with youth and experience on his side, it seems a logical decision – even more so when you refer to his already impressive CV.

Pellenc is the way for Border Lawns

Pellenc is the way for Border Lawns

Angus left school and began an apprenticeship at the Roxburghe in 2017 but he got his first taste of tournament preparation in 2016 when he volunteered to be part of the BIGGA Volunteer Support Team that helped at the British Masters in 2016.

A year later and he was awarded the prestigious Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year. It was an incredible achievement for someone who had just a year’s full-time greenkeeping experience. Never one to rest on his laurels, Angus continued to impress and as well as achieving his level 3 qualification in greenkeeping, he also received successive promotions at the Roxburghe. However, he now feels the time is right to go it alone.

“I’ve branched out from greenkeeping to form Border Lawns and it is something I have been working on in my spare time for a while now,” said Angus. “The company specialises in lawn treatment and other general services such as mowing and hedge cutting. There is a lot of competition with other big franchise companies but after a lot of research, I do feel there is an opportunity for my company to stand out from the crowd.”

To do this, Angus believes in only using market leading equipment and it is for this reason that he had his heart set on the Pellenc range of battery-powered equipment.

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

Light, odourless, noise-free, with no starting problems and enough power to enable professional users to work for a full day on a single charge, it’s no wonder more and more professional users are turning to Pellenc. It is an attractive alternative to those who have, for several years, been relying on fuel-based machinery.

With an extensive product list available from Pellenc, Angus chose to invest in a whole new fleet consisting of chainsaws, blowers, hedge cutters, brushcutters pole saws, grass strimmers and mowers. All these products will be powered by 1200 and 1500 ultra-lithium batteries.

“I first saw the products being demonstrated by Agrovista Amenity when I was working at the golf course and I was taken aback,” he said. “I have used lots of petrol-powered machinery over the years and they have been great but there is an expense to keep them going, and you do get issues with them. As a company I would like to be environmentally sustainable and benefit from the long-term savings that can be achieved through battery-powered products.

As Angus says, not only will users see a huge amount of savings by eliminating the necessity of purchasing fuel but by using the Pellenc equipment, they will be contributing to protecting the environment by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and noise pollution.

“The fact that they are so quiet and comfortable are huge benefits too,” continued Angus. “I can start work earlier in the morning because the equipment doesn’t disturb anyone, and I can work for longer periods because the machinery doesn’t scream my head off!

“The run time of the Pellenc equipment is so far ahead of all of the other electric products out there. They are waterproof with an IP54 rating too so I can work in any weather – which is vital. Another big benefit is that the batteries are recyclable.

Pellenc UK recently announced the launch of an industry leading four-year commercial warranty for all batteries and three-year warranty for all tools – something which further impressed Angus.

“The warranty is a great peace of mind,” he said. “Ultimately, the Pellenc equipment is powerful, reliable, environmentally friendly and keeps its worth for several years – it is a good investment in my opinion. Allan Wright from Agrovista Amenity, who supplied the equipment, has also been very helpful – that’s exactly what you need from a dealer.”

Pellenc products are exclusively distributed in the UK by Etesia UK.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.pellencuk.com

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

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

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