Hundreds of brands commit to GroundsFest

/in , /by

Hundreds of brands commit to GroundsFest: Over 100 exhibitors have booked to attend GroundsFest 2023 with more confirming their presence each week.

The event, which is the talk of the industry, will be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September 2023.

Hundreds of brands commit to GroundsFest

Hundreds of brands commit to GroundsFest

Over 9,000 square metres of space has already been taken by a wide range of exhibitors with over 75% of allocated space accounted for as the event continues to grow.

These impressive figures are testament to just how well the show has been received by the industry. Close to 5,000 visitors, which includes grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, local authorities, estate managers and contractors, have already signalled their intention to attend by registering for the GroundsFest visitor newsletter.

Attendees can expect to see hundreds of brands at the event. Some of the latest names to confirm their presence at GroundsFest include Honda, STIHL, AMS Robotics, The Pitchmark Group, KAR UK, Wicksteed Leisure, ICL, Dennis & SISIS, Shelton Sportsturf Drainage, Origin Amenity, Kress UK, EGO, Makita, Greenbest, Soil Scout, Karcher UK, Foley Grinders, RT Machinery and Etesia UK.

Commenting on Etesia UK’s decision to exhibit at GroundsFest, Managing Director Les Malin, said:

“I believe GroundsFest could be exactly what the groundscare industry needs in terms of trade shows. We have all been attending the same existing shows which have not changed for several years. Therefore, I think we should all be looking forward to something different.

“There is no such thing as too many shows in my opinion; it is more about having events that work for individual companies. We are all different, but we all want to give our customers the chance to experience something new and exciting. GroundsFest will offer exactly this.”

The indoor halls and outside areas of GroundsFest will not only feature hundreds of exhibitors and products in action, but it will also include a free-to-attend LANTRA accredited education programme, free practical training sessions, the largest retail area ever to be seen at a groundscare event, a dedicated landscaping zone, a music festival and much more.

Commenting on the event’s promising start, GroundsFest’s Event Director Christopher Bassett, said: “GroundsFest continues to grow, and the sales team are receiving new enquiries every week. We have also been upbeat about how much interest we are receiving from visitors. There promises to be a diverse visitor profile at GroundsFest this year and we can’t wait to see the magic unfold in September.”

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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.

Trilo offering the scarification solutions

/in , /by

Trilo offering the scarification solutions: The start of spring growth signals the safe return for some of the most critical mechanical maintenance operations – which can bring a significant boost to plant health.

Effective scarification can encourage healthy growth, tackle weed ingress and create an environment less favourable to fungal activity. Among the range of scarification tools from Trilo are solutions for both fine turf and sports turf applications which, when combined with effective husbandy, can have not just environmental benefits but financial savings too!

Trilo offering the scarification solutions

Trilo offering the scarification solutions

For flat surfaces, the Trilo VCU range offers effective scarification down to depths of 40mm. Available in 1.5m or 2m working widths, PTO drive provides reliable power to the rotor – equipped with 3mm thick manganese steel knives, capable of cutting through thatch layers and opening the surface up for more effective overseeding and better penetration for moisture and nutrients. The robust design delivers rigid strength, while the working depth of the VCU150 and VCU200 is simple to adjust via the threaded spindle, accessible on the sides of the unit. An optional undulation kit, comprising of gauge wheels, can be fitted to the rear of the frame for improved results on uneven ground.

Working up through the range and offering verti-cutting and collection in a single pass, is the 1.5m Trilo C15. Ideal for sports fields and local authority applications, the C15 offers a compact and versatile solution for scarification, utilising 3mm thick blades and wind paddles to effectively remove large quantities of thatch up and into the 1m3 hopper. Emptied easily via hydraulic lift and tip, the hopper also features a dust cover which makes for a more pleasant operator experience when working in dry conditions. The knives can be quickly accessed for simple cleaning, maintenance or changing for twisted flail blades, converting the C15 into a cut and collect machine.

Moving up again and proving that multi-function doesn’t have to mean compromise is the Trilo M4 vacuum collector which, when fitted with scarifier shaft, allows for effective scarification on large areas such as parks and fairways. When not in use for leaf collection through the autumn and winter, consider equipping the M4 with one of Trilo’s many scarification blade options for quick, single-person, thatch removal and clean collection via its large 4m3 hopper. The scarifier shaft can then be easily swapped again, for a flail shaft – delivering quick and convenient cut and collection throughout the summer months.

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.

Terrain Aeration injects polymer

/in , /by

Terrain Aeration injects polymer: While it may be wet, water everywhere at the moment we will soon be heading into the summer months. That’s when the problems begin for turf and trees. Increasingly, year on year, we are seeing the effects of global warming across our landscape as droughts persist.

Sports pitches, golf courses, trees in parks, amenity areas right through to lawns in private gardens will all suffer from the lack of rainfall. Ground becomes hard and compacted to considerable depth and when the rains do come, this often leads to standing surface water and waterlogging.

Terrain Aeration injects polymer

Terrain Aeration injects polymer

Suffolk-based Terrain Aeration has specialised in one-metre deep soil aeration to relieve compaction, panning, and waterlogging nationally for over thirty years. While that takes care of the drainage and aeration when it’s very wet there remains the opposite problem of grass and tree roots not getting enough water in periods of drought. It’s a problem addressed by the same machine, Terrain Aeration’s Terralift system, that aerates the soil at depth by releasing compressed air via its one-metre depth probe. As that fragments the soil to create fissures and cracks to allow drainage and aeration, the probe can also inject water-storing polymer. Once in place, the polymer will expand one-hundred fold with rainwater or irrigation water which it stores for the turf or tree roots to take up as needed. It’s a one-way system, so the polymer does not take water from the roots.

In this way, we will be able to make better use of what water we have and it’s a very long-term process as the polymer takes a long time to degrade. Spreading the polymer on the surface is not practical, as when it rains it turns into a gel, making the area dangerous to walk and play on. Injecting it into the ground using the Terralift machine offers the best, most beneficial, and wholly cost-effective method, says the company. Terrain Aeration is the only operator of the Terralift in the UK and the treatment has proven itself since 1985. There are different versions of the machine to treat large open spaces such as sports grounds, golf courses, and avenues of trees to narrow accesses onto bowling greens and gardens. Anywhere from airports to zoos.

Terrain Aeration www.terrainaeration.co.uk  01449 673783

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.

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc

/in , /by

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc: The central risk with lithium-ion batteries is fire. They might be unlikely to catch fire – but they can, through faults inside the battery, or from external damage.

With this in mind Pellenc, distributed in the UK by Etesia UK has launched the Securion storage option.

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc

When they do catch fire, the consequences can be serious. The batteries are most at risk when being stored and charged, and therefore extra thought on safety features should be explored.

Lithium-ion batteries have raised increasing interest due to their high potential for providing efficient energy storage and environmental sustainability. It is no wonder that the batteries are now used in a wide range of groundscare tools and machinery.

Naturally, increasing attention is being paid to the safety performance of the batteries which has been intensified due to several reported fires. It appears that the majority of problems arise when the batteries are being charged and stored overnight. In fact, even the best batteries can suffer from knocks and drops resulting in potential damage to cells. This damage rarely comes to light until they are charged.

Securion from Pellenc is one solution which is already proving to be an extremely popular choice with councils, large contractors, schools, colleges, universities, golf clubs, and several other sports clubs.

Pellenc is considered a pioneer in the lithium-ion battery industry and Securion offers a convincing solution for the storage, charging, provision, and safety of lithium-ion batteries.

This unique charging and storage F90 rated cabinet was developed by Pellenc with one of the leading German manufacturers of security cabinets, which holds patents on key security functions.

Securion has been designed to protect employees, buildings and equipment from fire, heat and toxic fumes and smoke gases.

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc

Prevent fires with Securion from Pellenc

In the event of a fire, the doors inside or outside the Securion cabinet close automatically. This not only ensures security overnight and at the weekend, but it also protects employees or customers who are present.

In an emergency, those affected have enough time to get to safety and to alert rescue services. Fire, vapours, and fumes remain mostly inside the cabinet and can even be extracted directly via the standard ventilation connection. This gives the fire services control and allows the cabinet to be opened backdraft-safely at any time after it has been triggered – regardless of whether the source of the fire is inside the cabinet or outside the building.

While the batteries are being safely stored, they can also be charged, and, thanks to extensive internal electrification, the Securion also offers TÜV-tested fire protection for charging devices and batteries from other manufacturers.

Depending on which Securion model you choose, the cabinets can hold up to 40 lithium-ion batteries.

Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

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

You can also follow Pellenc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PellencUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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.

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

/in , /by

Newark GC note improvements in reliability: Newark Golf Club are one of a growing list of UK courses discovering the many benefits that Aspen Fuel brings to the operation of their petrol-powered equipment.

It’s been three years since Course Manager Alex Clarricoates made the switch to Aspen 2 and Aspen 4 for a selection of their machinery and hand tools – including seasonal equipment which now starts first time, every time, even after significant periods in storage.

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

Newark GC note improvements in reliability

“We were familiar with Aspen and decided to give it a try during COVID, when we started to encounter difficulties in accessing pump fuel” explains Alex, who has been at the 18-hole parkland course for 15 years. “It’s not until you incorporate it into the day to day operations that you really begin to appreciate the improvements that an ethanol-free alkylate fuel can have for both the operators and the equipment. The biggest benefit for me is the shelf-life of Aspen, which has seen us get equipment out of the shed which has been dormant for a year and starts again with no trouble at all.”

Together with damaging plastic and rubber components, ethanol binds moisture which then acidifies, causing the issues commonly experienced with ‘gummy deposits’, reliability issues and reduced storage life. Being free from ethanol as well as benzene, sulphur and many other harmful substances, Aspen Alkylate petrol offers a clean alternative for both 2 and 4-stroke engines – available in a range of pack sizes and bulk ordering available, which includes safe and convenient delivery to site.

“We use roughly 400 litres of the 4-stroke Aspen, and 200 litres of the 2-stroke each year, both delivered in 200 litre barrels and stored exactly where we need it. Another benefit we’ve found is the Aspen 2 being pre-mixed which has eliminated issues we’ve experienced in the past where incorrect fuel to oil ratios have resulted in faults with some of our 2-stroke engines.”

Along with reduction in service time and the associated costs, Alex notes that improvements have also been observed to the operator working environment. “The cleaner burn results in a big reduction in noxious fumes so, when you’re working with a chainsaw in dense woodland for example, you’ll notice that come the end of the day you don’t have headaches.” These qualities have also been well received by the club. “Like a lot of venues we’re looking at sustainability and ways of reducing the impact we make on our surroundings. Aspen Alkylate powering our petrol equipment is a great step forward in us being more environmentally friendly.”

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.