Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

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Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines: Britain’s biggest equipment rental company is investing in 2,100 new JCB machines in a deal worth £65 million – the biggest ever order from a UK customer in the company’s 75-year history.

Sunbelt Rentals UK is expanding and renewing its fleet as the construction industry rebounds strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic. The flagship rental company is investing in JCB Loadall telescopic handlers, mini and midi excavators, site dumpers, tracked excavators and rough terrain fork lifts – all manufactured at JCB’s Staffordshire factories. Sunbelt Rentals is also investing in 350 JCB access platforms – JCB’s biggest-ever UK deal for this equipment following its entry into the $8 billion powered access market in 2017.

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

Sunbelt Rentals buy 2100 JCB machines

The massive order comes as JCB recruits hundreds of new shop floor employees as a result of soaring demand. The machines – supplied by JCB dealer Greenshields JCB – are already rolling off JCB’s production lines and being delivered to Sunbelt’s 200-strong UK depot network.

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “Sunbelt Rentals is one of JCB’s largest global customers and this huge investement in new and innovative equipment demonstrates its desire to offer the the most advanced machines, featuring the latest ultra-efficient, low emissions engines. It’s the biggest ever order from a JCB customer in the UK and we are delighted to secure this buisness. It’s also fantastic to win a large deal for our access platforms from such a well-respected fleet customer.”

Warrington-based Sunbelt Rentals is the UK’s biggest equipment rental company and covers the whole of Great Britain through 200 hire depots with a fleet of over 250,000 itemised machines.  Sunbelt Rentals rebranded its business in 2020 from A-Plant to mirror the name of its sister company in North America.

Sunbelt’s Chief Executive Officer Andy Wright said: “Sunbelt is committed to owning the youngest and most innovative equipment in the industry and the JCB range offers fantastic quality and solutions for our customers throughout the UK. We have performed strongly throughout the pandemic and this significant order supports our determiniation to maintain and expand our market leadership position within the UK.”

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Greenkeeper gets legs waxed for charity

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Greenkeeper gets legs waxed for charity: Greenkeeper Brian Dunne shouted something beginning with f when he got his legs waxed and it wasn’t fore!

Read the full article from Limerick Leader here

Greenkeeper gets legs waxed for charity

Greenkeeper gets legs waxed for charity

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New versions of L1 & L2 Series available

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New versions of L1 & L2 Series available: Kubota continues working tirelessly to provide the best solutions to meet every need. It is in this spirit that the Japanese manufacturer has launched two brand new ranges of compact tractors, building on the success achieved in the past by the L1 and L2 Series.

Both new series are now equipped with Kubota Stage V engines and the exterior and interior design have been entirely renewed for a stylish new look.

New versions of L1 & L2 Series available

New versions of L1 & L2 Series available

The new Kubota L1 Series compact tractors have been designed to be highly durable and easy to operate and maintain.

There is a choice of three-range HST hydrostatic transmission or a synchronised manual gearbox featuring eight forward and  eight reverse gears, and they are powered by four-cylinder 45, 51 and 55hp Kubota Stage V diesel engines, which make them exceptionally clean-running.

One of the main advantages of Kubota’s tractors is the spacious, comfortable design of their platform, and the L1 Series is no exception with its folding rear ROPS frame and height-adjustable steering wheel. The L1 series also features generous rear lifting capacity at a maximum of 1750kg.

Compact tractors in the L2 series feature an unprecedented combination of comfort and efficiency, which makes them ideal for demanding professionals.

The L2 range allows users to choose between three different engine outputs from 45-61hp, spacious and well-equipped cabin or ROPS versions, 16F+16R mechanical or three-range hydrostatic transmission. Rear linkage lift capacity is 1750kg, allowing a wide range of implements to be handled with ease.

Another advantage of the L2 range is its user-focused design, and an example of that is the one-piece engine cowling that can be fully opened, giving operators effortless access to all important service points in the engine compartment.

In addition, the front axle with bevel gear drive and the integrated power steering guarantee excellent manoeuvrability.

Both tractors can be specified with Kubota front loaders offering even more versatility and expanding the range of tasks that can be performed.

The new L1 and L2 ranges constitute an example of the great performance and adaptability of Kubota’s products, and show the company’s commitment to meet the operator’s needs, whatever they may be.

Model hp Transmission Cab/ROPS
Kubota L1452 45 HST three-range ROPS
Kubota L1522 51 Mech 8×8 ROPS
Kubota L1552 55 HST three-range ROPS
Kubota L2452 45 Mech 16×16 ROPS
Kubota L2452 45 HST three-range Cab
Kubota L2452 45 Mech 16×16 Cab
Kubota L2522 51 Mech 16×16 Cab
Kubota L2622 61 HST three-range Cab

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Royal Cinque climbs the rankings

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Royal Cinque climbs the rankings: Since having a new Toro irrigation system installed in 2019, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club’s course has seen a “remarkable improvement” according to course and estates manager James Bledge.

“The new Toro irrigation system has been a huge success,” explains James. “We’ve reached the top100golfcourses.com world rankings for the first time ever, which we can in part attribute to the remarkable improvement the course has seen thanks to Toro irrigation.

Royal Cinque climbs the rankings

Royal Cinque climbs the rankings

“Not only did Toro help us get through one of the driest summers in history last year, but the water savings were incredible,” says James. “We kept within our water allowance and didn’t lose any turf coverage, which is definitely something our old system wouldn’t have managed. In fact, the turf quality has come on leaps and bounds despite the tough conditions.”

Part of James’ drive to continuously improve the course, March 2019 saw Royal Cinque Ports install a Toro Lynx Central Control System and Infinity sprinklers on the greens, surrounds, approaches and fairways with B Series sprinklers on the tees and T5 and PRN combinations on the walkways. The installation came shortly after another Toro machinery fleet agreement, so had the added bonus of securing the club’s position as a Toro Total Solutions customer.

Despite its success, it wasn’t a given that Toro would be awarded the irrigation contract. In fact, initially James considered staying with the same brand as the previous system for the irrigation update, but changed his mind after being “thoroughly impressed” by Toro in a demonstration by Reesink Turfcare.

“The whole team really liked the way the Toro Lynx Central Control System and the sprinkler heads worked,” says James. “In particular, being able to change the trajectory and ease of set up of the sprinkler heads is incredibly useful when it comes to dealing with the strong winds we get here as a links course.

“The course itself has changed quite a bit in the last twenty years and as a result lots of areas weren’t benefitting from the irrigation, such as the walkways. So, we wanted something which would water more of the course and target areas more efficiently. The Toro system has given us the opportunity to tackle the issues we were having and make further improvements.”

Plus, James tells us, he was keen for a more sophisticated control system: “Having previously had a 20-year-old irrigation system, faults with the electrics meant it was time for a change. The system had stopped coming on during the night which was a huge issue. A complete replacement was needed which included the pumps and wiring alongside a new control system, sprinklers, additional pipework and the creation of a new abstraction point from the water source to the reservoir.

“The new control system is much more modern and it’s great to be able to make adjustments from my mobile phone and provide the same accuracy as hand watering. It’s a real game changer.”

With the installation completed by one of the leading golf construction companies MJ Abbott, both the installation process, and the support from Reesink Turfcare since has impressed James. “It’s been really great from the first demonstration through to now. In particular, Robert Jackson and Peter Newton at Reesink have gone above and beyond. The communication has been a different class, whether we needed parts, back up or training, Reesink was always available to help.”

He concludes: “With our Total Solutions package, we are continuously improving and well on the way to making the club a ‘bucket list’ destination.”

To talk to someone about the finance options available and how the Toro range would suit yo

To talk to someone about the finance options available and how Toro irrigation would suit your course, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk, call 01480 226800 or email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Marvellous wildflower project commences

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Marvellous wildflower project commences: Work has started on a new wildflower project that will enhance roundabouts and verges at three West Berkshire locations.

The ‘Tesco roundabout’ on the A339 Sandleford Link, the roundabout on the junction of the A4/B4000 Stockcross Road, and the verge at Cow Lane in East Ilsley will all benefit from specialist wildflower products supplied by Wildflower Turf Ltd.

Marvellous wildflower project commences

Marvellous wildflower project commences

West Berkshire Council has appointed experts Wildflower Turf Ltd to create the eye-catching wildflower displays. With eco-friendly projects including the supply of wildflowers to the London 2021 Olympics, The Hive at Kew Gardens, and thousands of other small and large projects around the UK, Wildflower Turf Ltd is recognised as the UK’s leading wildflower specialist.

West Berkshire Council will be utilising both Wildflower Turf® at East Ilsley and Meadowscape Pro™ to enhance the roundabouts. The turf is ready planted as a roll containing immature wildflower plants and a healthy root network and once laid, creates an almost instant meadow. Likewise, Meadowscape Pro™ is a pre-seeded growing medium used by professionals for effective wildflower establishment and creates an environment for much more effective seed germination than conventional direct seeding methods. Both products have been carefully chosen to produce flowering plants from late-spring to mid-autumn which will create visual impact as well as helping to feed and shelter bees, butterflies, and all manner of other wildlife, with only limited maintenance required throughout the year.

Wildflower Turf® has already been laid in East Ilsley with the A339 and B4000 roundabouts also being completed this week.

Steve Ardagh-Walter, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for the Environment, said: “It’s great to see this exciting project underway. Wildflowers offer so many benefits, not least because they are beautiful to look at. They are an environmental winner too as they can provide vital refuge for many kinds of wildlife, from insects to reptiles, mammals and birds.”

He added: “The environment is a priority for everyone and, as a council, we are working hard to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Our 2021-22 Budget includes a £12.5m commitment to our Environment Strategy which includes a council owned solar farm and projects such as this one that will go towards meeting this vital environmental target.”

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