ET Lander the extra staff member at Olympic Park

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ET Lander the extra staff member at Olympic Park: The Etesia ET Lander electric utility vehicle is like having an extra member of staff according to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s Head Gardener Gary Spreadbury.

Following a competitive procurement process, idverde was selected as a grounds maintenance partner for the Queen Elizabeth Park in in early 2012. Ever since then it has been responsible for park, plant and wildlife management and maintenance.

ET Lander the extra staff member at Olympic Park

ET Lander the extra staff member at Olympic Park

Gary Spreadbury has been the Head Gardener at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park since May this year, and he claims his working life has been made a little easier by the Etesia ET Lander.

“What I really like about the ET Lander is that it fits and can manoeuvre in tight spaces around the Olympic Park,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of small paths which big vehicles can’t fit down, so it’s very efficient and time saving. It’s used mainly for the transporting of materials around the site, especially during the winter and autumn months when it comes to the leaf clearing and for the mulching of the gardens.”

100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and user-friendly, the ET Lander is built on a robust chassis and has an array of options including a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the fully fitted two-seater cab or by remote control when outside the vehicle. With a length of just 3.72 meters, the ET Lander is very compact. Thanks to the power steering, the short turning radius of 4.40 meters and 360 ° visibility, it goes anywhere. The autonomy of the vehicle lasts for a full working day – without noise pollution, can transport loads of up to 940kgs and can also tow up to 750kgs.

The latest models are fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Landers are fully road legal along with being able to be used off road. They also feature lithium-ion batteries which ensures that the range of the ET Lander extends to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger.

“I’ve used battery powered vehicles before but in my opinion the ET Lander is the best by far,” continued Gary. “It runs a lot smoother and feels like you’re driving a car; it is so light that you could take it onto the pitch without causing damage and it just makes working life a lot easier. The ET Lander is like having an extra member of staff – it’s definitely earning its living and is well worth the money.”

Gary isn’t the only one at the Olympic Park who has been impressed with the ET Lander. Chris James, Contract Manager for idverde, is also upbeat about the innovative electric utility vehicle.

“Aside from its ability to manoeuvre, the ET Lander has lots of other great features such as reversing cameras and the option of adding things to it like PTO’s, salt spreaders and water tanks. I like the fact that it’s got some storage units within the vehicle underneath the body too.

“The all-round visibility from the cab is another key feature that we like about the ET Lander. We have around 6 million visitors through the park each year so it’s essential to be mindful of the public.

“The ET Lander is an absolute must-have vehicle for any grounds maintenance contractor, but I believe that there are a lot of other industries out there that could make use of this vehicle as well.”

idverde purchased the Etesia ET Lander through RT Machinery, and Chris feels as though they are in good hands.

“The communication that I have had with the team at RT Machinery has always been positive and they are quick to respond to emails and questions. Some of our other contracts use RT machinery and they always speak highly of them. The availability and the quality of the products that they’re selling is 100%.”

To see the machine in action at the Olympic Park, please click here.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etlander.co.uk

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK.

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National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

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National Governing Bodies on SALTEX: The UK’s National Governing Bodies (NGB) are crucial to the future of the industry and the sector’s success – one thing they can all agree on is, SALTEX is the show to visit.

Here five of the attending NGBs tell visitors why it’s worth clearing time in the diary and making the journey to the NEC in Birmingham on 1-2 November.

National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

National Governing Bodies on SALTEX

Ted Mitchell, National Facilities Development Manager at the Rugby Union says it’s all the things to see, do and learn: “The Rugby Football Union cherishes its annual attendance and involvement with SALTEX. It is a unique platform that brings together the crème de la crème of the natural turf industry. From cutting-edge turf technology to innovative maintenance practices, this event is a treasure trove of knowledge for the RFU.

“It’s a place where we can exchange ideas, discover the latest industry trends, and forge valuable partnerships. It enables us to connect with experts, suppliers, and fellow enthusiasts who share their dedication to maintaining impeccable rugby pitches.”

SALTEX’s Learning LIVE education programme is widely accepted and recognised for being a key reason for visitors to attend. For example, Andy Clay and Chris Smith from the Football Foundation – the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity which is focussed on delivering quality grassroots facilities – will be covering the future of multi-sport funding and giving advice on how to secure funds for your club.

Chris Smith, Head of Programmes (Quality Pitches) at the Football Foundation, said: “Every year, SALTEX is a key date on the calendar for the Football Foundation. It’s an opportunity to connect with groundskeepers, suppliers and everyone else involved in pitch maintenance so we can learn how best to support the sector and help transform the quality of grass pitches across the country.”

Tom Little, Facilities Manager, Rugby Football League says: “SALTEX is a great opportunity to network with experts from right across the sector and see the latest technology being exhibited, but on top of this, there are some really thought provoking and engaging seminars on contemporary issues facing the world of sport, grounds, and facilities.”

It’s a view shared by Dr Iain James, Head of Facilities Services, England and Wales Cricket Board, who comments: “SALTEX is a great opportunity for cricket grounds managers to engage in unique learning opportunities, find out about the latest machinery and services, and meet with other grounds managers to share ideas and experiences.”

With SALTEX the exhibition of choice for these leading sporting bodies when it comes to meeting those who work in the groundscare industry, it stands to reason that it should make it the exhibition of choice for all those working in those sectors too.

As Jason Booth, chief operating officer of the GMA, concludes: “There really is no better place than SALTEX for grounds staff and those working in the industry to get the opportunity to meet and talk to the representatives from the NGBs about the challenges as well as paths to success. And we’re glad the NGBs recognise that too.

“We recommend those passionate about making a difference in our industry come along to learn, be inspired, network and meet the exhibitors who can support you in your job role with their products. It’s the place to be this November.”

Register now for Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023 at: https://bit.ly/456l0dA

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Weedingtech become members of British Water

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Weedingtech become members of British Water: Weedingtech, founders of the world’s leading commercial herbicide-free weed control solution Foamstream, are pleased to announce they have become members of British Water.

Using the combination of hot water and a specially formulated organic foam, Foamstream is proven to effectively combat unwanted vegetation in a range of situations and is fully approved for safe use within the wastewater sector.

Weedingtech become members of British Water

Weedingtech become members of British Water

Weeds that are left to accumulate can pose a serious risk to successful sanitation, specifically in and around water filter beds. If allowed to grow, vegetation can interfere with the rotation of the machinery, impacting air flow and making the cleaning process inefficient. Together with inhibiting drainage through the filter bed, weeds can also damage the media that fills the filter bed or pass through the bed entirely and contaminate the watercourse.

Currently, many in the wastewater industry rely on manual weeding. The time-consuming nature of hand-weeding frequently means that operations are not conducted frequently enough to be considered effective, while also proving unpleasant and unproductive for the operatives. However, companies including Severn Trent, South West Water, Wessex Water and Anglian Water have already made the switch to Foamstream.

Being 100% organic, Foamstream is approved for use on water filter beds – treating weeds, together with seeds, spores and roots to reduce re-growth and the number of treatment cycles required per year. Together with a reduction in treatments, Foamstream also presents a significant saving in labour treating a 600m2 waterbed in as little as four hours, which would otherwise take a team of four people five days to manually weed*.

“Weedingtech becoming members of British Water is a pledge to promoting best practice and working alongside others to find and provide solutions to challenges facing the sector” comments Foamstream Co-Founder Leo de Montaignac. “We’re delighted to already be trusted by a number of leading water firms and are well placed to provide advice and support to others who may be looking for an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional weed control methods.”

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Simply the best

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Simply the best: A near 125-year history isn’t stopping Orsett Golf Club from eagerly looking towards the future. Course manager, Perry Lowe, is intent on regenerating a significant portion of the Essex-based club with the very latest and best Toro machinery through Reesink’s popular lease hire model.

“We’ve quite the unique course here at Orsett Golf Club,” comments Perry. “The ground is a mix of ballast and shingle, which is unusual for clay-heavy Essex; many clubs have flooding issues in winter. While it’s excellent for our members, being open all year round does mean the course experiences a lot of wear and tear.”

Simply the best

Simply the best

To stay on top of the constant course maintenance, Perry recently took out his fourth package deal with Reesink Turfcare, leasing an entirely new fleet of Toro machinery. “At previous clubs I have seen and experienced the headaches that come with owning your own kit,” he reflects.

“You run it to death and then it needs replacing,” Perry goes on. “In my book, it’s not the best way to work with machines; older bits of kit are liable to break down at the wrong time and on top of that they can be incredibly expensive to replace.

“Rather, I prefer running a five-year lease hire model: it offers much better value for money and more reliability. The deal we’ve just completed with Reesink’s Richard Freeman, whom I’ve known for over a decade, is perfect for us – we will always have the latest technology to enact our rolling ten-year plan.”

Over the next decade, Orsett Golf Club intends to upgrade several regions on its course, with a special focus on the short game area. Perry also wants to build new greens and bunkers, as well as a new entrance to the clubhouse.

Thanks to Orsett Golf Club’s lease plan, Perry will have access to a range of the latest mowers and utility vehicles, including the all-electric Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 and Toro Workman UTX.

“Electric mowers have been around for over 20 years, but they’ve always been pretty awful,” says Perry. “But we’re a club that likes to try new things. So when Richard told us about the new Toro electric range of kit, we jumped at the opportunity and we’ve not looked back since – both models are faultless.“As a club that’s always looking ahead and wanting to improve, the best quality of cut and the latest machinery available are a high priority for us. Fortunately, Reesink’s lease hire plan is a very simple way to enact that and carry out our 10-year plan.”

To discover how a lease hire package through Reesink could help your club or business, simply visit https://www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk/finance.

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Introducing Nano-Spray

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Introducing Nano-Spray: Recognising the need for a breakthrough solution to small scale precision spraying, Compact Sprayer manufacturers Martin Lishman Ltd are thrilled to introduce the Nano-Spray to their line-up of compact amenity sprayers.

The little sibling to the industry-leading Micro-Spray, the Nano-Spray is an ultra-compact, 36 litre, fully-electric self-propelled sprayer that delivers a high precision spray application with no impact on fine turf.

Introducing Nano-Spray

Introducing Nano-Spray

In an industry where precision is paramount, spraying delicate areas like cricket strips and golf greens can be a challenge. Vehicles used to move sprayers can damage the turf, which has led to the adoption of small push-along and knapsack sprayers. While easier on the turf, these alternatives present their own set of limitations, most notably small tank capacities, and uneven spray application.

Targeted for use on smaller amenity areas and serving as an invaluable tool for contractors, the Nano-Spray is small enough to fit through most gateways and passageways. Despite its small size, it is fully equipped with an array of features typically reserved for larger, professional-grade specification sprayers.

Designed from the ground up, the durable yet lightweight space frame chassis is propelled by an advanced rear wheel drive system and a calibrated 12 speed controller. The UV-safe 36 litre polyurethane tank feeds a 2m folding boom via a two-section valve block. The Nano-Spray also comes equipped as standard with boom break backs, independent shut-off nozzle bodies and chemical agitation.

At the heart of the Nano-Spray is a custom built 24-volt lithium battery pack, ensuring consistent peak performance for over an hour of continuous spraying. The battery compartment is designed to store up to 3 batteries, effectively giving an impressive runtime of over 3 hours; a handy battery gauge is mounted in the control panel to give the user an indication of remaining battery life.

Up front, an ergonomic steering handle provides a simple trigger throttle system and a spray on/off button for easy fingertip control of spraying. An integrated rocker switch allows the user to change the motor direction for ultimate manoeuvrability.

“We wanted to get it right” says Joel Capper, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “Our sprayer line-up has a reputation for reliability and durability that we wanted to ensure was carried through to the Nano-Spray during the design stage. It has been an eagerly awaited product to add to our line-up, and we hope our amenity customers will see it as a valuable addition to their armoury”.

The Nano-Spray will be on display for the first time at Saltex 2023, in November on the Martin Lishman stand (E080).

For further information, visit www.martinlishman.com. Sales enquiries can be made directly to sales@martinlishman.com.

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