New CEO joins Trilo at SALTEX

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New CEO joins Trilo at SALTEX: It’s been an exciting period of growth for the Vanmac group since their last appearance at SALTEX, with new premises, new products and more new faces joining the team.

This year, stand K070 will feature highlights such as the Progressive TDR-X tri-deck contour mower and infamous Trilo S3 vacuum collector, with the technical team on hand to discuss these and other products from across the Vanmac and Trilo portfolios.

New CEO joins Trilo at SALTEX

New CEO joins Trilo at SALTEX

More than a year on from the extension of the partnership between Vanmac and Progressive, this has borne fruit for both parties with the range of innovative, rotary finishing mowers delivering first-class quality of cut for turf managers across the country and the full spectrum of applications. Debuted at SALTEX 2021, the Progressive TDR-X is now setting the standard for contour following ability – with three independent floating decks offering a cutting height range from 9.5mm to 84.5mm and cutting width of 3.2m. This ability to cut precisely, without scalping, makes the TDR-X a firm favourite with golf courses, local authorities and large-area green-space managers.

Sitting alongside the TDR-X, visitors can expect to see a number of leaf clearance solutions from the Trilo range including the multi-purpose S3 and the BL960. The BL960 is the largest blower in the Trilo range and one of the most powerful on the market. Offering a capacity of 385m3/min and delivering an airspeed of 75m/s, the BL960 offers the fast and effective clearance of leaves to both the left and the right of the unit thanks to the 180o adjustability of the exhaust spout.

Also on the stand will be Vanmac’s new CEO Christiaan Arends. No stranger to the groundcare sector, Christiaan joins Vanmac after more than 20 years at the Royal Barenbrug Group where, amongst other positions, he was working as Head of Marketing and Sales for the last eight years. Since August 2022, he has sat alongside Leo van Loen and Peter van Mispelaar on the board of Vanmac to drive the further expansion and optimisation of activities across the group. Commenting on his appointment, Christiaan said “I am delighted to now be a part of a strong team, who are passionate about what they produce, and all share the serious ambition of growing the company further. I look forward to meeting customers old and new at SALTEX this November.”

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Weedingtech highlight hybrid power

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Weedingtech highlight hybrid power: Weedingtech, the world leaders in non-herbicidal weed control, will be returning to SALTEX with their revolutionary Foamstream product, with visitors to stand E057 able to see the very first hybrid powered unit – the M600H.

The chemical-free solution to vegetation management is already a firm favourite with a number of councils and local authorities around the country, with the new M600H offering further benefits to the operator and wider environment.

Weedingtech highlight hybrid power

Weedingtech highlight hybrid power

With changes to herbicide and environmental legislation and growing public pressure to reduce usage of harmful weedkillers and chemicals in green space management, Foamstream has fast become recognised as the future of non-chemical control. In trials, Foamstream has been proven to be as effective at treating broadleaf weeds – including species that can be difficult to control by conventional methods – as Glyphosate.

Its active ingredient is hot water, which is insulated by a patented foam formulated from 100% natural plant oils and sugars meaning it can be used in any weather and on any surface, including environmentally-sensitive areas and those close to children or animals. The foam maintains kill zone temperatures for six times longer than other heat-based treatments, killing the weed, damaging the root and sterilising seeds and spores to reduce re-growth. This means Foamstream requires fewer treatment cycles than any other alternative solution on the market.

Foamstream is delivered via industry-leading machinery, available in different sizes and with different power options, suitable to mount on a variety of UTV’s or municipal vehicles. The M600H is Weedingtech’s first hybrid unit, combining the economy of Lithium-Ion battery power with the proven efficiency of a diesel-powered boiler. The M600H offers a flow rate of 6 litres per minute and, as the quietest unit in the range, is particularly well suited to jobs in inner-city and rural environments.

In addition to controlling weeds, moss and other unwanted vegetation, the M600H offers further benefit by tackling a host of other urban tasks including sanitisation, gum removal and the cleaning of graffiti.

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Stressbuster is key to nutrition

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Stressbuster is key to nutrition: The Head Greenkeeper at Knole Park Golf Club, in Sevenoaks, Kent, has explained how his entire nutritional programme revolves around ICL’s Vitalnova Stressbuster. 

Knole Park Golf Club is a course steeped in history and is regularly named as one of the top 100 courses in England. With one of the UK’s finest National Trust sites located at one end, the golf course is set across a beautiful, rolling deer park at the other.

Stressbuster is key to nutrition

Stressbuster is key to nutrition

Kris Durrant is the Head Greenkeeper who works tirelessly to maintain the course and claims that his main aim, when the time comes, is to hand the course over in a better condition than it was than when he took it on.

It all starts with the performance of the greens. “As Head Greenkeepers we are judged on how well the greens play,” he said. “In my opinion we have to have the greens playing to a good standard first, then start expanding out to other playing areas.”

Therefore, when Kris began working at the club three years ago, he started looking for products that would help improve the greens. Vitalnova Stressbuster was suggested to him by Andrew Pledger, ICL Technical Area Sales Manager, after Kris outlined exactly what he was hoping to achieve.

“I trialled Stressbuster and was very impressed – the performance of the product was the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ve used many products in my time,” he said.

Vitalnova Stressbuster is a unique liquid formulation designed to pre-condition turf against stress and also aid recovery from stress. The product can be used all year round which is something that impressed Kris.

Kris applies Vitalnova Stressbuster twice a month to his greens and collars at a rate of 20 L/ha.

“The colour it helps produce is the stand-out feature for me,” he said. “It isn’t an in-your-face, artificial green colour. Instead, it provides a nice, subtle green – the way greens should look. It stays this nice consistent colour for the duration I require, and you don’t get any flush of growth from it.

“When I first started working here, we suffered from a lot of dry patch on our greens, and Stressbuster has helped due to the surfactant within it. We just don’t get dry patch any longer.”

Kris sees best results from utilising Vitalnova Stressbuster in a tank-mix which consists of Qualibra, Vitalnova SMX, Greenmaster Liquid Spring & Summer and Primo Maxx II growth regulator.

“How we apply this depends on the weather and the condition of the turf,” continued Kris. “We might need to add extra nutrition from time to time or we may take something out. For example, we will adjust the amount of Primo Maxx II or perhaps we’ll add some iron if there is any disease lurking about to save using a fungicide. We might also up the nutrition rates during periods of high Anthracnose pressure.

“Ultimately, everything revolves around Stressbuster – it is the main product in our nutrition programme. If I’m being honest – I would be using it everywhere if I had the budget!”

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

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Hozelock-Exel at SALTEX 2022

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Hozelock-Exel at SALTEX 2022: Professional knapsack specialists Cooper Pegler are introducing padded straps to its Classic and Series 2000 models to heighten operator comfort and limit body strain during use.

Many of the go-to knapsack models across the popular brand include ergonomically tailored harnesses to channel loading forces in a way that limits stresses on the body.

Hozelock-Exel at SALTEX 2022

Hozelock-Exel at SALTEX 2022

The latest advance from manufacturer Hozelock-Exel, which follows extensive trialling, further enhances operator safety and protection to include cushioned strapping on Cooper Pegler’s Classic and Series 2000 knapsack models.

“This is a global initiative,” says Allan Wainwright, Hozelock-Exel’s UK Sales Manager, “which aims to make our knapsack brands fully inclusive for all spray operatives.”

The cushioned strapping is introduced at a time when more sports venues and amenity sites are reducing the quantity of treatment liquids they apply in a bid to improve their green credentials.

Golf course greens teams report they are using knapsacks increasingly for spot-spray weed control, a practice that cuts the quantity of liquid applied significantly.

More knapsack hand spraying raises the importance of operator comfort to new levels, therefore.

“Those who spend a full day knapsack spraying will find the new cushioned straps more comfortable,” Allan adds, “reducing the stresses and strains possible on the body during extensive sessions in the field.”

The strapping is understood to be available on new knapsacks from March 2023 but models already in use can be retrofitted with the accessory once launched.

Visitors to Saltex 2022 will be able try out knapsacks fitted with the cushioned straps on the Hozelock-Exel stand, F125.

www.cooper-pegler.com

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Makita launches 36V blower

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Makita launches 36V blower: Expanding its range of grounds maintenance tools and machines, Makita has launched the UB002C 36V Battery Backpack Blower. Designed to meet the needs of professional contractors, the UB002C matches the performance of a 50cc petrol machine and delivers the long run-times required but with minimal noise and vibration.

The powerful UB002C features a simple variable speed control and produces a blowing force of 22 newtons, a maximum air volume of up to 19.0 m3 /min and an air velocity of up to 76.0 m/sec. The 36V power is supplied by the Makita PDC1200 portable backpack battery, which can be used with a range of compatible Makita cordless machines. The PDC1200 includes a 33Ah solid state battery and with the UB002C provides approximately a 45-minute continuous run-time at maximum power, offering most contractors enough to cover a day’s work based on actual trigger time.

Makita launches 36V blower

Makita launches 36V blower

One of the key advantages of the backpack configuration of the UB002C is that it reduces user fatigue, especially when used for longer periods of time. With the weight of the machine and battery transferred to the user’s back, rather than supported by their arm, the UB002C can be operated more comfortably for longer. The design of the harness, with padding in key areas, also makes it comfortable to wear.

For ease of use, the UB002C has a cruise control feature, an adjustable control grip position and LED battery gauge indicator for simple power monitoring. It is also IPX4 rated meaning it is showerproof and can therefore be used in changeable weather conditions.

The UB002C is available as a body only (UB002CZ) option or supplied with the PDC1200A02 portable battery pack (UB002CX3).

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “The UB002C is ideal for professional contractors who are looking for the power of a petrol machine but with the low noise, vibration and minimal environmental impact of cordless power.”

To find out more visit www.makitauk.com.

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