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Electricity in the air at SALTEX

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Electricity in the air at SALTEX: With a power source for the future, the Groundsmaster e3200 is Toro’s first all-electric outfront rotary mower – and it debuts at SALTEX 2023 on the Reesink UK stand. It will be joined by the new Toro Workman MDX lithium utility vehicle.

Toro has led the pack when it comes to developing hybrid and electric machinery for the golf turf industry, a trend that continues in the groundscare sector with these two new and exciting all-electric launches.

Electricity in the air at SALTEX

Electricity in the air at SALTEX

With the Groundsmaster e3200, Toro has taken the rugged chassis, commercial-grade mowing deck and intuitive operator controls of the diesel-powered machine that has been popular for 50 years and made it environmentally friendly with zero-operating emissions.

Toro’s proprietary, patent-pending lithium-ion technology incorporates a smart battery management system for consistent performance and optimised lifecycle and can be configured with up to 17 HyperCell batteries for all-day runtime in all conditions.

Smart controls optimise power consumption by continuously and efficiently providing ample cutting power without slowing down and the reserve power mode allows parameters to be set to ensure enough battery power to return to the recharging station. The on-board 3.3kW charger allows for recharging overnight, ready to tackle another day.

With little engine noise work can start near residential and urban areas early without disturbance.

The battery powered version of the customer favourite Workman MDX diesel mid-sized utility vehicle, means, for the first time, there’s a utility vehicle with enough power for tougher groundscare jobs. The Workman MDX Lithium delivers the same payload, trailer towing capacity and comfort the original Workman MDX is known for – but in a new and sustainable package.

Jon Cole, turfcare divisional business manager at Reesink, says: “We’re delighted to introduce this exciting new electric technology to the groundscare market at SALTEX. Battery power is an integral part of the industry’s future, and these are two crucial launches for mowing and utility work from Toro.”

Visitors to SALTEX will also be able to see the latest offering from all four of Reesink’s divisions across two stands hosting an array of customer favourites.

There will be more productive, durable and versatile groundsmowers from Toro on stand K080 including the Groundsmaster 4000-D rotary mower and LT-F3000 flail mower, as well as the Toro Workman UTX.

From Reesink Hydro-Scapes also on stand K080 will be a selection of irrigation and water aeration solutions from Toro Irrigation and Otterbine. See first-hand the Toro Lynx Central Control alongside other featured irrigation systems, controllers, sprinklers and soil sensors, as well as the Otterbine concept 3 fractional series.

On stand A040 will be the latest sustainable technology from Reesink e-Vehicles and Agriculture. Award-winning brand STAR EV will show the Capella Work Machine with a caged body, the newest addition in the STAR line-up – the AK48-2 Long and the electric, lightweight, optional self-balancing, wide-wheeled KAASPEED scooter with shopping tray, ready to provide a fun method of transport for any multi-surface adventure.

The line-up from Reesink wouldn’t be complete without the 2021 winner of the SALTEX Innovation Award in the Environmental and Sustainability category, the industry’s first all-electric tractor, the Farmtrac FT25G, which will be showing alongside the customer favourite FT26H ROPS tractor.

Whether you’re heading to the exhibition for the latest machinery or equipment for groundscare or fine turf, sustainable technology solutions or advice, Reesink has it all on stands K080 and A040.

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SoilsCon returns in 2024

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SoilsCon returns in 2024: After a four-year break, during which time the world has experienced pandemic, dramatic changes to its climate patterns, and major advances in science and technology, SoilsCon – the landscape industry’s ‘go to’ conference for soil-related topics – is returning.

The one-day conference will take place on Wednesday, 28th February 2024, at the elegant Phyllis Court in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Organised by soil scientist and landscape consultant Tim O’Hare, it promises landscape architects and specifiers, housebuilders, landscape contractors and designers, developers, topsoil manufacturers, local government officers, and professionals from the wider industry, a day of invaluable professional development, discussion and debate, with presentations by some of the leading experts in their respective fields.

SoilsCon returns in 2024

SoilsCon returns in 2024

So far, the SoilsCon 2024 speaker line-up features:

Tim O’Hare, Principal Consultant, Tim O’Hare Associates

Tim White, Senior Associate, Tim O’Hare Associates

Dr Iain Gould, Associate Professor in Soil Science, University of Lincoln

Helen Elks-Smith, Principal, Elk-Smith Landscape & Garden Design

Jennifer Mui, Director, MRG Studio

Katherine Iles (Principal Engineer) and Ryan Coghlan (Senior Landscape Architect), ARUP

Subjects will include:

  • Soil health and functions in landscapes – a practical approach
  • Soil requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain typologies
  • Soil organic matter and carbon sequestration
  • The challenges of garden construction
  • Species-rich soils – a National Trust case study
  • Biochar and Dolerite – the science behind these soil conditioners

A Soil Surgery, popular with delegates at previous SoilsCon events, will be held during the day’s networking periods with members of the Tim O’Hare Associates team on hand to help delegates with their specific soil issues.

The final programme and conference details will be issued shortly but to express your interest in attending, please email sharon.frost@toha.co.uk or call 01491 822653.

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Getting lawn care ready in September

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Getting lawn care ready in September: We know the summer feels like it has only just begun, but the Lawn Association team would like to share some September lawn care tips to keep your sea of green as healthy as it can possibly be!

Keep your eye on thatch!

After the last few months of ridiculous growing weather, the thatch in your lawn would have increased a lot. We only normally produce thatch for say, April, May some of June and possibly September but we have had the whole of June and July and August as well so have literally increased thatch production by 100% extra.

Getting lawn care ready in September

Getting lawn care ready in September

This is not something that many gardeners think about, but of course, when planning good sensible lawn care you should. Do we hit it hard in autumn to compensate or split between two light ones, autumn and spring?

So what can we do about excess thatch?

Scarification is the key and September is the perfect time to do this, and it will enable you to control thatch levels. Does anyone think that moss may be an issue this autumn and winter? No, of course not, moss will only be thought about when it appears. But have no doubt, it will, because soils have been saturated and air space will have decreased. This happens when the fine soil particles move around and will have consolidated. This means water will move slower through the soils meaning the surface remains wetter for longer.

Thatch is a spongy-like material that sits above the lawn soils. It comprises all the clippings, shoots, and dead organic matter that have accumulated. When this remains wet during winter, moss spores will have a greater chance to germinate, so by regularly scarifying your lawn, this will allow rainwater to run down into the soil and away from the surface, giving the moss spores less chance to germinate (extra aeration will also be required this autumn too)

David Hedges Gower, Chairman of the Lawn Association states “Good lawn care is all about working with nature, not against it. Through dealing with excess thatch sustainably via scarification and other good practices such as sensible mowing and regular aeration, biodiversity and a healthy lawn can be maintained.”

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Cheltenham Ladies’ College invests in SISIS

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Cheltenham Ladies’ College invests in SISIS: When the grounds team at Cheltenham Ladies’ College received investment for new equipment, Ross Spry, Head of Grounds and Gardens, decided that SISIS machinery was a good place to start. 

Established in 1853, Cheltenham Ladies’ College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. It is consistently ranked as one of the top all-girls’ schools in the UK.

Cheltenham Ladies’ College invests in SISIS

Cheltenham Ladies’ College invests in SISIS

Ross has been the Head of Grounds and Gardens for approximately fifteen months after joining from the nearby Cheltenham College. Ross and his team maintain all CLC’s lawns and sports pitches which includes lacrosse, athletics, rounders, and cricket. His job has been made that little bit easier after College invested in some new machinery, as he explained.

“When I first started at CLC a lot of the kit was old and it was apparent that several machines needed replacing. I’m pleased to say that a big investment was made and so I started sourcing new equipment.

“I’ve always been impressed by SISIS machinery and have used some of it throughout my career – particularly when I was a greenkeeper. I’ve found it to always be very good kit and it is always solidly made.”

His first purchase was the SISIS Auto Rotorake Mk. 5 – a self-propelled heavy duty scarifier for removal and control of thatch on fine and other quality turf. Its contra-rotating reel has specially designed tipping blades for a clean, consistent cut and maximum thatch removal to ensure excellent lawn care when the time comes to scarify.

Ross explained how he uses the SISIS Auto Rotorake Mk. 5:

“The Mk.5 is predominantly used on our big lawns and for end of season renovations on the cricket square. It is a great machine, and we find it is one of the better machines for scarifying the cricket squares. It has got so much torque, and it can get through the hard clay, more so than any other scarifier I have used.

“The Mk.5’s best feature is how robust it is. A cricket square is probably one of the toughest things you can put it through, and it doesn’t bat an eyelid.”

Ross was also adamant that he wanted a SISIS Dart. This independently powered vertical action aerator improves drainage, reduces turf compaction, thatch build up and increases the health of lawns. Powered by a 6.5hp engine, the Dart has a working depth of up to 100mm which can be easily adjusted from the operator’s position using the balanced depth control lever. The unit can also be fitted with a wide range of tines to meet the operator’s requirements.

“I’ve used the SISIS Dart at every venue I have worked – mostly on cricket squares. We always use it when we are renovating to break the surface up a bit, and I do tend to use it occasionally during the winter periods. We use the pencil tines, to keep the air circulating.

“The Dart is so easy to operate. All my staff can use it – and that is important because we need machinery which every team member feels comfortable using.

“Once again SISIS has not let me down.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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Toro grounds mowers in stock

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Toro grounds mowers in stock: In the market for a new Toro grounds machine? Reesink Turfcare can deliver.

Reesink Turfcare, the exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland for Toro groundscare machinery, has five of Toro’s popular grounds mowers in stock and ready for swift delivery across the UK.

Toro grounds mowers in stock

Toro grounds mowers in stock

The Groundsmaster 3300 out-front rotary, LT3340 heavy-duty triple, LT-F3000 triple flail, LT2240 cylinder and the Groundsmaster 4000 rotary mowers bring new cutting concepts to rotary, cylinder and flail mowing and are in the UK and ready to order now.

Jon Cole, divisional business manager, turfcare, at Reesink Turfcare, says: “Reesink UK and The Toro Company have been investing resources to support availability including paying additional airfreight on accessory items and premiums to secure equipment from other Toro distributors, where there’s the option. We’re so pleased to see this approach working and stock arriving in the UK.

“Whether it’s a rotary, cylinder or flail mower customers want, we’ve got it covered.”

All of these machines are ideal for maintaining areas that are cut infrequently and can handle longer, wetter, coarser grass cutting, or finer, neater cuts depending on what is required in the green space being tended.

From light trimming to mowing dense overgrown areas, the Toro LT3340 will be appreciated for its durability, strength and performance. The LT-F3000 will impress by increasing the length of time between cuts, making grounds teams more efficient. If it’s wet, coarse, long, dense grass on the agenda, the Groundsmaster 3300 with flail or rotary deck, will deal with it.

The LT2240 works in areas with restricted access and limited manoeuvrability and is suited for fine-turf applications as much as densely packed, overgrown municipal grass, while the Groundsmaster 4000 handles cutting on hills and wet grass with ease and has the ability to turn on itself leaving a zero inch uncut circle adding to its already impressive productivity.

So, don’t delay, with these popular grounds machines in the UK and ready for delivery now, order today for guaranteed results within weeks.

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

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