Tag Archive for: Expansion

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

/in , /by

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion: Wireless underground soil monitoring solution Soil Scout has officially launched its full integration package with US-based provider of autonomous aerial intelligence services GreenSight.

The technology partnership gives turf and agronomical professionals a real-time understanding of how to create optimal above and below-ground conditions while increasing efficiency in water and nutrient usage.

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

Soil Scout celebrates US expansion

“Our technology partnership has combined Soil Scout sensors with GreenSight’s TurfCloud platform, providing a cutting-edge machine vision analysis of the entire grounds captured by drone-mounted sensors. Now it’s possible to see everything in their soil – and be able to plan their day’s work – before setting foot outside. This is a major step forward in both smart farming and turf management sectors in the US for Soil Scout” says Soil Scout CEO Jalmari Talola.

GreenSight’s drones have three high-resolution infrared-NDVI cameras, and a radiometrically calibrated thermal camera; paired with an industry-leading flight time of 60 minutes. Combined with Soil Scout’s soil sensors that have solar-powered base stations and repeaters that have a 20-year in-ground battery life, we can provide users with a comprehensive, real-time understanding of their grounds through the GreenSight dashboard.

GreenSight CEO James Peverill commented, “We look forward to helping customers manage their soils more efficiently and improve their facilities across the world. We’re equally excited to be able to distribute their intuitive soil condition sensors to our growing customer base.”

Soil Scout has also expanded its US operations with an aim to accelerate its go-to-market efforts and combat the ongoing drought in California while adding feet on the ground in New England, Texas, and Arizona with the new hires of Kevin Hauschell, Dan Jennings, Zach Sevens, and Joe Lazzaro.

“I’m excited to join the team and bring this incredible technology to farmers, turf managers, vineyard managers, and orchard managers alike throughout the US. In drought years like we are experiencing currently in the Western US, making more informed decisions with regards to water is vital. If we don’t start monitoring and becoming more efficient in our water use in industries like golf, viticulture, and farming; we will see golf courses close, farmland sit barren, and wineries close their doors,” says Kevin Hauschel, West Coast Sales Lead for Greensight Ag / Soil Scout.

“Industries will have to justify their water use to ensure the sustainability of the golf, viticulture, and farming industries in California, so the time is now to use tools that conserve water, improve fertilizer timings, decrease fungicide and chemical use, and increase profitability,“ continues Hauschell.

A report from the Drought Monitor shows 97.5% of California is in some stage of drought, with 87% of the state in severe drought and 52% in extreme drought. In addition, the past two years in California have been extremely dry and the state relies on ‘wet years’ to replenish its water supply.

“Plants are sucking water out of the soil to survive, and that dry soil needs to be irrigated more and more to keep them alive. Agriculture relies heavily on groundwater during droughts in California, but until recently, groundwater hasn’t been regulated so they haven’t had a chance to recharge. More sustainable groundwater management is needed to maintain these key drought reserves. Understanding when and how much to irrigate with smart solutions such as Soil Scout and GreenSight is critical if places like California are to sustainably improve their water usage,” says Adam Sedgwick, VP of International Sales at Soil Scout.

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.

Kubota announces further market expansion

/in , /by

Kubota announces further market expansion: Kubota (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that Lister Wilder is to further expand its operation with the addition of OEM engine supply from its Ashford, Guildford and Reading branches, for customers operating Kubota powered machinery.

This latest addition makes Lister Wilder the first full-line Kubota dealer in Europe, and follows the recent announcement that the family-run dealership is to refocus entirely on the Kubota brand having already secured business with agriculture, groundcare and construction divisions.

Kubota announces further market expansion

Kubota announces further market expansion

“This expansion further strengthens Kubota’s commitment to its customers and the markets in which we operate,” explains David Hart, managing director of Kubota (UK). “As a full-line dealer, Lister Wilder will be in a very strong position to make the future investments required in facilities, technology and staff, to actively support our customers throughout these important industry sectors.”

Having successfully represented Kubota from its branches in Ashford, Guildford, Reading and Cirencester, the firm’s next phase of expansion is impressive. A multi-million pound investment plan will see the first of its new Kubota centres designed and built during 2021, along with the planned redevelopment of existing depots, starting with its Reading premises.

It is expected that the business expansion plans will also create a host of new jobs within sales, after-sales and service, plus parts and warranty departments, stimulating the local ecomonies in which Lister Wilder operates.

“Lister Wilder is delighted to have received the entire Kubota franchise, to operate across its branches, which extend across the southern part of the country,” says company director and co-owner Charlie King. “This strategic move allows us to focus our efforts on delivering expert service and aftersales support across all divisions. Our ambitions are now completely in line with that of Kubota and that makes for a very strong partnership and an exciting future.”

“Around 50% of our business was already Kubota related with groundcare and construction products, and the addition of Kubota’s agricultural and engine divisions gives us huge potential to grow the Kubota brand across our region,” he added.

Lister Wilder is a wholly-owned family business that was established in 1947. Now in its third generation, the company has evolved to become a well-known and well-respected name throughout the industry, recently winning the Service Dealer’s agricultural and groundcare Dealer of the Year awards. Its Kubota groundcare business dates back to 1995, and was followed by expansion with Kubota construction equipment in 2001. Its first Kubota centre was created three years ago in Ashford, Kent, and forms the blueprint for future development.

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.

ClearWater Expansion & BTME

/in , /by

ClearWater Expansion & BTME: ClearWater, the leading British designed and manufactured, washpad water recycling system has become a firmly established brand name in the UK since its introduction in 2003 by Highspeed Group Ltd.

Following steady development and the start of export sales, Acumen Waste Services Ltd acquired the company in the spring of 2017. Demonstrating a commitment to the development of ClearWater, a separate ClearWater Division was set up led by General Manager Matthew Mears. Sales have since moved forward and, to enable the division to handle the extra business and expand further, ClearWater has recently taken on extra staff. The new dedicated team now comprises: Matthew Mears – General Manager, Julie Tunningley – Administration, Steve Short – Engineer, Jez Coward and Chris Burton – Field Sales. Reaping the benefits of the large parent company, Acumen Waste Services Ltd., and enhancing customer service, the team are backed up by a contingent of “Cross-Trained” Acumen staff, well versed in ClearWater. These expansion plans have seen the introduction of new marketing initiatives too with the emphasis on re-branding; an updated logo (sympathetic to Acumen branding), a new and up to date video and fresh advertising / publicity. Said Matthew Mears; “The logo may have changed but it’s the same class-leading ClearWater system. We wanted to bring the brand up to date and the new contemporary logo exemplifies this. Watch out for it on social media, exhibitions, advertising and our other marketing.”

ClearWater Expansion & BTME

ClearWater now has the opportunity with these extra resources to expand beyond the traditional, but still important, golf sector and target other markets (not always turf maintenance based).

BTME is the next exhibition for ClearWater and represents quite a landmark as this year is the 25th year at BTME since Highspeed first exhibited. BTME is seen as an important event and Acumen had no hesitation continuing attendance after acquiring Highspeed and ClearWater. Call and meet the team on the Acumen-ClearWater Stand No. 206 Red South (21st to 23rd January 2020) to see ClearWater showcased and the new video. Talk to them too about Acumen’s waste management services, hazardous waste disposal, spill products and remediation.

Export is high on the agenda too and sales to the USA golf sector, an important but notoriously difficult market to penetrate, are beginning to come to fruition. This is the result of hard work, particularly at GIS and an arrangement set up this year with Ewing Irrigation. ClearWater will be featured on Ewing’s Booth # 2838 at GIS 2020 in Orlando (29th & 30th January) and Matthew Mears will be in attendance.

A very recent export installation has been carried out in Northern Germany too at Winston Golf with Jordan Tschimperle – Course Manager overseeing the installation of a 10,000 litre ClearWater system and a large washpad. ClearWater’s German distributor Golfkontor of Hamburg was actively involved, ensuring the project was brought to fruition. For European conformity ClearWater is manufactured to EN858 standards. Approval was also gained for the project and system to meet local German regulations.

The time certainly is right to purchase a compliant system and ClearWater is the obvious choice. The system was approved as a Water Saving Technology in March 2008 and, as such, purchasers of the system (in the UK) are currently able to claim 100% of the cost of purchasing and installing the system against taxable profits in the year of purchase (Under the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Scheme). Regrettably, however, this scheme will come to an end in April 2020; so you need to move quickly to buy and comply!

Web: www.clearwatertv.co.uk & www.acumenwaste.co.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.

Fast Grow Fertiliser Expansion

/in , /by

Fast Grow Fertiliser Expansion: Fertiliser entrepreneur and founder of the Fast Grow Fertiliser brand, Shane Walsh has announced the expansion of his business into the professional pitch care market in Ireland and the UK.

Established as one of Ireland’s foremost suppliers of seaweed fertiliser, The Fast Grow Fertiliser Company already has a significant presence amongst Irish and UK garden retailers. Now, thanks to a sustained enquiry from the professional pitch care market Walsh, who founded Fast Grow in 2015 is now ready to expand into this important Irish market. Commenting on the effectiveness of his seaweed fertiliser Walsh says, “We produce 100% natural fertilisers with absolutely no artificial additives. Regardless of the weather, Fast Grow will continue to benefit the soil for 8 weeks, whereas with artificial fertiliser, if you get a good shower of rain, it will be washed through your pitches.” 

Fast Grow Fertiliser Expansion

Walsh believes that the growing interest amongst those who manage pitches in Ireland is partly due to the fact that there are significant environmental concerns over using artificial fertilisers and weed killers. Walsh suggests that “using natural products for pitch care is a great marketing message for any sports club and really captures the concerns and mood of the public about protecting the planet.”

Fast Grow Seaweed Plant Fertiliser is particularly effective on pitches where there is a heavy concentration of sand to aid drainage. Artificial fertilisers are typically leached through the soil quickly leaving the grass vulnerable to attacks from pest and diseases which in the past would have been treated with chemical sprays. Now with the reduction in the use of pesticides pitch care is more problematic. However using Fast Grow will improve the soil to the point where the grass will be healthy and strong and less susceptible to pest and diseases.

Fast Grow Seaweed Plant Fertiliser is available as a granular product, especially crumbed for pitch application and is available in either 10kg bags or 1000 kg bulks bags.

For further information visit www.fastgrowfertiliser.com

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.

Kubota Confirm Highwood Expansion

/in , /by

Kubota Confirm Highwood Expansion: Kubota (U.K) Ltd, a leading manufacturer of groundcare, agricultural, construction equipment and machinery, has announced that Dorset based dealership, Highwood, will be expanding its groundcare territory into the Bournemouth area.

With the region having previously operated under Longham’s, Highwood, which has been a respected dealer with Kubota for over 15 years, will be increasing their staff and service support to cover this new area.

Kubota Confirm Highwood Expansion

The exciting expansion between Highwood and Kubota strengthens the existing partnership, displaying the Kubota groundcare range of equipment across the south of England from Southampton to Bere Regis.

New Groundcare Dealer Manager, Phil Catley, who joined recently in the role of Dealer Manager – Southern region for the Tractor and Groundcare division last month commented: “We are delighted that Highwood will be increasing its territory to include the Bournemouth area. Our dealerships are instrumental to Kubota’s growth and we’re excited to continue working with Highwood for many years to come.”

Kubota UK is committed to investing in and expanding its dealer network in order to support more businesses like Highwood, and ultimately offer Kubota’s expertise and unique proposition far and wide across the UK and Ireland.

Nick Green, Operations Director of Highwood commented: “We are delighted to expand our Kubota sales and service support into this new area. With the full range of Kubota groundcare equipment available, we look forward to providing our new customers with the same first class service enjoyed by our current clients. This opportunity further enhances our successful relationship with Kubota and is reward for the quality work put in by our dedicated team”.

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.