Doosan Dealer Changes

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Doosan Dealer Changes: Doosan Construction Equipment has confirmed that the Central Belt region of Scotland will now be looked after jointly by the company’s dealers, James Gordon Ltd (Gordons) and Balgownie Ltd. 

Based at Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, Gordons was appointed last year as the Authorised Dealer for the Doosan Heavy range in the South West and Borders regions of Scotland and for the county of Cumbria in Northern England.

Doosan Dealer Changes

The existing Gordons territory has now been extended with the addition of the following central-belt areas – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and all the Lothian Counties, Argyle and Bute, Isle of Mull, Stirling, Fife, Falkirk and the parts of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire that the company did not previously cover.

Balgownie, based at Inverurie, is responsible for the Doosan range in Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Angus and the Highlands as well as Perthshire and Kinross-shire.  To these areas have been added the Isle of Skye and remaining Highlands postcodes.  Perth and Kinross had already been added 12 months earlier.

According to Doosan, Gordons and Balgownie have been awarded the extended areas purely on merit, despite very strong interest from other parties.  The company is looking forward to working closely with both companies to continue its success in the Scottish market.

Gordons has six depots across its territory and will operate the new Central-Belt area through the Strathaven and Berryhill depots, with support from the headquarters branch in Castle Douglas.  Balgownie will handle the extended territory from the headquarters in Inverurie and the company‘s branch in Turriff.

Founded in 1865, Gordons is a well established and much respected agricultural machinery business in South West and Central Scotland, providing a fast, efficient local service for machinery supply and, most importantly, the best possible aftersales support with 35 service engineers, five of whom are mobile engineers dedicated to construction and Doosan trained.

Balgownie Ltd started trading as an engineering company in 1907 in sheet metal work and tank manufacturing, supplying to shipyards, farmers and the food industry before diversifying into the manufacture and supply of dairy equipment.  Today, Balgownie is one of the leading specialists in construction, tractor, trailer, agriculture and groundcare machinery sales in Scotland.

Both Gordons and Balgownie are responsible for sales and servicing of the Doosan crawler, wheeled and mini/midi excavator, wheel loader and articulated dump truck ranges in their areas.

Customers of both companies benefit from superb on-site service networks, covering everything from emergency repairs to routine maintenance.  The companies‘ factory-trained engineers have many years of hands-on experience of repairs and servicing of plant and machinery.

As well as covering existing contracts, Gordons and Balgownie provide flexible service agreements, depending on the requirements of the customer.  They offer service and warranty work on all existing Doosan machines in their areas, backed by a full selection of genuine accessories and parts.  Both companies hold a stock of new and used Doosan branded machines, to respond quickly to customers’ needs.

For more information about Doosan construction equipment, visit the website www.doosanequipment.eu

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Water Suppliers – Assessing Options

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Water Suppliers – Assessing Options: It’s been almost a year since Greenkeepers in England have been able to choose who supplies their water. Almost 92,000 supply points have so far switched, with more in the pipeline, and many companies have renegotiated a better deal with their existing provider.

If you’ve never explored the options, you could be missing out on benefits including:

  • The convenience of dealing with a single supplier, reducing administration time and cost.
  • Lower prices.
  • Better customer service, specified to your needs.
  • Water efficiency services to cut the amount of water you use, saving money and waste.

Water Suppliers - Assessing Options

To help Greenkeepers understand the market and how to assess their options, independent water specialist The Water Report has produced a short guide. It explains the new arrangements and includes a supplier directory to help customers shortlist potential retailers from the 20+ companies licensed to compete.

The Customer Guide to the New Water Market is available FREE to download at http://www.thewaterreport.co.uk/guide

Karma Loveday, author of the Guide and editor of The Water Report said: “The market turns a year old in April. This is a good time for customers to look at whether they could benefit from switching, because first mover risk has passed but potential benefits remain. It can be hard to know where to start though. The Water Report has been following these developments since the beginning. We have produced The Customer Guide to the New Water Market to provide businesses with independent, high quality information to help them find their way in the new environment.”

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Kubota’s Rugby Partnership

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Kubota’s Rugby Partnership: Kubota UK have announced that they are extending their elite sponsorship of Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints until 2020.

The market leading machinery manufacturer and supplier of world-renowned Kubota engines joined forces with Saints back in 2015, the company’s first ever sponsorship with a top flight sports team.  Based on the success of the partnership, Kubota is looking forward to continuing its support for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Kubota's Rugby Partnership

Dave Roberts, Kubota UK’s Managing Director, said: “ Signing a new deal with Northampton Saints was an easy decision for us. Over the past 3 years that we have been involved with the club, it has proved itself to be an outstanding partner, delivering fantastic exposure for our brand, a high quality match day experience and, of course, a great way to showcase our products. Partnering with Saints aligns perfectly with our drive for excellence, and the desire to lead our respective fields. We’re delighted to be continuing to build on that over the next few years.”

As part of the deal, Kubota provides some of its industry leading groundcare solutions to help the Franklin’s Gardens Ground Staff maintain its pitches to the highest standards in the Aviva Premiership.

Mark Darbon, Saints CEO, is thrilled to see the relationship between the two organisations blossom.  He commented: “This is a partnership in the truest sense of the word.  Kubota UK has been a great asset to the club in recent years and we are delighted to have extended our partnership with them.

“At Saints, we set out to have the highest standards in every area of our organisation. This includes how we maintain our stadium pitch – one of only three natural grass pitches in the league – as well as our training facilities. Having the highest quality training and playing surfaces is vital in allowing the team to perform.

“By continuing our work with Kubota, we are helping build the best platform to realise our ambitions, and we are looking forward to working closely with the machinery manufacturer over the next two years.”

The elite sponsorship package also means Kubota receive a suite of commercial rights, from prime brand positioning on the back of the Saints playing shorts for all matches, to the Kubota logo featuring prominently in the stadium including on the big screen, on the perimeter advertising boards around the ground and in the matchday programme and matchday tickets.  The sponsorship also includes corporate hospitality and player appearances for Kubota events.

Karen Tipping, Kubota UK’s Marketing Manager, concluded: “Rugby union has a really strong appeal with our dealer and end-user customers.  As Saints are one of the leading professional rugby clubs in Europe, our sponsorship gives us the opportunity to extend the reach of the Kubota brand as well as further strengthen our relationships with our dealer and end-user customers.”

For more information on Kubota UK call 01844 268000 or visit www.kubota.co.uk.

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SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

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SIS Pitches Project In Manadon: SIS Pitches have announced a substantial new re-surfacing project taking place in Manadon, Plymouth.

The process commenced at the beginning of January and will see refurbishment of the existing sand based hockey surface, which will be replaced with SISTurf Soccer Pro60-meeting FIFA Quality Pro requirements. In addition, comprehensive fencing, floodlighting and surface extension works will be carried out, with the developments forming a new full size synthetic turf football pitch.

SIS Pitches Project In Manadon

A period of 8 calendar weeks was agreed in order for the completion of the project.

The project is the latest re-surfacing development carried out by SIS Pitches, following previous successes in the area at Ottery St Mary Leisure Centre and BH Live Littledown Leisure Centre.

The Manadon works represent part of a wider football, cricket and outdoor sports centre scheme led by the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The project is funded by the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Board, alongside contributions from the Council and the Trust. These works form one of a series of refurbishments to grassroots sports facilities, in order to improve the quality and experience of taking part in sport.

Simon Mroczek, UK Operations Director at SIS Pitches, feels the project represents a positive step for the city moving forwards: –

‘We are very pleased to be working on this project alongside the Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth City Council. The completed works will benefit not only the local community but also the city as a whole, providing a top-quality facility that the everyone can enjoy.’

SIS Pitches is a world-leader in the design, manufacture, construction, installation and maintenance of sports surfaces, and is a FIFA licensee, World Rugby preferred turf producer and certified FIH manufacturer.

SIS Pitches is a part of a framework agreement to provide the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of artificial grass pitches. The agreement is in support of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Football Association (FA), Sport England, England Hockey and Football Foundation (FF) capital investment programmes.

As part of ongoing innovation successes, SISGrass hybrid surface technology, developed by SIS Pitches, has been selected for 6 of the 12 2018 football World Cup pitches, including the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow-host of the opening and final matches of the tournament.

For more information, visit: www.sispitches.com

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GEA Winners Announced

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GEA Winners Announced: The winners of the 2018 Golf Environment Awards (GEA) have been announced at The Crown, Harrogate, in a ceremony hosted by STRI Group and the R&A.

 Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2018 – Carnoustie Golf Links

GEA Winners Announced

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year 2018 – Stephen Thompson (John O’Gaunt Golf Club)

Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year 2018 – Abergele Golf Club

Operation Pollinator 2018 – Kingsdown Golf Club

STRI ecology consultant, Sophie Vukelic, said: “A huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s awards, you each showcase what sustainable management is within golf. The golf environment is a better place with you all working to protect it”

The annual Golf Environment Awards provide the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate environmental excellence in all its forms. Established in 1995, the awards have gone from strength to strength and in 2018, attendees to the awards almost tripled in numbers.

Carnoustie Golf Links were awarded Environmental Golf Course of the Year for their incredible work within the local community and their continued environmentally conscious practices in all areas of golf course management. Each decision at the golf facility considers the impact on the environment and each member of staff is trained to work in such a way.

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year was received by Stephen Thompson of John O’Gaunt Golf Club for his passionate dedication to nature conservation within golf. Stephen has extensive biodiversity records for both courses at his club, enabling him to tailor the management of the mosaic of habitats accordingly.

Abergele Golf Club won Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year for their Tir Gwylllt (Wild Land) area. Darren, his team of greenkeeping staff and several members have created a wildlife haven from materials ready to hand or donated. The project is a remarkable example of people pulling together to create something spectacular.

Operation Pollinator was awarded to Kingsdown Golf Club where Tom Freeman had introduced extensive native wildflower areas with the help of local primary school children. Not only did this Operation Pollinator project provide for nectar and pollen loving insects, it also provided a great golf education to the younger generation.

STRI is indebted to lead partner, The R&A, and the sponsors – Ransomes Jacobson, Aquatrols, Syngenta, Tillers Turf and Wiedenmann and would like to thank them for their continued support. The R&A’s involvement in the GEA Awards does not elicit its endorsement for the sponsor’s products or services.

Fancy having a go yourself? The entries for the 2019 Golf Environment Awards are now open and we encourage all golf clubs, big or small, to enter and show off their hard work. Enter today at www.golfenvironmentawards.com

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