Tag Archive for: Gold

Gold standard for the white cliffs

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Gold standard for the white cliffs: With a patch that covers 123 square miles, it’s no surprise that Dover District Council opted for Reesink Turfcare’s ReeAssure maintenance scheme for ultimate peace of mind.

Dave Terry, supervisor at Dover District Council, simply couldn’t afford to have his Toro fleet out of action – especially since each mower was required to be in operation for 25-30 hours each week.

Gold standard for the white cliffs

Gold standard for the white cliffs

Having Gold cover meant that Dave could expect routine maintenance and servicing along with unlimited call outs for vehicle breakdowns or repairs.

Dave explains: “When you’re working with machinery it’s inevitable that from time to time you’ll experience glitches or need to make repairs – it happens. Yet whenever I need assistance, I know I’ll have a Reesink representative on the doorstep the next day.

“We probably rely on them a couple of times each month and the security of having dependable, high-quality support more than pays for itself.

“If you don’t opt for cover then you could be subjected to hundreds of pounds of maintenance on a totally ad-hoc basis and we can’t take that risk or threaten having machines out of action for long periods of time.”

This is why the Reesink maintenance plan is so integral to large grounds teams or estate management organisations, as Peter Clarke, service manager at Reesink’s Sheffield Park branch, explains: “A monthly fixed-cost means there’s no hidden extras and with three packages to choose from – gold, silver and bronze – there is something to suit all budgets.”

Dave and his team at Dover District Council opted for the Gold maintenance plan and they continue to value the relationship they have with Reesink more than four years on.

Dave continues: “Reesink is a proper dealer. They don’t cut corners and they’re reliable and professional. When you have lots of public space to take care of, be it green spaces around housing estates or parks in the district, it’s important for us to partner with an operator we can trust.”

Thanks to Dave’s relationship with both Peter Clarke and Peter Biddlecombe, aftersales manager at Reesink’s Sheffield Park, he has peace of mind that his teams are able to do their job as efficiently as possible.

Reesink take care of everything from winter servicing, replacement parts or general upkeep. Knowing that components such as labour and parts to consumables and disposal fees are all covered within the cost of the Gold package provides straightforward cost managing and budget control.

With Reesink’s ReeAssure plans there’s the option for warranty programmes and the guarantee that buying Toro comes with buying into a support network like no other. The parts backup is second-to-none and as a Toro customer you are never more than a maximum 72-hours away from the part you need, for minimum downtime and maximum productivity.

Call 01480 226800 or go online at reesinkturfcare.co.uk to find out more.

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Carbon Gold exceeds target

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Carbon Gold exceeds target: Carbon Gold, the world’s leading supplier of biochar to gardeners and professional crop growers alike, has surpassed its crowdfunding goal of £200,000, raising a total of £722,468.

The company began fundraising in December 2020 to increase its retail marketing efforts, and fund international development and manufacturing. In just one month it has attracted over 1,000 investors, far exceeding the initial funding target.

Carbon Gold exceeds target

Carbon Gold exceeds target

Founded by Craig Sams, ex-chairman of the Soil Association and founder of Green & Blacks Chocolate, Carbon Gold has built a strong reputation, providing biochar products to gardeners as well as commercial crop growers, professional tree care experts, sports turf greenkeepers and even competition veg growers.

The Crowdcube initiative was spurred on by an incredible year for Carbon Gold’s retail offering to home-growers and gardeners, who are increasingly discovering the benefits of biochar, with retail sales increasing 253% in 2020.

Managing Director Mike Hartshorn, says, “We’re thrilled to have shot past our fundraising target by over half a million pounds.  It’s fantastic that the company’s story and our biochar products have been so well received by investors and the general public.”

“2020 was a tough year for people, and the various lockdowns put a lot of strain on them.  But those lucky enough to have a garden were spending more time outside and were researching what products to use and it seems lots of them have unearthed the best kept secret of the professionals – biochar.”

Biochar is a high-carbon form of charcoal that is Soil Association approved for organic growing, peat-free and scientifically proven to boost plant health and vitality.  Plants grown in biochar have been shown to be more resistant to a wide range of plant diseases and pests.  It’s also so high in carbon that using it lowers your carbon footprint: for every kilo you put in the ground, 3 kilos of CO2 are permanently sequestered from the atmosphere.

Craig Sams says, “Every investor is a potential customer and an ambassador for the brand.  There is no recommendation like peer-to-peer recommendation.  We are delighted to have a body of satisfied customers as well as investors to support our future growth.”

For more information about Carbon Gold or its biochar products, visit, www.carbongold.com.

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Vincent Tractors attain gold plus status

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Vincent Tractors attain gold plus status: Vincent Tractors & Plant, has been awarded Gold Plus for Kubota Dealer Service Excellence.

Now in its 53rd year in business, Vincent Tractors & Plant, a family owned machinery dealer with branches in Fraddon, Holsworthy and Smithaleigh, near Ivybridge, is the only full line dealership in the country to achieve this status.

Vincent Tractors attain gold plus status

The awards, which are assessed and presented every two years by Kubota, are based on dealer equipment, facilities, commitment to training and, most importantly, customer service.

The Kubota customer satisfaction survey is submitted to customers after every product sold and is used to rate the service department of every Kubota dealer.

“This fantastic achievement reflects our team’s hard work and ‘customer first’ commitment“, remarked Paul Vincent, Vincent Tractors & Plant managing director.

“I would like to thank all the team at Vincent Tractors & Plant for their diligence and dedication. The industry is going through tremendous change and we are working hard to innovate to ensure we can meet and exceed our customers’ requirements and expectations.

“Not all the team are able to be here today to receive this award but I’m happy to do it on their behalf.  It’s been a real team effort across all three depots to achieve this level of service!”

Rob Wilkins, Kubota’s regional service manager, remarked, “I have been working with Vincent’s for a number of years now and in last five years they have raised the bar with regards to the level of service they offer to their customer as well as their commitment to their own team.  We have had our challenges but we have worked together to resolve them.”

Full line Kubota dealerships supply and service agricultural tractors and implements and Kverneland implements, compact tractors and ride on mowers as well as the construction range of excavators, loaders and tracked dumpers.

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Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

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Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces: Biochar companies Carbon Gold and Carbofex have signed an MOU to establish a commercial agreement that will strengthen both companies’ position in the UK and European markets.  

Carbon Gold, the world leading supplier of biochar to commercial crop growers, tree care specialists and sports turf professionals in the UK and Europe, has partnered with Finland-based Carbofex, industrial-scale biochar manufacturer with proprietary technology that allows for the production of very pure (low PAH) and active (600 m3/g) biochar, certified by the EBC and with access to the PURO CO2 removal marketplace.

Carbon Gold & Carbofex Join Forces

The collaboration will see Carbon Gold and Carbofex agree terms on the production and distribution of biochar, the ownership of the resulting carbon credits, and other potential synergies or commercial opportunities which may benefit both companies.

Simon Manley, CEO of Carbon Gold, says, “We’ve long been friendly with Carbofex and this partnership comes at a really critical time for both companies.  We’re both looking for investment to scale up, and this joint venture makes us more attractive to potential strategic investment partners.  And with a no-deal Brexit becoming ever more likely, having manufacturing bases in the UK and mainland Europe is invaluable for both parties.  Carbofex is a trail blazer in Europe and we’re thrilled to be working with them more formally.”

Sampo Tukianen, CEO of Carbofex, says, “We’ll both gain access to new markets as a result of this collaboration. Carbon Gold is the leader in biochar and Carbofex will benefit greatly from the products, science, branding and market reach they’ve established over the years.  And our EBC certification and registration with PURO for carbon removal trading brings new routes to market for Carbon Gold.  It’s very exciting.”

For more information, visit www.carbongold.com.

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Carbon Gold Seek Strategic Partner

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Carbon Gold Seek Strategic Partner: Carbon Gold, the world leader in carbon-rich soil amendments, is seeking investment from a strategic partner to accelerate growth in new and existing markets.

Carbon Gold, founded by Craig Sams, founder of Green & Blacks Chocolate and former chairman of the Soil Association, has pioneered and commercialised the use of proprietary carbon-rich soil amendments, proving the benefits of biochar and establishing its product range as commercially viable in the global tree care, commercial crop growing and sports turf industries.

Carbon Gold Seek Strategic Partner

Now the company is seeking a strategic partner who can offer the resources and efficiencies to scale up operations and maximise potential in this fast growth market.

Simon Manley, CEO of Carbon Gold, says: “The market for carbon-rich soil amendments is at a tipping point. We have a proven product range in markets that offer significant scale and regulatory drivers are furthering demand.  We are now seeking a strategic partner that shares our mission to support sustainable agriculture and combat climate change.”

Carbon Gold’s products contain biochar – a high carbon form of charcoal that improves the structure, aeration, water-holding capacity and nutrient retention of all soil types and provides a permanent refuge for beneficial soil microbiology, supporting plant health.

Biochar’s role in achieving the UK’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 is recognised as critical by the Royal Society and The Royal Academy of Engineering, and the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have described biochar as an important Negative Emissions Technology.

Manley continues: “Carbon Gold is a first mover in this market; we’ve proven the concept in key sales channels and we are now ready to expand into this exciting opportunity. Sustainable agriculture and climate change have never been more front and centre in the news agenda and, with so many chemical pesticides, fungicides and stimulants being removed from the market in horticulture and sports turf, an established, well-known brand with a proven organic alternative presents a fantastic opportunity for a potential partner.”

Carbon Gold’s products are enriched with fungi, beneficial bacteria and trace minerals. Treated plants have been shown to have increased tolerance to pests and diseases including ash dieback, honey fungus, horse chestnut leaf miner in trees, fusarium in turf and root mat in tomatoes, and environmental pressures including drought and transplant shock in third-party controlled trials.

The company’s products are approved as organic in the UK and other European markets. They are FSC certified and approved for use in biodynamic systems by Demeter and the UK’s Biodynamic Association.  This year Carbon Gold’s Soil Improver received B-Exemption for use in Dutch Horticulture from the RHP.

To find out more about biochar, visit www.carbongold.com.

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