Tag Archive for: Commercial

GMA boosts commercial & communications capabilities

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GMA boosts commercial & communications capabilities: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has welcomed two new Directors to its senior leadership team as the association embarks on a period of investment for growth.

With the support of its Chairman and board, the GMA has appointed Sarah Cunningham as Director of Commercial & Events and Andrea McMahon as the new Director of Communications. Both will play a key role in delivering the association’s strategy.

GMA boosts commercial & communications capabilities

GMA boosts commercial & communications capabilities

Sarah has spent over a decade managing large-scale trade events primarily in the media industry and within not-for-profit organisations, previously working for the association in an interim capacity to support the successful return of SALTEX in 2021. Sarah’s experience and leadership will add significant value to the team delivering the grounds care industry’s largest, must-attend trade exhibition, SALTEX, as well as helping to extend the GMA’s products and services to those operating in and with the sector.

Andrea brings multi-sector communications experience to the association having held senior communications roles in high-profile public and not-for-profit organisations, including in a membership trade association, central government departments and law enforcement organisations having previously spent over a decade in the private sector. Andrea will help the GMA to reach new audiences and raise the profile of the valuable contribution made by volunteers and professionals who makes sport possible at grassroots, amateur and elite level.

Grounds Management Association CEO, Geoff Webb says:

“We’re delighted to have Sarah and Andrea join the GMA family. They both have extensive experience in their fields and will be a great addition to the team. With almost all stands already taken and industry colleagues embracing a return to normality post-pandemic, we are seeing signs that SALTEX 2022 will be busier than the 2021 show and provide the perfect opportunity to showcase our sector, network, and celebrate those working in it. With the return of other events, like the GMA Industry Awards, we look forward to building on the success of 2021 and working towards creating a better future for the grounds care sector.”

To contact Sarah about SALTEX, awards sponsorship or other commercial opportunities, please email scunningham@thegma.org.uk.

For enquiries relating to GMA communications activity, please email Andrea at amcmahon@thegma.org.uk.

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TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

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TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing: Over the last year AMS Robotics has worked hard to form a string of exceptional regional dealers across the country, introducing them to the commercial robotic mowing market.

The Belrobotics products are at the forefront of the large format robotic mowing industry with a groundbreaking mower that will manage up to 75,000m2 several times a week – making it the perfect solution for sports pitches, schools, and all private and business premises. AMS’s most recent partner TH White Groundcare has just come on board as a regional dealer.

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

TH White dives into commercial robotic mowing

TH White’s groundcare supplies market leading machinery brands for your grounds care and arboricultural business. They are specialists in the supply of groundcare and arboricultural machinery, and related equipment, to Local Authorities, Golf Courses, Private Estates, Grounds Care Contractors and more making them the perfect candidates to sell the Belrobotics products.

With three branches in England: Redditch, Stockbridge and Tetbury (Knockdown), THW are able to service the needs of customers in the Birmingham and West Midlands area, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey.

TH Whites and some of the other regional dealers have been busy training with AMS Robotics to bring each team up to speed with the installation process and everything that comes along with it.

Check out how TH White’s Groundcare has found working with AMS and the Belrobotics system:

These vast area mowers are perfect for Turf farms and large private estates. By having GPS and RTK, this increases mowing capacity making them faster and more accurate. Competitor offerings are targeting the domestic segment whereas AMS products suit our existing professional customer base and we are frontrunners in the dealer network being able to supply this unique product to customers who don’t have time to cut grass.

Salesman feedback – so far so good. Great to demo, the machine is fun and is easy to use once you are set up.

A recent customer quote from Jeremy Bulmer who purchased a Park mow, and says “they are the best things since sliced bread’. The next morning after the day the mower was installed he looked outside to find his garden looked like a cricket square… not a blade of grass out of place, it was perfect! This will now save him 8 hours a week sitting on a mower. Which for a busy businessman is a lot of time saved.

AMS Robotics is so pleased to be working with TH White Groundcare helping private homes and businesses manage their large turf areas smarter! For more information or a demo opportunity please call AMS on 01462 676 222 or interested@amsrobotics.co.uk and we will put you in touch with the appropriate contact

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Commercial mower guide

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Commercial mower guide: The sun’s out. The weather is getting warmer. And we’re all thinking the same thing – a time for a turf maintenance refresh. Luckily for you, we have put together a handy guide that includes the best commercial mowers on the market to help you pick the right mower to complete the job.

Here at Balmers GM, we understand that choosing the right mower is essential for maximising performance whilst still maintaining a quality finish on every job. This is where John Deere’s comprehensive range of commercial mowers come in.

Commercial mower guide

Commercial mower guide

Although each mower is unique in their own way, your choice of product will ultimately depend on a number of key factors. These include; the size of the area you have to mow, how frequently the area requires maintaining, how intricate the mowing area is with any obstacles you may have to navigate around, plus the type of finish that’s required.

The full range of John Deere commercial mowers start off with their professional line-up of walk-behind mowers, moving up to their powerful diesel mowing tractors, zero-turn mowers for fast and efficient mowing, front rotary mowers for more challenging terrain, wide-area mowers for larger areas and their compact tractor series with a range of attachments to give you ultimate versatility.

All John Deere commercial mowers are easy to operate with their comfortable, intuitive, ergonomic controls, and depending which model you choose, most come with powerful 3cylinder diesel engines, hydro-static transmissions, power-steering, 2WD or 4WD options and larger fuel tanks for longer periods of continuous mowing.

Other great features include simple cutting height adjustment, drive over mowing decks, hitip grass collectors and the superb Michelin X Tweel turf airless tyres which are immune to sharp objects and last three times longer than conventional pneumatic tyres. Above all else, a John Deere commercial mower will leave a professional, class-leading cut whilst increasing your businesses’ productivity, performance and profitability.

The 4 Key Models

Diesel Mowing Tractors: John Deere X950R

The John Deere X950R is a powerful rear discharge, rear collect diesel mowing tractor and is a popular choice with landscapers, estates, holiday parks and all the other turf professionals that need to mow larger areas whilst collecting the grass clippings.

Featuring a fuel efficient high-torque 3-cylinder diesel engine, heavy-duty wheel motors, hydraulic power-steering, ergonomic controls and a high-back seat for operator comfort all day long.
The X950R can be configured with a choice of either a 48” or 54” mowing deck and a choice of high or low tip grass collector – the outstanding ‘tail follows trail’ design makes it easy to mow near fences, walls and obstacles with the collection box fitted. Alternatively, a rear deflector chute can be easily fitted to the tractor for those jobs where grass collection isn’t necessary.

Zero-Turn Mowers: John Deere Z997R

If its speed and efficiency you’re after, nothing compares to the manoeuvrability of a zero turn mower. Their ability to turn 360 means navigating around obstacles can be done easily and without slowing down, saving you time and money – making them a popular choice with landscapers and contractors alike.

The Z997R can be configured with either a 72” side discharge deck or a 60” side or rear discharge deck, which can all be easily converted to mulching deck if required.
Another popular option for zero turn mowers are the Tweel Turf Tyres. As they are airless, it’s impossible to lose tyre pressure (one of the main reasons operators are often left with an uneven cut due to loss of tyre pressure causing the mower deck to tilt) and of course are puncture proof too!

Front Rotary Mowers: John Deere 1500 Series

For those larger contract mowing jobs, a commercial front rotary mower is certainly worth considering as they’re specifically engineered to mow through thick grass at high speed for longer periods of time – up to 10 hours of continuous mowing for some models!

The John Deere 1500 series of commercial front rotary mowers come with 4WD as standard and are fitted with high performance 3-cylinder diesel engines with direct injection to increase economy and mowing performance.

All models are available with a choice of mowing decks; the 7-Iron Pro side discharge deck is designed for more challenging areas and is available in either a 60” or 72” width of cut or in areas where people may be present the FastBack rear discharge deck is available in either a 62” or 72” width of cut.

Compact Tractors: John Deere 1026R

For many turf professionals, a good option is a compact tractor. Not only will it easily tackle those seasonal mowing jobs, a compact tractor is a sound investment for all sorts of groundcare jobs all year round.

The rear PTO can operate a whole range of attachments such as leaf blowers, chippers and log-splitters for Autumnal work, and when Winter comes – snow brushes, blades and gritters can be attached quickly. Other attachments include front loaders, buckets and pallet forks and to the rear of the tractor accessories such as transport boxes and trailers are quickly attached to a 3-point hitch.

The John Deere 1026R is the smallest compact tractor in the range and is designed to let the operator switch tools and attachments quickly. Standard features include hydro-static transmission, 4WD and power-steering for smooth operation – plus a deluxe seat and suspension, tilt steering and a lighting kit for all-day, all year round work.

The AutoConnect mower deck connects to the tractor without you having to leave your seat. Simply drive over the deck ramps, listen for the two clicks as the deck attaches and you’re done. Yes, it’s that easy. And quick!

For a limited time only, you can get the 54” AutoConnect mowing deck when you purchase the John Deere 1026R model for JUST £1 – a saving of over £3,000!

If you’re still unsure on which type of commercial mower is the right one for you, then our dedicated sales team will be happy to offer advice, guidance and machinery demonstrations to help you through the decision-making process. Simply enquire now.

Balmers GM are one of North England’s largest dedicated turf machinery dealers and are John Deere’s main dealers for golf and turf machinery covering Lancashire, West and South Yorkshire. Find out more.

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82V Cramer cordless commercial range

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82V Cramer cordless commercial range: 2020 sees the official launch of the Cramer 82V Commercial range of machinery, with over 30 commercial garden products designed specifically for the professional user and one of the most comprehensive and competitive ranges in today’s market.

The new range offers market leading performance, with innovative features such as Magnesium components, Fleet connectivity, and ultra-high torque motors to offer true petrol rivalling performance for a fraction of the running costs and with no emissions.

82V Cramer cordless commercial range

82V Cramer cordless commercial range

 

‘Cramer has built a strong reputation in Europe for producing high quality commercial horticultural products. Following the development of the 82V range we can now offer

a complete solution for commercial users in the U.K. that are looking for a cordless range, where emissions, performance, affordability and choice are important.’ said Alan Wilson, Handy Distributions Cramer Specialist, UK distributor for Cramer.

The range includes both on-board and backpack battery solutions, and a comprehensive range of handheld equipment including chainsaws, blowers, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, brush cutters, multi-tools, and hand pruners. Walk behind products include sweepers, utility carts, and lawnmowers up to 61cm (twin blade).

For more information on the range or to find your nearest stockist, call us now on 01793 333220 or visit www.cramertools.com

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Ventrac for Norse Commercial Services

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Ventrac for Norse Commercial Services: Norse Commercial Services (NCS) has purchased a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor and Tough Cut deck, through supplying dealer Ernest Doe & Sons, to help maintain the embankments of the new Broadland Northway.

The 19.5 km (12 mile) dual carriageway, formerly known as the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NNDR) connects traffic from the eastern approaches to the northwest of the city.

Ventrac for Norse Commercial Services

Completed in April 2018 at a cost of £208 million, it has 39 km (24 miles) of embankments that have been planted with 380,000 native shrubs and trees, including gorse, oak, acer and hawthorn. Areas with no tree or shrub planting have been seeded with four differing mixes of wildflower seeds. It is these wildflower areas that the Ventrac and Tough Cut deck are maintaining.

Simon Mutten is the Head of Policy and Strategy at GYB Services, Project Co-ordinator for the NCS and lead liaison with the client, Norfolk County Council. Commenting on the new machine he said,

“The Environmental Management Plan requires a cut and rake of the wildflower sections twice a year. This is the first year that the embankments have been cut and we required a machine to work alongside our existing Roboflail, to increase productivity on the larger areas. We have 1.5 million square metres to maintain, so we were looking for something more productive to ensure that we provide best value to the client.”

Martin Adcock is Operations Manager at Norwich Norse Environmental, one of the three companies involved in the joint venture to maintain the highway, and was the person tasked with finding a solution to the maintenance issue.

“My first action was an internet search for slope mowers. Remote controlled mowers, including our Roboflail, featured prominently but productivity was an issue due to their limited width of cut. The Ventrac also featured in the search and, with its 1.7 metre cutting width and maximum speed of around 16 km an hour, it appeared that it could do the job. However, I had not heard of the machine before and was quite sceptical. I contacted our dealer, Ernest Doe, who is a trusted partner and has supplied us with groundscare equipment for many years.

“They advised that they had experience of the machine and could arrange a demonstration, which was done very quickly. Once I’d seen it in action, and had a chance to operate it myself, I realised that it would certainly do the job for us. The demo was brilliant; it tackled the embankments with ease and left a very acceptable finish. With a ground pressure of just 6 psi, it’s gentle on the newly established slopes and can be used at 30 degrees, something no other ride-on machine can achieve. We are also using it around the lagoons that take the water run-off from the road.”

Jack Adcock is the principal operator of the Ventrac and says,

“I’ve been using it for around 40 hours and both manoeuvrability and stability are excellent; it just won’t run away from you on slopes. It’s simple to use, the controls are really intuitive and maintenance is easy. The flip up deck makes it quick to clean and the double-sided blades ensure you can keep operating all-day long. Used in conjunction with our Roboflail, which can be used on slopes up to 55 degrees, we have all the right equipment to do the job and keep the highway looking really presentable.”

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