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Kubota loader range for M-series tractors

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Kubota loader range for M-series tractors: A full range of MX-built Kubota loaders is now available for M-series tractors including the M4, M5, M6 and M7 models which span the 66-170hp sector.

Designated the LK range, the orange-liveried loader models provide an integrated, high-precision materials handling solution for M-series tractors, enabling customers to choose a tractor and high-performance loader package that closely suits their needs.

Kubota loader range for M-series tractors

Kubota loader range for M-series tractors

There are three series of loader available, badged LK U (utility-mechanical), LK M (mechanical) and LK H (hydraulic). And all three series differ in specification, lift capacity and tractor suitability. LK U and LK M versions offer a mechanical parallel lift and a headstock that uses automatic mechanical attachment locking, while LK H loaders benefit from a hydraulic parallel lift system. All models can be equipped with the optional Mach 2 coupling for loader and attachment hydraulic services, which delivers simultaneous coupling of hydraulic and electrical connections in a single action.

Loader numbers closely reflect lift capacities, which extend from 1,180kg to 2,410kg depending on model, while maximum lift height at the pivot pint is from 3.5m to 4.15m.

Buyers can choose from three control systems to suit their model of LK loader. These include the cable-operated ProPilot joystick; a low-pressure servo-based FlexPilot joystick; or the electronic e-Pilot S control system. Push-button control options are available for auxiliary services, and depending on the model, these can also include a fourth hydraulic service and an automatic return to dig function.

Fitting and removing the loader from the tractor is a straightforward process, thanks to Fitlock – the mechanical latching mechanism that secures the loader onto the tractor’s brackets. The operator only needs to leave the cab once to unlock the loader, as the drive-in format relocks automatically when engaged. Fitlock uses a coloured mechanical indicator – visible from the inside and outside the cab – to provide an easy visual reference of the loader’s status; locked or unlocked.

In addition, LK H models can be equipped with the optional Fastlock attachment connection and Speedlink 3rd and 4th service connections, enabling attachment swaps without needing to leave the cab.

Integral parking stands and pivot pins with protected grease nipples add to the operator convenience, as does the Shock Eliminator hydraulic boom suspension system, while pipework protection comes from passing hydraulic hoses through the inside of the loader boom.

LK loaders are priced from £7,278 for the LK1500U model in loader-ready configuration including a third service, tractor brackets and Pro Pilot joystick controls.

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Building for growth

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Building for growth: The  Blackburn based dealership Stuart Taylor Internationl have completed the construction of a new purpose built premises, two miles from their existing site.

For the company Sarah Taylor said, “since launch in two thousand and three the business has outgrown the existing building, resulting in the requrement for more space and all staff will be based on the new site”.

Building for growth

Building for growth

Tommy Taylor added, “we have enjoyed an excellent last two years trading accros our broad groundcare and agricultural equipment product range and we are confident the new build will now support further growth and expansion into new markets”

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A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

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A decade of MM seed for Rugby School: James Mead, Grounds Manager at the world-famous Rugby School in Warwickshire, has revealed why he has used MM50 grass seed for the last ten years.

Rugby School, founded in 1567, is one of the oldest public schools in England, and is renowned worldwide for being the place where the game of rugby was born and developed. In fact, visitors travel from far and wide to visit the school’s small museum and to see where the legendary student William Webb Ellis, took a football in his arms and ran with it.

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

A decade of MM seed for Rugby School

It is fitting that a school of such status also boasts a fabulous sporting reputation and James Mead and his experienced team work hard to keep the facilities in pristine condition.

James believes that a grass seed is one of the most integral components in producing a high-quality sports pitch and it is for this reason that he chooses to use MM50.

“I initially heard of MM50 through seminars and various events, and I’ve now been using it for just over ten years,” he said. “The quality of the grass and the cleanliness of the mix is very important – we don’t want any rogue grasses or agricultural left in the mix. MM50 is a very clean mixture.”

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, with over 40 years of experience and knowledge. The extensive product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures that are used at many leading venues in the UK and Europe.

MM50, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hard-wearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

“We use MM50 on our cricket squares, wickets, cricket outfields and we also use MM60 on the first team rugby pitch,” said James. “We overseed as much as we can depending on weather, and it gives us great coverage, great density, and a good fineness of leaf. Very rarely do we get disease and it gives us first-class colour. Playability wise it is excellent and it is ideal for the run of a ball. MM50 just ticks all the boxes that we are looking for.”

Both MM50 and MM60 (an ideal mixture for winter sports pitches) are treated with Headstart® GOLD – a revolutionary grass seed treatment that ensures rapid germination. It benefits from minerals such as Phosphorus, Sulphur, Copper and Molybdenum which all help to stimulate root formation, development and growth ensuring that the seedling grass plant develops a strong root system during the critical start-up phase.

“The speed of the germination certainly takes the pressure off the initial seeding,” said James. “We tend not to put fertiliser down with the MM50 straight away, instead we let the seed come through first. The initial protection to the plant from the mix is ideal.

“The quality of MM50 has never diminished and if anything, it keeps improving. It is a very trustworthy product. Seeding takes a lot of time and effort, and you want the best results for your hard work.”

James also praised the support he receives from both MM and Agrovista Amenity (distributor of MM).

“I have a very good relationship with Matt Gresty from MM seed and also with Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity – who is able to provide various products of great benefit to us.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Mansfield Sand is fab for Forest

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Mansfield Sand is fab for Forest: Ewan Hunter, Grounds Manager at Nottingham Forest FC, has praised the products and service he receives from Mansfield Sand.

After starting his career as a greenkeeper, Ewan Hunter moved into football grounds management and has remained in the sector for over 20 years. His first job in football was at Rushden & Diamonds FC before starting at Nottingham Forest FC in 2005. Having been at the club ever since, Ewan’s work has been recognised through numerous groundsman awards, and he can now add the title ‘Premier League Groundsman’ to his CV after Forest recently achieved promotion to the top tier.

Mansfield Sand is fab for Forest

Mansfield Sand is fab for Forest

Ever the professional, Ewan remains focussed.

“Our work won’t change with us being in the Premier League,” he said. “We will continue to do our job the same way we always have. Obviously, we want to improve standards all the time, and there are future projects, which include new first-team pitches for the training ground, and eventually we will have a new stadium pitch. Yes, the technology we utilise might be better and more modern, but our work will remain the same.”

Ewan oversees a team of seven members of staff that work across the stadium pitch and the training ground. All the pitches across the two sites are of the same construction as Ewan explains.

“All of the pitches we have here are Fibresand, and we use a variety of Mansfield Sand’s products. I’ve been working with Mansfield Sand since my days at Rushden and Diamonds, so well over 20 years.”

Mansfield Sand is a company with history and pedigree – in fact, its origins can be traced as far back to 1840. It has been a long-standing pioneer in the development and production of premium sand-based products and boasts the most up-to-date and advanced equipment currently in the industry.

From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all.

Ewan continued to offer an insight into how he uses Mansfield Sand’s products.

“Most of the products we use from Mansfield Sand are renovation products. We will strip the pitches, Koro them off and then top dress with Mansfield’s MM40. If we are adding fibre to the pitch then we will use their Fibresand, and that is mixed into the rootzone by the contractor.

“Through the season, we will use their top dressing and a little bit of rootzone, mainly to level out the goal mouths that get a lot of wear.

“Rootzone is very important and is integral to a healthy pitch.”

Furthermore, two pitches at the training ground are currently being reconstructed using 5000 tonnes of gravel, 6902 tonnes of MM40 sand and 4089 tonnes of 85/15 sand soil rootzone, all of which are sourced directly from Mansfield Sand’s Two Oaks Quarry.

The work is being carried out by Ewan’s reliable contractors MJ Abbot and Premier Pitches, who order the products directly from Mansfield Sand. Ewan may not necessarily be involved in the ordering process anymore, but he still maintains a good relationship with the company.

“The customer service from Mansfield Sand is perfect, and Sharon Morris (Sales Manager) is brilliant. She is a life-long Forest fan, and she comes to watch the games. I talk to her pretty much after every home game and she will wander down from the stands after the match to have a chat. She is always on the other end of the phone if we need her, and she always goes out of her way for us.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC

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SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC: Pastures Golf Club in Derby no longer need to rely on a contractor to aerate their fairways after they recently purchased a SISIS Maxislit.  

Set in the grounds of the old Pastures Hospital, Pastures Golf Club is a well-established course built on meadowland.

SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC

SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC

It is a well-known fact, that in the 52 years the course has been open, not one golfer has ever broken par. It is for this reason that golfers come from far and wide to play the course and attempt to beat the record.

Therefore, it is essential that the course is kept in impeccable condition and that’s where Head Greenkeeper Paul Smith and his assistant Roger Spalton come in.

Paul and Roger explained the reasons behind purchasing a SISIS Maxislit.

“For numerous years we have had problems with drainage on the course,” said Paul. “We have had times when we have been shut for 2-3 months which has caused issues.

Ultimately, the members are paying a fee to play golf for 12 months and we want to make sure they get that.”

“We were also paying a lot of money to a contractor who would come out and aerate the fairways,” added Roger. “We just thought that it would be better for us to be able to do the work when we wanted with our own manpower.

“We had a demo of the SISIS Maxislit and purchased it straight away.”

The SISIS Maxislit is a tractor mounted deep slitting aerator for sports field maintenance, golf course maintenance and amenities, with deep, clean penetration. Suitable for maintenance of football, rugby and cricket pitches and golf courses, it can also be used for lawns and formal garden areas.

Aeration is needed to improve drainage, reduce turf compacting, thatch build up and boost the health of turf.

SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC

SISIS Maxislit proves beneficial for Pastures GC

The Maxislit produces outstanding underground cultivation due to the angle of the tines and spiral design of tine shaft assist penetration and its simple design requires little maintenance.

“As a minimum, our aim is to use the Maxislit twice a year in spring – to help get the grass ready to grow and also in autumn – to open it up ready for when it needs to hold moisture,” said Paul. “We’ll use it on the fairways and approaches initially and then eventually look to use it on the greens.

“We’ve had great results,” said Roger. It is very easy to use, very efficient, and it doesn’t take any pulling – a small tractor doesn’t struggle with it. Long-term, we are confident that the Maxislit will improve soil condition and help root growth which will improve our drainage at surface level. It is very flexible, and we can adjust the length of the tines and go even deeper if we want to.

“It has been a good investment for us.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

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

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