Tag Archive for: Machines

113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

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113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show: The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show returns next month with one of its most ambitious programmes yet. 

In an incredible show of dedication to Caterpillar, more than 110 individual machines will be brought to Newark Showground to mark a century of the iconic yellow brand, alongside a host of other major engineering milestones.

113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

113 machines travel to Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show

Enthusiasts from across the UK are set to gather on 8 and 9 November, where a weekend crowd of over 10,000 people will witness exhibits which have been brought from all over the country by enthusiasts.

With a vast array of diverse machinery being celebrated in 2025, visitors are being encouraged to purchase discounted tickets before the special offer expires at the end of October.

Adult tickets just £16 until the end of the month, and the event promises to be one of the best displays of vintage tractors, stationary engines, commercial vehicles and trade stands found in the UK.

Caterpillars old and new to catch the eye 

The show will host the largest-ever gathering of Caterpillar machines seen in the UK, with 113 exhibits spanning a century of tracklayer development, from early Holt crawlers of the 1910s to modern-day giants.

Among the headline attractions will be the Caterpillar D10, brought by Ash Croft on behalf of Cat Plant. At up to 77 tonnes, the D10 is one of the largest dozers in the company’s range, designed for quarrying and coal mining and sure to be a showground showstopper.

While the D10 commands attention, many enthusiasts will be drawn to the historic machines that tell Caterpillar’s story. Highlights include the Holt 75, built in the 1910s and described as the oldest surviving example in the UK – the Caterpillar 60 – first introduced in 1925, with a fully restored 1929 example owned by Tom Balls. Caterpillar’s RD8, a diesel-powered crawler from the 1930s used on major construction projects and in military service during the Second World War, will also be on show.

Tom, whose family business J C Balls & Sons is sponsoring the Caterpillar class, said: “We’ve got collectors coming from all over. To have more than a hundred Caterpillars in one place is something that’s never been done before in this country. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime sight.”

Simon Eccleston, CEO of the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS), which organises the show, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to mark the centenary of Caterpillar at our show. These machines are symbols of innovation, persistence, engineering and community, and it’s a privilege to bring together owners, restorers and admirers under one roof.”

Alongside the Caterpillar celebration, the 2025 show will spotlight several other landmark anniversaries including 80 years of the Fordson Major E27N and Field Marshall Series One, 60 years of Zetor imports into England sponsored by Chantry Agricultural Engineers, 60 years of Cummins engines, and a major tribute to Gardner Engines sponsored by Stamford Shepherd Huts.

There will also be celebrations for the Ford D Series lorry, launched 60 years ago, and for Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies. Heritage potato implements, handling equipment and a wide range of club displays will add further depth to the show.

Among the personal stories on display is one particularly touching restoration. “Old Sodbuster”, a 1948 Fordson Major E27N owned by Kate Hodgson from North Yorkshire, was the first tractor restored by her grandfather Ray Worley nearly 40 years ago.

Decades after he sold it, Kate rediscovered the same machine for sale, still bearing his hand-painted nickname. “It felt spooky but also meant to be,” she said. “Restoring it with my partner Joshua has been a real labour of love, and showing it at Newark during the Fordson’s 80th anniversary feels like the perfect tribute.”

Another standout is Nottinghamshire’s Paul Hird with his Series One Field Marshall – one of the earliest survivors of its kind. Bought on a whim at auction, Paul later discovered its history through another enthusiast at Newark. “I like originality,” he said. “Something that’s lived a life and carries its modifications tells a story – that’s what I look for when I’m judging other exhibitors’ machines too.”

The stationary engine section will once again offer a working display of the power sources that once drove rural life, with many engines in full running condition throughout the weekend.

Beyond the exhibits, the showground becomes a marketplace for collectors and restorers, with hundreds of traders offering parts, tools, books and memorabilia, as well as expert advice for ongoing projects.

The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show runs Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November 2025 at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.

Discounted advance tickets and camping passes are available until 31 October, and children aged 16 and under can enter for free. All tickets can be booked at www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com.

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Redexim Launch Two New Machines

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Redexim Launch Two New Machines: Redexim is pleased to announce the launch of two new machines: Verti-Cut Flex 2000 and Turf-Tidy 1100.

The Verti-Cut Flex 2000 simplifies dethatching on undulating terrain and pivots around curves and bends with ease. The Turf-Tidy 1100 offers compact and manoeuvrable cut & collect. Its clamshell design allows for the quick release of material.

Redexim Launch Two New Machines

Redexim Launch Two New Machines

Verti-Cut Flex 2000: Perfect results on undulating turf

We verticut to remove thatch and lateral grasses that build up and deprive the soil of nutrients. However, precise and even verticutting on undulating surfaces that will not scalp the turf requires a flexible solution.

The Verti-Cut Flex 2000 is that flexible solution. It offers exceptional manoeuvrability and consistent cutting quality over and around uneven surfaces, reducing the risk of scalping. Multiple points of flexibility and floating wings allow for easy undulation following.

The machine can also pivot around curves and bends thanks to Passive Pivoting Suspension™, and it is ready to move over and around hills, slopes, and complex terrain, such as around trees or along the contours of a golf green.

Requiring a minimum of 30 HP, it has a working width of 2 m (79″) and a maximum working depth of 40 mm (1.6″). A belt-driven system ensures simple operation, and a single grease point makes maintenance straightforward. The rear debris guards are easily removed for cleaning, while the floating wings can be folded up for compact storage.

Turf-Tidy 1100: Compact, tractor-mounted, cut & collect

The Turf-Tidy 1100 is a tractor-mounted, close-coupled cut & collect unit that sweeps, dethatches, flail mows and scarifies all in one. Its design makes it easy to pick up, take tight turns, lower it and get to work. The clamshell hopper is a low-dump design.

Redexim Launch Two New Machines

Redexim Launch Two New Machines

Simply use the hydraulics, open the back and release the material. No lifting required.

Quick-release knives enable fast switching between either a flail or a scarifier.

With a hopper capacity of 1,100 litres (290 US gallons) and a working width of 1.5 m (59”), the Turf-Tidy 1100 is compact yet capable.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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STIHL to showcase new machines at GroundsFest

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STIHL to showcase new machines at GroundsFest: STIHL will exhibit a range of new products at this year’s GroundsFest, a leading trade show for the grounds management and landscaping industries, taking place from 9th – 10th September 2025 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Among the tools on display will be STIHL’s latest charging innovations and a range of its popular 2025 launches, plus several new battery-powered products such as the PKA 30 Battery Pump Head, the SGA 30 Battery Sprayer, and the WSA 40 Battery Water Container.

STIHL to showcase new machines at GroundsFest

STIHL to showcase new machines at GroundsFest

On stand OSA 30 STIHL will showcase the new CM 8 Charging Management System, which allows up to 8 chargers to be powered via a standard GB 230 V Socket. The CM 8 allows twice as many chargers to be charged on a single fuse, providing a simple solution with no electrical expertise required. Built-in overload protection ensures safe and reliable operation.

STIHL will also be showcasing its most popular 2025 launches, including many AP System battery-powered tools, such as its RMA 7 Lawn Mowers, the BRA 500 & 600 Backpack Blowers, and HSA 140 & 150 Hedge Trimmers.

Visitors can also get hands on with the GTA 40 Pruner and see demonstrations of the new MS 400.1 Chainsaw, which boasts the best power-to-weight ratio of any professional chainsaw in the 60cc class. In addition, complementing this launch, will be three new ranges of chainsaw PPE.

Covering all work cases, the FUNCTION range is ideal for occasional use, while the ADVANCE range is designed specifically for professional arborists and tree workers.

Debuting at GroundsFest is the battery-powered PKA 30 Pump Head, which can be added to the STIHL SG 31 manual sprayer or cut-off machine water tank, helping users to maintain constant pressure automatically. This energy-efficient tool removes the need for manual pumping, saving the user time and boosting productivity.

Also, supporting users in achieving an even liquid application as a full solution, is the SGA 30 battery-powered sprayer. As with the PKA 30, this new tool supports precise distribution of liquids, with a variable pressure adjustment.

Alongside the PKA 30 and SGA 30, visitors will also get to see the new WSA 40. This battery-powered water container has been designed to deliver a mobile water supply to a cut-off machine, such as the TS 410 or TSA 300. Providing automatic and constant pressure, the WSA 40 delivers up to seven tanks of water, with a 30-minute run-time using one AS battery.

Visitors to the STIHL stand OSA 30 will get the chance to see these new tools up close, observe live demonstrations, and speak with STIHL experts for advice and guidance on all STIHL machines.

For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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GKB Machines delivers top class artificial surfaces

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GKB Machines delivers top class artificial surfaces: A suite of equipment from GKB Machines has been entrusted with prolonging the longevity and boosting the performance of five artificial playing surfaces at Ipswich School.

Installed by dealers Ernest Doe in September 2024, a Quick Brush, Rotobrush and GKB Deep Clean are bringing new-found time-savings and efficiency to both routine and more intensive maintenance.

GKB Machines delivers top class artificial surfaces

GKB Machines delivers top class artificial surfaces

Rated the number one independent school in Suffolk and Norfolk, sport forms a major part of the curriculum for the students at Ipswich School. Keeping an array of natural and all-weather surfaces in top-flight condition for cricket, hockey and winter sports is a team of eight headed up by Grounds Maintenance Manager Syd Townsend. “The all-weather pitches across our Westwood campus and Rushmere Sports Centre have been installed over a number of years and the time was now right to invest in equipment to optimise their performance and protect our investment” he explains.

“We previously didn’t have any mechanised attachments or equipment, so we were drag brushing the surfaces manually which was labour intensive and restricted us from being able to conduct operations as often as we’d like.” For a solution, Syd spoke with local dealers Ernest Doe who brought in a selection of machines from the GKB synthetic portfolio for the team to trial on their facilities. “It was important that anything we purchased would work with our existing tractors. Of the four machines we demoed, we purchased three of them and in a short period of time, they have already proven their worth.”

“The Quick Brush and Rotobrush are in use regularly, standing up the fibres and redistributing the sand dressing. The Rotobrush does a fantastic job of the perimeter areas, in particular, agitating any moss and bringing it to the surface for collection with the Deep Clean.” Syd continues, “We’ll be using the Deep Clean during school holidays to give the pitches a more intensive renovation, on top of the more routine collection of leaves and other detritus.”

“A large proportion of our synthetic pitches are surrounded by overhanging trees. The days of using a blower or manually raking up leaves have gone, and we can now quickly and effectively collect these and other smaller particulates in a more sustainable way.”

While each machine has been well received, Syd considers the combination of equipment to be the golden ticket to perfecting the performance of the playing surfaces. “Not only has the kit delivered exactly what we hoped, the service and training we received from Ernest Does and GKB was outstanding. Despite having to reschedule our training day due to unpredictable weather and staff holidays, both companies were incredibly flexible. On the day all eight operatives had the opportunity to ask any questions and undergo full training to ensure they were confident with the equipment which will all help us to achieve the very best results.”

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SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

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SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways: Maintaining a golf course as unique and picturesque as Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club demands equipment that delivers exceptional results with precision and reliability.

For Head Greenkeeper Stewart Fotheringham, the introduction of two SISIS machines—the Maxislit and the Multislit—has been nothing short of revolutionary. These innovative tools have transformed the condition of the course’s greens and fairways, setting a new standard for drainage, firmness, and overall playability, even in the face of challenging weather and high foot traffic.

SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

Maintaining the course’s stunning greens and fairways has always been a labour of love for Stewart. He began his career at Shiskine, on the Isle of Arran, in 1982 as a 15-year-old apprentice and, 42 years later, his passion for the course remains as strong as ever.

“If you’ve ever been here, you’ll understand why I’ve stayed so long,” Stewart explains. “The location is incredible, with breathtaking views, and the 12-hole layout is a hit with everyone. The members love it, and we see plenty of visitors in the summer. But with all that play, and the wind that hits us from every direction, the course takes a beating.”

To keep the course in peak condition, Stewart and his small team of two full-time and one part-time greenkeepers recently introduced two SISIS machines: the Maxislit for fairways and the Multislit for greens. The results, according to Stewart, have been transformative.

Shiskine’s seaside links course, established in 1896, is a mix of quirky features and challenging terrain. Regular aeration is essential to manage drainage, reduce compaction, and ensure the course can handle heavy play and unpredictable weather.

“The advice to incorporate slit tining came from our agronomist, Gordon Irvine,” says Stewart. “Gordon explained that slit tining over winter offers unique benefits, so we decided to invest in the Maxislit and Multislit from SISIS.”

The SISIS Maxislit, a tractor-mounted deep slitter, is used on fairways to enhance drainage and reduce compaction. “We use the Maxislit about three times between November and January,” Stewart says. The angle of the tines and the spiral design allow deep penetration with minimal surface disturbance, and it’s incredibly simple to operate—just hitch it to the tractor and go. “The results have been excellent,” adds Stewart.

On the greens, the SISIS Multislit, a tractor-mounted deep slitting lawn aerator, has also worked wonders. “We’ve only had the Multislit for a year, but the difference is remarkable,” Stewart notes. “After just a few uses, the greens are firmer and much drier. During Storm Darragh, we had 60mm of rain, and there wasn’t a single puddle on any of the greens. Before using the Multislit, we’d have seen standing water everywhere.”

Stewart emphasises the ease of use as a standout feature of both machines. “They’re straightforward and fast to set up. There’s no complex PTO shaft to deal with, and they’re highly effective. For the Multislit, we’ve used it 4-5 times so far, and the improvement in drainage and firmness has been incredible.”

For Stewart, the investment in SISIS machinery has been transformative. “If you’re struggling with soft greens or poor drainage, the Multislit is a must-have. It’s transformed our greens in no time. The Maxislit has been just as effective on our fairways. I’d recommend these machines to any greenkeeper—they’re simple, efficient, and deliver fantastic results.”

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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