STIHL launches powerful battery-powered blower

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STIHL launches powerful battery-powered blower: STIHL has launched the new BGA 250, a battery-powered blower that offers professional users an impressive power-to-weight ratio and a new standard of performance and efficiency. 

Thanks to the constant power output technology, the BGA 250 offers 100% power even as the battery discharges, making it the world’s most powerful handheld battery-powered blower throughout the full battery charge.

STIHL launches powerful battery-powered blower

STIHL launches powerful battery-powered blower

Weighing only 2.7kg, the BGA 250 is lighter than its BGA 86 counterpart and boasts a significantly higher blowing output of 26 newtons. The battery is located inside the BGA 250, making the new handheld blower practical for smaller jobs that require high power.

The maximum blowing force can be selected from the simple-to-use speed level controls, allowing for efficient energy management and longer working times. Boost mode may also be selected to provide maximum power for the toughest clearing jobs. Furthermore, the new blower features an LED power display and a cruise control function to maximise battery use.

In addition to excellent performance, the BGA 250 features an improved battery location directly under the handle, which not only gives the blower perfect balance, but also improves the manoeuvrability of the machine thanks to its shortened design. The BGA 250 also features a nozzle with a shallow bend which directs the ‘push back’ force through the handle, ensuring the blower stays in place during operation with no wrist strain.

Other features include an IPX4 rating, ensuring the new blower can be used in all weathers. The BGA 250 is also compatible with STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A, a device that plugs directly into the control module and collects useful working time and maintenance information.

For more information on the BGA 250 and STIHL’s wide range of professional battery tools, please visit www.stihl.co.uk

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SHC Hire ensures reliability with Avant compact loaders

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SHC Hire ensures reliability with Avant compact loaders: In the competitive world of hire businesses, reputation is everything. That’s why SHC Hire, with 10 depots spread across Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cumbria, insists on using only market-leading equipment.

For Matthew Wilson, the Managing Director of SHC Hire, choosing Avant compact loaders was a no-brainer.

SHC Hire ensures reliability with Avant compact loaders

SHC Hire ensures reliability with Avant compact loaders

“We used to have other loaders, but we were having trouble getting parts and general reliability,” Matthew explains. “Then we found Avant, and it was perfect for the job.”

Currently, SHC boasts four Avant 528’s available for hire. Part of the 500 series, these loaders offer a perfect balance of size and performance. Their compact dimensions and manoeuvrability make them ideal for a wide range of tasks, from construction to farming.

The 500 series loaders are well suited for a wide range of customer segments thanks to their power and straight forward hydraulics which is needed in many jobs. The 500 series can also lift amazingly heavy loads compared to the size of the machine.

“The Avants are used for a wide range of customers,” Matthew says. “Our builders love the 528’s because they can carry a tonne bag of sand round the back of a house, saving manpower. They can get into tight spaces too, which is beneficial for house renovations.”

Key to the Avant’s appeal is its versatility. With attachments like pallet forks and buckets, it can tackle a variety of jobs with ease. “One machine can do so many different jobs,” Matthew emphasises. “It gives us the flexibility we need because of our varied customer base.”

Matthew sources the Avant loaders through APSV, the main dealers for Avant compact loaders in the region. “We have a great relationship with Rob Atkinson and his team there,” he says. “The service and back-up we get from APSV is absolutely brilliant.”

As SHC Hire continues to grow and serve customers across the region, Avant compact loaders remain a reliable and essential part of their fleet. With their performance and support from APSV, SHC can confidently deliver on their promise of reliability and quality service.

For more information, please visit www.avant.co.uk

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Take on the ‘Aspen Challenge’ at GroundsFest

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Take on the ‘Aspen Challenge’ at GroundsFest: Improving the working environment of landscapers and ground professionals for over 40 years, Aspen Fuel will be returning to GroundsFest 2024 to showcase the many benefits of their 2 and 4-stroke Alkylate petrol.

Stand OSA490 is the place to find out more and also the place where brave participants can partake in the ‘Aspen Challenge’ for the chance to win some awesome Aspen prizes!

Take on the ‘Aspen Challenge’ at GroundsFest

Take on the ‘Aspen Challenge’ at GroundsFest

Aspen alkylate petrol is virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents making it much less harmful than regular petrol. The reduction in hazardous and toxic hydrocarbons contributes to a cleaner burn, improving not just the reliability of the engine but the immediate operator environment – freeing users from headaches and other health concerns associated with working in close proximity to petrol-powered equipment.

Standard E10 pump fuel now contains around 10% ethanol, the moisture-attracting properties of which can often be the cause of starting difficulties or engine failures in smaller equipment such as strimmers and leaf blowers. Ethanol-free Aspen 2 with its cleaner combustion leaves very little residue or carbon deposits, extending engine lifespan and retaining its original performance for longer.

The benefits for the equipment and the operator, together with a reduction in environmental impact, make Aspen a versatile and economically-viable choice for operators in all sectors looking to move towards more sustainable working practice. Those wanting to discover how Aspen can change their own working environments can also enquire about the risk-free, money-back trial which enables business owners to try Aspen without incurring any increase in their fuel cost, and the option to return the unused fuel if they don’t ‘experience the difference’.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to test their strength in the ‘Aspen Challenge’ which returns for another year – with the chance to win some fantastic prizes over the course of the two days!

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Sustainable seed guaranteed as DLF return to GroundsFest

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Sustainable seed guaranteed as DLF return to GroundsFest: Sustainable seed solutions for lawns and landscapes are set to be showcased as the world’s largest grass seed breeders, DLF, return to GroundsFest.

Stand 30 will be the platform for visitors to find out more about mixtures across the Masterline, MM and Johnsons Sports Seed brands, alongside the very best the industry has to offer in both native and non-native wild flowers.

Sustainable seed guaranteed as DLF return to GroundsFest

Sustainable seed guaranteed as DLF return to GroundsFest

In many aspects of modern life, we are encouraged to be mindful of our impact on the environment – and this is certainly the case for turf managers across the sporting and amenity spectrum. Those looking to reduce inputs, without detriment to turf quality and performance can improve credentials through careful seed selection, such as opting for mixtures containing Microclover®. Visitors to GroundsFest can find out more about DLF’s Ecosward mixtures – specifically blended to reduce input costs and be kind to the environment by eliminating the need for excessive fertiliser, water and herbicide.

Incorporating 5% Microclover®, both PM26 Ecosward and PM27 Ecosward Plus from the Masterline range offer low-maintenance yet tolerant and visually attractive swards, ideal for landscape applications.

For those maintaining sports turf, thoughts are turning to autumn renovations, where speed of establishment is key. The larger seed and improved genetic vigour of DLF’s 4turf® tetraploid variety ensure fast germination and establishment in cooler temperatures, together with demonstrating increased tolerance to stresses such as cold, drought and a range of common turf diseases. 4turf® is incorporated into a number of popular autumn mixtures for sports turf, including J 4Turf 50 and J 4Turf 100 from the Johnsons Sports Seed collection.

The DLF technical team will be on hand to discuss the vast array of popular sports and landscape mixtures, together with the popular Pro Flora and ColourBoost wildflower ranges. DLF have significantly increased in-house production facilities during 2024 to meet the growing demand for conservation mixtures and promising greater capacity to support biodiversity projects. With over 25 mixtures available across the two collections, there’s something to suit all facilities and environments – whether the objective is native origin colour and interest, or high impact dazzling displays!

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

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Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

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Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free: Every year, beloved plants face the threatof being devoured by slugs. The worry faces every avid gardener each spring as they work tirelessly to protect them from these voracious pests.

Hostas, sweet peas, lettuce, and cabbage are all favourites and slugs will take any opportunity to slither across for a bite. Beneficial nematode solutions, like Nemaslug 2.0, offer a biological solution to effectively keep slugs at bay and your flowers and crops whole.

Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

Keep your garden beds blooming and slug free

Nematodes are a naturally occurring microorganism which target and kill specific garden pests without posing a risk to other wildlife, crops, or pets. This also means they are perfectly safe to use on fruit and vegetable beds to stop slugs from indulging in your home-grown produce.

The improved formula of Nemaslug 2.0 contains a new species of nematode called Phasmarhabditis californica, it is higher concentrated and more potent than the original Nemaslug, with larger quantities of nematodes for quick, persistent, and effective action.

Slugs account for the most pest-related complaints among gardeners, and their ability to consume and destroy yields of crops and flower beds is devastating. Nemaslug 2.0 provides a safeguard for gardens for up to six weeks, with the small but mighty nematodes working hard and fast to keep slug populations down. To ensure ongoing protection, applications should be done every six weeks during peak slug season, which is typically from early spring to autumn.

The application is simple, as per the instructions on the box, mix your Nemaslug 2.0 with water and apply to the soil on your flower and vegetable beds using a watering can fitted with a coarse rose. Then sit back and relax and watch your beds bloom all summer long without worrying about the slugs making a meal of your hard work in the garden.

An entire season’s worth of pest control can be purchased now via online stockists, to be delivered straight to your door.

To find out more about how nematodes work, look at this short video – https://youtu.be/JHNG1KSluh0

For further information please visit https://www.nemasysinfo.co.uk/ and follow basf_nemasys_uk on Instagram.

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