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Seven Otterbines for Staples Farms

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Seven Otterbines for Staples Farms: Staples Farms, a 70-year-old family-owned farming business in Lincolnshire, has chosen an Otterbine aerator for the seventh time to keep its reservoirs’ water quality to the highest standards.

Opting for the high volume aerator again, the brand’s most powerful surface spray aerator available, it joins six others, purchased from Panks Engineering, in one of the farm’s three reservoirs. The purpose for the Otterbines is to ensure quality water for the irrigation of the soil and vegetables, which are grown for the nation’s supermarket chains in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way.

Otterbine’s high volume aerator, shown here at Celtic Manor Resort, moves an impressive 3.3lbs or 1.5kg of oxygen per horsepower hour to keep water clean and clear.

Otterbine’s high volume aerator, shown here at Celtic Manor Resort, moves an impressive 3.3lbs or 1.5kg of oxygen per horsepower hour to keep water clean and clear.

It all began when family member Bob Staples who runs Bob Staples Electricals was asked to find a way to maintain the oxygenation levels at the high standard the farm is known for. He did extensive research and “went with his instincts”, purchasing the high volume aerator from Otterbine.

Bob explains: “I’d never got involved with water aeration before Otterbine, but when Staples Farms asked for my help with keeping their water quality at the desired level, I was inclined to help. I did some research into the market and Otterbine came up and we’ve been very pleased with the product and its performance.

“The high volumes are the perfect tool for the job. They’ve been easy to install and done exactly what we wanted them to. The dissolved oxygen rate has improved significantly and as a result we can continue to provide the high-quality products our customers are used to.”

Steve Mason from Panks Engineering comments: “Panks has been around since 1842 and we are experts in abstracting, pumping and treating water. We have been very happy to assist Staples Vegetables in improving the quality of its water.”

To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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STIHL’s plans for new HQ

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STIHL’s plans for new HQ: STIHL GB has unveiled plans to build a new 11,500m2 purpose-designed headquarters and state-of-the-art warehouse facility near to its current premises in Camberley, Surrey.

Due for completion in December 2022, the site will be home to nearly 100 employees and will boast dedicated dealer training facilities, an on-site restaurant, flexible collaborative workspaces and a technical workshop.

STIHL's plans for new HQ

STIHL’s plans for new HQ

The new 9,000m2 warehouse space will utilise state-of-the-art picking and storage systems to maximise productivity, efficiency and the use of space. All logistics will now be consolidated onto one site, meaning a speedier and more efficient delivery service to the 700 strong STIHL dealer network.

Kay Green, Managing Director of STIHL GB, commented: “STIHL has enjoyed a sustained period of growth in recent years, and as a consequence we have outgrown our existing warehouse and office facilities. Our new purpose-built headquarters represents a significant capital investment and is a commitment to the future for our dealers and end user customers. We’re looking forward to seeing work get underway on the construction of our new premises early in the New Year”.

The new HQ, which secured planning permission last year, boasts first class environmental credentials including BREEAM Certification, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for building projects.

It is proposed that two-thirds of the total roof area (1600m2) will be covered with photovoltaic solar panels to provide power to the new facility. In addition, there will be provision for 26 EV charging points in anticipation of the continued move towards the use of electric vehicles.

The new headquarters will also be connected to Blackwater railway station by a dedicated cycle path and will feature landscaped gardens with native shrubs and trees and a wildflower meadow which forms part of an integrated flood risk mitigation zone on the former Thames Water Utilities site.

The company aims to relocate to the new facility from its current premises in Stanhope Road in January 2023.

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RTV goes red for Rovers

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RTV goes red for Rovers: The home of Doncaster Rovers Football Club is showing its true colours with a specially-liveried Kubota RTV X-900, designed as part of dealer Farmstar Ltd’s sponsorship agreement with the club.

The Eco-Power Stadium is also home to Doncaster Rugby League Club and Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club, and rose to international fame recently as the venue for the England Ladies’ team’s historic 20-0 defeat of Latvia.

RTV goes red for Rovers

RTV goes red for Rovers

Club Doncaster’s business development manager Michael Kilby-Scott explains: “We have a close working relationship with our sponsors and we like to offer them business where appropriate. Farmstar’s Gaynor Waddington suggested painting the RTV in our red livery and adding both of our logos and we think it highlights our relationship with the company perfectly.”

Doncaster Rovers also has Kubota B2410 and B2261 tractors at the purpose-built stadium, which became the club’s base in 2006.

As well as sporting events, the Eco-Power Stadium is a popular conference and event venue, is host to Doncaster Sports College and has operated as a test and vaccination centre during the COVID crisis, underlining its community role.

The RTV X-900 is powered by Kubota’s proven 22hp engine and has a continuously variable transmission for easy operation by any member of a groundcare team.

At the Eco-Power Stadium, it plays an essential role as the club ‘workhorse’, collecting and transporting clippings from hand mowers on the pitch, moving tools and equipment and helping with setting up before and tidying up after the stadium’s popular car boot sales.

“The RTV’s a really useful piece of kit, and very easy to drive and use,” comments groundsman Ryan Skelton. “We find it very handy for getting around the site and it treads gently on the pitch, too.”

Farmstar has a bit of history with customised RTVs – its demonstrator vehicle with its distinctive zebra striped wrap has starred this year in a promotional video filmed at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and in a special edition of DIY SOS for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal. What will they come up with next?

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Press join GreenMech for update event

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Press join GreenMech for update event: Europe’s leading woodchipper manufacturer GreenMech recently invited the industry media to join them at a venue close to their production site in Warwickshire, for an update event with a festive feeling!

The assembled journalists discovered how GreenMech have overcome the numerous challenges encountered since the event last took place five years ago, together with having an opportunity to get hands-on with some of their latest innovations – including the EVO 205D and brand-new EVO 205D SURE-Trak.

Press join GreenMech for update event

Press join GreenMech for update event

In his presentation, Sales Director Martin Lucas outlined three major factors which have all had an impact on business in recent years. The first of which, and perhaps the biggest challenge for the engineering team, was the introduction of Stage V engine compliance. The need to fit new certified Stage V engines required the re-engineering of in the region of 20 GreenMech models – a massive task that he explained required careful consideration to balance customer expectations, unit performance and cost.

While the transition period of Stage V was extended due to COVID-19, the wider impact and knock-on effects of the pandemic were also discussed. With their own dedicated manufacturing facility, Martin detailed how GreenMech endeavour to produce as much as they can themselves, however like a lot of manufacturers, rely on the availability of third-party components – some of which, including hydraulics and electric components, remain in short supply. This meant lead time management was another hurdle GreenMech have had to overcome, with the proactiveness of their dealer network noted in helping to shorten the customers exposure to long delivery times.

The third area discussed was Brexit. With exports accounting for roughly 70% of their business, the implications of the new European guidelines have seen added complexities and a big increase in the amount of paperwork GreeMech need to complete to get a machine to its final destination. However, there are indeed reasons to be chipper, as Martin explained that the appetite for UK manufactured product remains strong, with a keenness from their European distribution partners to remain committed to the brand.

Despite the adversity, the creativity of GreenMech shone through as Martin and members of the marketing team discussed the launch of the highly successful EVO series – with a new market image and approach meaning the EVO now accounts for a significant proportion of all orders placed. First launched at the 2019 Arb Show, the EVO 165D set a new precedent for GreenMech, in terms of the specification which delivered more aggressive torque, bite and throughput. A tracked version, the EVO 165DT followed, then shortly after a 37hp petrol engine was introduced to bring the new EVO 165P into the sub-750kg category. More recently the ‘big brother’ came to market in the form of the EVO 205D – an 8” unit powered by a 50hp Kubota diesel engine.

The newest launch, the EVO 205D SAFE-Trak and SURE-Trak models, provides the operator with ultimate safety and stability when working across slopes of up to 35o. The media became some of the first to see the brand-new EVO 205D SURE-Trak in the flesh as this was lined-up, alongside other models from the EVO range, for a series of working demonstrations.

After getting hands-on, the press were then given an insight into how the machines are made with a step-by-step virtual factory tour. Jonathan Turner, GreenMech Managing Director, closed proceedings by saying “We’re proud of our achievements and how we’ve overcome such a challenging couple of years, but now is the time to be even more positive and excited about our future. We will be continuing to work on industry-leading new products, designed to perform without compromise with the support of a great network of colleagues and dealers around us.”

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Home from home for Terrain Aeration

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Home from home for Terrain Aeration: The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is an independent social change organisation working to solve UK poverty. The founder, Joseph Rowntree, of the famous York sweet manufacturing family, was a visionary Quaker businessman and social reformer.

The origins of the organisation’s financial resources lie in a major donation of shares in the original Rowntree Company he gifted in 1904. In the same year, Joseph’s son, Seebohm made available fields behind his Homestead House to children attending York Elementary Schools for outdoor activities. Today, at just under 15-acres, Homestead Park is a beautiful garden owned, managed and maintained by JRF for visitors to enjoy. There are various tree-trail walks around the park and the heavy footfall over time has led to severe compaction and waterlogging, causing the trees to suffer.

Home from home for Terrain Aeration

Home from home for Terrain Aeration

“The areas had never been aerated,” says Senior Gardener Paul Sarginson, “and we were finding the semi-mature cherry trees, around a hundred of them, as well as the mature chestnut and mature oak trees were becoming distressed. Terrain Aeration were recommended to us for their deep aeration treatment and they came to us for two half-days in October to do the work.”

Terrain Aeration’s Tree Division, headed by David Churchyard, has been formed out of the company’s work over twenty-five years of treating trees in all types of situation, from back gardens to large estates right through to Royal Parks. Trees may become stressed as a result of a number of factors such as nutrient shortages in the soil, surface compaction due to foot traffic and waterlogging where water drains off hard surface pathways.

The Terrain Aeration Terralift machines comprise a probe which reaches one metre depth, deeper than the roots of trees (other than the major tap roots which grow straight down). Breaking up the soil around the roots, and beyond, means that excess water will drain away from the roots to help stop anaerobic conditions and rotting of the root system. The probe is then used to inject dried seaweed, which helps keep the fissures open and backfilling the probe holes with aggregate provides a semi permanent aeration/ventilation shaft. Terrain Aeration aerates around the roots using two-metre spacings – on most occasions one-metre inside and one-metre outside the canopy drip line, as this is where the growing roots lie.

Decompacting around the roots and injecting air into the soil increases the percentage of uptake of oxygen into the root system. Using the Terralift’s ability to inject granular material via its seaweed carrier, forcing it upwards into the root zone of the trees, it is also possible to inject a tree feed mix containing slow release general nutrients and magnesium.

“Treatment of the main lawn areas this year was part of JRF’s management plan,” says Paul, “the Terrain Aeration lads who came were great and the plan from here is to have them back every year for a rolling programme of treatment.”

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