Tag Archive for: Fleet

New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

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New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club: Chorley Golf Club has got its 125-year anniversary off to a good start by updating its machinery fleet.

The course sits in 127 acres between Bolton and Preston, drawing players out of both major conurbations to be challenged while taking in prime views that extend as far as the Lake District and North Wales.

New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

With both healthy membership numbers and a high number of visiting players, Head Greenkeeper Tony Grayson and his team of four – deputy John Cottam, Chris Riley, Stuart Angus, and Daniel Woan – are working to meet expectations every day.

“I try to produce the best course I can every day, as we have so many competitions”, he says. “It’s all about the presentation and of course – people want what they see on TV.”

Living up to the manicured greens and fairways seen on televised competitions is no mean feat in the north west of England, where consistent rainfall and clay soils present major challenges.

“The ground is very quick to get wet but also quick to dry as we are on a couple inches of topsoil and thatch on the fairways,” Tony said. “The Bunkers are really difficult to maintain in bad weather because the clay contaminates the sand and, although others might put in liners nowadays, on a limited resource it costs a fortune.”

Pests and diseases, particularly fusarium, anthracnose, worm casts and leatherjackets are an increasing challenge too, with many chemicals being taken off the market. Frequently warm and wet conditions make this pressure relentless.

Keeping the course in top condition takes attention to detail, and the team can afford little  machinery downtime. A breakdown can threaten to overwhelm the team so when they were handed the keys to a brand-new shed just before the first covid lockdown in March 2020, the impetus was there to invest in new machinery.

Tony said: “It had been difficult to invest in machinery because of the previous sheds in terms of their security and the environment – you don’t want to be keeping machines in damp conditions.

“We had an ageing fleet and the reliability, particularly of our previous rough mower, was going down. When you’ve got the grass growing like mad and a rough mower down, it’s difficult to manage.”

The team’s new shed now stores a John Deere 7500 fairway mower, a 9009A TerrainCut rough mower, an 8000A E E-Cut Hybrid fairway mower, a XUV86SM Gator, three 220SL SL PrecisionCut walk-behind greens mower and two 2500 greens mowers.

Tony said: “Looking at other brands, I found that John Deere, as well as being at the top, was offering value for money as well. Once I demoed everything, it was obvious what I was looking for. The machines are now specific to our course and environment so we can go out with more confidence, getting a nicer cut.

“The 8000AE is so versatile and it can even act as a backup fairways mower by quickly raising the height of cut. It is our key machine and the one that will make people notice in terms of the appearance of the surrounds and approaches. Now, the green-side bunkers are part of the surround and we’re able to cut around this area with the new machine, making the presentation so much better.”

For the majority of the new machines, Tony opted to use John Deere Finance. And with a strong relationship with John Deere’s specialist servicing dealer Balmers GM spanning  20 years, the team at Chorley has direct access to support to maintain the machines. For its flagship machine, the 9009A, Tony reasoned that an operating lease, whereby the team would only pay for the use of the machine, would be the best option.

“The club looked at the hours our machines were doing – and with the rough mower doing the most hours, we took it out on an operational lease as we have a lot of semi-rough, and will look to change after five years.”

Following a successful 2021 with summer on the greenkeepers’ side and armed with a new machinery fleet, Tony’s sights are now set firmly on future proofing the course – and the reliability of the new machines will be crucial to ensure this work can happen.

“Our aim now is to make the course longer by building a few more tee zones set right back onto the course’s boundaries to cater for an increasing number of golfers hitting the ball further. All this has to be done without disrupting golfers’ experience or making a mess with the heavier equipment required.

“Our industry isn’t without its challenges but investing in the machines has really given our greenkeepers more pride in their work, and the machines are doing a fantastic job at presenting the course in the best light.”

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Toyota Mirai joins JCB fleet

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Toyota Mirai joins JCB fleet: Digger giant JCB has taken delivery of the latest Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car – just as it develops its own hydrogen engine technology.

The vehicle is among the first batch of Toyota’s second-generation hydrogen-fuelled cars to arrive in the UK since its launch earlier this year.

Toyota Mirai joins JCB fleet

Toyota Mirai joins JCB fleet

JCB’s purchase of the Toyota Mirai comes as the company invests £100 million in the development of super-efficient hydrogen engines to power its equipment. The wraps have already come off two prototype hydrogen powered machines: a backhoe loader and a Loadall telescopic handler, which were displayed COP26 in Glasgow.

It is the second hydrogen fuelled Toyota Mirai bought by JCB following the purchase of a first-generation model in 2015. The new Mirai was handed over to JCB Chairman Lord Bamford by President and Managing Director of Toyota (GB), Agustin Martin.

Lord Bamford said: “We applaud Toyota for its consistency in exploring the potential of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels in cars. Indeed, just in the past few months, Mr Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, has been testing a Toyota car powered by a hydrogen combustion engine, the same technology that JCB is pioneering for its own machinery. Having a hydrogen fuel cell car in our fleet makes perfect sense as we pursue hydrogen as a fuel of the future.”

Agustin Martin said: “Since 1992, Toyota has produced more than five million cars at its Burnaston plant and our Midlands neighbours at JCB have an even longer history of providing employment, investment and innovation in the region.  JCB’s research and development into hydrogen engines marks a significant and forward-thinking shift in the construction and agriculture worlds.  It’s exciting to see another industry taking the steps towards decarbonising society through the application of hydrogen technology.”

JCB has manufactured engines since 2004, producing them at plants in Derbyshire and Delhi, India.  It is on course to celebrate production of its 750,000th engine this year.

Toyota’s all-new Mirai is its second-generation fuel cell electric vehicle. It offers enhanced driving performance, better fuel efficiency, a 30 per cent greater driving range and a price tag almost 25 per cent lower than its predecessor.

The increased efficiency of Mirai’s fuel cell system, coupled with a 1kg increase in hydrogen capacity, gives the car a range of approximately 400 miles – an increase of 100 miles over the first generation model.

Fuelled by hydrogen, Mirai can be refilled in a matter of a few minutes. It emits only pure water and, through the use of a new electrostatic filter, removes almost 100 per cent of particulate matter from the air, up to 2.5 microns in diameter, as it drives.

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Toro fleet matches scale

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Toro fleet matches scale: With two 18-hole championship golf courses set in 500 acres of beautiful Northumberland countryside, Longhirst Hall Golf Club, near Newcastle, required a robust fleet of greenkeeping machinery which was powerful enough to maintain the entire site.

The club was keen to find a market-leading manufacturer which could offer local support and reliable back-up care, and after test-driving a number of machines the decision was made to invest in a nine-strong fleet from Toro.

Toro fleet matches scale

Toro fleet matches scale

Graham Chambers, director of golf at Longhirst Hall Golf Club, comments: “I had spoken to a number of industry friends who were dedicated Toro customers and once we had a chance to trial the products ourselves, it was obvious why that was; the machines were second to none.

“The machines function as an extension of our greenkeeping team and we like the fact that they are easy to operate, robust and produce an impeccable quality of cut. Plus, with our guys operating these machines for up to eight hours a day, we need them to offer comfort too.”

With an experienced full-time mechanic on site, the club knew that working with a dependable brand like Toro would bring about less repairs, breakdowns and complications. Not only does it save money for the club, but it enables the mechanic to focus on bringing out the best in the machines by servicing them regularly and keeping on top of routine maintenance such as sharpening blades.

Having purchased the machines from approved Toro dealer, Lloyd Ltd, based in Newcastle, the club and its mechanic also have access to high-level back-up care and support, whether it’s to troubleshoot an issue or discuss ways to enhance the fleet.

Graham continues: “The Toro machines suit us so well. We are a club which offers a Florida lakeland feel across two different courses. Our Lakes Course challenges players with lots of water, while the Dawson Course has wider fairways and large greens. We need adaptable machinery that will not only work with our varying landscapes, but most importantly keep up with the sheer size of the club. It’s vast and working with Toro gives us enormous peace of mind.”

As part of the deal, Longhirst Hall Golf Club welcomed two Toro Greensmaster Triflex 3400 ride-on greensmowers, two Groundsmaster 4500-D mowers with free-floating Contour Plus cutting decks, two Reelmaster 5610-D mowers, which are powered by four-cylinder Kubota turbo diesel engines, and one Groundsmaster 360, famed for its unmatched manoeuvrability.

Graham concludes: “We are a busy club with over 1,300 members and a full schedule of hosting big events from the PGA Europro Tour to prestigious corporate away-days.

“Add to that the renewed interest in golf due to the pandemic and we need the club to look in fantastic condition all-year round. We know we can rely on our Toro fleet to deliver great results every day, maintaining the high standards that our club and members expect.”

To find out more about the Toro range or the finance options available, call Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Deeside GC bolsters Toro fleet

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Deeside GC bolsters Toro fleet: Deeside Golf Club, set in traditional Scottish parkland on the bank of the River Dee outside Aberdeen, has signed its third renewal agreement with Toro, boosting its impressive fleet by a further 17 machines.

The club has welcomed an extensive raft of machinery which includes fairway mowers, sidewinders, top dressers and sprayers, along with the industry’s first all-electric ride-on greensmower, the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370.

Deeside GC bolsters Toro fleet

Deeside GC bolsters Toro fleet

The machines support course manager, Neil McLoughlin, and his eight full-time staff to maintain the club’s 27 holes all-year round.

Neil explains: “We are located in traditional Scottish parkland and due to our position just eight metres above sea level on the banks of the River Dee we can experience some challenging environmental conditions. We can be subject to flooding, particularly in winter when the water table sits high, and we have lots of mature trees casting shade across parts of the course. Resilient, reliable machinery is a must for us and Toro provides quality every time.

“It’s easy to use, adaptable and, having worked with Toro for so long, we understand the machines. Plus, the greenkeeping team absolutely love using them.

“Some of our older mowers are into their thirteenth year with us, which is testament to their quality and durability. They still provide as excellent a finish as the newer models we’ve recently introduced, although I have to say we’re particularly enjoying the electric eTriFlex 3370 ride-on. It’s so quiet and the cut is fantastic! I would definitely buy electric again.”

Each machine is set up for its intended purpose, meaning that Neil and his team don’t need to keep adjusting the height of the machines as they go between cutting rough or semi-rough. And, despite such a large fleet, technical issues are few and far between.

Neil continues: “We seldom have any problems and if we do, they are resolved quickly. The back-up is vital for us as we don’t have a full-time mechanic on site. Whilst we can carry out basic maintenance ourselves, we rely on having the support from the team at Reesink.”

Reesink is the sole distributor in the UK for Toro golf and sports fields equipment and Richard Green who is manager at Reesink’s Livingstone branch comments: “Deeside Golf Club is a great example of a club which has an excellent understanding of the Toro products. They invest in and look after the fleet, and in return we support them with back-up care and equipment which enable them to deliver on their greenkeeping goals.”

Neil concludes: “We strive to provide excellent playing surfaces for our 1,300 members all year round. Having the high-quality Toro machinery makes my job easier, allowing me to focus on improving the courses from season to season.”

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Agrovista UK electrifying delivery fleet

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Agrovista UK electrifying delivery fleet: Agrovista UK has started its journey towards replacing its delivery fleet with electric powered vehicles.

Agrovista UK is committed to reducing its carbon emissions and recently revealed that it has already set out a new range of measures and commitments designed to improve the health of the planet.

Agrovista UK electrifying delivery fleet

Agrovista UK electrifying delivery fleet

Chris Sprigg, Strategy and Planning Manager, offered a greater insight: “The use of diesel is our biggest CO2 emission so if we can move to a sustainable electricity supply as an alternative then that will put us on the right track towards our net carbon zero objectives. We have already moved onto electric vehicles for our car fleet, and I’m pleased to say that we currently have 44 vehicles in this respect.

“Furthermore, we have already started to install electric vehicle charging points at the depots and the objective is to have every depot installed with charging points by the end of 2022.

“This gives us a good starting point but the biggest impact we can make is if we are able to fully electrify our delivery fleet. We have already started this process and it is extremely exciting.”

Over recent years there have been phenomenal developments in electric and battery-powered technology and manufacturers have been quick to embrace it. In many sectors there are now a wide range of alternatives to diesel and petrol – whether it be in the form of machinery, tools, or vehicles. There is however still an element of range anxiety (a fear that a vehicle has insufficient range to reach its destination) and Chris admits that he is no exception.

“The thing that we really are nervous about is range anxiety – which is a real issue,” he said. “It has to be a change of mind and attitude and we must make sure that this not only fits our green credentials, but it must also fit commercially too. It needs to be absolutely the right solution for us and our customer.”

Agrovista UK has already begun testing a range of potential electric vans and Chris revealed that the trials are being carried out by the company’s delivery drivers.

“We have had some really good feedback from the drivers to say that they like driving them, that they like the experience, and that they think it is the way to go. They have said that they are proud to be part of this very forward-thinking initiative.

“Now we need to find the right vehicle that will help us to achieve the support we need to give our customers through a fleet of electric vehicles. Let us not forget that our customers also have emission targets, and this is all part of the process.

“We need to develop what we have learnt from the trials and continue to try different vehicles,” he continued. “It will be a gradual transition rather than in one big hit and maybe in five years’ time I’d hope to see electric delivery vans fully integrated into the fleet.”

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

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