Polaris reveals electric RANGER plans

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Polaris reveals electric RANGER plans: Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) today unveiled plans to debut an all-new 2022 electric RANGER utility side-by-side in late December 2021, advancing the Company’s strategic rEV’d up electrification strategy.

This full-size RANGER is the first electric vehicle Polaris developed through its powersports industry-exclusive partnership with Zero Motorcycles®, which the two companies announced last September. The Company expects the new electric RANGER to start arriving in dealerships in early 2022.

Polaris reveals electric RANGER plans

Polaris reveals electric RANGER plans

“Our rEV’d up strategy positions Polaris to help define yet another chapter in powersports innovation,” said Mike Speetzen, interim CEO, Polaris Inc. “With the rising interest in electric vehicles, we are investing in electrification in order to meet the needs of current customers as well as appeal to tomorrow’s riders. The all-new electric RANGER is our latest effort aimed at leading the industry forward in this area.”

As part of the Polaris rEV’d up strategy, the all-new full-size electric RANGER spearheads the company’s long-term plan to accelerate its leadership in powersports electrification.  Design and development efforts for the all-new electric RANGER are currently underway in North America.

“The strength of our partnership with Zero Motorcycles and our own investments in electrification R&D enable us to leverage advancements in electric powertrains and performance to drive the off-road industry into the future,” said Mike Donoughe, senior vice president and chief technical officer, Polaris Inc. “This will be one of the most technically advanced off-road vehicles on the market and reinforces Polaris’ position as the innovation leader in powersports.”

“As our top-selling off-road vehicle brand, RANGER has continually set the benchmark as the hardest working, smoothest riding UTV, leading the market in rider-inspired innovation,” said Steve Menneto, president of Polaris Off Road. “The new electric powertrain will elevate the RANGER platform to a whole new level of capability, durability and performance.”

“We’ve actively engaged our RANGER customers, and without a doubt, there is significant demand for even higher levels of performance and capability,” added Menneto. “They’ve expressed some very specific unmet needs, and our new electric full-size RANGER will effectively address them, unlocking a truly enhanced off-road experience.”

For further media information on Polaris ORV products, please contact the Polaris ORV Media Office on +44 (0) 1525 270100 or email us at press@polaris-orv.media.

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Turf Matters support #GroundsWeek

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Turf Matters support #GroundsWeek: Turf Matters is proud to officially support the Grounds Management Association’s #GroundsWeek, an inaugural celebration week for the turf care sector.

Managed by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), the leading not-for-profit membership body for grounds professionals and volunteers, the turf care campaign will take place 1-7 March 2021 and will celebrate and highlight the vital role that professional grounds staff, volunteers, and the turf sector play in making sport possible.

Turf Matters support #GroundsWeek

Turf Matters support #GroundsWeek

Following a difficult year for the sector due to the impact of Covid-19, #GroundsWeek aims to showcase grounds staff and the amazing work that they do – and have continued to do – despite sport coming to a grinding halt. It also comes after a year where parks and green spaces have been hugely valuable to the public’s health, with increased use for ‘daily exercise’ and physical activity.

To celebrate the week, Turf Matters will be highlighting the fantastic work done throughout the industry.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, said:

“After a tough year, GroundsWeek is a fantastic opportunity for every part of the sector to come together and celebrate all the hard work that’s gone on throughout the year. We want to inspire sports fans and the general public to realise the vital role we play and get even more people to enter the profession and lend a helping hand at pitches across the country.

“We’re grateful to those officially supporting #GroundsWeek, with businesses and partners helping us champion grounds staff and the amazing work they do.

More information on #GroundsWeek can be found here.

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Announcing Slug Week

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Announcing Slug Week: Does your town – or even your garden – have the most slugs in the country? Is it a slime hot spot?  And maybe, hiding under one of your garden pots, you’ll find the country’s BIGGEST slug, lurking in the shadows.

During Slug Week (5-11 April 2021), families everywhere will be challenged to take part in a nationwide search for slugs in their gardens.

Announcing Slug Week

Announcing Slug Week

To take part in the slug survey, visit www.slugweek.com any time during Slug Week and follow the simple instructions. You’ll be asked to put aside 20 minutes one evening during the week and to count all the slugs you can find in various areas of your garden. You’ll also need to measure the biggest slug you can find. The information gathered should be submitted on a simple online form.

Other things to do during Slug Week:

  • Go slug spotting: On the Slug Week website, you’ll find a printable field guide to slugs you may see in your garden or whilst out on walks.
  • Get creative: We’d love to see drawings and paintings of slugs on garden plants. Send us your works of art and we’ll publish the best on Facebook.

This Great Slug Count is the brainchild of the people at Nemaslug, who make an organic form of slug control. Whilst many slugs are harmless – just a bit yucky to look at – there are some slugs which want to eat our gorgeous garden plants.  If you water Nemaslug around the base of your favourite fruit and veg, you’ll be able to save them from the slimy jaws and, because Nemaslug is organic, you can relax when children and pets are in the garden.

To register your interest in the survey, email Hello@Paskett.co.uk and you’ll receive an email reminder just before Slug Week begins. Happy slug hunting.

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Bayer to strengthen leadership team

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Bayer to strengthen leadership team: Bayer today announced a series of decisions to accelerate the strategy implementation of its Crop Science division. In order to focus on its core agricultural business, this includes the intent to divest the company’s Environmental Science Professional business.

It is a global leader offering environmental solutions to control pests, disease and weeds in non-agricultural areas such as vector control, professional pest management, industrial vegetation management, forestry, and turf and ornamentals. The Environmental Science Professional business had sales of approx. 600 million Euros in 2019.

Bayer to strengthen leadership team

Bayer to strengthen leadership team

To further drive performance and growth in the division’s most important commercial region, Bayer has named Dr. Jacqueline M. Applegate to lead the Crop Science North America region effective March 1, 2021. She currently heads the division’s Environmental Science and Vegetable Seeds businesses and has a strong track record of commercial execution and of driving transformation. In addition to her appointment, the company named Dr. Jeremy Williams, currently Global Head of Plant Biotechnology at Crop Science, as new head of the Climate Corporation and Digital Farming, and Tom Armitage from Mondelez as head of Global Communications for Crop Science. Both are effective March 15, 2021. All three leaders will join the Crop Science Executive Leadership Team and will play key roles in accelerating the division’s transformation.

In addition, Bayer appointed Gilles Galliou, currently head of commercial operations for Bayer Vegetable Seeds Americas, to lead the Environmental Science business and the planned divestment. The global Environmental Science business will be headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, effective June 1, 2021. Inci Dannenberg, currently head of global strategic marketing for Vegetable Seeds, was also appointed to run the Crop Science global Vegetable Seeds business, which is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Both appointments are effective from March 1, 2021.

“With the announced portfolio and leadership changes, and important new product approvals for soybeans, corn and cotton in the Americas, we are now shifting gears from integration to growth acceleration. We are laser-focused on commercial execution and on transforming agriculture through innovation that benefits farmers, consumers and our planet,” said Liam Condon, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science division. “Like farmers everywhere, we have faced challenges in the past few years; however, I am very excited about the outlook for our Crop Science business. The global coronavirus pandemic has made it clear how important agriculture and a sustainable food system are, and the crucial role science can play in solving difficult problems. Driving innovation, accelerating the digital transformation of agriculture and helping decarbonize the food system are at the core of our vision to feed a growing population without starving the planet.”

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Mansfield Sand – the story behind the sand

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Mansfield Sand – the story behind the sand: The products are widely used, and everyone has heard of the name – but how much do you know about Mansfield Sand?

Mansfield Sand is company with history and pedigree – in fact, its origins can be traced as far back to 1840. In complementing the company’s wonderful heritage, the family-run company insists on reinvesting in its infrastructure to keep moving with the times.

Mansfield Sand – the story behind the sand

Mansfield Sand – the story behind the sand

Mansfield Sand has been a long-standing pioneer in the development and production of premium quality silica sand-based products for over 170 years. Over recent years the company has invested approximately £20m in a state-of-the-art brick facility and, more recently, a new purpose-built quarry. The brickworks is now one of the most modern and technically advanced in Europe, while the Two Oaks Quarry, which has been in operation since 2015, has the most up-to-date and advanced equipment currently in the industry.

The washing plant is the beating heart of the quarry. This highly efficient plant was designed to give the flexibility needed to produce an extensive range of silica sand products that can meet the requirements of Mansfield Sand customers. The quarry also has an automated bagging plant, producing over 2 million bags of dry sand per annum.

Furthermore, in 2019 the company acquired a new larger head office to provide the capacity to support its aspirations for continued growth. The spacious office in Mansfield is located within equal distance to all production sites.

Supported by over 70 staff across its two operational sites and its head office, Mansfield Sand supplies a number of different sectors with its range of products including:

  • Silica sands;
  • Industrial sands;
  • Pavior and foundry sands;
  • A wide range of concrete brick products.

Its specialist products include:

  • Equestrian silica sand products including Fibresand Equestrian;
  • Specialist sports surfaces for both construction and renovation in golf, football and rugby including fibresand and fibrelastic.

With its wide range of products and its robust and extremely well-developed infrastructure, Mansfield Sand’s forward-thinking approach is ensuring it continues to lead the way within the marketplace.

It is for this reason that the company is extremely proud to boast a prestigious client list which includes some of the most prominent sporting venues in the UK and beyond. From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all.

Mansfield Sand’s ownership structure is another significant feather in its cap, as it is both agile and robust enough to accommodate the requirements of its customer base. The fact that it remains a family run business ensures that decisions can be made quickly. Where demand from customers necessitates change, as an SME Mansfield Sand can react rapidly and adapt to suit customer requirements. This agility is highly valued by its vast customer base.

With unrivalled experience and an ongoing commitment to investing in its facilities and product range, Mansfield Sand is well placed to add further to its already illustrious history.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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