Weedingtech COVID-19 statement

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Weedingtech COVID-19 statement: Weedingtech has issued a statement regarding Covid-19 assuring clients, colleagues and partners of full support through what is likely to be a very difficult few months.

During this time the company will keep everyone up to date with all activity regarding Foamstream and staff will be available to assist with queries and requirements.

Weedingtech COVID-19 statement

Weedingtech COVID-19 statement

“As a working practice, Weedingtech is following the guidance we are being provided by the UK Government.” Says CEO Leo de Montaignac. “Whilst the UK has been put in lockdown  we are keeping a skeleton crew in the warehouses to maintain essential operations. We expect controls on movement to continue to increase in the coming days and weeks.  Our staff welfare is paramount to us. We will do all we can to support them and their families at this time while remaining committed to supporting our clients to the best of our ability.”

Weedingtech point out Foamstream Deep Clean and Sanitisation has been approved as a biocide by the EU and the EPA.   Independent lab studies the company has commissioned show Foamstream to have a highly powerful viricidal effect at controlling potentially life-threatening viruses like Hepatitis C.  Although they don’t yet have any conclusive testing concerning Coronavirus (Covid-19) it is planned and they are confident that the principle of applying extreme heat to the virus will help reduce its transmission in outside spaces such as bus stops, hospital congregation areas e.g. car parks, smoking areas etc; supermarket car parks and parking machines, public space furniture, playgrounds and public exercise and sports facilities. Many of their customers, they say, are asking if Foamstream can be used in these areas and the answer given is yes.  They recommend using it daily because it is believed it can help reduce the transmission of viruses.

With people based at home and unable to travel, the company is working to create a virtual demo with the option to book allotted times with a local sales representative. Clients can call in, watch the virtual demo and have answers to any questions. This means anyone can still have a Foamstream demo during this difficult time, wherever they are based. The company will announce when this is up and running and demos can be booked. Weedingtech has also created several simple videos that will provide a temporary substitute for training purposes and these will be available online. Weedingtech staff will be available for all client queries as usual whatever the time zone.

“At Weedingtech, we have a strong team and a strong ethos.” Says Leo. “We are always here for our customers and partners as we will continue to be through this challenging time.”

You can find out more about Foamstream technology by contacting Weedingtech +44 203 09 0050 or visit www.weedingtech.com

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Woodhall Spa goes to town

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Woodhall Spa goes to town: It’s a relationship over two decades strong, therefore it’s no surprise that when it came to renewing its machinery fleet as it concluded what is widely recognised as the biggest in-house golf renovation project in the UK, that Woodhall Spa chose Toro again.

As the club’s three-year, three-stage restoration project designed to give the Lincolnshire course back its rightful heathland landscape and original character concludes, the focus is now on the quality of the playing surfaces. Hence the latest, significant investment in Toro and Reesink Turfcare.

Woodhall Spa goes to town

Woodhall Spa goes to town

Course manager Sam Rhodes says: “We have so much confidence in Toro. Having Toro on board during the renovations meant there was one less big thing to worry about. There was too much to do as it was, so knowing the maintenance, and irrigation, of the courses was in safe hands was invaluable. And now as the main restoration work is finished, we’re going to town on the quality of the playing surfaces.”

Richard Latham, general manager, explains the reason for the renovation: “It’s accepted that the course found itself in this position because of over 50 years of woodland mismanagement and neglect. Woodhall Spa was fast falling down in the world rankings. It was time to act and safeguard the future of the course.”

A phone call from Richard was all it took to secure the services of Tom Doak, one of the true greats of modern golf course architecture, for the redesign of the home of the governing body of England Golf. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of bigger greens, now 4,000sqm larger, which takes the greenkeeping team an extra two hours to mow every morning, ably assisted by Toro.

Sam says: “We’ve long been a Toro Total Solutions customer and we wanted a full fleet refresh to make sure we were benefitting from the latest technological advancements and to ensure we are ready for the next all-important phase in the course’s future. We’re already seeing the impact of the new design of the cylinder cutting unit of the Reelmaster 5010-H, it’s freeing a man up.”

The new fleet is comprehensive including greens, tees and fairways mowers, aerators, top dressers and bunker rakes. Sam has included hybrid technology in the form of three Reelmaster 5010-H fairway mowers and two all-electric Workman GTXe utility vehicles, and during the renovations the Toro Lynx central control irrigation system and 170 Infinity sprinklers on the greens, tees and surrounds was extended to the fairways covering the Hotchkin and Bracken courses.

Richard says: “We don’t have much water where we are, so we have to be frugal in how much we apply. The installation of the system has allowed us to be entirely accurate and conserve our usage. It also allowed us to avoid damage in the drought of 2018 – we lost the colour but kept the coverage. To have extended the irrigation system to the fairways now means we have complete Toro protection.”

Both Richard and Sam agree this project has been game-changing, Richard says: “To say we have successfully completed the biggest in-house project the country has seen is quite the achievement. Our members are playing a far more strategic game, reminiscent of how it used to be when golf was first played here in 1905. We’ve successfully put all the holes back together again ourselves and we’re moving up in the rankings. We’ve achieved what we set out to do.”

 

And now as the team embarks on the next phase in the club’s life, Richard considers what happens next. “Now we have the rightful landscape back, playing fantastically, our focus is on ensuring that lasts, and with the combination of Sam, the team and Toro on board we know that’s a realistic ambition.”

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Living every cricket lover’s dream

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Living every cricket lover’s dream: Just like the players, Karl McDermott would now be entering the final stage of his preparations for the English cricket season.

As head groundsman at Lord’s, he would have an eye on April 12, when Middlesex were due to open their campaign against Worcestershire.

Instead, he is “living every cricket lover’s dream” — he is in the middle of a Lord’s lockdown.

But for a few security guards and construction workers rebuilding the Compton and Edrich Stands, and the couple of other on-site residents, including his five-month-old daughter, he has the run of the Home of Cricket.

Not that it makes his working life easier. Normally, he would head up a team of eight groundstaff. As they all take public transport to work, they have been told to stay away for the time being.

Between them, they would take two hours to mow the pristine outfield. On his own, it takes McDermott two days.

“It’s like the good old days of club groundsmanship, trying to survive on your own,” he said. “It’s working out what you can do.

“Generally, I get up and give the square a roll early, about 7.30am, which takes two-and-a-half hours, then I tick off the longer jobs during the day.

“In one sense it’s nice not having cricket, you don’t have to put the covers on and things like that.”

That is not the only positive, of course.

“It is quite liberating,” he said. “I’m not getting many phone calls or emails, I don’t have to go to any meetings. It’s me managing my day and watching the world go by.

“The nice weather is making my days go a lot quicker and is enjoyable. It’s not your typical wet and windy pre-season — that would be miserable on my own.

“The fact I have somewhere to walk around is great. We have just had a baby, so we don’t have to go out to take her for a little stroll, so that’s quite nice as well. It’s probably every cricket lover’s dream to be locked inside Lord’s!”

McDermott has spoken to groundsmen across the grassroots game worried about the impact the current situation will have on both their pitches and their clubs, with uncertainty over when the game will return at any level.

Professional cricket is currently not scheduled to be played until June at the earliest. McDermott is still preparing as if England’s Test match against the West Indies on June 25 will go ahead.

“It’s the same uncertainty that everyone feels right now, we are in limbo, when we can get the guys back in safely, or how much notice we will get that cricket is back.

“It’s a case of trying to stay ahead, so there’s as little catch-up as possible when we are all guns blazing. No matter when, we will be ready.”

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Kubota Invests in Escorts Limited

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Kubota Invests in Escorts Limited: Kubota Corporation (Headquarters: Naniwa-ku, Osaka, Japan; President and Representative Director: Yuichi Kitao; hereinafter, “Kubota”) announced today that it will invest in an Indian leading tractor manufacturer, Escorts Limited (Headquarters: India, Chairman and Managing Director: Nikhil Nanda; hereinafter, “EL”).

Through this investment, Kubota intends to increase its presence in India – the world’s largest tractor market – as well as its commitment to the competitive tractor market, which has massive growth potential, thus further expanding its business.

Kubota Invests in Escorts Limited

Kubota Invests in Escorts Limited

Tractor produced by EL started distributing through Kubota’s sales network in worldwide.

Background and aims

  • The tractor market in India is one of the world’s largest in terms of unit sales and expects to expand further. In 2008, Kubota established Kubota Agricultural Machinery India Pvt. Ltd. (hereinafter, “KAI”) as a foothold in the Indian market.
  • At present, local manufacturers are playing key roles there, and they are all enhancing partnerships with foreign-affiliated manufacturers. In February 2019, Kubota established a joint-venture tractor manufacturing company with EL and mass production is due to start this July.
  • Through this capital tie, the two companies intend to deepen their cooperative relationship further and, by leveraging each other’s strengths, create synergy across a broad range of their business, including development, production, sales, distribution, and parts procurement, in a bid to extend their reach in the Indian market.
  • Meanwhile, the competitive tractors which currently form the core of the Indian tractor market, are gaining popularity in other markets around the world. Kubota hopes to expand its global reach in those model market by tapping into EL’s parts procurement networks and capability to reduce cost.

Investment scheme

  • EL will issue new equity shares to Kubota on a preferential allotment basis (subject to shareholders’ and necessary regulatory approvals) pursuant to which Kubota will hold 9.1% of EL’s paid up share capital.
  • The total amount of investment will be approximately 16 billion yen.
  • Subsequent to the preferential allotment to Kubota, EL will undertake a reduction of its share capital from the shares held by the Escorts Benefit and Welfare Trust (subject to receipt of necessary approvals) of such number of equity shares as are being issued to Kubota under the preferential allotment. Post the capital reduction, Kubota’s stake in EL will increase to 10%.
  • About the investee
Company name Escorts Limited
Representative Nikhil Nanda, Chairman and Managing Director
Location Faridabad City, Haryana State, India
Year of establishment 1944
Business Manufacture and sales of agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and railways-related equipment
Sales Approx. 100.0 billion yen (approx. 62.0 billion rupee; for the year ended March 2019)
Number of employees 11,000 (including non-regular employees, current as of December 2019)
  • Future developments

 

  • After going through the necessary procedures and subject to receipt of requisite approvals, the investment is likely to be completed by June 2020.
  • To further facilitate and strengthen the collaboration with EL, Kubota will sell 40% of stake in KAI to EL, in addition to this investment.
  • Going forward, Kubota aims to establish a joint research and development center with EL to develop products that are optimized for the local market and shorten the development period.

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A message from Rigby Taylor

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A message from Rigby Taylor: Committed to helping you, safely

Rigby Taylor has always regarded the health and wellbeing of our employees and our customers as paramount and during this difficult time we are continuing to trade, in line with Government’s current advice on safe working practices.

A message from Rigby Taylor

A message from Rigby Taylor

With this in mind, we have adapted our working practices with the aim of continuing our high levels of customer service and we continue to be committed to helping you and meeting your needs.

These changes include phone- and online-based advice and sales administration as well as updated product collection and delivery services to ensure we continue to operate in partnership with you during this challenging period.

All our technical sales managers are currently home-based but still able to help with any problems or requests you may have. Our website (www.rigbytaylor.com) is an invaluable source of information and an ideal way to place orders.

We will continue to despatch products for as long as it is reasonably practicable, including order collections from our branches where we have implemented safe systems for collections (and deliveries).

If you have any questions, please get in touch either via your local technical sales manager or via the website.

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