Agrovista UK Limited to acquire Maxwell Amenity

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Agrovista UK Limited to acquire Maxwell Amenity: An agreement has been reached between Agrovista and the majority shareholders of Maxwell Amenity, and the transaction is expected to conclude in the next couple of months once the parties have finalised certain preparatory steps.  

Upon completion, Maxwell Amenity and Sherriff Amenity, the professional turf and landscape division of Agrovista, are to join forces.  This merger will bring together two of the most experienced and progressive teams in the professional turf sector.

Agrovista UK Limited to acquire Maxwell Amenity

The new business will focus on combining the skills and expertise of their respective teams to provide UK wide coverage, giving customers the highest standards of advice, products and service to meet the challenges currently facing the industry.

Commenting on the announcement, Managing Director of Agrovista UK, Chris Clayton said, “The acquisition is an exciting opportunity to grow the sales of amenity products by Agrovista through acquiring a business which is complementary to our current amenity business, Sherriff Amenity. The acquisition will allow Agrovista to extend its reach into customer channels in which it is currently underrepresented and better leverage the combined cost and asset base of both businesses.”

MD of Maxwell Amenity, Dave Saltman, stated, “We are very excited about the merger; both our teams have highly qualified and knowledgeable staff. Together with the greater research and product development support available, the new business will be a leading force in the professional turf sector, providing all customers with an even greater level of service.”

The new business will be headed by a combined senior management team.

This team will be working together over the coming weeks and months to ensure a smooth integration.

The team will be in touch with all customers to discuss the exciting new prospects that this merger will bring.

For more information, please visit www.agrovista.co.uk

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Armorgard arrives in strength at SALTEX

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Armorgard arrives in strength at SALTEX: Armorgard is a  leading innovator for solutions that improve safety, productivity and efficiency. The selection of products at Saltex represents the Armorgard range of unique engineered tool vaults, van boxes, site boxes and other site storage.

Every product is exclusive to Armorgard and built on a strong foundation of security, with the highest reputation for strength, reliability and effectiveness. Landscapers, greenkeepers, groundsmen and contractors will find the Armorgard StrimmerSafe Rack upright storage system the ultimate protection for what are the most commonly stolen power tools. The multi-purpose rack keeps your brushcutters, hedge cutters and chainsaws under high security with twin 5-lever deadlocks, and the rack can be bolted to a wall for additional security.

Armorgard arrives in strength at SALTEX

Flambank FB2 is an ultra-tough, lockable vault for storing hazardous chemicals and flammables, specially designed to comply with all relevant COSHH regulations. TuffBank TB2 is a new and improved version of Armorgard’s best-selling tool and equipment storage solution, with hardened steel plates and anti-jemmy features making it virtually impossible to break into. Enhancement includes SlamStop for safety and PowerShelf to turn the product into a secure charging station.

The COSHH compliant Forma-Stor is a quick-assembly, modular storage unit purpose-designed for safe storage of hazardous substances on site. The flat-packed unit can be constructed in around ten minutes and features 30-minute fire resistance, air vents and a fully welded sump to prevent leaks into the environment. Anyone looking for a cost-effective, secure container for storing and transporting hazardous fuels and chemicals will find Armorgard’s TransBank is purpose-built for the task and meets full HSE regulations. Protection from theft, fire and leakage is secure with this heavy-duty steel plate container.

Also displayed at Saltex will be a FlamBank FBC4 which can be seen on the Tudor Environmental stand. All the products featured are designed by Armorgard’s great team and you’re invited to see for yourself on stand K189

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An insight into Yokohama Stadium

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An insight into Yokohama Stadium: What an exciting tournament it has been so far! With just over a week until the final, let’s look into the incredible stadium where the final is taking place – International Stadium Yokohama.

The Rugby World Cup Final 2019 will be held in the International Stadium Yokohama, with the finalists still to be confirmed after this weekend’s semi-finals. This remarkable venue has a bespoke Bolt-Down Bottom Hinge System which is similar to that designed for the “Sliding Pitch” in the Sapporo Dome. Harrod Sport’s Design Team worked closely with our Japanese distributor; Kofu Field Co. Ltd to create these innovative designs ready for the tournament.

An insight into Yokohama Stadium

The biggest challenge encountered in the Yokohama Stadium was that there had previously been a smaller set of rugby posts in place. So, we had to develop something that could be installed over the original sockets, but with the added complication of needing to increase the foundation strength to cater for the greater forces imposed by the 17m tall posts. This was overcome by designing the Bolt-down Hinge Assembly installed with 6 of M20 Stainless Steel Indented Foundation Bolts at each upright.

Also, our unique Winched Rugby Lifters were used at all World Cup venues to ensure that the 17m posts could be erected without the use of any powered vehicles or lifting system.

These posts had to satisfy earthquake requirements. In Japan, it is stated in the Building Standards Act that when you want to install any permanent or non-permanent architectural buildings/objects that exceeds the height of 15m, the owner needs to submit the building certification to the government and that includes tiresome data of the installation site and structure calculation data, CAD drawings (with detail materials and dimensions stated) of the installed building/object.

An insight into Yokohama Stadium

If we had not provided the adequate information and drawings, we would have not been allowed to install 17m rugby posts in Japan. Also, all drawings and structural analysis documentation needed to be interpreted into Japanese for approval by the Japanese Government!

Innovation is at the forefront of what we do at Harrod Sport, and we are privileged to have worked on such a historic and thoroughly entertaining tournament.

For further information please contact Molly Spring (Sales & Marketing Coordinator) on molly@harrod.uk.com or 01502 583515.

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ISEKI’s lasting impression at Cosgrove Park

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ISEKI’s lasting impression at Cosgrove Park: Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty near Buckinghamshire you will find the multi-million pound Cosgrove Caravan Park, spanning over 190 acres. Park Foreman, Trevor Bird with the help of his team of three gardeners, carefully manicure the site all year round supported by their trusted ISEKI SF235.

When Trevor started at the park four years ago they were using several out-front mulching mowers from a different manufacturer to maintain the grassed areas which left the grounds looking rather scruffy.  Trevor explained; “I knew in order to raise the standards of the park we had to cut and collect the grass from around the site.  With this in mind I contacted our local dealer RT Machinery, explained what I was looking for, and they brought out an ISEKI SF235 on demonstration.

ISEKI's lasting impression at Cosgrove Park

“Held on a rather miserable, rainy day I wasn’t expecting much from the demonstration, but the impressive capability of the ISEKI SF235 to cut and collect all the grass clippings with an excellent finish, even despite the awful weather, sold it for me.  The powerful turbine sucks the grass from the deck and blows it via an oscillating chute into the collector, ensuring the collector is filled to its maximum.  This brilliant feature means there is no annoying clogging up compared to the previous mowers we have owned.

“Used four days a week throughout the whole of the grass cutting season by myself and three members of the team, the mower definitely has its work cut out.  We have found it incredibly comfortable to use, with well-placed mirrors, great driving position and comfortable seat, even after 8 hours of work.”

Disposal of all the grass waste is easily completed with the 2.1m lift clearance into a container with the impressive 950 litre collector, boosting efficiency for Trevor’s team, alongside the large 54” cutting width deck.

“This is the first ISEKI I have purchased and even the little finishing touches are well thought through.  One example is all the hydraulic hoses are tucked neatly away so there is no risk of them being caught whilst out cutting.  It’s the quality design touches like this that make the mower stand out from its competitors.

ISEKI's lasting impression at Cosgrove Park

Having known Richard Taylor for many years I can safely say RT Machinery’s service is second to none.  The back-up provided from the dealership is great and exactly what you look for when purchasing machinery like this.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the ISEKI SF235, with its large 54” deck, impressive collector and superb finish; what is not to like about this machine.”

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Car vandals destroy pitches

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Car vandals destroy pitches: Volunteers at a community football club have been left devastated after vandals ruined two of their football pitches.

Members of Gateshead Redheugh, a club which helped nurture the talent of Newcastle legend Paul Gascoigne, arrived to host a football camp on Wednesday morning to discover a car had been driven across the playing fields overnight.

As a result, two of the club’s pitches have been destroyed with long tyre tracks being left in the grass.

The damage has cast doubt on a number of fixtures scheduled at the club this weekend, with 240 players expecting to turn out.

The club’s facilities include four grass and two 3G pitches with the club spending up to £5,000 in the summer to get them ready for the new season.

Senior sports coordinator Terry Ritson told ChronicleLive members have been left gutted by the act of vandalism, which could cost between £5,000 and £10,000 to repair.

The 64-year-old said: “We’re gutted and deflated at what has happened.

“The amount of hard work that goes into running this club for the community for some mindless vandals to come along and ruin it. It just makes you think ‘what’s the point?’

“It’s like we’ve been punished for something we’ve not done. If the other pitches weren’t fenced off then it could have been a lot worse.

“All we want to do is help people, giving them a place to go and incorporate so many members of the community.”

Northumbria Police has launched an investigation into the incident with a car understood to have been driven onto the pitches at around 3am on October 23.

Gateshead Redheugh is mostly funded by player registration fees, fundraising events and sponsorship, with up to 70 volunteers giving up their spare time to help run 20 teams.

The Bolam Street club is now appealing for donations to pay for repairs and help fence off the remaining pitches to prevent a repeat of the damage.

Terry, who has been a member of Gateshead Redheugh since playing for the club in 1969, has said members are overwhelmed by the generosity of the community who have raised almost £700 in 24 hours, while other local clubs have also offered their support.

Terry said: “We simply don’t have that sort of money available. All donations are hugely appreciated.

“Other clubs in the area have kindly agreed to take on some of the 9-a-side and 11-a-side matches due to take place this weekend.

“Groundsmen from local clubs have also said they will help to fix the pitches with us.

“It is absolutely brilliant that the community has come together to help us after a dreadful incident and we hope the people responsible are caught.

“They clearly have no idea what it means to be part of something like this.

“We will bounce back for the sake of the children involved and will be making steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “Shortly before 9.40am on Wednesday, police received a report of damage to a football pitch on Bolam Street in Gateshead.

“It was reported that a car had driven onto the pitch causing tyre marks and damage on the field at around 3am on Wednesday.

“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101 and quote reference number 217 23/10/19.”

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