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Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield: With over a decade of experience nurturing the hallowed grounds of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium campus (SGM), Jim Dawson has recently embraced a significant change: the adoption of electric turf maintenance equipment, specifically the Dennis ES-860 cylinder mower, marking a shift away from traditional petrol-powered machinery. Reflecting on […]

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Hunter as its new Head of Events. With her extensive experience and proven track record in event management, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to this pivotal role, further strengthening the GMA and SALTEX’s commitment to […]

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield: With over a decade of experience nurturing the hallowed grounds of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium campus (SGM), Jim Dawson has recently embraced a significant change: the adoption of electric turf maintenance equipment, specifically the Dennis ES-860 cylinder mower, marking a shift away from traditional petrol-powered machinery.

Reflecting on his time at the iconic stadium, Head Groundsman Jim says: “I’ve been working here for 13 years now. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time and it’s a great experience to be part of the national team.” Over the years, Jim has witnessed pivotal transformations in pitch maintenance, notably the transition to a hybrid pitch, a decision made a decade ago to combat nematode issues that plagued the turf. “This new pitch was an absolute game-changer,” he adds.

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

The introduction of the Dennis ES-860 mowers represents a milestone in Murrayfield’s sustainability journey. Jim, a long-time advocate of Dennis Mowers, explains the rationale behind the switch: “Petrol costs have gone up, and there are obviously the environmental aspects to consider – we had to weigh up the pros and cons of going down the electric route.” After thorough demonstrations and evaluations, the ES-860’s robust features, including extended battery life and compatibility with existing G860 mower cassettes, emerged as compelling factors for Jim.

The Dennis ES-860, a 34″ battery-powered turf

management system, epitomises versatility and efficiency. Offering a range of 13 interchangeable cassette options for tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing, and verticutting, it ensures optimal performance for day-to-day maintenance needs. Powered by a 48V battery, the ES-860 boasts a quick 120-minute recharge time, eliminating concerns of range anxiety during prolonged use.

Jim highlights the integration of the ES-860 into Murrayfield’s operations: “The battery life is great – we can get the whole pitch cut on a single charge with no problem at all.” Leveraging the versatility of the machine, Jim utilises various cassettes tailored to specific maintenance requirements. “Predominantly we use the cylinders for cutting,” he explains. “The brush cassettes come in handy during the winter to remove debris from the pitch to keep it clean and we’ve also got the verticutting cassette.”

One of the standout features of the ES-860 is its ultra-quiet operation, a big advantage for Murrayfield’s busy matchday preparations. Jim notes, “Because we have a lot of press and media still working and ‘on air’ a couple of hours after the full time whistle, they are always asking for us to turn the petrol mowers off! However, we can now carry on working with the ES-860’s, because they are so quiet in operation.” This not only enhances efficiency but also creates a more favourable working environment for the groundskeeping team. “I love how quiet the machines are – we can talk over them, and we don’t find ourselves shouting from one end of the pitch to another,” adds Jim.

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

Moreover, Jim commends Dennis Mowers for their exceptional service and expertise, particularly highlighting Ewen Wilson, Sales Manager for Scotland. “I receive an outstanding service from Dennis Mowers,” he states. “Ewen has helped me a lot over the years and his knowledge of the equipment is fantastic.”

As Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium continues its sustainability journey, Jim says there will be more electric equipment on the way, affirming, “Battery-power is the way forward.”

With market-leading turf maintenance equipment like the Dennis ES-860, Jim Dawson and his team are certainly ensuring that Scotland’s rugby legacy thrives for generations to come.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

May 17, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Hunter as its new Head of Events. With her extensive experience and proven track record in event management, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to this pivotal role, further strengthening the GMA and SALTEX’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

As Head of Events, Sarah’s immediate focus will be on SALTEX 2024, Europe’s largest event dedicated to grounds care. Sarah will play a crucial role in shaping the overall strategy and execution of this year’s exhibition, ensuring an unparalleled experience for visitors, exhibitors, and stakeholders alike. Leveraging her strategic vision and passion for delivering exceptional events, Sarah is poised to lead SALTEX 2024 to new heights and solidify its position as the premier grounds management exhibition.

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

“I am thrilled to join the GMA team and lead the events strategy for SALTEX 2024,” said Sarah Hunter. “I am committed to delivering events that exceed expectations and provide immense value to our attendees, exhibitors, and partners. I am confident that SALTEX 2024 will set a new standard for excellence in the industry.”

Sarah is a seasoned events professional and joins the GMA after 12 years with NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting), a market-leading certification body in the construction industry. Throughout her tenure, Sarah spearheaded hundreds of successful events, exhibitions, conferences, and webinars across the UK, from concept to completion.

“We are delighted to welcome Sarah Hunter to the GMA as our new Head of Events,” said Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial and Events at the Grounds Management Association. “Her exceptional leadership skills and passion for delivering outstanding events make her the perfect fit for this role.

“With Sarah at the helm, we are confident that SALTEX 2024 will be an unrivalled success, offering our visitors.”  

SALTEX takes place at Birmingham NEC on 30^th and 31^st October 2024. Exhibitors wishing to secure their place at Europe’s largest free sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition can contact saltexsales@thegma.org.uk.

For more information and to register your interest to attend SALTEX 2024, visit https://www.saltex.org.uk/.

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)

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Dennis Signals Eco-Conscious Evolution at Murrayfield

GMA appoints Sarah Hunter

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