Tag Archive for: Hunter

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

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Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC: Bromley Cricket Club recently raised enough funds to purchase a much-needed new Hunter Irrigation system from KAR UK.

Founded in 1820, Bromley Cricket Club is one of the leading cricket clubs in Kent, with a long, successful, and proud tradition. As well as boasting four senior sides, the club is focused on promoting youth cricket and has approximately 500 youth players ranging from 4 – 18 years old.

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

As you can imagine, a lot of cricket is played at the club’s ground and David Wilson, cricket committee member and director of the main sports club, explained exactly why an irrigation system was needed.

“We have a very low, shallow, subbase of soil and the consequence of that, from our point of view is that in particularly hot periods in the height of summer, without any rain, the pitch would turn into a desert. It would turn to straw, become very hard and any undulations would become quite dangerous.

“Rainfall is becoming less and less reliable,” continued David. “We felt that we were getting to a point where a period of say 6 weeks, would make the outfield non-playable.”

Bromley Cricket club commissioned a topographical survey and a feasibility study, which stressed the importance of an irrigation system. The board began to raise funds in various ways, and it eventually reached its target at Bromley Cricket Club’s bi-centenary dinner celebrations which took place at The Oval.

The project went to tender, and Prime Irrigation was selected as the chosen contractor to install a Hunter Irrigation system from KAR UK. The system included 25 of the most technologically advanced commercial rotors on the market – the I-80’s.

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

The I-80’s were installed strategically around the outfield while 6 TTS-885’s were installed on the square.

The Hunter TTS-800 rotors provide maximum uniformity and longevity as they use the same gear drive and nozzles as the I-80’s. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use or poor water quality are mitigated. An extra-large, fast-access flange compartment comfortably accommodates wire connections and other components.

Bromley Cricket Club also purchased the Roam remote which means operators never have to walk back and forth to stop and start irrigation. Furthermore, the club will soon be benefiting from the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features which allows users to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

Hunter is first-class for Bromley CC

“I like the fact that Trevor, our Groundsman, will soon be able to wake up in the morning, if needed, and operate the system from his phone all the way from his house in Whitstable!” added David.

“I have been around the club cricket world for about 45 years, and I can’t think of another club that has a system like this, certainly not to this scale,” he continued. “We have a lot of competitors in this area, so we want the best possible surface for people to play on. I’m very impressed with this irrigation kit and now that we have water, I am confident that this pitch will soon be of a first-class standard.”

Commenting on the project, Alan Williams, Sales Director for Prime Irrigation, said: “It has been great to be a part of this project and the system is going to make a big difference. The Roam remote is incredibly easy to use, and the operator can select various programmes; they now have the flexibility to water certain areas and can have different run times.

“We’ve got a very good relationship with KAR UK,” he continued. “They are a good group to work with, very knowledgeable, always helpful in the office and we get a lot a lot of our products from them.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Hunter innovation impresses The Swans

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Hunter innovation impresses The Swans: The advanced technology of Hunter Irrigation has hugely impressed Swansea City FC with Head Groundsman Evan Davies claiming it has improved the turf and simplified the irrigation process. 

As soon as Evan started his first job at a local cricket club, he knew that sports turf management was going to be his career. Over a decade later and he finds himself in the top position at the Swansea.com Stadium – home to Swansea City FC and Ospreys Rugby, in which he oversees the main stadium, the first-team training complex, and the youth academy.

Hunter innovation impresses The Swans

Hunter innovation impresses The Swans

Somewhat of a perfectionist, Evan likes to keep well informed of industry trends and technological advancements, and future planning is something he likes to see in companies that he chooses to work with:

“In my opinion, companies in this industry always need to have something next in line – the next product or innovative technology. KAR UK and Hunter Irrigation are great examples of forward-thinking companies. The development is always there. Roger Lupton (KAR UK Regional Sales Manager) is always keen to tell me what exciting new products and concepts are coming next. It’s great to see.”

The Hunter Irrigation system at the stadium, supplied by KAR UK, includes eight of the most technologically advanced commercial rotors on the market – the I-80’s.

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 meters. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides total top serviceability (TTS) via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

“The I-80’s are incredible,” said Evan. “We are now able to get water to every area of the pitch including the wings – whereas previously we couldn’t reach them. It has made the pitch quicker and the playability better, so the manager and the coaches are happy.

Hunter innovation impresses The Swans

Hunter innovation impresses The Swans

“The TTS aspect of the rotors makes life a lot easier too. For example, before one game an away player came onto the pitch earlier than expected. He kicked a ball, and it broke one of the sprinklers. Fortunately, myself and a member of staff fixed it and put a new one in within 15 minutes. With the old sprinklers, that would have been impossible – we may have had to have the game postponed as we would have had to dig around it to replace the sprinkler.

“The ease of being able to change and service the I-80’s is a massive benefit. In fact, I can rely on any of the staff at any of the sites to be able to change the I-80 rotors if needed.”

As Evan alludes to, a Hunter Irrigation system is installed at all three of the club’s sites and Evan and his team can control the system to any of the pitches through the mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features to the ACC2 controller. The connectivity allows users to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

“It is so convenient,” said Evan. “If you are pitch side you don’t have to keep walking back and forth to control the water – you can just do it from your phone; you could be at home after just putting some fertiliser down and the rain suddenly stops – well you don’t have to drive back into work to put the water on anymore; whether it is a phone, a laptop or a tablet you can control everything.

“In the palm of your hand you can ensure that any part of any pitch gets the exact amount of water it needs. That is technology that certainly makes life easier for any groundsman.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Hunter on target for the Darts

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Hunter on target for the Darts: The heavily used pitch at Dartford FC’s Princes Park Stadium is benefitting from a recently installed Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK.

From Dartford FC’s first team to the academy teams; from the Dartford ladies’ teams and London City Lionesses to Charlton FC’s Under 23’s, the pitch at Princes Park is in regular demand. To be precise, it averages 76 games per year.

Hunter on target for the Darts

Hunter on target for the Darts

Responsible for ensuring every one of those games takes place is the experienced Head Groundsman Jay Berkhauer who works for Jordans Sports Ground Solutions – who are responsible for the maintenance of Princess Park as well as a host of other clubs all over the South East.

Jay has been in charge at Princes Park Stadium for three seasons and has made a significant improvement to the pitch.

In recognising that such a heavily used pitch requires good irrigation, he was quick to ensure it was one of his first actions when starting the role at Princes Park.

“When I first came in the irrigation system wasn’t in good shape and it had been neglected for a few years,” he said. “Most of the sprinkler heads didn’t work and the control point was located so far away from the pitch. On a matchday I was constantly running back and forth, switching it on and off, whenever the manager wanted water on the pitch. This was a nightmare especially as I am the only groundsperson based here.

“Therefore, the irrigation was something that I wanted fixed as soon as possible.”

Supplied by KAR UK and installed by Prime Irrigation, Jay chose the i-40 rotors, and the Centralus irrigation management platform. This provides a highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features to the ICC2 controller at the stadium.

The connectivity allows users to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

Hunter on target for the Darts

Hunter on target for the Darts

“It has been a huge game changer since it was installed,” said Jay. “Gone are the days of running back and forth because I can control it all from my phone no matter where I am. For example, there have been times when the pitch is being watered while I’m at home. There has been a downpour and I can simply turn the system off through my phone.

“We’ve also noticed that we have saved a lot of money on water usage too,” continued Jay.

“It allows me to target specific areas on the pitch – one area might need five minutes of water while another area might just need two minutes on a matchday. It’s great to have this flexibility and to be able to only use water when and where the pitch needs it.

“It has never gone wrong, and I’ve never had any problems with it. Compared to what I’ve used in my career, this irrigation system is by far the best and the easiest to use.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership: KAR UK has revealed its delight at the recently announced partnership between Hunter Industries and POGO and is looking forward to revealing more details at BTME 2022.

Hunter Industries has joined forces with turfgrass technology solutions leader POGO to bring new sensor and visual insight integrations to the best-in-class Hunter Pilot Network.

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

Hunter’s robust irrigation control system effectively balances watering demands with flow capacities to determine the most efficient watering cycles possible. Best of all, the highly intuitive software is fully customisable according to the daily irrigation management needs of the turf.

KAR UK, the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK and an integral distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, has welcomed the news according to UK Sales Manager, Mike McDonnell.

“The new partnership signals exciting times and will help turf managers to make smart irrigation decisions that will ultimately result in healthier and better-quality turf.

“KAR UK is incredibly proud to work so closely with Hunter Industries and the team is looking forward to championing this unique new irrigation technology. We hope to see many of you at BTME where we will reveal more exciting details about the partnership and what benefits it will bring.”

KAR UK & Hunter Industries will be in the Red Zone 228 at BTME and will be showcasing a leading range of irrigation equipment that could make a significant improvement to your golf course.

To find out more about KAR UK please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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KAR UK bring Hunter to SALTEX

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KAR UK bring Hunter to SALTEX: KAR UK – the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK, will be on stand E053 at SALTEX 2021 showcasing a wide range of innovative Hunter products.

As an integral distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, the KAR UK team will be revealing how the following products can have a positive impact on an array of various sports turf surfaces.

KAR UK bring Hunter to SALTEX

KAR UK bring Hunter to SALTEX

TTS-885 rotor

This rotor belongs to the Hunter TTS-800 portfolio and provides maximum uniformity and longevity. The high-torque gear drives are the strongest in the industry, so the challenges of reclaimed water use, or poor water quality are mitigated.

The TTS-885 also benefits from Hunter’s patented TTS (Total-Top-Service) technology which allows for every serviceable element of the rotor to be accessed through the top.

Mechanical and electrical, big and small, you can get to every component without disturbing the playing surface. That means there’s no more digging, no more unsightly scars, and more importantly, one less item on a busy turf manager’s schedule.

Other notable features of the TTS-885 include true full-circle and adjustable part-circle (60° to 360°), exclusive PressurePort™ nozzle technology, and a radius of 11.3 to 28.7 m.

I-80 rotor

Engineered for sports turf, the I-80 is built with a robust, dirt-tolerant gear drive that offers the highest torque output of any rotor in the commercial sphere, and extends a radius range from 11.3 to 29.6 m. The I-80 features a wide range of highly efficient, dual-trajectory, wind-fighting nozzles for highly efficient performance in a range of applications. It also provides TTS via its integrated, surface-mounted snap-ring for no-dig easy maintenance.

ACC2 controller

Powerful. Intelligent. Flexible. Hunter’s new ACC2 controller delivers advanced water management to meet the demands of large-scale commercial projects.

At its core, the ACC2 has a powerful transformer, allowing it to safely run up to 14 valves simultaneously, bringing maximum efficiency to large watering schedules. The ACC2 can be configured for any commercial project, from 12 to 54 stations, with up to 6 flow metre inputs, and up to 6 pump/master valve outputs. Its easy-to-read colour backlit display and unique reversible facepack make programme setup and diagnostics fast and efficient.

Centralus

The mobile-friendly Centralus irrigation management platform provides highly secure, comprehensive cloud-based control and monitoring features to new or existing ICC2 dial-based controllers and ACC2 controllers. The connectivity allows you to view a controller’s status, change settings, view forecasts, save water, and receive instant notification of important system alarms — all without costly and time-consuming travel and site visits.

Experienced members of staff from KAR UK will be on hand throughout the event to provide advice and support for any of your irrigation projects.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

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You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.