Tag Archive for: Advance

Agrovista completes acquisition of Advance Grass Solutions

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Agrovista completes acquisition of Advance Grass Solutions: Agrovista has today announced the completion of its acquisition of leading sports turf agronomy services business, Advance Grass Solutions (AGS).

The acquisition brings together some of the most experienced and progressive teams in the sector, further strengthening Agrovista Amenity’s position as a key player in professional turf management.

Agrovista completes acquisition of Advance Grass Solutions

Agrovista completes acquisition of Advance Grass Solutions

The senior management team is now working on plans to ensure a smooth integration of the business.
Commenting on the announcement, Managing Director of Agrovista UK, Chris Clayton said, “AGS is a business that we have long admired and one that has delivered sustainable growth with an expanding customer base. The acquisition will allow Agrovista Amenity to extend its reach into customer channels in which it is currently underrepresented and better leverage the combined offer to our current and future customers. Growth of Agrovista Amenity remains core to the overall Agrovista strategy and the AGS acquisition demonstrates once again our commitment to the strategy.’’

Jamie Bennett, Chairman and CEO of AGS said “We are delighted about this exciting news. This acquisition will combine the strengths of both companies, enhance the product portfolio and increase the technical knowledge of both teams. I am very confident that all customers can expect a smooth transition, a data driven commitment to support and a market leading level of customer service without compromise.”

Existing customers are encouraged to continue working with their current account manager and service provider as usual, until further information is provided.
Sam Honeyborne, Managing Director of AGS added “We look forward to discussing the news and welcoming all customers, clients and suppliers to the Agrovista Amenity stand at BTME hall 1 stand 120/124.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Terra Spike GXi8 HD helps Woolley Park advance aeration

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Terra Spike GXi8 HD helps Woolley Park advance aeration: Playing ‘catch up’ is a necessary evil for many turf professionals. Whether juggling weather windows, staff availability or extended playing schedules, quite often something falls behind.

Happily for the team at Woolley Park Golf Club, Wakefield, the delivery of a new Terra Spike in November, and four months of constant hole punching, has them ahead of the curve with their advanced aeration programme.

Terra Spike GXi8 HD helps Woolley Park advance aeration

Terra Spike GXi8 HD helps Woolley Park advance aeration

The West Yorkshire club is a family run business which features a challenging 18-hole course, and a measured Par 3 course, in the spacious and peaceful setting of an old deer park. The site is beautifully landscaped and ringed by trees.

This season, John Rowbottom and his team of four greenkeepers and apprentice, retired their long-standing greens aerator and separate fairways machine selecting the Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD to replace both.

John Rowbottom, head greenkeeper, said:

“Over the last 8 months aeration across both our courses was taking too long to complete. Being a 27-hole golf centre, we need speed on the greens. Previously to get around them all could take 3-4 days; and it was a job no one wanted.

“In seasons past, we tried a shallow aerator, which was quick, but didn’t give sufficient depth. Last year with Balmers GM, Wakefield, we looked at what was on the market, favouring the ’two birds with one stone’ option and happened upon the GXi8 HD, with its access all areas credentials.

“We knew it was fast and incredibly smooth and were excited for its great results and minimal disruption, so reducing the impact of maintenance work on our golfers.

“All in we have 22 hectares of fairways and 3 hectares of greens.  Since November, we have achieved an aeration pass on the greens in each of the four winter months, varying depths as we’ve gone. We’ve also covered the fairways twice. During the last week of November, we hired an additional GXi8 from our dealers, Balmers to take best advantage of a weather window: completing one full rotation. We’ve been out with Our Terra Spike pretty much every day since, and have now two full circuits across booth courses.

“Our whole ethos is investment into the golf course. Our greenkeeping team are resourced with the machines they need for task.  Through sheer volume of work we’ve got through ten sets of tines, but the upside is we’ve an exceptional volume of holes in the ground. We’ve literally hammered holes in every square inch of this place but we are better for it. It’s helped no end to get that little bit of extra depth.

“The Wiedenmann has revolutionised the way we aerate. If we set our minds to it, with an early start and a late finish we can get all 27 greens done in a day, rather than the three to four days it took previously.

“Covering fairways used to be a two-to-three-week job and if you got bad weather in and amongst then heaven help you!

“Now the job is much less frustrating and takes less than a week. The team feel they are making real progress rather than plodding at a slow speed.

“On the fairways ideally, we only want to work the soil up to 15 cm. Ninety-five per cent of our land is built upon coal measures sandstone so we are just hoping to prick through the top soil and then let the stone layer do its thing. We have the off fairway where we know we have a clay pocket. On those we’ve been able to drill down to full depth; getting as deep as we can to help mother nature.

“In our part of Yorkshire we’re the last golf course to shut for rain and the first one to reopen after it.

“Aeration really is essential. With wetter winters and golfers wanting to play longer into the season, the GXi8 just brought us straight back up to speed. Keeping the surface open and, keeping it free draining in combination with managing footfall really helps.  The Wiedenmann is a real eye opener and fantastic piece of equipment.”

Darren Barker, Sales Director, Balmers GM said:

Thank you to John, Philip & Jane Rowbottom and the team at Woolley Park Golf Club for their purchase and positive feedback. We knew this machine would work hard and be put through its paces. The Wiedenmann is all about speed, reliability and increasing aeration productivity.”

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STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

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STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT: STIHL has launched ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT which sees the popular ADVANCE ProCOM headset fitted as standard to its X-VENT safety helmet.

This new product offers forestry and landscaping professionals clear, high-quality communications and top-of-the-range ear and head protection all-in-one. ADVANCE ProCOM is also available as an ear defender set, or as an accessory for the ADVANCE X-CLIMB and other 3M compatible helmets for a wide range of choice.

STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

STIHL launches advance procom X-VENT

Fixed to the X-VENT for optimum comfort and safety, the ADVANCE ProCOM headset offers seamless on-site communication with up to 16 other ADVANCE ProCOM users. It also boasts a range of up to 600m between two users, dependent on terrain; with each headset acting as a repeater to extend the range should more than two headsets be in use at once.

Its intuitive ambient mode allows users to hear and react to potential dangers around them, with automatic de-activation, should loud noise be detected, for maximum protection.

The design, which puts user safety at the forefront, not only offers the ADVANCE ProCOM’s industry-leading ear protection, but hardwearing head protection, complete with reflective strips, in the form of the X-VENT. The vented helmet comes with a sturdy spring steel mesh visor which allows up to 80% light visibility for a clear, protected view. For ease of use, it also comes with a ratchet adjustment headband and a twist lock to adjust its size and height.

The ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT also features qualities such as smartphone voice assistance, an integrated FM radio and app customisation. Additionally, it offers both open-mic and push-to-talk options to suit the level of communication required.

For more information on STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM X-VENT, visit www.stihl.co.uk

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New role to advance Export division

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New role to advance Export division: It has been announced that Tom Challinor will succeed Peter McDonald in the role of Export Manager for Agrovista, combining this with his current position within the Amenity sector.

Tom has been working for the company for over a decade and started as an amenity Sales Advisor. Even back in 2012, when the amenity export operation was of a humble size, Tom had his eye on international markets.

New role to advance Export division

New role to advance Export division

“We were receiving a few international calls and enquiries but due to the size of the team and other commitments, we were unable to prioritise this area of the business.

“We discussed this internally to look at ways to improve the handling of our international enquiries.  I got the go ahead to take this on as a part of my role and this has developed over the years to become my full-time focus.”

By nurturing relationships with key customers and seeking out new partners in new territories, Tom has worked hard to grow the amenity export side of the business. Agrovista’s products have made a lasting impression in various European markets and further afield.

Last year Tom was instrumental in Agrovista becoming a corporate member of the Institute of Export & International Trade – a move which helped to boost the company’s export potential even further. He also recently achieved a diploma in International Trade – a four-year course which is provided by the Institute.

“I am, of course, over the moon to be presented with this new opportunity,” he said. “The processes are essentially the same but on the agricultural side there are more high-volume sales in comparison to the smaller, more frequent orders on the amenity side. With the unique, and highly successful Discovery agricultural range of products there is a lot more regulation, registration, and legislation required.

“Currently, the Discovery products are popular with big agrochemical companies in countries such as Turkey, Slovakia, Romania, and Slovenia, whereas the amenity products have more of a presence in central Europe and the Middle East. I believe this presents some opportunities to crossover and the growth of both could go hand-in-hand.”

Tom will divide his time between the company’s offices at Allscott and Rutherford House, and believes his colleagues, and Agrovista’s ever expanding networks will be integral.

“We have a fantastic technical department that is extremely helpful and always answer any technical questions I have.

“Everything is in place to succeed – the support I have around me is superb.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

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Polyon range grows with Advance Grass: Advance Grass, the exclusive distributor for POLYON® controlled release fertilisers are pleased to announce the addition of two new analyses for the 2020 season.

POLYON®, a globally recognised brand, has become a very popular product since its UK launch in 2016 and through customer feedback on specific nutritional requirements, the following have been added to the AGS portfolio:

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

28.0.0 + MgO + CaO

  • 4-5 month longevity
  • High N with added Calcium and Magnesium
  • 60% controlled release nitrogen
  • Excellent spring base feed
  • Fast start nitrogen portion
  • 2-3 mm prill

15.0.10 + MgO + Fe

  • 4-5 month longevity
  • Balanced N:K feed
  • Added Magnesium & Iron for colour
  • 50% controlled release nitrogen
  • 2-3 mm prill

With their trademarked green colour, POLYON® give turf professionals all the things they want from a fertility programme: consistent, predictable feeding that lasts for months with one application—all to help you grow healthy and beautiful turf. Even better is the fact that you’ll save money along the way due to its enhanced performance.

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

Green Means… Best Technology

POLYON® controlled-release fertilisers encapsulate nutrients within a patented polyurethane membrane, feeding the root zone slowly, constantly, daily, for months at a time. The key is the “Reactive Layers Coating” that releases out nutrients via diffusion. The results are astounding: beautiful turf, fewer applications, and no excessive growth, even after irrigation or rainfall.

Green Means… Efficient

Independent research shows POLYON® fertiliser maximizes nutrient-use efficiency. POLYON® fertilisers are engineered to provide 100% controlled-release nutrients with virtually no nutrient lock-off. Numerous university studies measuring leaching and volatilization verify POLYON® fertiliser minimizes nitrogen loss compared with other fertilisers.

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

Polyon range grows with Advance Grass

POLYON® fertiliser can be applied in advance of plant demand because cool soil temperatures of early spring will slow nitrogen release. Less nitrogen is released to the soil from which it can be lost. As soils warm, plant growth and nutrient demand increase. Warmer temperatures also increase nitrogen release from POLYON® fertiliser to keep pace with plant needs.

For further information please contact your local AGS Area Manager or e mail sales@advancegrass.com

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