SALTEX levels up for 2025

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SALTEX levels up for 2025: SALTEX, Europe’s leading sport amenities landscaping and turf exhibition, has announced a 10% year-on-year increase in visitor registrations, confirming its position as the premier destination for the sports turf management and grounds care community. This year’s growth in pre-registration figures indicate strong anticipation for the show across the industry and beyond.

In addition to the rise in visitor registration numbers, the Grounds Management Association (GMA) has partnered with the Football Foundation to provide free car parking for all attendees – an initiative jointly funded by both organisations. This initiative directly responds to feedback from visitor research that highlighted affordability as a key priority. It underscores both organisations’ commitment to accessibility and ensures that the show remains inclusive and practical – the must-attend event for everyone in the industry.

SALTEX levels up for 2025

SALTEX levels up for 2025

Chris Smith, Head of Programmes at the Football Foundation said: “It’s great that attendance this year has grown once again and that together we’ve been able to provide more people with the opportunity to attend SALTEX with the addition of free car parking for all attendees.

“Supporting SALTEX ensures that community clubs and volunteers have the chance to find out about funding opportunities available to them through the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, and access to the best resources and knowledge in turf pitch management. It’s also a good opportunity for the team at the Football Foundation to connect with industry experts who are working to improve the quality of grassroots facilities across the country.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, commented: “We are delighted to see such strong growth in visitor registrations this year. It demonstrates that SALTEX continues to be the place where the industry comes together to share knowledge, discover innovation, and celebrate progress. The introduction of free car parking in partnership with the Football Foundation is another way we’re adding value to the visitor experience.”

With hundreds of exhibitors, a packed seminar programme, and an increasingly international audience, SALTEX continues to shape the future of the industry, supporting the development of knowledge, standards, and innovation across sports turf management and grounds care.

To register now visit: saltex.org.uk

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Don’t make the tough work tougher

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Don’t make the tough work tougher: Getting ready for winter means being prepared for the unexpected. From planned projects to the daily routine and annual winter servicing, ‘tis the season to make sure machines are ready for the tough work by having a stockpile of parts ready to prevent downtime.

Performance, reliability, and durability are all enhanced when parts are engineered specifically for the machine they serve, which is why it’s important to choose genuine.

Don't make the tough work tougher

Don’t make the tough work tougher

Genuine means the high-quality choice. The materials Toro uses for all its parts make them synonymous with maximum performance, while rigorous testing makes sure they can withstand the daily stress that comes with keeping a course or pitch in top condition.

It’s equally important not to underestimate the power of simply being organised when it comes to planning winter servicing. Routine checks and prevention rather than cure are considerably cheaper than ad-hoc repairs and the cost of unexpected downtime.

While prepping is better than fretting, Reesink Turfcare, the official distributor of Toro genuine parts, is aware many are last-minute buyers, and everyone will fall foul of the unexpected, which is why it has two invaluable service options in its offering.

Having the reliability of Reesink as a distributor means customers can get the parts they need within 24 hours to anywhere in the UK. That speed of service reduces the amount of downtime incurred, as well as making life easier.

Michael Hampton, Supply Chain Manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “The reassurance of having a genuine service doesn’t end there, it comes with a comprehensive stock reserve and local support. But significantly, customers can rely on the fact that they’re getting the genuine Toro part – and that’s a big distinction.”

Not only that but there’s also the option of peace of mind guaranteed with its ReeAssure servicing plans and three types for every budget and requirement level.

Michael expands: “Reesink’s ReeAssure scheme safeguards machinery and secures the club’s investment. Knowing the back up and support of experts in the field for all areas of maintenance and servicing brings great peace of mind. Clubs can spread the costs and plan the monthly fee into the budget to ensure machinery is always optimised no matter the time of year. It saves and frees up time to focus on other tasks and brings the local touch seeing as technicians will be coming from the nearest Reesink branch.”

While English winters can be unpredictable, something you can guarantee won’t be is the quality you get from Toro and the service and support you receive from Reesink. To find a Reesink branch or local Toro dealer, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

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Bernhard and Company Mourns Passing of Stephen Bernhard

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Bernhard and Company Mourns Passing of Stephen Bernhard: Bernhard and Company is deeply saddened to announce that its founder, Stephen Bernhard, passed away peacefully at the weekend at the age of 79.

Stephen was a visionary leader whose influence shaped not only Bernhard and Company, but the global turf and agronomy industries. His passions for innovation, education, and excellence have inspired generations of turf professionals and remain embedded in the culture and values of the company today.

Bernhard and Company Mourns Passing of Stephen Bernhard

Bernhard and Company Mourns Passing of Stephen Bernhard

Stephen founded Bernhard and Company in the early 1980’s and over several decades, guided the business from its roots in precision engineering and horticulture to become a world-renowned leader in turf technology. His philosophy, that success comes from continuous learning, collaboration, and a genuine care for the craft, continues to define how the company operates and serves its customers across the world.

Driven by his belief in lifelong education, Stephen established the Bernhard Academy in 2019, designed to provide outstanding opportunities for professional growth and knowledge sharing within the turf industry. His commitment to nurturing talent and supporting others has touched an immeasurable amount of lives and careers, and his legacy will continue to inspire the next generations of turf professionals for years to come.

Throughout his distinguished career, Stephen contributed enormously to the advancement of the industry. For more than 25 years, he was actively involved with the BIGGA Delegation, providing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for British turf professionals to visit the USA’s GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, in the process mentoring and supporting countless individuals. His achievements were recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2008 – an honour he was immensely proud of. Most recently, at this year’s BTME, Stephen was also awarded BIGGA’s Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising his lifelong dedication to supporting the industry that he so much loved.

Steven Nixon, Managing Director of Bernhard and Company, said: “Stephen’s passing is an immense loss to the global turf industry and to all of us at Bernhard and Company. His influence is felt in every part of our business – in the way we innovate, the way we work, and the way we support each other and our customers. Over his many years of involvement with the BIGGA Delegation and beyond, he touched so many lives with his generosity, wisdom, and passion. His legacy will continue for years to come, inspiring us to uphold the values he lived by every day.”

Stephen will be remembered as a pioneer, mentor, a friend, and a man whose vision and compassion transformed an industry and built a company that continues to thrive on the foundations he laid.

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Price Turfcare and Ventrac at SALTEX 25

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Price Turfcare and Ventrac at SALTEX 25: Price Turfcare, Ventrac distributor for the UK and Ireland, will be exhibiting the versatility of the Ventrac 4520 tractors and the ever growing range of attachments for all seasons.

Specifically, this year, some winter attachments will be showcased on our static stand, E042. The Ventrac SB350 brine application unit holds 132 litres of liquid which can be precisely applied with the 1.2m to 2.1m boom. Steps and other tight spaces can be accessed by using the standard spray wand with 2.4m hose. This is adequate capacity for brine application on pavements, walkways and other transitional areas. Brine has the advantage over rock salt in that it has a more immediate effect when dispensed, requires less salt overall and creates a liquid barrier on hard surfaces preventing snow and ice from sticking. In addition, Price Turfcare will have a live demo area, F001.

Price Turfcare and Ventrac at SALTEX 25

Price Turfcare and Ventrac at SALTEX 25

Here we will demonstrate the 30deg climbing ability of the 4520 and the ease and speed with which attachments can be mounted onto the tractor.

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Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

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Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston: Little Aston Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, one of the highest ranked parkland courses in England, has signed its third five-year agreement with Toro and Reesink Turfcare taking their partnership to 15 years.

Iain Burns, Club Manager, says the enduring relationship is down to trust in the brand:

“We’re delighted to continue our excellent relationship with Toro as we believe they are the best in the business when it comes to the provision of cutting machinery. This marks the beginning of a third five-year term which consolidates our trust and satisfaction in the Toro brand and performance.”

Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

In a deal worth roughly half a million pounds, it guarantees the club longevity, reliability, and durability for its turfcare equipment according to Course Manager David Gibbons: “In our opinion, Toro machinery offers the best overall performance for the type of maintenance required at Little Aston Golf Club. With no onsite mechanic, we need hard wearing machinery with a good finish for the level of presentation you’d expect for a top 100 England golf course.

“Our team is familiar with it – how to use and look after it, and it is robust and well made, meaning that after five years the machinery is still in good working order and holding a good price.”

The relationship with Reesink also plays a significant part in the decision and just gets better with time, says David. “While Toro is globally recognised as the leading mower manufacturer, Reesink brings an enormous amount to the table too.

“Financially the club needs to be happy with the price and overall deal. We look for solid warranties, discounts on parts, good support from a machinery point of view and investment in the team with training and greenkeeper education.

“Then we come back to that word trust. We trust Reesink will keep us up to date with alternative or new machinery, we trust we’ll get help with demonstrations as we consider new technology, and we trust they will advise us about any new machines that can do the job better.”

On that note, while the club will “happily replace like for like if it’s the best option, we still always ask if there are any new machines available that can do the job better,” says David.

“For example, we have been building bunkers, and found that the Toro Reelmaster 3100 with the SideWinder technology is the best mower for maintaining bunker banks. It really helps with the undulations and has a patented front unit sliding control for safety when near the edges.”

That’s another advantage with the machinery delivery being spread over the years, “we have time to evaluate the current machine before the next term and adjust accordingly to changing priorities and projects underway,” concludes David.

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