Syngenta appoints new Biologicals Technical Manager

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Syngenta appoints new Biologicals Technical Manager: With the growing importance of biological products to enhance the agronomy of professional turf management and production of high-quality ornamentals, Syngenta has created a new dedicated role of Biologicals Technical Manager, to further develop the exciting new technologies.

The company has appointed the experienced research scientist, Dr Hui (Eric) Chen, to support and develop the integration of biological products within the Syngenta Professional Solutions team across Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME).

Syngenta appoints new Biologicals Technical Manager

Syngenta appoints new Biologicals Technical Manager

Eric graduated in crop and soil sciences from Beijing Forestry University in China, before continuing education and research at Michigan State and Rutgers University in the US. He gained his PhD in plant biology with emphasis on turfgrass management from Rutgers University.

During his work in the US, Eric had also pioneered new techniques and published numerous research papers to enhance management of turfgrass stress due to biotic and abiotic factors.

Since moving to Europe and the UK, Eric has worked as a research scientist at the internationally acclaimed STRI (formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute) at Bingley in Yorkshire. He has been involved with collaborative university and commercial businesses to instigate, trial and develop precision plant management tools and techniques.

Commenting on his appointment, Eric said: “I admire Syngenta’s commitment to sustainability and constant striving to improve the ways that customers’ can successfully manage plants, through its ongoing investment in R&D.”

“I believe my experience and perspective will help Syngenta to build its capabilities quickly and effectively in the biologicals arena, for both turf and ornamentals.”

Syngenta Product Biology Lead for Professional Solutions, Marcel Breedeveld, added: “Biological products undoubtedly have an increasingly important role in practical agronomic decisions. However, their use has to be based on robust and reliable science to enable effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Eric’s skills and knowledge will ensure we can develop better and more sustainable long-term solutions for our customers over the coming seasons.”

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Tyre-Line head to SALTEX

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Tyre-Line head to SALTEX: Tyre-Line will again be exhibiting at this year’s SALTEX show at the NEC Birmingham, stand D082, bringing their extensive knowledge and product portfolio to the UK’s Premier Turf Management exhibition.

Aftermarket Tyres, Wheels & Specialist Services

Tyre-Line’s Aftermarket sales and support division pride themselves on their vast knowledge and extensive experience supplying the aftermarket tyre and machinery markets with tyres, wheels and associated accessories. They are able to offer services such as tread pattern conversions (Agri to Turf and vice versa), bespoke wheel and tyre fitments along with specialist patterns and fitment advice for all Groundscare, ATV/UTV, High Speed Trailer, Compact Agricultural and Construction machinery.

Tyre-Line head to SALTEX

Tyre-Line head to SALTEX

Being Official UK Distributor of Carlisle & ITP Tyres and Wheels gives Tyre-Line un-restricted access to one of the world’s biggest, specialist tyre suppliers for Lawn & Garden, ATV/UTV and Agriculture & Construction tyres. With a heritage of supplying many prestigious names with O.E. fitments including John Deere, Countax, Polaris, Can-Am, Toro, Cub Cadet and more, Carlisle & ITP have been at the forefront of tyre development and technology for over 100 years and Tyre-Line are proud to be Official UK Distributor and will once again be exhibiting their extensive range of Carlisle Lawn, Garden & Golf Tyres at SALTEX.

Tyre-Line will also be showcasing the revolutionary Michelin Tweel Airless Radial Tyre for Zero Turn Mowers at SALTEX. The Michelin Tweel is a single unit, replacing the existing tyre and wheel assembly with a No Maintenance, No Compromise & No Downtime tyre and wheel assembly. Michelin Tweel’s require no complex mounting equipment and once fitted require no inflation pressure maintenance. They provide a consistent hub height ensuring an even cut, excellent lateral stability on hillsides and sloped terrain along with excellent operator comfort even when navigating curbs and other bumps with unique energy transfer within the Polyresin spokes help to reduce the “bounce” associated with pneumatic tyres while providing improved handling.
The Michelin Tweel is available to order now with fitments for a wide range of makes and models of Zero Turn machines directly from Tyre-Line’s Aftermarket division

Original Equipment Tyres & Wheels

Over the past 30 years, Tyre-Line’s Original Equipment Division have partnered with many of the industry’s biggest names in Groundscare, Trailer and ATV/UTV markets including the likes of John Deere, Kubota, Logic, Nugent & Ariens. Supplying customer specific tyre and wheel fitments from their centrally located, 50,000 sq.ft purpose built facility in Daventry, Northamptonshire, Tyre-Line have a wealth of experience, coupled with a comprehensive product range from industry leading brands allowing them to offer application specific solutions

Visit Tyre-Line Aftermarket on Stand D082 at this year’s SALTEX show at the NEC, Birmingham on 2nd & 3rd November or contact the team on 01458 250350.

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Moasure at SALTEX 2022

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Moasure at SALTEX 2022: Moasure®, the brand behind the world’s first motion-based measuring tool will perform live demonstrations of its revolutionary device that’s transforming the UK’s landscaping industry at this year’s SALTEX tradeshow.

Changing the way professionals measure complex spaces, Moasure ONE is rapidly becoming the tool-of-choice with its ability to rapidly calculate area and measure changes in elevation.

Moasure at SALTEX 2022

Moasure at SALTEX 2022

With over 7,000 industry professionals expected to attend, SALTEX will host over 400 exhibitors with the latest innovative products demonstrated to attendees from a variety of industries including landscaping, sports, lawn care, playground design and equipment.

Utilising accelerometers, gyroscopes and advanced, proprietary algorithms, Moasure ONE measures its own movement without relying on cell phone signal or GPS. Using Bluetooth technology, measurements taken with the device are drawn in real-time through Moasure’s companion smartphone app that allows contractors to view a comprehensive 3D diagram of a job site.

Aiming at the needs of time-poor professionals, Moasure ONE replaces traditional, error-prone measuring tools, allowing experts in the landscaping, sports, lawn care, playground design industries to quickly and accurately estimate jobs.

Completed measurements can then be transferred from the Moasure companion smartphone app into design software without any additional costs.

Now in its eighth decade, SALTEX is Europe’s largest free-admission sports turf, amenities, and landscaping tradeshow and will take place on 2nd – 3rd November at Birmingham’s NEC.

Industry professionals are invited to visit Moasure at SALTEX, where the team will perform live demonstrations throughout the show at Stand F100.

SALTEX is one of over a dozen 2022 international events that have seen Moasure demonstrate its measuring tool to thousands of professionals across a host of industries.

Earlier this month, Moasure ONE won two prestigious accolades including the 2022 ‘Best in Show’ award at LANDSCAPE – and the 2022 Innovation Award at GaLaBau, one of Europe’s biggest international trade shows dedicated to the landscape design and construction industries.

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Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

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Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC: Machines are in high demand and Shotts Golf Club has bagged itself a rare gem – an ex-demo hybrid mower from Toro dealer Reesink Scotland.

Located half-way between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Shotts Golf Club was in the market for a hybrid mower with longevity. Course manager Andrew Kirk, who has been managing operations for a little over two years, explains: “This is not the first time the club has had an electric or hybrid mower, but it is the first time we’ve had a Toro one. Reliability was an issue with our old electric machine, which didn’t last very long compared to the price we had paid – – not even five years, so this time I went for Toro whose reputation for longevity and reliability is widely known.”

Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

Ex-demo Toro mower for Shotts GC

 

In terms of going with an ex-demo machine, Andrew says: “Being more sustainable also means reutilising as much as possible and skipping a brand-new machine for one that had had some light usage is something that fits with our overall ethos and approach to sustainability. The fact that it was available immediately and delivered very quickly was a major plus.”

When it launched in 2019, Toro’s Greensmaster eTriFlex 3360 hybrid greensmower was the perfect example of hybrid technology in a riding greensmower. The combination of a Kawasaki engine with battery assist technology offered the best of both worlds. Saving up to 20 percent in fuel and a constant 2,400 rpm with shrouded engine for amazingly quiet operation, but with a known diesel engine, it was a reliable, more sustainable energy source.

Andrew continues: “Being hybrid limits the hydraulic bursts on the greens and not having to deal with that was a big thing for me. The team much prefers this model to the previous one. They like the ease of setting it up, including the height setting, and the way it’s so straight-forward, it’s a surprisingly simple machine to use when you consider the technology involved. That saves us so much time and energy that we can spend elsewhere.”

The club has made many eco-friendly changes including roughs management that allows certain areas to remain uncut to provide habitats for different forms of wildlife. The next step for Andrew and the team is to look at water management options for rainwater capture, coupled with filtration and aeration, but for now, being able to tend to the greens with a lot more peace of mind is already a much-welcomed improvement.

Andrew concludes: “We are certainly looking into replacing more machines in the future with hybrid and electric alternatives but for now, this one is doing very well and we’re very happy with the purchase.”

Gareth Rogers, area sales specialist at Reesink Scotland, who facilitated the transaction, adds: “It was a pleasure providing Andrew with a reliable solution, which has helped make his job a little bit easier and makes this job worthwhile. Ex-demo machines through Reesink are stripped down and any warn down parts are replaced with new ones. We make sure the machines are restored so that they are as close to new condition as possible before they are sold.”

To talk to someone about how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

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Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers: A newly installed Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK, is part of a long-term plan to help futureproof Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, according to Head Groundsman Ed Mowe.

With a CV boasting positions at Leicester City Football Club, England FA’s St George’s Park and now Leicester City Tigers, it is safe to say that Ed knows how to produce a high-quality sports pitch. He has been with the Tigers for six years and he now believes that the time has come to look to the future.

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

“The old surface was coming towards the end of its life span, and we are going to be hosting more games soon because we’ve got a Leicester Tigers Women’s team, who will be playing their home games here. So, this year, we had a new pitch constructed and we also saw an opportunity to replace all our irrigation sprinkler heads. The previous heads were old, and we were trying to replace them as they were breaking, so it just made sense to start fresh.

“Ultimately, we want to futureproof the stadium and the pitch, so it can be in the best possible shape moving forwards.”

The pitch construction was carried out by Premier Turf who worked with Prime Irrigation. It was decided that the pitch would benefit from a mixture of Hunter TTS-885 and I-80 rotors, which were supplied by KAR UK – the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK.

The 885 rotor belongs to the Hunter TTS-800 portfolio and provides maximum uniformity and longevity. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use, or poor water quality are mitigated.

The TTS-885 also benefits from Hunter’s patented TTS (Total-Top-Service) technology which allows for every serviceable element of the rotor to be accessed through the top.

Mechanical and electrical, big and small, you can get to every component without disturbing the playing surface. That means there’s no more digging, no more unsightly scars, and more importantly, one less item on a busy turf manager’s schedule. Other notable features of the TTS-885 include true full-circle and adjustable part-circle (60° to 360°), exclusive PressurePort™ nozzle technology, and a radius of 11.3 to 28.7 m.

Meanwhile the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 m. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides TTS via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring.

To accompany the rotors Ed opted for the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform and the Roam remote – which eliminates the need to go back and forth to the sprinkler controller. This connectivity allows you to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notifications of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

Hunter helps to futureproof the Tigers

“This year really has proved just how important a good irrigation system is,” said Ed. “The rotors provide us with excellent coverage, and they are not as prone to drift. Previously we were getting a lot of drift off the old heads. They are incredibly easy to use and maintain – you can simply pull them out and there is no digging involved. You don’t have to take them apart to alter the arcs. I’ve not had any issues with them at all and they perform excellently.

“The Centralus and the Roam remote have also been of huge benefit,” continued Ed. “It is all connected to the internet so I can easily sort out the various irrigation programmes. Having this flexibility has saved us thousands of pounds too because, if for example, I have set a programme and we get a big downpour of rain then I can simply switch it off. Also, in this respect we can target specific areas on the pitch. We just keep the remote in our pockets and if we see a dry patch or the manager wants a certain area watered, we can switch it on with the press of a button.

“Overall, I’m really impressed – and the irrigation system is absolutely helping to futureproof the pitch. It has helped to keep the moisture levels up for the grass to grow and the whole package just works for us.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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