Tag Archive for: ICL

Dr Simon Watson Joins ICL

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Dr Simon Watson Joins ICL: ICL is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Simon Watson as Senior Scientist within its AmegA Sciences business unit. Simon brings extensive experience from his previous role as Senior Agronomist at The R&A, where he was part of the Sustainable Agronomy team, leading the sustainable certification programme and working closely with golf courses across the UK.

Simon’s career in the turf industry began as an agronomist at the STRI, with a broad portfolio that includes roles at Syngenta in technical services for the Turf, Landscape, and Ornamental sectors. His time at Syngenta saw him rise to Head of Technical Services for the Asia Pacific region, based in Singapore, and he also has experience as an independent arable agronomist.

Dr Simon Watson Joins ICL

Dr Simon Watson Joins ICL

In his new role, Simon joins AmegA Sciences, a unit dedicated to the development of cutting-edge biostimulants, and water and nutrient use efficiency technologies for ICL. Mike Finney, Business Manager at AmegA Sciences, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Simon to our R&D team. His extensive technical expertise will be invaluable as we continue to lead the way in developing innovative solutions for the turf and ornamental markets. With an exciting pipeline of technologies in the works, Simon will play a key role in ensuring that our products deliver on performance, with claims backed by rigorous research.”

Simon Watson expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “The opportunity to contribute to the development of biostimulants and technologies for water and nutrient use efficiency is something I find truly exciting. I look forward to working with the teams at AmegA Sciences and across the broader ICL business to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of our industry.”

In his position, Simon will collaborate with global ICL technical teams, independent research stations, and universities to drive innovation and product development. Outside of his professional life, Simon enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. He is an avid football fan and supporter of Aston Villa, often attending matches with his son.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk or www.icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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

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Thomas Tomlinson Joins ICL

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Thomas Tomlinson Joins ICL: ICL is delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas Tomlinson as the new North East Technical Area Sales Manager.

Thomas joins ICL from his role as Course Manager at Ravensworth Golf Club, where he oversaw course management and introduced sustainable practices to enhance the club’s environmental standing. He began his career in greenkeeping at a young age, completing an apprenticeship at South Moor Golf Club before progressing to Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Boldon Golf Club. Throughout his career, Thomas has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and sustainability, gaining extensive experience in course performance and member communication.

Thomas Tomlinson Joins ICL

Thomas Tomlinson Joins ICL

Thomas’s dedication to continuous learning is evident through his selection as an ICL Scholar at BTME’s Continue to Learn programme in 2020.

Phil Collinson, Sales & Business Development Manager – UK North, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Thomas to the ICL team. His wealth of greenkeeping experience, coupled with his dedication to learning and growth, makes him the perfect fit for this role. We are confident that he will make a significant impact in the North East and contribute to the continued success of our business.”

In his new role, Thomas will collaborate closely with distributors and end users to strengthen ICL’s presence in the North East. His proactive attitude and commitment to professional development were key factors in his appointment, and we are excited to see how he will contribute to the team.

Outside of work, Thomas enjoys kayaking, hiking, and playing golf, maintaining an impressive handicap of 5.1.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and www.icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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

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ICL Announces Allan Wainwright as New Sales Manager

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ICL Announces Allan Wainwright as New Sales Manager: ICL is pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Wainwright as Sales Manager for the UK and Ireland Landscape & Industrial sectors. Allan joins ICL from Hozelock, where he effectively managed the UK&I Sales for the Commercial division, showcasing his capacity for building relationships and enhancing sales within the lawn, landscape, and industrial sectors.

Before joining Hozelock, Allan’s career included a significant period at Vitax, which equipped him with valuable market insights and customer engagement strategies.

ICL Announces Allan Wainwright as New Sales Manager

ICL Announces Allan Wainwright as New Sales Manager

Upon accepting his new role, Allan said, “I’m thrilled to join ICL and contribute to our sectors’ growth. It’s a great chance to use my skills where they matter most, and I’m eager to help take our team to the next level.”

Lewis Blois, Business Development Manager for ICL’s Landscape & Industrial division, noted “Bringing Allan into our team reflects our ongoing commitment to strengthen our market position by incorporating experienced professionals. His background and approach to account management and sales are well-suited to our objectives.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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

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ICL launch two new hand-held spreaders

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ICL launch two new hand-held spreaders: ICL is pleased to announce the addition of two new hand-held spreaders to its comprehensive range of spreaders: the ShakerPro and the HandyPro. These compact tools are designed for turf managers and landscaping professionals looking for a convenient solution for small-scale applications.

‌The HandyPro is a hand-held rotary spreader. It allows for the easy application of ICL fertiliser or grass seed with just a turn of the handle. Its design focuses on ease of use and comfort, making it an excellent choice for quick and small-scale spreading tasks. Its portability and straightforward mechanism make it a valuable tool applying products to small areas.

ICL launch two new hand-held spreaders

ICL launch two new hand-held spreaders

‌Similarly, the ShakerPro is a shaker style spreader, offering users a simple and efficient way to apply the ICL range of fertilisers, granular wetting agents, and seeds to small areas. Its hand-held design is particularly suited for tasks such as divot repair, where targeted application is more important than extensive coverage. The ShakerPro stands out for its ease of handling and for making fertilisation and seeding on small areas hassle-free.

‌The ShakerPro and HandyPro and are now available through ICL’s network of distributors.

‌Both spreaders have been added to Turf Rewards. The ShakerPro can be claimed for just 5 points and the HandyPro 10 points.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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

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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

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Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one: An ICL trial at St Andrews Links demonstrated that tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with an H2Pro TriSmart programme significantly enhanced golf green turf quality and rootzone health, surpassing the improvements achieved by using TriSmart alone.

A trial conducted at St Andrews Links in 2022 illustrated the advantages of combining two proven technologies. Tank-mixing the seaweed biostimulant Vitalnova SMX with the non-microbial biostimulant surfactant H2Pro TriSmart programme yielded significant additional benefits. This research emphasised the capacity of the combined treatments to improve turf health, particularly during dry summer months.

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

Two ICL biostimulants prove better than one

The trial, employing a randomised, replicated, block design, was conducted on a Fescue-dominant golf green turf nursery underlain by a sandy rootzone. The study aimed to assess the benefits of incorporating Vitalnova SMX, a liquid biostimulant containing 10% Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed solids, into a TriSmart wetting agent programme (a product that also boasts proven biostimulant properties).

In the trial, plots treated only with TriSmart and untreated plots served as bases for statistical comparison. The trial was assessed every 2-3 weeks for turf quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and soil moisture content at two depths (38mm and 76mm). At the trial’s conclusion, soil samples were analysed for rootzone microbial content.

Over the course of seven monthly applications from March until August, the assessment results revealed that the H2Pro TriSmart-only programme significantly increased volumetric moisture content (VMC) at both depths, as well as achieving improvements in Turf Quality and NDVI compared to the untreated plots. Most notably, the addition of Vitalnova SMX to the H2Pro TriSmart programme further enhanced Turf Quality Scores, both early and late in the season, surpassing results from the TriSmart-only treatments.

In terms of rootzone microbial analysis, the TriSmart-only treated plots contained significantly greater total bacteria, total fungi, and total microbial biomass than the untreated control plots. The combination of TriSmart and SMX significantly increased microbial biomass and total fungi beyond the already enhanced TriSmart-only results.

Key findings from the trial include:

  • The H2Pro TriSmart-only programme resulted in a significant increase in Turf Quality, % VMC (to 38mm and 76mm), and NDVI.
  • Tank-mixing Vitalnova SMX with H2Pro TriSmart significantly boosted Turf Quality Score beyond that achieved with H2Pro TriSmart alone (but did not affect the % VMC).
  • Applications of H2Pro TriSmart and Vitalnova SMX combined also resulted in a notable increase in total fungi and total microbial biomass in the rootzone.

“Our primary objective was to demonstrate the efficacy of H2Pro TriSmart in managing soil moisture levels and reducing turf stress, and to explore how Vitalnova SMX could further enhance these benefits,” stated Dr Richard Collins, ICL’s International Technical Manager for Amega Sciences. “The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of integrating these products into a turf management programme, offering significant improvements in turf quality and rootzone health.”

Richard concluded, “This trial not only underscores the potential of these treatments to improve turf performance during critical stress periods but also opens avenues for further research into sustainable turf management practices.”

Discover a wealth of information on this and other insightful ICL trials by visiting the dedicated page on the ICL website.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

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