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Forest Green extend Infinicut partnership

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Forest Green extend Infinicut partnership: It is perhaps no surprise that the club described by FIFA as ‘the greenest football club in the world’ would turn to battery power when it comes to their choice of mowers.

However, what did surprise Forest Green Rovers Grounds Manager Nigel Harvey was the enormous improvements in both operation and finish achieved with the club’s duo of 34” INFINICUT® FL’s compared to their previous petrol-driven units.

Forest Green extend Infinicut partnership

Forest Green extend Infinicut partnership

Now nine months into his role, and with the assistance of club Apprentice Matt Berry, Nigel’s transition from the Forest Green training ground to the Stadium was a swift and steep learning curve. “I had only used petrol mowers previously and because of the speed of the handover, when I took over at The New Lawn Ground, I stuck to what I knew. That was until Oliver Hall from INFINICUT® came in and did some training with me on the pair of floating head units and I just could not believe how good they were – I’d been missing out!”

“It’s not just the fact they’re battery powered, which obviously means they’re quiet to operate and aren’t kicking out noxious fumes, but it’s the quality of cut too which is just outstanding. Within the time it took me to mow half the pitch I could tell the definition of stripe and cleanliness of cut was far superior to what we had been using. With fewer conventional tools and techniques at my disposal to tackle issues such as disease control, the balance and adjustability of the INFINICUT® delivers the perfect cut – with no shredding or bruising – to maintain plant health.”

Along with the two FL 34’s, Nigel has also got a range of TMSystem™ cassettes as his disposal including the SarelRoller™ and ThatchMaster™, which will be of particular use in preparing the surface for next season. The club are also looking at add further battery powered equipment to their fleet, with the aim of significantly reducing petrol usage at the stadium.

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Wembley Stadium, the very heart of English football, is now the home for five 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers.

Wembley Stadium welcome 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers.

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Wembley Stadium welcome 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers : Wembley Stadium, the very heart of English football, is now the home for five 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers. While the INFINICUT’s lithium battery power fulfils The FA’s drive towards increasing sustainability, and saw them make the shortlist, it was the functionality of the floating head units coupled with the quality of cut that sealed the deal for Grounds Manager Karl Standley.

Sustainability has been a key issue for The FA Group since the new Wembley Stadium opened its doors in 2007. The sustainability strategy, governed by FAST – The FA Group’s Sustainability Team – is actively looking at ways of reducing both waste and the use of fossil fuels, meaning that when it came to looking for a new fleet of stadium mowers, the electric route was the way to go. However, as Karl explains, “Having an electric mower is great, but with one of the world’s most iconic pitches to present and a hugely varied schedule of both sports and events, it is crucial that any equipment we invest in delivers from an operational perspective.”

 

Wembley Stadium, the very heart of English football, is now the home for five 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers.

Infinicut photoshoot at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 19 November 2020 with Vinny Tarbox, Sales Manager for Infinicut & John Coleman , Managing Director of Cub Cadet UK
Head Groundsman Karl Standley & Team; Anthony Sunney, Brendan & David Moulds
Photo by Jane Stokes (DJ Stotty Images)

“Lockdown last year gave us the opportunity to really look in-depth at the different options available. Three things really stood out for me with the INFINICUT® machines – one was the battery life; another was the versatility but perhaps the biggest thing was the balance. A football pitch will never be 100% even, there will always be an undulation of a couple of millimetres here and there and with the INFINICUT®, it almost ‘sticks’ to the surface. The floating head reads the pitch, every camber, every tiny movement and the whole team was very impressed by that and it shows in the quality of finish.”

Since taking delivery of the quintet of 34” mowers in the Autumn of 2020, the INFINICUT®s are now the main machines used for preparing the playing surface, primarily down to the cut quality. However, the additional benefits of the battery technology are also making themselves apparent. “We’ve had all five machines running together in preparation for a number of fixtures and the silence in the stadium is evident. It’s an eerily quiet experience – prep has never been quieter – but the difference has also been noticed by our colleagues and the TV crews we have on site.”

Wembley Stadium, the very heart of English football, is now the home for five 34” INFINICUT® FL mowers.

Infinicut photoshoot at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 19 November 2020 with Vinny Tarbox, Sales Manager for Infinicut & John Coleman , Managing Director of Cub Cadet UK
Head Groundsman Karl Standley & Team; Anthony Sunney, Brendan & David Moulds
Photo by Jane Stokes (DJ Stotty Images)

Karl adds, “In addition, the massive reduction in HAV for the operators is another important benefit that has come to light. We test all of our equipment annually to enable our team to keep an accurate track on exposure and in the last round of tests, the INFINI’s came out with the lowest HAV score of the equipment we have.”

With the INFINICUT® fleet delivering on all fronts for the Wembley team, the benefits are also due to be felt further down the chain with The FA actively working on finding the previous mower fleet a new home at clubs and organisations at grassroots level.

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New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

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New INFINICUT® adaptation kit: INFINICUT® are introducing a brand-new adaptation kit to transform a JD 2500 Triplex into a highly productive, lightweight, 85” wide dedicated sports turf mower. The simple-to-fit kit was designed to specifically meet the criteria required to maintain sports turf and address the failings of existing options – traditionally re-purposed golf turf units.  

The management of sports turf is independent from the management of golf turf and, as such, merits the provision of a dedicated triplex mower suited to the requirements of sports specific venues. The new adaptation kit includes all that’s required to affix 30” INFINICUT® cutting reels and large capacity grass boxes to an existing JD power unit with zero fabrication/hole drilling or other modification required to the original traction unit.

New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

New INFINICUT® adaptation kit

In addition, a selection of maintenance cassettes from the TMSystem™ range are also compatible with the new set-up.

The JD 2500 was chosen as the donor traction unit, not because it was easy or convenient to re-engineer, but because it would fulfil the strict design brief set out by the INFINICUT® design team. Thought was given to ensure the end product was lightweight, gentle to turf through torquing & turning and minimised soil surface compaction. It also features a functional, forward-facing middle grass basket, with a generous capacity that is easy to install and remove.

Coupled to the well proven JD 2500 are three INFINICUT® reels, utilising SMARTCut technology to offer a highly productive 85” cutting width. The INFINICUT® cylinders come with renowned quality of cut and the confidence that these units are trusted by some of the most revered venues in the world including Real Madrid, Wimbledon and many more top-flight facilities. This combination, with its offset design, reliability, adjustable clip rate and general solid engineering makes for a compelling unit that will easily be considered “best in class”.

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FLexGrass a new INFINICUT® partner

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FLexGrass a new INFINICUT® partner: INFINICUT® are pleased to announce a new distribution partnership with one of the world’s leading hybrid pitch suppliers, FLexGrass.

With vast international experience in countries including Italy, Switzerland, North Africa, the Balkans as well as Mexico, Argentina and beyond, FLexGrass will be adding the INFINICUT® range of professional cylinder and rotary mowers to their ‘one-stop shop’ installation and maintenance package.

FLexGrass a new INFINICUT® partner

FLexGrass a new INFINICUT® partner

FLexGrass have been working with some of the biggest names in sport for over 10 years. Its owners Fabio and Lorenzo Travaini, in collaboration with SIS Pitches, pride themselves on providing a complete surface package – from project management and installation, through to maintenance and follow-up service and support. With a number of exciting pitch projects in the pipeline for 2021 and beyond, Turf Managers will now have the opportunity to specify mowers from the renowned INFINICUT® collection to keep the health and playability of new installations in first-rate condition.

“We are extremely excited to start this collaboration with INFINICUT®” comments FLexGrass CEO Fabio Travaini. “Our customers are interested in achieving excellence and we have therefore always made it our mission to create or find the very best products to give our customers just that. With INFINICUT® we are now in the position to offer them not only the best, but the most technologically advanced, mowing equipment available in our market today.”

INFINICUT® Sales Manager Vinny Tarbox added, “It’s been a very exciting few months for the team as we continue to construct our global distribution channels. Fabio, Lorenzo and the team at FLexGrass have worked incredibly hard to establish themselves as a leading provider of hybrid surfaces, all backed up with the very best products and support. We look forward to working closely alongside them to bring the INFINICUT® range to even more venues around the world.”

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Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

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Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise: Within just a few weeks of renewing their partnership as official distributors for the INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ collections for Belgium, Cofabel had secured their first order – two 34” INFINICUT® FX machines to Belgian First Division A stalwarts Standard Liège.

Complimenting an impressive list of franchises, Cofabel Sales Director Wilfried Onkelinx predicts a bright and busy future for the INFINICUT® range – with its reputation for leading cut quality and performance driving demand from sports venues around the country.

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

Cofabel secures INFINICUT® franchise

Operating from four outlets, Cofabel have been importing and distributing John Deere equipment for the agricultural, golf, park and garden markets for nearly 50 years and since, have grown their portfolio with a number of leading collections including Wiedenmann and GKB Machines. “We are always on the lookout for brands that can enhance our offering and deliver the results that turf managers are demanding” explains Wilfried. “Clubs recognise more than ever that success begins with an excellent pitch – this allows for attractive football and in many cases results will follow. Groundsmen won’t settle for anything less than the best, and that’s where the INFINICUT® is now top of mind.”

The first club to come on board was Royal Standard de Liège, where a conversation with club consultant Frédéric Cahay and maintenance contractors Devillers led to the purchase of two 34” fixed head INFINICUT® mowers in July 2020. “Devillers have been trusted with the maintenance of Stade Maurice Dufrasne for a number of years and they came to us specifying the INFINICUT® mowers, having seen them become the mower of choice for a huge number of top-flight clubs in the UK. They are not disappointed! The mowers were put to use straight away, delivering an unparalleled quality of cut, stripe and finish which has delighted all at the club.”

“Despite the challenges we have all faced with COVID restrictions, we have already seen phenomenal interest and have conducted a number of demonstrations of both the cylinder and rotary mowers.” Wilfried concludes, “As the reputation and visibility of INFINICUT® continues to grow across Belgium, we are expecting to see several football clubs, and other turf managers, become proud owners of an INFINICUT® very soon.”

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New Infinicut Territory Sales Manager

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New Infinicut Territory Sales Manager: Stephen Shaw has been announced as the new Territory Sales Manager for the INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ product ranges.

A well-known industry face, Stephen returns to the UK after spending the last 10 years of his career in Qatar, to support the continued growth of the collections, in use at leading golf venues and sports stadia worldwide.

New Infinicut Territory Sales Manager

New Infinicut Territory Sales Manager

In Qatar, Stephen worked at a main Toro dealership and Doha Golf Club, before taking on the role of Machinery Division Manager at Nakheel Landscapes which is where, over the last three years, he worked alongside John Coleman of INFINICUT® to spec machinery for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. When travel restrictions came into force earlier in the year, Stephen returned to his roots in Northumberland and the opportunity arose to use his acquired knowledge to support to dealers and customers across the North of England, Scotland and Ireland – along with spearheading exports and the construction of a worldwide dealer network.

“Joining the INFINICUT® team is hugely exciting” comments Stephen. “It is a quality British-built product, driven by technology that demonstrates a real understanding of what is required by today’s turf care professionals. It quickly became evident to me, working together with John and the INFINICUT® product, that this range is very much the future of the mower industry. Their engineering prowess continues across the multi-functional TMSystem™ collection, which delivers versatility, durability and precision to a wide variety of turf maintenance activities.”

Although Stephen only joined in the middle of September, he has already utilised his many international connections to remotely establish dealers in India, Thailand and South Korea and he looks forward to supporting these, and others, with product and sales training as and when travel restrictions ease.

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INFINICUT to reduce HAV for Loughborough

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INFINICUT to reduce HAV for Loughborough: The Loughborough University Stadium is the jewel in the crown of the dedicated ‘football hub’ at the site’s Holywell Sports Complex.

In June 2019, Team Leader of the complex Kris Nurse took delivery of two INFINICUT® 34” FX mowers, together with a set of TurfClean™ cassettes, which have been working hand-in-hand to keep the stadium’s brand-new SIS hybrid pitch in first-rate condition.

INFINICUT to reduce HAV for Loughborough

INFINICUT to reduce HAV for Loughborough

With such a wealth and breadth of sporting facilities at the University, the grounds department is split into teams – with the cricket division being the first to experience the INFINICUT®. “They’ve used a fleet of 22” and 26” INFINICUT® mowers for a number of years and have always sung their praises” explains Kris, who has a team of three working with him in the football hub. “We obviously had an opportunity to use them too and were impressed with how lightweight they are and how simple the mower is to set-up and use, so I spoke to Oliver Hall at MTD about the 34” fixed head version.”

“Together with the quality of cut and finish they deliver, the University were also keen on the fact that they’re battery powered. Because of the amount of large machinery we operate on a daily basis, we have a real issue with Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) so taking delivery of our duo of INFINICUT® mowers has been a fantastic step forward in improving that.” Since the new hybrid pitch was installed in September 2019, it has hosted over 60 games for student teams, together with a number of external matches including Derby County Under 23’s. To keep the pitch playing at the standard required, the mowers are in use four or five times a week.

Helping with the post-match clean-up, Kris also purchased a set of TurfClean™ cassettes from the renowned TMSystem™. “These have been a god send. We use these after play to rid the surface of any debris and stand the grass plant back up. It then takes less than 10 minutes to swap those out and put the cutting reels in, and we’re straight back out to cut. This has eliminated the wheel lines we used to get by using a rotary mower and gives us a quality of finish that is fitting to the arena and the fantastic level of play that we are lucky enough to host.”

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22” INFINICUT® ticks every box

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22” INFINICUT® ticks every box: As the only golf course on the island, Head Greenkeeper John Cunningham works hard to keep the surfaces at the Isle of Skye Golf Club in first-class condition.

After joining in April 2019, John was quick to identify the need for a new pedestrian mower to maintain the small, but perfectly formed, 9 greens. After an impressive demonstration, for John it was a 22” INFINICUT® floating head mower or nothing!

22” INFINICUT® ticks every box

22” INFINICUT® ticks every box

The club’s coastal location, in the shadow of the Red Cuillin mountains, provides a picture-postcard backdrop for players of all abilities. “The greens are small and can be cut in under two hours, but I was keen to introduce some new machinery to make the process cleaner and improve the finish” explains John. After speaking with the committee and a friend at another course, John organised a demonstration of the 22” INFINICUT®.

“The technology on this machine is next level and its controls and design are clearly well thought through. Oliver Hall from MTD Specialty Turf Products came in at the end of October and a few passes of the floating head machine over our practice putting green was enough to seal the deal. The cut quality was like nothing I’d ever seen and the range of TMSystem™ cassettes to go with it made this the obvious choice for us. I had other demonstrations lined up, but I told the Captain to cancel them – I was sold!”

John also purchased the SarelRoller™, UltraGroomer™ and SMARTVibe™ cassettes from the renowned TMSystem™. “On demonstration we cut the green to 5mm, UltraGroomed, re-cut and then followed up with a pass of the vibrating cassette. The lady secretary then came out to putt and was gobsmacked when her ball rolled straight off the green!” John collected his TMSystem™ cassettes and 22” INFINICUT® FL in person following a tour of the MTD factory in Sheffield.

“Together with an overall improvement in cut quality and finish we’ve already achieved a fantastic improvement in our greens speed. Over the winter period, where the ground became softer, the INFINICUT® floating head coped impeccably with the subtle humps and hollows of our greens leaving not a mark on the surface.” John concludes, “I was keen to not go for another petrol or diesel machine, but the INFINICUT® is so much more than just an electric mower – it really is the full package.”

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TMSystem™ and INFINICUT® at BTME

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TMSystem™ and INFINICUT® at BTME: With changes in pesticide legislation having an ever-deepening effect on sports turf quality, Turf Mangers are having to carefully consider the role of mechanical maintenance in delivering a proactive plant health strategy.

The UltraGroomer™ cassette from the renowned TMSystem™ collection is specifically designed to provide a healthier turf environment by preventing the accumulation of thatch. Visitors can find out more about this, alongside the award-winning INFINICUT® range, on stand Red 253 at BTME 2020.

TMSystem™ and INFINICUT® at BTME

A thatchy surface that is moisture retentive not only reduces the movement of oxygen and nutrients, it also provides an ideal environment to harbour pathogens. The UltraGroomer™ cassette features over 80 tungsten carbide tipped blades, spaced at 5mm apart, to reduce Poa ingress, minimise puffiness and prevent the build-up of organic matter. By improving the plants immediate environment, it becomes more difficult for disease pathogens to take hold.

The UltraGroomer™ can also be effectively used in conjunction with other cassettes from the TMSystem™ range, particularly the SMARTVibe™ to increase greens speed. During the winter months, when the plant is at its most vulnerable, the SMARTVibe™ can be employed as an alternative to mowing to reduce plant stress. Vibratory rolling can smooth the greens surface and quicken play without cutting, eliminating passes of heavy pieces of equipment which in turn, lowers the risk of compaction.

The TMSystem™ is available to fit OEM triplex and light fairway machines, as well as being an integral part of the Cub Cadet INFINICUT® mower. Also playing its part in the fight against disease, the INFINICUT® range features a number of parameters that can be adjusted to deliver an unparalleled quality of cut, no matter the time of year or conditions encountered at the given time. The INFINICUT® cylinder mower range spans 22”/26”/30” and 34” working widths, and floating or fixed head variants, together with the recently launched SM34 Rotary Mower.

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INFINICUT Set To Showcase SM34

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INFINICUT Set To Showcase SM34: Visitors to stand H075 at SALTEX will be some of the first to see the brand new SM34 Rotary Mower from INFINICUT®.

Swiftly settling into the INFINICUT® stable alongside the renowned range of fixed and floating head cylinder mowers, the SM34 has set a new industry standard for rotary cut quality. There will also be the opportunity to learn all about the new machine in the Eco Village demonstration area.

INFINICUT Set To Showcase SM34

Offering best in class performance with an emphasis on a modern, clean power source, the SM34 can be used to mow in the traditional sense or, alternatively, it can operate as a stand-alone vacuum. It takes its mode of traction from the INFINICUT® reel mower, paired with a deck constructed using MTD’s state-of-the-art stamp tooling equipment and years of rotary experience. The result is a technologically advanced unit that exceeds all necessary safety compliance that is demanded of rotary decks.

Incorporating both a front roller and rear traction roller means the SM34 delivers a striping effect usually only achieved with a professional reel mower, no matter the turf conditions. In line with the rest of the INFINICUT® fleet, it offers the operator a number of parameters which can be tailored to their particular requirements, including paralleling and deck pitch adjustment features as standard. It is also user programmable via the proprietary Android or iOS InfiniApp®.

The new Rotary mower is a natural progression from the renowned cylinder mower range which will also be on show. Available in a variety of working widths from 22” to 34”, the INFINICUT® FX and FL have become well-known for industry leading cut quality, striping and quiet operation thanks to the lithium battery power source. The environmental credentials of the range sees INFINICUT® demonstrating in the new SALTEX Eco Village at 11:00am and 2:00pm on both Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st.

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