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Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

May 20, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB: Continued investment in the facilities at AFC Bournemouth has seen the purchase of two new LX401 compact tractors from Kubota. With a Kubota ST401 already based at the club’s Vitality Stadium, the two new additions will be shared between the existing training ground and brand-new state-of-the-art training […]

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

May 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability: Holcim UK has launched a Pro Range of sports sands and rootzones developed to keep football pitches in peak condition throughout the year. With many pitches struggling to open during the wetter winter months, the Pro Range of sands has been developed to help improve drainage, durability and […]

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

May 20, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

May 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

May 20, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB: Continued investment in the facilities at AFC Bournemouth has seen the purchase of two new LX401 compact tractors from Kubota.

With a Kubota ST401 already based at the club’s Vitality Stadium, the two new additions will be shared between the existing training ground and brand-new state-of-the-art training complex – where they’ll be key to executing the year-round maintenance on the four sand-based, desso pitch constructions.

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

The investment off the pitch appears to be paying dividends on it with the club, nicknamed ‘The Cherries’, at the end of one of the most successful seasons in Bournemouth’s history. In charge of facilities is Head of Grounds Ian Lucas who is, currently, maintaining four sites assisted by a team of 11. In equipping the new 24-hectare training ground with its own machinery fleet, Ian explored all the options when it came to compact tractors – with Kubota proving more ‘compact’ than others…

“No groundsman wants to be putting more weight on their pitches than they need to – it’s critical to find the balance of retaining a low footprint but having enough lift capacity for all the implements we use” Ian explains. “We compared a number of options in the mid-compact arena and found that not only was the Kubota specification better, it had a slightly higher lift capacity and was half a tonne lighter. When the competition indicated it was down to build quality, I told them I’d never had a Kubota break down on me!”

“Just like our ST401 at the stadium, the new LXs are incredibly comfortable to operate and have demonstrated their capability on a range of maintenance tasks at the two training grounds including aeration and regular drag-brushing.”

With time a precious commodity for the team, and the cost of materials ever-increasing, Ian made the decision to have all three tractors equipped with GPS systems. “Initially we thought this would be useful for seeding, where it can be difficult to monitor accuracy when passing on bare sand. However, we now utilise the technology to optimise our spraying and fertiliser programmes and improve efficiency on tasks that can otherwise be quite monotonous.”

The adaptations on the tractor fleet, together with all sales, support and service, is delivered by local Kubota dealer E G Coles. “We’ve always had fantastic back up from the team at E G Coles, particularly Andy Frost who always goes out of his way to help us out when we need information or assistance.”

Ian adds, “It feels like an incredibly exciting period for AFC Bournemouth. With the three Kubota compact tractors at our disposal, we’re in a much better position to deliver surfaces not just fit for the first team, but for players of all ages and abilities across the club, putting us in great stead for the future.”

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Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

May 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability: Holcim UK has launched a Pro Range of sports sands and rootzones developed to keep football pitches in peak condition throughout the year.

With many pitches struggling to open during the wetter winter months, the Pro Range of sands has been developed to help improve drainage, durability and ultimately aid player performance.

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

The Pro Range, which includes world renowned specialist sands Levenseat and Garside from quarries at Fauldhouse, Scotland and Leighton Buzzard in England, are laboratory-tested sands that can be matched to different applications and ground conditions.

For football and rugby grounds staff, Holcim has developed a range of sands for both natural and synthetic pitches.

Levenseat ProPitch is a specialist washed silica sand for natural pitches that can be used for medium fine moist top dressing, rootzone sand or where pitch amelioration is required.

Both the ProPitch 20 & ProPitch 25 have a high performing percolation rate which will improve any area where drainage is an issue – in turn improving durability, playability and player safety.

The range also includes Levenseat ProPitch Rootzone for improved grass root growth and an enhanced version, Levenseat ProPitch™ 20 Rootzone. Both versions use silica sand to enhance drainage.

Four different versions of the Garside ProPitch sand are available, including ProPitch Medium for amelioration and top dressing on natural pitches and ProPitch Elite, a highly permeable infill sand for artificial pitches requiring increased penetrability.

In addition, ProPitch 2EW is a specific sports infill sand that can be used on both natural and artificial pitches and is ideal for sports pitches because of its inherent drainage characteristics and consistent hard-wearing capabilities.

Top dressing sand is also a key part of the range. ProPitch Top Dress is crucial for maintaining a pitch’s permeability, especially in wet conditions, providing a more stable playing surface.

Holcim UK, recently rebranded from Aggregate Industries, can supply the Pro Range using its nationwide logistics network that promises contractors and grounds staff rapid delivery of the sand products needed for their facility or event.

Mark Hickingbottom, General Manager for Garside Sands at Holcim UK says the Pro Range is not just for elite sports: “The Pro Range is aimed at those professional grounds staff who want to give their members, players and users the ultimate performance-ready surface, either natural or synthetic, that combines both playability and durability.

“In recent years, often due to changing rainfall patterns resulting from climate change, sports facilities of all kinds have been forced to close temporarily, postpone fixtures and deny their use to members, which has had an enormous impact on club finances and the health and well-being of players and participants.”

Duncan McCool, Sales Manager for Levenseat Sands at Holcim UK adds: “The Pro Range with its market-leading percolation rate, improved aeration and stable surface, aims to help keep facilities open by providing outstanding surfaces that can withstand the changing seasons and be performance-ready throughout the year.”

To learn more about Holcim’s Pro Range of specialist sports sands, visit www.holcim.co.uk/products/aggregates/sands/sports-sands.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB

Kubota LX401 pairing pull their weight at AFCB: Continued investment in the facilities at AFC Bournemouth has seen the purchase of two new LX401 compact tractors from Kubota.

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability

Holcim Pro Range aims for enhanced playability: Holcim UK has launched a Pro Range of sports sands and rootzones developed to keep football pitches in peak condition throughout the year.

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