Harrod Sport’s certified goal

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Harrod Sport’s certified goal: FIFA has teamed up with Harrod Sport, a leading equipment manufacturer, to create the world’s first FIFA Quality certified goal.  

After being approached by FIFA to take part in a leading-edge programme to improve the standard of football goals globally, Harrod Sport has been hard at work developing FIFA Quality certified football goals in time for this year’s World Cup, starting in November.

FIFA partners with Harrod Sport

FIFA partners with Harrod Sport

What do the FIFA Quality approved packages include? 

Due to Harrod Sport’s wealth of experience supplying football equipment for major events, including last summer’s EURO 2020 tournament, its products required just a handful of design amends to meet FIFA’s strict criteria. This meant FIFA was able to approve two packages, with more to follow.

Package 1

4G Stadium Pro Goal

Square Stadium Box Net – 1.8m

4G Stadium Pro Bottom Hinged Net Support

4G Aluminium Hinged Net Support

4G Stadium Pro F/Hang Net Supports – 4 Pole

Package 2

4G Stadium Goal

Hex Stadium Box Net – 1.8m

4G Steel Bottom Hinged Net Support

Stadium Pro F/Hang Net Supports – 4 Pole

Clubs and stadiums can either purchase the FIFA Quality certified packages or the individual items required to upgrade their existing goals.

What are the key features? 

The goals in the FIFA Quality approved packages use a pioneering ‘pro precision system’, allowing their height to be accurately adjusted by up to 100mm whilst in situ. This will greatly aid grounds professionals who must ensure that goals are set correctly for every match – essential at the top level.

Reinforcements have been made to several other parts of the goals for superior strength and improved aesthetics. New locks and storage features have also been developed, making these the most advanced football goals on the market.

What was it like working with FIFA? 

Throughout the development stage, Harrod Sport’s main task was working through FIFA’s policies and standards for quality, humanity and fair treatment of all stakeholders: a process they passed with flying colours.

Commenting on Harrod Sport’s partnership with FIFA, Kevin Utton, Director of Sports Sales and Marketing for Harrod Sport, said: “We have always had a close working relationship with international governing bodies, including FIFA. Once we heard they were launching a FIFA Quality Programme for Football Goals, we knew we wanted to be a part of it, having already supplied many of the world’s most prestigious clubs and competitions.”

Utton added: “Having our products used at major events and now also rubber-stamped as FIFA Quality approved means a great deal to our staff, customers and everyone associated with Harrod Sport - it’s a proud moment for us all.”

FIFA were never in doubt that Harrod Sport could deliver its vision to create a new global standard for football goals.

Alan Ferguson, Senior Pitch Management Manager for FIFA, said: “Having been in the football world for many years, I know quality and service when I see it, and that is exactly why I have had the pleasure of working with Harrod Sport for many years. I am very familiar with their goals and have had the privilege of seeing them on my travels all over the world.”

Ferguson added: “Now in my role as Senior Pitch Management Manager at FIFA, I know if Harrod Sport is supplying product for a tournament, it will be to the highest possible standard. I am delighted they are now working in partnership with FIFA and have their products FIFA Quality approved.”

To learn more about how Harrod Sport is working with FIFA to raise the standard of football equipment for current and future generations, visit: https://www.harrodsport.com/advice-and-guides/harrod-sport-introduces-the-worlds-first-fifa-quality-certified-goal

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Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

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Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes: Sean Loakes has been appointed as Syngenta Professional Solutions Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland.

Sean expands the existing Syngenta technical and business team, to offer further specialist trials expertise and developing new integrated solutions for turf, landscape, ornamentals production and pest control.

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Sean’s role is dedicated to customers in UK and Ireland, and will also support the continued work of Glenn Kirby, who now has the extended responsibility as Technical Manager for Turf & Landscape across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on pesticide efficacy and best practice.

“With the increasing importance of biopesticides within integrated management programmes, there’s an exciting opportunity to develop new strategies to meet the evolving challenges for customers,” he said. “Syngenta has an exciting pipeline of R&D products and services.  I look forward to working with customers, researchers and the industry to develop new solutions.”

Welcoming Sean to the company, Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta Business Manager for North West Europe, said: “Syngenta is committed to developing its unrivalled technical solutions. Sean’s science and research background brings further experience and innovation to support customers with new products and achieving the best possible results.”

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The Seeds of Success

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The Seeds of Success: MM Sports Seed, one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, recently brought together their distributors for their MM distributor conference held at Hotel du Vin Wimbledon, followed by a tour of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The conference provided the opportunity for distributors to interact with each other for the first time in two years following the COVID pandemic and give an insight in the recent acquisition of the MM and Designer brands by DLF Seeds.

The Seeds of Success

The Seeds of Success

The conference was the ideal opportunity to give distributors an insight into the Inkberrow factory upgrade and demo site at DLF’s UK headquarters, a breeding and portfolio update detailing the exciting new cultivars that are planned for the MM mixtures, the current market supply conditions, and future marketing of the brands as well as enhancing the communications channels within the MM Sports Seed network.

Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at Wimbledon – The All England Lawn Tennis Club concluded day one of the conference with an entertaining update of the prestigious venue.

On day two, delegates were invited for an exclusive tour around the world’s oldest tennis venue to witness first hand the latest stadium developments and turf management practices.

The conference was hosted by Matt Gresty, sales and marketing manager for MM Sports Seed, who said: “Throughout the two days together we were able to discuss, the opportunities and issues that affect our businesses. It provided the perfect platform for an informed debate.

“The past two years have presented unique challenges to our industry. London was the ideal location for the event. A lot of preparation went into the conference to ensure we got the full benefit from our two days together and the feedback from the delegates was excellent; it’s been a very successful event.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s new website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

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STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots: In an official statement the two companies said that STIHL’s robotic lawn mowers share a strong technical kinship with the line marking robots produced by TinyMobileRobots, intended for use in sports fields and road construction.

The statement continued that during the last couple of years, STIHL Group has been following TinyMobileRobots closely as the company has grown 100 percent per year. Therefore, the corporate venture arm of the STIHL Group, STIHL Digital, has now acquired 23.8% of TinyMobileRobots, thus buying out the company’s former venture capital company Borean Innovation.

STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

Jens Peder Kristensen, founder and CEO of TinyMobileRobots said, “We have been looking for a strong partner who can support our continued growth. Having STIHL as a partner is nothing short of a dream come true. Right from the outset, we will also benefit greatly from STIHL’s world-wide network of dealers. While maintaining our status as an independent company, we can draw on STIHL’s huge market experience to accelerate our growth further. To put it mildly, I’m very, very happy with this new development.”

Benjamin Junghans, director of STIHL Digital added, “We have been in close contact with TinyMobileRobots for more than two years, and steadily, we have become more and more impressed with their growth rates and performance. So as the chance to acquire nearly a quarter of the company arose, we were quick to strike a deal. We feel convinced that our future collective efforts will lead to an even greater share of TinyMobileRobots’ fast growing and innovation driven market.”

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Exhibitors continue to invest in SALTEX

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Exhibitors continue to invest in SALTEX: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) reveals that almost 90% of SALTEX 2022 stand space has been sold.

Early indications for SALTEX 2022, which takes place on 2 and 3 November at the NEC, Birmingham, are extremely positive after show organisers reported a hugely successful loyalty period.

Exhibitors continue to invest in SALTEX

Exhibitors continue to invest in SALTEX

Over 100 exhibitors have re-booked for SALTEX 2022 and many more continue to confirm their presence during the current discounted early-bird period which ends on 18 February.

In 2021, 93% of exhibitors generated new sales leads with many taking direct orders on the show floor. The 2022 floorplan already boasts a strong showing of renowned exhibitors.

Furthermore, an incredible 15% of 2021 exhibitors have also purchased extra stand space for SALTEX 2022 which is testament to the success of the 2021 event.

Cramer, who exhibited at SALTEX 2021, has over doubled the size of its stand for SALTEX 2022. Cramer, supported and distributed by Handy, used SALTEX 2021 as a launch platform to promote its 82V range of commercial ground care equipment.

“SALTEX 2021 went way beyond our expectations,” said Handy’s Sales and Marketing Director, Mark Moseley. “What really opened our eyes was the quality of visitor and the heightened interest in the Cramer products. On our stand we had a lot of large dealers which is what we were looking for; we had big contractors, who are the kind of people we need to be talking to; and we spoke to many councils that want to convert from petrol to battery powered products.

“It was one of the busiest shows we have ever experienced,” continued Mark. “In fact, we took a certain number of catalogues that we thought would last us for two days, and they were all gone within the first two hours of the show opening. We’re still following up on all the leads we received at SALTEX, and we have carried out so many demonstrations. We have already brought on-board a lot of new customers and dealers because of SALTEX.

“Our experience of SALTEX 2021 has given us the confidence to go bigger at SALTEX 2022 and to take advantage of the quality of clientele.”

Toro UK is exhibiting with a bigger stand at SALTEX 2022 and Matthew Colman, Sales Manager, revealed exactly why.

“SALTEX 2021 was a great success for us at Toro UK Ltd. Finally, we had the chance to showcase new and innovative products within our landscape contracting equipment.

“It is with huge excitement that we’re going even bigger at this year’s SALTEX. During the pandemic Toro invested more on development than ever before. Our stand at SALTEX 2022 will be displaying everything we’ve been working on over the last few years for the first time in the UK.”

Comments such as these can only be a reflection on the growing number of exhibitors in the 2022 show. After a year’s absence STIHL UK, Barrus and Vale Engineering have also confirmed that they are returning to SALTEX 2022.

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO, commented on the positive start, saying: “SALTEX continues to grow, and the sales team are receiving new enquiries every week alongside existing exhibitors investing in bigger and additional stands.

“We are also delighted to be welcoming back previous exhibitors who were unable to join us in 2021. There is extremely high demand at this period in the sales cycle taking us back to pre-pandemic levels.”

For more information visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/GMASALTEX

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