Tag Archive for: GKB

GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

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GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load: Visitors to BTME 2025 were the first to see a brand new addition to the GKB machinery portfolio, as the Leaf-Blower (LB100) made its global debut. Delivering more airflow with less power demand on your tractor, the LB100 promises greater efficiency and fast, effective clearance of leaves and other debris.

In development for a number of years, the GKB Leaf-Blower has been designed to meet the exacting requirements of modern golf course and sports turf management. With low power requirements of under 40hp and a PTO-driven fan, the blower offers powerful performance with limited load on your tractor.

GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

As is now expected with GKB, the new machine incorporates the very best of robust, precision engineering for durable, long-lasting reliability. It features solid tyres, an anti-scalp roller and a lightweight, yet study, 875mm diameter metal fan. With an air capacity of 380 m³/min, the Leaf-Blower provides outstanding productivity for the fast and effective clearance of leaves, pine needles and other debris.

The hydraulically operated rear chute allows you to swiftly change speed or direction of airflow, saving time on the job. The freewheel PTO and gearbox transmission ensure smooth operation and long ma­chine life, while attaching the unit and setting the working height is quick and simple.

Its compact dimensions, weight of 360kg and a noise level of only 97 decibels make the GKB Leaf-Blower suitable for daily use on golf courses and other amenity spaces in close proximity to the public.

Commenting on its introduction, UK Operations Manager Tom Shinkins said, “It was great to finally be able to introduce the Leaf-Blower into the GKB range, and what better place to get it in front of thousands of turf professionals than at BTME! We had an incredibly positive reaction from visitor and dealers alike, all excited to get out and get hands-on with the machine in the field ahead of the busy autumn season. Sitting alongside sustainable solutions like the GKB Leaf Reducer, we now offer the full complement of machinery for leaf clearance to suit all sports, situations and settings.”

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GKB Deep Tine Aerator receives glowing review

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GKB Deep Tine Aerator receives glowing review: Ask Nigel Willis of N&E Grounds Maintenance what he thinks of their Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) from GKB Machines and he may well tell you it’s the best machine he’s ever purchased!

It’s certainly been put through its paces since its delivery in May 2024 as the company ramps up aeration work on a variety of fine turf and winter sports surfaces. In those few months, the DTA 210 has cemented its status as one of the strongest, quickest and most reliable maintenance machines on his fleet.

GKB Deep Tine Aerator receives glowing review

GKB Deep Tine Aerator receives glowing review

Located on the outskirts of Belfast, N&E Grounds Maintenance have been conducting the full range of nutritional and mechanical maintenance services for customers spanning both natural and artificial turf for the last 22 years. It was on his annual trip to SALTEX in 2023 that the DTA first caught Nigel’s eye. “My aerator at the time was giving me a lot of bother so I was on the look out for alternatives. I was immediately impressed with the robustness of the GKB DTA and Tom Shinkins put me in touch with their dealer for Northern Ireland, Laird Grass Machinery.”

“I didn’t even feel the need to have a demonstration of it, I just asked them to order me one and the rest is history!” he exclaims.

The GKB Deep Tine Aerator does exactly as the name suggests, tackling compaction down to depths of 400mm (16”). Available in working widths from 1.2m up to 2.6m, there’s a model in the range to suit all types of natural turf surface.

“We opted for the 2.1m model which suits the variety of facilities we visit, and it’s already been well utilised on football and rugby pitches as well as work on several golf courses.” Nigel continues, “It does a fantastic job and is much faster and smoother than our previous machine. It’s easy to hook up to the tractor, simple to use and the daily checks are quick with very few grease points. The hydraulic depth control is another feature I really like giving us easy and accurate control over the job at hand.”

“As we move through the winter months, the DTA will be out near enough every other day as demand for aeration work continues to increase to cope with the increased rainfall.” He adds, “I’ve been so impressed with the machine I felt compelled at SALTEX 2024 to go back to the GKB stand just to tell Tom and the team that it’s honestly been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made!”

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Top quality topdressing tops the bill for GKB

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Top quality topdressing tops the bill for GKB: If finding top quality topdressing solutions is the question, visitors to BTME are guaranteed to find the answer on stand 644 as GKB Machines return to Harrogate.

Before attendees have even stepped foot inside the exhibition halls, they’ll be able to see the mounted GKB SP100 parked outside of the Hall 6 entrance, with details of trailed and material-handling options all available by speaking with the GKB technical team.

Top quality topdressing tops the bill for GKB

Top quality topdressing tops the bill for GKB

With four different hopper capacities and trailed and mounted models, there’s a GKB Sandspreader to suit all surfaces. Delivering the ultimate versatility for broadcast topdressing, it is the fast and effective way to incorporate sand into greens, fairways and surrounding areas to assist in the breakdown of thatch, increase infiltration and create conditions for vigorous grass growth.

The GKB SP100 is the smallest unit in the range, offering a 1.0m3 hopper capacity and up to 10m spreading width making it ideal for tasks around the golf course. Moving up through the range are hopper capacities of 2.3m3, 3.0m3 and 4.0m3 – the larger SP400 models providing unrivalled productivity therefore making them a popular choice for the contractor market.

In addition to the SP range, GKB also offer three SPM models, combining all of the characteristics and qualities of the robust and reliable Sandspreader with the addition of a material handler – ideal for topping up bunkers.

If time is tight and conducting sand integration with other operations is what’s needed, then GKB have you covered here too with the renowned GKB Sandfiller! The Sandfiller is proof positive that multi-tasking doesn’t have to result in a compromise in quality, tackling the issues of organic matter, compaction, drainage and sward density in a single pass.

The Sandfiller utilises the principles of GKB’s much-praised Combinator, with carbide blades effectively slitting the surface, removing vegetation and creating channels to be easily refilled with dried sand, or a combination of sand and seed, creating a clean, play-ready finish.

Visitors will be able to see solutions from across GKB’s portfolio for natural turf in action on stand 644’s high-impact video wall, so be sure to stop by this January, grab some GKB giveaways and find out more.

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Good GKB deliveries come in three’s

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Good GKB deliveries come in three’s: A trio of GKB Machines have been installed at SCHLOSS Roxburghe Championship Golf Course, as part of major ongoing investment into the club and wider estate.

After being delivered by dealer Thomas Sherriff & Co in the summer of 2024, the SP100, SPM300 and GKB Combiseeder were put straight to task by Golf Course Manager Ross Ovens, as he and his team of 13 completed autumn renovations on greens, tees and approaches.

Good GKB deliveries come in three’s

Good GKB deliveries come in three’s

The Roxburghe is nestled in the heart of the Scottish Borders and is consistently ranked within the Top 10 Inland Courses in Scotland. Designed by the internationally renowned golf course architect Dave Thomas, the Par-72 parkland course and wider complex was sold in 2018 – with the new owners investing heavily in the on-site hotel, spa, lodges and golf course. “The property has changed massively, meaning we needed to invest in our greenkeeping equipment to produce the quality needed” comments Ross.

“In speaking with Dougie Archibald at Thomas Sherriff’s and GKB’s Tom Shinkins we really liked the fact that GKB is a family-owned business, and this feeds down into the level of care and detail put into their robust range of equipment.” Part of the fleet package, and replacing existing topdressers, was an SP100 and SPM300 from the GKB Sandspreader range. “These two machines work hand in hand brilliantly, giving us the versatility to dress greens as well as using the larger machine on the fairways. The SPM300 with material handler we’ve found particularly useful for topping up bunkers or loading material into the SP100 quickly and easily.”

He continues, “Our SP100 is mounted onto our John Deere Gator, and we have retrofitted this with a GPS system which has dramatically improved the accuracy and efficiency of topdressing operations. It gives us both the spread and quality we are looking for.”

Also delivered was a CS160. “With fewer chemicals available, and a desire to improve our sustainability credentials, it is more important than ever that we have a good overseeding programme in place. We didn’t have a seeder previously, so we demonstrated various models and opted for the GKB Combiseeder because – as a dimple seeder – we found it gave us better germination. This will be pivotal in our programme moving forwards as we try to introduce better cultivars into our surfaces, making us more resistant to disease and thereby lowering our reliance on chemicals.”

“The trio have recently played a big part in our autumn renovation works. We put down a good application and even distribution of sand, followed by overseeding as we pursue the ongoing improvement of our sward on the high wear areas of the course.” Ross concludes, “We’ve been delighted with the results we’ve achieved and the support we’ve had from Tom and from Thomas Sherriff’s before, during and after the purchase process.”

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GKB to showcase solutions for all at SALTEX

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GKB to showcase solutions for all at SALTEX: Whether aeration, overseeding or topdressing of natural surfaces is on the agenda, or routine brushing or more intensive renovations of synthetic surfaces is required, visitors to SALTEX are guaranteed to find robust and reliable solutions on the GKB Machines stand, H053, this October.

From the natural portfolio, a particular highlight promises to be the GKB Combislit, which will be making its SALTEX debut. With the climatic challenges driving an ever-increasing requirement for regular aeration, the Combislit delivers fast and effective relief to depths of up to 15cm (6”) with minimal surface disruption. Available in 1.6m and 2.0m working widths, the Combislit uses GKB’s unique Evolvente® blades to spike and open all types of natural and hybrid surface ensuring optimal oxygen and moisture movement and linking up with deeper decompaction work conducted throughout the season.

GKB to showcase solutions for all at SALTEX

GKB to showcase solutions for all at SALTEX

The Combislit joins the Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) and the multi-functional Sandfiller in the GKB aeration portfolio, offering effective solutions for sports pitches, golf courses and other intensively managed green spaces.

Also on display will be the GKB Combitool. The Combitool gives turf managers the option of conducting multiple operations such as slitting, raking, rolling and brushing in one quick and simple pass. Delivering versatility and value for money, the Combitool is available in 1.2m, 1.6m, 2.0m or 2.4m working widths and is ideal for multi-sport venues, schools, local authorities and contractors.

The GKB technical team will be on hand across the two days to discuss the full range of equipment available for natural turf, together with maintenance machinery for synthetic surfaces – such as the GKB Deep Clean. The Deep Clean quickly and effectively screens and cleans out contaminants from all types of synthetic pitch. The combination of a vibrating screen and vacuum unit removes dirt, dust and detritus returning clean, de-compacted infill to your surface for optimal play performance.

More information is available on stand H053 as SALTEX returns on the 30th and 31st October 2024.

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