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NEWS ARTICLES

New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

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New INFINICUT® adaptation kit: INFINICUT® are introducing a brand-new adaptation kit to transform a JD 2500 Triplex into a highly productive, lightweight, 85” wide dedicated sports turf mower. The simple-to-fit kit was designed to specifically meet the criteria required to maintain sports turf and address the failings of existing options – traditionally re-purposed golf turf units.  

The management of sports turf is independent from the management of golf turf and, as such, merits the provision of a dedicated triplex mower suited to the requirements of sports specific venues. The new adaptation kit includes all that’s required to affix 30” INFINICUT® cutting reels and large capacity grass boxes to an existing JD power unit with zero fabrication/hole drilling or other modification required to the original traction unit.

New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

In addition, a selection of maintenance cassettes from the TMSystem™ range are also compatible with the new set-up.

The JD 2500 was chosen as the donor traction unit, not because it was easy or convenient to re-engineer, but because it would fulfil the strict design brief set out by the INFINICUT® design team. Thought was given to ensure the end product was lightweight, gentle to turf through torquing & turning and minimised soil surface compaction. It also features a functional, forward-facing middle grass basket, with a generous capacity that is easy to install and remove.

Coupled to the well proven JD 2500 are three INFINICUT® reels, utilising SMARTCut technology to offer a highly productive 85” cutting width. The INFINICUT® cylinders come with renowned quality of cut and the confidence that these units are trusted by some of the most revered venues in the world including Real Madrid, Wimbledon and many more top-flight facilities. This combination, with its offset design, reliability, adjustable clip rate and general solid engineering makes for a compelling unit that will easily be considered “best in class”.

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An insight into GKB’s Distributors

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An insight into GKB’s Distributors: GKB Machines, the company behind sustainable, reliable and robust maintenance machinery for natural, synthetic and hybrid turf recently caught up with one of their loyal UK distributors, Balmers GM Ltd.

UK Operations Director, Tom Shinkins has worked for GKB since GKB Machines Ltd was founded in 2015 and a key part of his role is to work with the UK distributors throughout the year. Andrew Meeks, Commercial Sales Manager at Balmers GM Ltd has been with the company for 20 years and has fallen in love with GKB machines.

An insight into GKB's Distributors

An insight into GKB’s Distributors

Offering some insight into what it’s like to be a GKB distributor, Tom discusses with Andrew why they decided to become a distributor, what their customer experience has been like and ultimately what their favourite machine is!

What do you like about GKB Machines?

To put it simply, their build. We like the fact that these machines are built by contractors for use by like-minded people. Built robustly and to last, simple and easy to operate. The machines that we use are so reliable, we trust that they will get the job done everytime. Our ethos here at Balmers is perfectly matched with GKB’s. We want to supply our customers the best machines for use and reliability, as well as getting the support from the manufacturer which GKB offer exactly that. The question should be what do I not like about GKB Machines because then I would struggle to answer!

What do your customers like?

Our customers’ minds work like ours so, what we like, they tend to like too. They like the fact we are providing them with the best machines that they can rely on time after time.

How long have you been a dealer for?

We’ve been a dealer for nearly three years but knew about the products way before that. The way GKB keep bringing out new innovations and technologies to make their machines even better really excites us. We look forward to working with GKB for many years to come.

What is your favourite GKB Machines and why?

Now this is a difficult question! It’s almost like asking who’s your favourite child.  I love the SP100 Topdresser, it’s the machine that started our relations and outperforms the competition hands down. The GKB Combiseeder is also high on the list again for its ease of use, its simplicity and ultimately its performance and result.

Why did you become a dealer?

We became a dealer because we were looking for a mounted topdresser to supply our customer base with that fitted the John Deere ProGatorTM. We had supplied other manufacturers previously and were not happy with various things. We wanted a product with a direct line to the manufacturer rather than via the importer, simply to reduce the supply chain and improve communication. As we deal directly with the manufacturer now we’re able to provide customer feedback right to the people who built the product. On a typical wet and windy English weather day, Tom brought a demonstrator for us to try and we were blown away by its performance. The product range suited our portfolio and the rest is history.

What’s your customer experience like from GKB?

If I had to use one word it would be fantastic. Tom has been invaluable, providing a vast wealth of knowledge and support. We also spent time with the guys over in the factory in Holland, which really helped to build relationships. Ultimately for us, it’s a company and a product range that’s growing which we thrive on. They are constantly innovating without creating solutions to problems that aren’t there. For that, we thank GKB.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf and to learn more about becoming a GKB distributor, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

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The battery that knows what it’s doing

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The battery that knows what it’s doing: Intelligent Lithium-Ion batteries are the heart of the new Mountfield cordless range. Batteries that recognise the mower or tool that they are fitted to and tune the power appropriately to maximise battery life and deliver the right amount of power to get the job done.

These new intelligent batteries – believed to be a world first – will help British gardeners roll out the Quiet Revolution of Mountfield battery powered equipment that focusses on ease of use.

The battery that knows what it's doing

The battery that knows what it’s doing

Battery power is rapidly replacing petrol and electric cables as a lifestyle trend in gardening. In the UK in 2020, 12.5% of lawn mower sales were battery and this trend is projected to increase to 23% by 2025. At Mountfield the focus is on delivering cleaner, safer and more reliable energy supply.

All the battery lawnmowers and hand-held tools in the Mountfield range, new for 2021, are built from lightweight, robust materials. Whether mowing, cutting, trimming or clearing, they are as powerful and long-lasting as their petrol equivalents but with none of the noise, fumes and hassle of engine maintenance.

This cut away of the STIGA 48V battery clearly shows how cooling air can freely circulate around the battery cells to help prolong operating and shorten recharge times.

E-Power works ‘smart’ in both the 20V and 48V battery systems. In the freedom100 Series of lawnmowers and hand-held tools, the 20V battery has a microchip. The Smart Tool Recognition System recognises the type of tool and tunes the power appropriately to maximise battery life and performance of the machine being used. This cost-effective, adaptive battery performance is unique to Mountfield and none of the main competitors in this price segment offer this. The 48V battery has an internal memory that registers all working parameters and communicates any issues between the battery, the tool and even the charger. The self-propelled mowers in this range are powered by two 48V batteries that work as a synchro pair – the powertrain balancing the energy load and synchronising the discharge for maximum efficiency and cutting performance.

Mountfield batteries are tested at a full, “real-life” usage current that goes far beyond the test widely used in the industry, that is less demanding. Industry Standard tests only 300 charges at 20% of the “real-life” usage current. The Mountfield E-Power batteries, developed, tested and produced at STIGA’s Italian plant, were still gong strong after 600 charges. That is the equivalent of an owner running down and recharging the battery twice a week for six years.

From the family-friendly simplicity of the Freedom100 series to the longer-lasting power of the Freedom500 series, E-Power can drive the smallest tool or the biggest lawnmower including Mountfield’s first ever battery-powered garden tractor range.

“Our new battery is a real game changer,” says Gary Tully, sales and marketing director of STIGA UK. “For the first time there is a battery powered lawnmower suited to small gardens with pocket handkerchief sizes lawns and significantly areas of grass in country houses. This is a first for British gardeners.”

Mountfield is owned by STIGA UK Limited and the lawnmowers and hand-held gardening tools being launched this year are all produced at the company’s Italian plant.

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Learning LIVE 2021 – Call for Papers

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Learning LIVE 2021 – Call for Papers: Organisers of SALTEX are looking for the best speakers in the grounds management industry to showcase their knowledge at the show, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 3 and 4 November 2021.

Learning LIVE, SALTEX’s all-encompassing education programme, provides advice, insight and real solutions to the biggest issues that the grounds management industry care about most. Organisers aim for the seminar programme at SALTEX to be engaging, informative and educational for attendees.

Learning LIVE 2021 – Call for Papers

Learning LIVE 2021 – Call for Papers

Since its creation in 2015, the most popular Learning LIVE sessions have been case studies and presentations from companies or individuals who are prepared to share personal experience and learnings.

If you have a story to share or consider yourself a field specialist, then we want to hear from you.

Each proposal will be evaluated and those that most closely match the needs of the attendees will be selected.

To submit a proposal, please click here

Please note that Learning LIVE is an educational, editorial opportunity – to discuss commercial or promotional opportunities at SALTEX please contact Charles Neale charlesneale@rabdf.co.uk or Matthew Knight matthewknight@rabdf.co.uk

For more information visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk

To view further industry support and quotes visit – https://www.gmasaltex.co.uk/industry-shows-support-quotes-for-new-saltex-dates/

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/GMASALTEX

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Attraxor® helps control Poa annua

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Attraxor® helps control Poa annua: Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR) has helped Warren Moss – Head Greenkeeper at Dudsbury Golf Club, to suppress Poa annua and increase the quantity of Bent grass on the greens.

Attraxor®, a new BASF product, was recommended to Warren by David Chammings from Agrovista Amenity, and he was pleased to see an immediate response.

Attraxor® helps control Poa annua

Attraxor® helps control Poa annua

“The Poa had crept in and we estimated it to be at 70 percent in 2019,” said Warren. “Since starting with Attraxor® in May I have been able to suppress the Poa and through a reseeding program the greens are now 70 percent Bent, which is a great turnaround in such a short time period.”

Attraxor® has been shown to effectively regulate growth of managed amenity turf. The active substance, Prohexadione, inhibits the giberrelic acid pathway, which results in a reduction of turf height and turf biomass. Root growth is also promoted through the use of Attraxor® whilst turf colour and quality are maintained.

“This product is unique because it reduces clippings like other PGRs, but it also suppresses the seed heads of Poa annua,” explained Agrovista Amenity’s David Chammings. “It fitted well with what Warren needed to bring back the Bent in the greens at Dudsbury and we are both really pleased with the results.”

With the course south facing Warren said that extremely high temperatures over the past couple of years made maintenance very difficult. Poa started to creep in and the greens were left with very little Bent grass which was causing uneven surfaces and affecting playability.

On David’s advice, Warren applied Attraxor® at a low dosage of 0.375 kg/ha. The recommended application for Poa annua management is from 0.5 kg/ha to 0.65 kg/ha.

However, Warren needed to be cautious because of the high percentage of Poa on the greens. He started the Attraxor® treatment on 11th May and continued to apply it in 21-day intervals at the same dosage.

Warren chose overcast mornings to apply the product using Greenmaster Vitalnova Stressbuster and 2.5 kg/ha of N to prevent any yellowing.

Attraxor® helps control Poa annua

Attraxor® helps control Poa annua

“Using Attraxor® at 0.375 kg/ha was the right decision for this course and I have supressed the seed head production without yellowing the greens,” he said. “Unlike other PGRs I also noticed that it regulates the growth of the other grass varieties more consistently. I was especially impressed that it lasted the full 21 days.”

By suppressing the Poa, Warren has been able to reduce the amount of fertiliser and water needed on the course. “We were spending too much on fertiliser and using too much water to keep the Poa happy,” continued Warren. “However, this is water that we need elsewhere and so by using Attraxor® we have been able to improve the balance throughout the course.

“This year was the year to get aggressive with the Poa because there has been far less playing time for the members due to lockdown restrictions and I’m really pleased we took the plunge.”

The course was reseeded in August 2020 and Warren is hoping that this will increase the density of Bent to more than 80 percent by May 2021, when it has had chance to establish.

“I carried out the final application of Attraxor® on 12th August before our maintenance week and I plan to use it again from the end of April 2021 to tie in with competitions. It has really helped suppress the Poa and has given us the opportunity to return the greens to largely Bent in such a short time period that I want to keep it and make it part of the annual treatment program,” he concluded.

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

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