Turf Tank One makes revolutionary change

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Turf Tank One makes revolutionary change: Bromsgrove School has taken a revolutionary step forward in line marking with their new Turf Tank One.

The co-educational day and boarding school was founded in 1553, with the vast one hundred acre site woven into the centre of Bromsgrove. Among it is the Sports Centre, where there are facilities for rugby, football, cricket, hockey, tennis and a vast array of others.

Turf Tank One makes revolutionary change

Turf Tank One makes revolutionary change

At the beginning of the school term in September, Head Groundsperson Richard Hare and his team have to prepare 15 rugby pitches across three different sites, with three groups of staff taking a week to initially mark out and prepare them.

Introducing the Turf Tank to this process is a game-changer for the Bromsgrove grounds team, and for Richard, they are now working with what he thinks is the future of line marking.

“When I first saw the Turf Tank One at the demo, I was absolutely amazed, and having used it, it’s revolutionary,” Richard begins.

“It just makes the job a hundred times easier, all the lines are dead straight, and there’s no mess, that’s the other big thing, it’s clean, and it is good to use, it’s easy, and for us, it’s been really, really good.

“We’ve marked in five pitches and the training grids which would have taken two members of staff at least three or four days, and we’ve done that in less than a day and to a high standard as well. Every pitch is a different size; there are no two pitches that are the same because of the different age groups playing sport and the way we have to fit the pitches in around the site.

“This makes it into a one-person job who can set it all up, keep an eye on it and do other things as well. And that’s not trying to make people redundant or anything like that, because as everybody will tell you, there’s always lots of things that people can be doing. And because staff can be working on other jobs, it will help us to raise our standards around the site.”

Bromsgrove’s transition into robotic line marking has been seamless with the help of Turf Tank’s Regional Manager for the North, Matt Murray. A comprehensive demo and installation have been key to all staff members being comfortable with the robot and ensuring they get the most from the customisable pitch, grid, logo and number options.

“Matt has been absolutely fantastic from day one,” Richard explains. “We set up a training day, and this is the second full day he’s been here, and he’s on the end of the phone all the time if we need any questions answered.

“When he first visited, he went through all the templates with us and set them up, and it’s superb. It’s the way that we can change as well because, like most schools, we’ll have to change from rugby after Christmas into football, so we have to go through all the pitches again, and change them all to football or training grids or whatever we need at the time. So, it’s unbelievable the changes it’s going to make for us.”

For more information on the Turf Tank One or to have a demonstration contact alex@turftank.co.uk (southern UK) or matt@turftank.co.uk (northern UK).

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Win a Turf Tank robot at SALTEX

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Win a Turf Tank robot at SALTEX: Leading robotic line marking company, Turf Tank is bringing the revolutionary Turf Tank One back to Saltex 2021.

Everyone who comes to the stand will have the chance to enter a draw to win a rent-free robot for:

First place – Turf Tank Robot for 6 months

Second place – Turf Tank Robot for 4 months

Third place – Turf Tank Robot for 2 months

The line marker will be on Stand G085 at the NEC in Birmingham for the two-day event, along with the Turf Tank UK team.

Win a Turf Tank robot at SALTEX

Win a Turf Tank robot at SALTEX

Throughout the past year, schools, contractors, and professional and amateur sports teams have transformed their line marking operation with the Turf Tank One. Exceptional accuracy using a base station, customisable templates for pitches, logos and numbers, and huge time savings have set the robot apart from alternative methods.

In August 2021, Bromsgrove School began marking their fifteen rugby pitches across three sites using the Turf Tank One, and for Head Grounds person Richard Hare, it has been a revelation.

“When I first saw the Turf Tank One at the demo, I was absolutely amazed, and having used it, it’s revolutionary,” Richard begins.

“It just makes the job a hundred times easier, all the lines are dead straight, and there’s no mess, that’s the other important thing, it’s clean, and it is good to use, it’s easy, and for us, it’s been really, really good.”

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Reform Metrac H75 voted tractor of the year

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Reform Metrac H75 voted tractor of the year: The Reform Metrac H75 pro multi functional tool carrier, has been voted tractor of the year for twenty twenty two, in the best specialised tractor sector.

The award was presented at the EIMA International trade fair in Bologna on October 19th. The judges emphasized the excellent slope capability and versatility of the H75 model and also the high levels of comfort and safety for operators of the vehicle.

Reform Metrac H75 voted tractor of the year

Reform Metrac H75 voted tractor of the year

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range said, “the H75 was designed and built on  versatility, efficiency and both user and environmental friendliness. Hydrostatic drive with electronic control offers two speed ranges, two terrain gear reductions and foot and hand drive modes. When four-wheel steering is active, the front and rear wheels run exactly in the same line, ensuring tension-free traction on more difficult terrain. Front, rear, four wheel and crab steering as well as offset four-wheel steering can easily be switched at the push of a button. The system is completed by the electro-hydraulic spring brake with an auto hold function which allows smooth and judder-free setting off on slopes.

The 75hp Perkins common rail diesel engine delivers 300Nm torque and the newly designed all-terrain chassis delivers four wheel drive, a four wheel steering system and five steering modes. The new H75 also offers powerful working front and rear hydraulics with 1500kg lifting force and standard weight compensation and the high efficiency of the electro-hydraulic power shift PTO provides power precisely when needed.

Operator comfort is catered for with a newly designed cab which has been completely decoupled from other vehicle components. This results in a major reduction in noise level and significantly lowered vibrations. The ergonomic armrest with it’s central controls forms the basis for easy operation of the new Metrac H75. It is attached to the driver’s seat, allowing fatigue-free working on any terrain, without interference from vibrations or slopes. The multi-function joystick combines all functions for driving and for controlling attachments The focus here was on logical and intuitive operation.” For more information visit www.slopemower.co.uk

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Innovation Awards shortlist announced

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Innovation Awards shortlist announced: Show organisers have revealed the final shortlist for the SALTEX 2021 Innovation Awards.

This year’s SALTEX Innovation Awards received a record-breaking 33 entries. From robotics to battery-powered mowers, tractors to utility vehicles, grow lights to chain saws, the entries included a wide variety of high-quality products, services and equipment.

Innovation Awards shortlist announced

Innovation Awards shortlist announced

Judged by an independent panel of industry experts it was decided that the following innovations would form the final shortlist.

  • AMS Robotics – Bigmow RTK and Parc mow RTK
  • Belchim Crop Protection – Enclean
  • EGO – EGO Power+ 107cm Z6 Zero Turn Riding Mower
  • EGO – EGO Professional-X CSX3000 Top-Handle Chain Saw
  • Etesia – ET Lander
  • Kersten (UK) – Hoaf Weedair 50i
  • Origin Amenity Solutions – Origin Amenity Solution Turf Science and Technology Centre
  • Reesink – Farmtrac FT25G
  • Ritchie & Ritchie Products – Reversible Bottom Blade
  • SGL – TurfPod
  • Turf Tank – Turf Tank One Line Marking Robot – logo functionality
  • Turfkeeper -TurfKeeper.com

The winner’s ceremony will commence in seminar theatre three on the first day of the show (3 November) where the overall winners will be announced across several categories including Robotics, Equipment, Information Technology, Environmental & Sustainability, Vehicles, Consumables and Machinery.

You can view all 33 entries here.

Pre-registration to SALTEX 2021 is essential this year. Attendees must print off their badges for entry to the show.

The safety of all our exhibitors, partners, visitors, contractors, and staff is our highest priority. For more information on Covid safety measures please visit https://gmasaltex.co.uk/covid-safety-measures/

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

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Air2G2 336 last piece in aeration puzzle

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Air2G2 336 last piece in aeration puzzle: England’s finest links, Royal Cinque Ports, has found the final piece of their aeration puzzle by using the Air2G2 336 on their greens and fairways.

Course Manager, James Bledge, has been in charge of the Kent based links for nine years, and for a majority of that time, has hired an Air2G2 for use on the club’s large greens. Brilliant results over that time and a desire to work freely between tournaments and trial ideas led the club to purchase their own machine in August 2021, from Campey Turf Care Systems and put it straight to work to do what it does best.

Air2G2 336 last piece in aeration puzzle

Air2G2 336 last piece in aeration puzzle

James explains: “It’s one of these machines that’s hard to quantify because you don’t see instant results, but it’s part of the jigsaw puzzle that comes together with everything else. We maintain really nice surfaces here, and I believe that to be part of it – we’ve had far less disease than we’ve ever had, and our greens have been firmer than ever.

“We had four big back to back competitions in this last month. First, we’ve had the Boys Amateur Championship, which is one of the biggest R&A events, then we had a week off before Deal Week, the South East Links Championship and the Halford Hewitt, which is the world’s largest amateur golf competition at the end of that with 640 competitors. So this week, we managed to get out and aerate everything, and it’s been well-timed because we got heavy rain at the end of that week, which could have seen the greens puddle up, but instead, they were fine.

“Not one single person could tell we’d been out with the Air2G2 the Monday following the Boys Amateur, and that’s a seven-day competition with all your practice days and qualifying. These greens were cut and rolled every single day, which could potentially bake them or form a hardpan near the top because it’s such intensive work, but the Air2G2 after that was the ideal thing to do, and they haven’t seemed stressed out since.”

With their own Air2G2, James can now deploy it as and when needed, which includes working on fairways. In the past, the club hired the smaller model, but with the 336, they are able to cover all of their greens in less than three days and build in time to aerate the new 0.8 hectares of fairway extensions.

“We’ve got it back out this morning on fairways which is probably a first, and I don’t think many people would do that, but with the crane fly and leather jacket activity high just now, and it probably will be for the rest of the year, I’m intent I want to watch when putting holes in the ground. The Air2G2 is a fantastic tool for that if you can explain to your team when they’re being sent out to do bits of fairways here and there.

“Our two new fairways are a lot firmer than the rest so you really need to get that into it to break up the soil, create some air and pore space and get the roots and moisture going through it. You can see there are some places where it’s pulling up a little bit, but I’m trying to explain to the staff that this will only be for a certain amount of time. The more we can get the Air2G2 into it, the more space there will be for the roots to dive down, and the fairway will get better.”

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