STAR EV supports sustainable approach

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STAR EV supports sustainable approach: Radley College has chosen to replace its fleet of utility vehicles with STAR EV’s Capella Work Machines stating the lithium-ion energy source as the key reason for choosing the new brand to the UK market.

The prestigious boys school in Oxfordshire needed to replace an ageing UTV fleet and made the decision to go electric as part of its sustainability plans to become carbon neutral in the next few years.

STAR EV supports sustainable approach

STAR EV supports sustainable approach

Adam King, head of grounds, says: “Making this commitment to a fleet of all-electric utility vehicles is part of the estate’s plans to become more sustainable. While new to the market, what caught our attention with the STAR EV range were the Lithium-ion batteries. Other brands have lead acid and that’s just not as favourable when it comes to longevity and charging.”

The Capella Work Machine, of which Radley College has bought eight, is powered by a 48v 5Kw motor and comes with a high powered 10Kw lithium-ion battery charged via an on-board Lester charger. Users can opportunistically charge and can expect a good 60 miles per charge. Plus there’s no need to worry about power drifting away as there’s a constant amount delivered throughout the discharge.

The machines will be used predominantly by the gardening department and Adam references the machines’ 670kgs payload as another reason for choosing the Capellas, he says: “These machines will be used for everyday activities such as transporting waste or litter and landscape materials around, carrying lawnmowers, and assisting in heavier workloads with fencing projects and hard landscaping with slabs and all sorts in the back. The payload capacity means we know we can load them up and get on with it.”

Star EV is distributed in the UK by Reesink e-Vehicles, a division of Reesink UK who Radley College has used for many years for its turfcare machinery. Adam says: “It is an advantage that we can continue using Reesink for our electric utility vehicles, we trust them as a distributor and know they provide excellent back up support. But that was by no means the deciding factor, STAR EV stands up on its own as a worthy contender in the fleet vehicles market.

“They’re good value and support our ethos for future-proofing the purchases we make and getting the best out of everything. We’re really pleased to have them on board our journey to carbon neutrality.”

Dave French, sales manager for Reesink e-Vehicles, comments: “The next generation are very aware about the importance of our reducing carbon footprint and being kind to the planet. So it’s fitting that Radley College has chosen STAR EV as a suitable replacement for most of its utility vehicles for the grounds department. The Work Machines are zero emissions with lithium-ion batteries. So no leaks, no top ups and no charging emissions. They also tip-toe quietly around the site without disturbing the students while the work.”

To talk to Reesink e-Vehicles about the STAR EV range, call 01480 226800 or go online at reesink-evehicles.co.uk

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STIGA garden machinery

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STIGA garden machinery: With one of the largest specialist UK distributor networks for lawnmowers and hand-held garden machinery, all selling predominantly European manufactured equipment, STIGA is a major force in the British market.

The STIGA group spans more than a century of experience in the sector in the UK and is a leading producer of European designed and manufactured batteries for use within its mowers, garden ride-ons and hand-held powered garden products.

STIGA garden machinery

STIGA garden machinery

In addition to STIGA branded products the UK company also owns Mountfield and ATCO.  The STIGA brand in the UK market features an innovative, class leading battery powered range, with all products designed at the company’s Italian headquarters in Italy with manufacturing plants there and in Slovakia and China.

The UK headquarters in Plymouth is one of 14 commercial offices in Europe that oversee sales of STIGA garden machinery in more than 70 countries worldwide.  In the UK STIGA  is poised to become a major brand leader in battery powered garden machinery.

The ‘green-fingered’ engineering and design team in Italy is a leading force in developing battery powered equipment that will tick all the boxes as we strive for environmentally positive gardening across Europe.  The batteries are designed using the very latest technology to produce clean, efficient and easily rechargeable power.

“We are at the cutting edge of design in battery power for garden products,” says Gary Whitney, managing director of STIGA UK.   “Our ethos is always to be the best in the market and to achieve this our European R & D team has brought creative and exciting new innovations to British gardeners.  Products that make not just lawn mowing, but pruning, cutting, trimming and even cleaning easier and more environmentally secure.”

The perfect example of this is the new versatile SWIFT garden ride-on.  It is the world’s first battery powered rider with removable batteries that can be shared with a wide-range of hand-held garden products from within the STIGA range.  This includes strimmers, long reach pruners, hedge cutters, blowers and mowers.

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Scotscraig GC future proofs with Wiedenmann

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Scotscraig GC future proofs with Wiedenmann: A golf club with a 205-year-old history has bought a powerful Wiedenmann blower to save significantly on time and be ready for any adverse weather conditions.

Scotscraig at Tayport, Fife, founded in 1817, is 13th on the list of earliest golf clubs. Its amateur gold medal competition, which started the same year, is still going strong, and lays claim to being the world’s oldest.

Scotscraig GC future proofs with Wiedenmann

Scotscraig GC future proofs with Wiedenmann

Near neighbour to both the Old Course, St Andrews, and Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotscraig’s design was influenced originally by Old Tom Morris, and later by James Braid. It is a championship course in a traditional loop. Uniquely, it is part links, part heathland and part parkland in equal measure, presenting a recurring challenge to golfers, and its greenkeeping team, alike.

Course Manager, Darren McKenna, joined the club in July 21, as deputy course manager, became acting course manager in October 21 and in February 22, his role in charge was confirmed.

In March, he took delivery of a Mega Twister from Wiedenmann UK’s Scottish dealer, Fairways GM at Kinross.

“With an immediate requirement for a blower, I went straight for a Wiedenmann because of reliability and efficiency. Previously as course manager at Camperdown (Dundee), we had owned a Wiedenmann Whisper Twister, then later upgraded to a Mega Twister, so it is kit I know well, and its ability is proven,” began Darren.

“Last autumn and winter much debris here was collected by hand, and it took forever. Successive storms added back-breaking work for the team. With the Mega Twister, the clear-up from storms will be so much easier. This machine will save time and take the strain, powerful enough to move debris deep into the rough, or in instances when we need to gather, it can be guided into manageable places to be collected.”

The Mega Twister has 390 m³ per minute worth of blow and can either be trailed or front mounted. Its swivel action is revolutionary, 230° to be precise, and has a patented “whisper” engine to keep noise to a minimum.

“It’s one of those machines that has a use every day but come the autumn or extreme weather it will be out extensively, that’s its busy time,” continued Darren.

“Through the season, the Mega Blower will be principally for presentation and quality; it works well tidying dried fairway divots, blowing them off, or, if it has been wet, and dead grass has fallen from the fairway mowers, this can be blown, too. Our fairways are narrow but undulating. They are block cut so we drive up the light shade turn around and come down the dark line. It is simple, no need to get out the cab. The blower nozzle oscillates in whatever direction is needed, and can go up and down, while the support wheels are kind to the turf.”

Fortunately for Darren, and his five-person team, the links element of the site means not all Scotscraig’s fairways are tree-lined, but they still have a fair share. Almost without exception, the on-course trees are Scots pine with only a handful deciduous trees. So, from Autumn onwards, a key task is to tidy fallen needles.

“At some point you do need to collect needles, but for the most part they can be dealt with efficiently by blowing them to the edges and that’s precisely why we needed the extreme power of the Mega Twister,” concluded Darren.

Scotscraigs has two other Wiedenmann pieces in their fleet, a double width Terra Brush and a Terra Spike GXi8 HD.

Mike Lindsay, Fairways GM, area sales manager,who delivered the blower said:

“A Mega Twister gives infinite possibilities. The obvious uses are for leaf and debris clearance, but it is the perfect wing man for so many other machines and operations.

“Scotscraig – and virtually every east coast Scottish course – was impacted by Storms Arwen, Barra, Malik and Dudley this past winter. Going forward, a Mega Twister is the perfect way to future proof.”

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Toro to Support The R&A Women

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Toro to Support The R&A Women: The Toro Company announces its support of The R&A Women in Golf Charter by becoming a signatory of the industry-wide initiative. According to The R&A, the Women in Golf Charter aims to create a more inclusive golf culture by enabling more women and girls to realise their potential at all levels of the sport.

To achieve this, the Charter requires the support and participation of other national golf federations, businesses and organisations, like Toro — who is a trusted leader in golf grounds maintenance equipment and irrigation solutions with a global presence in more than 125 countries.

Toro to Support The R&A Women

Toro to Support The R&A Women

As a proud supporter of the Women in Golf Charter and also a founding partner of The R&A’s new community golf facility at Lethamhill in Glasgow, Scotland, Toro will be providing annual apprenticeships to women and minorities to encourage further career development and diversity in the golf industry.

“We have built a legacy of giving back by actively leveraging our expertise, resources and business partnerships to increase interest and engagement in the golf industry, specifically among women and girls,” stated Judson McNeil, President, The Toro Company Foundation. “Furthering our efforts through official support of The R&A Women in Golf Charter reinforces the ongoing commitment to bringing more diversity to the game of golf.”

Toro’s commitment to the Women in Golf Charter isn’t its only inclusion initiative. Toro has served as preferred supplier and partner to First Tee since 1998. During the 24-year partnership, Toro has supported girls’ access to careers in the golf industry, STEM educational programs and Grow the Game Grants focused on expanding diversity in the game of golf by the inclusion of more girls. And as the official partner of the ANNIKA Foundation’s “Share My Passion” golf clinic, Toro is helping to introduce young girls to the game of golf and support the Foundation’s goal of developing women’s golf around the world.

Additionally, the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award — hosted in partnership with Reesink Turfcare, sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment, and the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) — celebrates the next generation of talented and dedicated greenskeepers. In 2021, Toro was excited to recognise Rhian Barton of The Wisley Golf Club. She was the first woman to win the prestigious award.

Beyond external initiatives, Toro has also established the Women’s Initiative Network to create, promote and support a culture of equality and inclusiveness for women across all business functions within the company.

For more information on Toro equipment and irrigation products for the golf industry worldwide, please visit toro.com/golf.

About The Toro Company

With roots dating back to 1914, Toro is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, including turf and landscape maintenance, snow management, rental and construction equipment, and irrigation solutions. Through a strong network of distributors, dealers, retailers and rental stores in more than 125 countries, Toro helps customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, construction sites and agricultural operations. More at: www.toro.com.

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SAGE named the home event for GRASS

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SAGE named the home event for GRASS: SAGE are proud to announce that they have become the home event for GRASS, a newly launched forum built by a Group of Groundcare Industry Specialists. Taking place 6th and 7th July SAGE will provide a platform for GRASS to introduce it’s objectives to the industry this summer.

GRASS stands for, Groundcare Resources & Sustainability Suppliers, and is the innovative idea of Mark Tomlinson head of environmental and sustainability stadia projects at Bio-Circle, one of the leading companies paving the way in sustainable solutions for the industry.The NEW Networking & Support Forum is a FREE to join group that supports all Groundcare and other sporting industry sustainability projects, providing free advice and knowledge of sustainable pitch care.

SAGE named the home event for GRASS

SAGE named the home event for GRASS

Top Grounds Personnel, Leading Industry Manufacturers and Senior Experts have come together to form a “Go To Group” that allows grounds staff to begin their own sustainability projects with support and advise.

Through the expert sustainable and environmental forum, GRASS will provide the latest information available all under one roof, whether it’s technical pitchcare maintenance, through to recycling washdown, white line marking paint, recycling containers, battery powered equipment, seed, lighting, our information bank is endless.

“A First for the Groundcare & Sporting Industry, and a much-needed Support Forum Group. By coming together and sharing knowledge GRASS can help and support Groundcare personnel with their sustainability projects. We want to help and protect our environment and make a difference.”

Mark Tomlinson

Focus on sustainability

This year, sustainability has become an even more prominent priority across all industries and SAGE is proud to be hosting the first sustainability summit, which will take place on Wednesday 6th July at SAGE 2022, in partnership with Bio-Circle.

The summit will be led by experts across the industry and will provide guidance and support on how sustainable solutions can be achieved by businesses across the sports and grounds maintenance industry. The panel and their colleagues will be on hand to deliver tailored options for those looking to adopt processes that are more environmentally friendly.

Everyone is welcome to attend SAGE 2022. Visitors from last year included educational institutions, local authorities and councils, contractors, construction managers and private estates.

The team at SAGE invites all visitors to stay for the networking event on the Wednesday evening, 4pm – 6pm, sponsored by Fleet Line Markers, where everyone will get the opportunity to meet fellow industry professionals at the stunning showground, with a few added bonus’ as well.

To register for SAGE 2022. Please visit; www.sportsandgrounds.events.

If you would like to exhibit at SAGE 2022, there is still time to reserve your stand, contact us today; team@sportsandgrounds.co.uk

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