STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

/in , /by

STIHL marks century with host of celebrations: The world’s best-selling chainsaw brand, STIHL, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Since 1926, STIHL has defined the global standard for battery and petrol-powered forestry, landscaping, and residential gardening equipment for professional and domestic users alike.

Built to make work in nature easier, STIHL began as a one-man operation in a Stuttgart workshop. Today, it stands as an internationally renowned leader in dual technology solutions. The family-owned company, rooted in petrol-powered products, celebrates its centennial by continuing to lead innovation across both petrol and battery-powered technologies.

STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

To mark the milestone, STIHL will host a range of celebrations in Great Britain and across its global network throughout the year. To kick off, STIHL will pay tribute to the famous MS 500i, the world’s first mass-produced petrol chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection, by launching a centennial edition of the model. The tool achieves an impressively low power-to-weight ratio of 1.24 kg/kW and features an elegant black design and distinctive centenary detailing. Remaining true to the performance of the original, the special edition model continues to set the benchmark for demanding forestry applications and will be available to buy later in the year from selected dealers.

Additionally, STIHL will run a series of competitions on its social channels throughout the year to reward its loyal customers and help them share in the celebrations.

Taking place at its Contra House headquarters on 25th June, STIHL will also host a special dealer conference with dedicated awards ceremony, recognising its valued dealer network. The STIHL 100 Awards will shine a spotlight on star dealers, acknowledging the contribution they make to the brand’s continued success.

Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Advisory Board of STIHL, said: “Any company that reaches the grand old age of 100 hasn’t got there by relying on tradition alone.”

“It can only stay successful for a century if it knows its roots, while also recognising when it’s time to start a new chapter. With that in mind, our anniversary is not just a time to look back, but also a moment to recognise the strength that comes from our combination of heritage, engineering expertise, and the courage to innovate.”

For more information on STIHL products, visit www.stihl.co.uk or contact your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer.

Find out more about STIHL’s historic milestone, here: https://100.stihl.com

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Greenmaster Liquid Advance sets a new standard

/in , /by

Greenmaster Liquid Advance sets a new standard: ICL has launched Greenmaster Liquid Advance, a new liquid fertiliser range developed to support turf performance during periods of stress.

Building on the long-established success of the Greenmaster Liquid range, Greenmaster Liquid Advance represents a significant evolution in liquid turf nutrition, introducing new technology and performance capability beyond what has previously been available across liquid fertilisers.

Greenmaster Liquid Advance sets a new standard

Greenmaster Liquid Advance sets a new standard

Designed for professional turf managers, the range combines proven liquid nutrition with a biostimulant package containing MTU®, a patented molecule now available in turf for the first time.

MTU® has been developed to support plant efficiency when conditions limit normal turf response. Stresses such as low light, temperature extremes, and heavy wear can restrict nutrient uptake and recovery. By helping maintain key plant processes during these periods, MTU® supports turf resilience and more consistent performance.

Integrated into the Greenmaster Liquid Advance formulations, MTU® works alongside balanced nutrition to help turf make more effective use of applied nutrients under pressure. The range also contains pidolic acid, included to support nutrient uptake and stress tolerance, giving turf managers a practical way to feed surfaces when stress limits normal plant response.

Key benefits for turf managers

  • More consistent turf response under challenging conditions
  • Improved nutrient efficiency and colour retention
  • Stronger recovery and playing quality under pressure

Andy Owen, International Technical Manager at ICL, said: “Greenmaster Liquid Advance is designed to support turf performance when stress limits normal plant response. Conditions such as low light, temperature extremes and heavy wear reduce how efficiently turf can use applied nutrition. By combining proven liquid nutrition with MTU® and pidolic acid, the range helps maintain key plant processes under stress, supporting more consistent turf performance and colour through challenging periods.”

Jaroslav Nisler, Head of the Isotope Laboratory at the Institute of Experimental Botany in the Czech Republic and the lead scientist behind MTU®, added: “MTU® is a patented molecule with a clear mode of action. Even at very low concentrations it delivers results, helping turf maintain green leaf area and recover more quickly after stress. Its inclusion in Greenmaster Liquid Advance makes this technology available to turf managers for the first time.”

Availability

Greenmaster Liquid Advance is available now through ICL’s distribution network.

Show less

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Bionema launches WeevilIntercept™ for adult vine weevil control

/in , /by

Bionema launches WeevilIntercept™ for adult vine weevil control: Bionema Group, a UK-based biological crop protection company, has announced the launch of WeevilIntercept™, a ready-to-use biological solution designed to control adult black vine weevils (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) in ornamental horticulture, nurseries, and retail plant production systems.

Vine weevil is one of the most economically damaging pests in UK horticulture, with total plant losses estimated at approximately £40 million annually across nurseries, garden centres, and retail supply chains. While adult vine weevils cause visible cosmetic damage to foliage, the most severe economic losses are caused by larvae, which hatch from eggs laid by adults and feed on plant roots, often leading to sudden plant collapse and death.

Bionema launches WeevilIntercept™ for adult vine weevil control

Bionema launches WeevilIntercept™ for adult vine weevil control

For professional growers and retailers, tolerance is effectively zero. The presence of even a single larva or adult vine weevil can result in crop rejection, lost sales, and reputational damage, particularly at the point of sale.

WeevilIntercept™ is designed to break this cycle by targeting adult vine weevils before they lay eggs, helping reduce subsequent larval pressure and protect plant quality. The product exploits the natural daytime hiding behaviour of adult weevils and contains encapsulated entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae) housed within a moisture-stable wooden shelter. When adult weevils enter the trap, the nematodes infect and kill the pest through a wholly biological process, leaving no chemical residues.

“Adult vine weevils may cause cosmetic damage, but they are the source of the larvae responsible for the most serious plant losses,” said Dr Minshad Ansari, CEO and Founder of Bionema Group. “WeevilIntercept™ provides growers and retailers with a practical biological tool to intercept adults early, complement existing larval control programmes, and strengthen integrated pest management strategies.”

Each WeevilIntercept™ unit provides approximately 10 square metres of coverage and remains active for up to 8-10 weeks when kept moist. The product is intended for use by professional growers, nurseries, landscapers, garden centres, and home gardeners managing vine weevil pressure during the active adult period from spring through mid-summer.

Free from microplastics and synthetic pesticides, WeevilIntercept™ supports Bionema’s wider mission to reduce reliance on conventional chemical inputs while maintaining reliable, practical pest control performance.

WeevilIntercept™ will be available for the 2026 vine weevil season, with an initial focus on the UK horticultural and retail markets. Growers and retailers interested in evaluation or supply for the 2026 season are invited to contact Bionema Group directly.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Allett launches LEDMASTER UVC 100

/in , , /by

Allett launches LEDMASTER UVC 100: Complementing the Allett Omnia launch, Allett will also display the LEDMASTER UVC 100 UV-C Light Bar at BTME 2026. LEDMASTER is a new turf disease management tool that integrates directly into routine mowing operations.

Mounted behind compatible professional mowers, the LEDMASTER UVC 100 exposes freshly cut grass leaf surfaces to a controlled dose of UV-C light during normal mowing runs. This exposure can help suppress foliar pathogens and reduce disease pressure, decreasing reliance on chemical fungicides while fitting seamlessly into existing mowing schedules.

Allett launches LEDMASTER UVC 100

Allett launches LEDMASTER UVC 100

Key features of the LEDMASTER UVC 100 include reduction in foliar disease pressure as part of the standard mowing process. There are no additional labour, residues or regulatory limitations. Proven positive outcomes in stadium trials show reduced visible symptoms of common turf diseases such as leaf spot and red thread.

“By activating UV-C treatment as grass is being cut, grounds teams can build a cumulative suppressive effect on disease pathogens without extra passes or labour,” says Allett. “This represents a practical, sustainable step forward in integrated turf management.”

The LEDMASTER UVC 100 comes with an independent rechargeable battery with up to four hours’ operational capacity. LEDMASTER is shown for the first time at BTME 2026 alongside the new Allett OMNIA range. Further technical details and availability information will be released following the exhibition.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Bernhard and Company heads to BTME and GCSAA

/in , , /by

Bernhard and Company heads to BTME and GCSAA: Bernhard and Company is preparing for a major few weeks in the industry calendar, with the team set to exhibit at BTME 2026 in Harrogate, England (20-22 January) before heading to Florida, USA for the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando (2-5 February).

Across both shows, Bernhard will spotlight the breadth of its offer, combining industry-leading grinding machinery, technology-led turf solutions, and the training and development support of the Bernhard Academy.

Bernhard and Company heads to BTME and GCSAA

Bernhard and Company heads to BTME and GCSAA

“BTME and the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show are two of the most significant events in our calendar,” said Steven Nixon, Managing Director of Bernhard and Company. “They give us the chance to meet the people behind the surfaces, demonstrate the innovation within our grinding machinery range, and show how our wider technology and education offering is supporting performance and long-term sustainability in turf.”

BTME 2026: Harrogate – Hall 5, Stand 534

At BTME, Bernhard and Company will be located in Hall 5 on Stand 534, bringing the latest in its grinding machinery portfolio to Harrogate. On stand, visitors will be able to explore Bernhard’s Express Dual reel and Anglemaster bedknife grinding machines, as well as learn more about the wider suite of solutions available through the company’s distribution network.

Bernhard will also be exhibiting SubAir Systems, alongside Soil Scout and Maya Global software, helping attendees understand how data and decision-making tools can support better surface performance, consistency, and efficiency across the seasons.

The Bernhard Academy team will also be based on the stand throughout the week, offering guidance on training pathways, workshops, and educational support for course teams looking to build skills and capability.

Alongside stand activity, the Bernhard Academy will play an exciting role in BIGGA’s Continue to Learn programme, delivering sold-out sessions at the Bernhard Academy hub at Moortown Golf Club. As part of the BTME programme, Phil Helmn of the Bernhard Academy will also deliver a three-hour class on Monday morning titled “The Art of Managing Up!”. The week will also include a seminar delivered by Phil on the Tuesday of the show, while the Academy will introduce the BIGGA Delegation for 2026 at the Bernhard Reception evening on Monday.

“BTME is a brilliant opportunity to connect education with real-world application,” said Sami Strutt, Education Director at the Bernhard Academy. “Whether it’s our Continue to Learn sessions, supporting turf teams with development opportunities, or launching the BIGGA Delegation’s journey, the focus is on helping people grow their skills and confidence.”

GCSAA Conference & Trade Show: Orlando – Stand 1949 (West Building)

Following BTME, Bernhard and Company will continue its trade show schedule in the United States at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Bernhard can be found on Stand 1949 in the West Building, where the team will be exhibiting once again with Soil Scout, having recently launched the Soil Scout range into the North American market.

As part of the trip, the Bernhard Academy will accompany the BIGGA Delegation to the show, where delegates will experience the educational seminars on offer, take part in site visits to high-profile Florida golf venues, and make the most of the networking opportunities available throughout GCSAA week.

Education will also play a central role at GCSAA, with Phil Helmn delivering a four-hour seminar on Tuesday 3 February titled “Budgeting! Bulletproof Financial Management”. The session is currently sold out, with additional places available via a waiting list.

“The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show is a key moment for us to spend time with superintendents and course teams, and to build on the early momentum behind the Soil Scout launch in North America,” added Steven Nixon.

For more information on Bernhard and Company, the products and solutions it will be exhibiting at both shows, and the Bernhard Academy, view links below:

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters