Bernhard appoints new distributor in Mexico

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Bernhard appoints new distributor in Mexico: Bernhard and Company, the UK’s World leading manufacturer of machine grinders, have appointed Prove Golf Activa S.A. de C.V. as their new distributor in Mexico.

“This is a great opportunity for us to work alongside a such a solid, established and expanding business in Mexico.” said Steven Nixon, Director for Bernhard Company.  “Prove Golf Activa know their market well, and despite the challenging climate, it means that together we will be able to provide sharpening/grinding equipment for golf, sports fields and other municipalities across the country.”

Bernhard appoints new distributor in Mexico

Bernhard appoints new distributor in Mexico

General Manager of Prove Golf Activa S.A. de C.V, Manuel Nielsen said, “We are very pleased to announce our relationship with Bernhard Company.   At Prove Golf Activa S.A. de C.V, our goal has always been to provide the best selection of high quality turf products, and Bernhard’s complete range of grinders ensures that we are able to meet our customers’ expectations in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace.”

Bernhard and Company is also pleased to announce that they appointed Cristina Aguilera as a new sales agent who will be supporting their distribution network in Mexico, Central and South America.

For more information, please visit: www.bernhard.co.uk

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PM’s green plan must go further

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PM’s green plan must go further: The Prime Minister’s plans for a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’ are a step in the right direction in tackling climate change, but there’s a significant element which has been overlooked – high-emission outdoor power equipment.

That’s according to Challenge 2025 – the initiative from outdoor power tool brand EGO, the business behind “The Report”, which found petrol-powered gardening equipment is capable of producing more emissions than the average car.

PM’s green plan must go further

PM’s green plan must go further

A key part of Boris Johnson’s 10-point plan is the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles, with their sale being banned from 2030. However, it isn’t just vehicle engines which produce toxic fumes. The UK’s most popular Local Authority owned leaf blower has been proven to churn out 763,000,000,000 (7.63×1011) particles per second. To put this into perspective, using this tool for just one hour produces the same emissions as the average car would produce when driving around 370km.

Emma Gayler of Challenge 2025 said: “We know that battery power is going to be vital in reducing the UK’s environmental impact, which is why we welcome the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles. But we need to remember that it isn’t just cars that are powered by inefficient and highly damaging engines – tens of thousands of gardening tools are too, and their collective impact on the environment is significant. Additionally, replacing these tools is much more affordable than purchasing a new car, making it easier for people to make an impactful change straight away.”

Through Challenge 2025, some of the UK’s most popular tools have been put to the test to find out just how damaging they are, and the results are astounding. A leaf blower that produces more particulates per second than a car does in over a minute; more than three times the amount of carbon monoxide; and highly inefficient use of fuel.

Emma continues: “When we consider these tools are hand-held, it’s easy to understand the negative impact they can have on our health – as well as the environment. And when we think about where they’re used – schools, parks, public spaces – we can see why petrol-powered tools also need to be banned in the UK, particularly when battery-powered alternatives not only match, but sometimes surpass, their petrol counterparts on performance.”

The Report has been produced by EGO as part of its Challenge 2025 initiative – one which aims to encourage users of petrol-powered gardening equipment to consider battery-powered alternatives in order to reduce their environmental impact.

To read the findings in full, visit: www.challenge2025.eu/thereport

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Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

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Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator: The new Air2G2 336 is the most productive pedestrian aerator on the market, with 36-inch probe centres allowing operators to cover ground quicker with the same industry-leading results.

Aeration has always been an integral aspect of sports turf maintenance, and the introduction of the original Air2G2 revolutionised the process. The principle of laterally injecting air using three probes up to 12-inches below the surface has de-compacted countless greens, pitches, and courts at prestigious sporting venues around the globe from Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club to Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.

Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

The factors of no surface disruption and the option to operate the machine in wet conditions have seen many rely on the Air2G2 as their go-to solution for game or course saving aeration across all levels of professional, semi and non-professional sport. The ability to aerate when needed rather than working at designated times, has also led to more regular aeration at locations such as Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, where the Air2G2 has become vital to their maintenance programme.

Consistent use of the machine is proven to create surfaces that are healthy, firm, and free draining. This happens over time because the pressurised air fractures the hardpan layers without disrupting roots while increasing pore space which promotes faster drainage and root development. In turn, this respiration forces oxygen in and pushes CO2 and other anaerobic gases out for root zone gas exchange.

Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

Introducing the most productive pedestrian aerator

Operators have used the Air2G2 to solve a variety of problems from simple decompaction to reducing salt build-up, increasing air exchange and to introduce winter aeration programmes. With the wider 336 model, the work needed to achieve these goals can be done in less time whilst always getting the same impressive results.

For more information on the Air2G2 336, visit www.campeyturfcare.com or contact your local Campey dealer.

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Campey announce partnership with Staffordshire FA

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Campey announce partnership with Staffordshire FA: Campey Turf Care Systems and the Staffordshire Football Association have announced a formal partnership with the aim of improving the quality of grassroots pitches in the county.

Over the years as individual entities, both Campey and Staffordshire FA have championed the importance of quality pitches in grassroots football with a focus on increased participation in the game. Nationally, the Football Association aims to improve 20,000 grass pitches across England in the next decade, and whilst at the early stages of that journey, Staffordshire FA Partnerships and Communications Officer, Gareth Thomas, is confident the county can play their part with the help of Campey.

Campey announce partnership with Staffordshire FA

Campey announce partnership with Staffordshire FA

“Since 2012 we’ve been working on various initiatives to raise the standards of grassroots football pitches in our county, and at the beginning of that process our local pitch advisor, Stoke City FC Grounds Manager, Andy Jackson, recommended Campey. We were also aware of Campey from the branding on many of the machines we saw during those early visits, along with the positive feedback we received from clubs,” Gareth explains.

“We’ve had an informal relationship with Campey going back eight years, and we wanted to formalise that to continue to help more clubs across Staffordshire. With the support of Campey, we can keep developing our programme to make as big an impact as possible.”

“One of the reasons our clubs provide positive feedback on Campey is the training that they receive when they invest in machinery, along with the ongoing aftercare. If a new club volunteer comes on board, someone from Campey is at the end of a telephone to talk them through it and if required visit the site.”

“We’ve seen the benefit of that service already at local grassroots football facility sites such as Trubshaw Cross who took on a ten-pitch site from their local council in 2015 and have transformed the pitches with the help of advice and guidance from Campey.”

“They are just one example; we’ve got some excellent case studies across Staffordshire where our programme has been really beneficial to grassroots football. Having worked at the County FA for several years now, I think our grass pitch improvement programme has been one of our most positive and impactful programmes.”

Despite the difficult situation facing grassroots football clubs since Covid-19 disrupted the sport in March 2020, many clubs have used it as an opportunity to improve their pitches via the programme and funding support from the Football Foundation.

Ensuring that clubs invest in the right machinery that will be a real asset to them is a key part of the programme and one that Campey – who have run numerous grassroots education days across England over the last ten years – are pleased to help with.

“These grants provide a real opportunity unlike anything they’ve ever had before for grassroots club to acquire machinery and improve their pitches and receive first rate training,” Campey Director, John Campey, explains.

“We’ve worked with grassroots football clubs for a long time, so it’s nice to be recognised and have the affiliation with Staffordshire FA. It puts us in a good position to help the groundsmen and get the machines out there and have people looking at the kit that will do the best for them.”

“I think it’s important to use the right machinery and for them to see it in action and get involved with it that way. With grant support, clubs can access current machinery that’s easier to use and that encourages volunteers and ultimately improves their pitches.”

This partnership will see Campey support grassroots clubs on-site with training and machinery advice as well as contributions to the Staffordshire FA communication channels which will contain ongoing pitch maintenance advice throughout the season.

In the future, Campey aims to develop partnerships with more county football associations to strengthen their support of grassroots clubs in England.

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SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

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SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has revealed its feedback from both the recent visitor and exhibitor surveys that influenced the decision to move SALTEX to November 2021.

Last month the GMA issued two surveys; one to every exhibitor that had signed-up to the 2020 event and one to every visitor – past and present. The aim was to gather industry feedback which could help plan for and shape the future of SALTEX.

SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

When asked which type of show visitors would like to attend, respondents confirmed that, despite the rise in virtual events, nothing can quite replace human interaction as an indoor show proved to be the most popular choice for both 2021 and 2022.

Preferences for 2021

  • Indoor show – 86%
  • Outdoor show – 27%
  • Virtual show -18%

Preferences for 2022

  • Indoor – 91%
  • Outdoor – 33%
  • Virtual – 9%

A key question in the survey asked the best time of year to attend a trade show; November was the first option – followed by October.

  • November – 47%
  • October – 32%
  • February – 30%
  • September – 25%

Despite the pandemic it is clear that there remains an appetite for trade shows. Respondents were asked how confident they were on a scale of 0-10 (0 not likely at all, 10 extremely likely) in attending trade shows in the future. An overwhelming 73% voted 7 or above.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA said: “Crucially, we wanted to listen to the industry and give them an opportunity to shape a show that is totally about them, and their needs. It also hugely supported our motivation to reschedule.

“We felt really encouraged by the research which pointed to a continuing demand for an indoor trade exhibition and it was also promising to see November as the preferred date.

There was a reason that we went from an outdoor Summer show to an indoor show, and I think these survey results underline the fact that SALTEX, in its current format, works for the sector.”

In addition to a core audience of regular visitors, SALTEX continues to attract new first-time visitors. An encouraging 34% visited SALTEX for the first time in 2019 compared to 28% in 2018, 27% in 2017, 26% in 2016 and 23% in 2015.

SALTEX is appealing more to the younger generation in the industry too, which is further supported by the GMA’s wider range of activities. There was an increase of 6% in visitors aged between 16-30 at SALTEX 2019.

Other notable increases have seen a rise in landscapers, local authorities and those working in junior, assistant and deputy positions.

For more information visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk

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

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