Tag Archive for: Maximise

Two Ventrac’s for Chelmsford GC maximise versatility

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Two Ventrac’s for Chelmsford GC maximise versatility: Chelmsford Golf Course was founded in 1893. Head Greenkeeper, James Pickess, has been there for twenty-five years, starting as an assistant greenkeeper, then moving into a mechanical role and eventually becoming deputy, and then Head Greenkeeper nearly two years ago. His team consists of seven full-time staff.

Chelmsford is a parkland course of just under a hundred acres, featuring push-up greens and ancient woodland integrated into the design. The soil is primarily Essex clay, leading to some very wet spots. The topography includes hilly and sloped tee banks, with some challenging steep areas such as “The Snake Pit” and “The Valley” which are ancient clay digging sites for bricks. “Some slopes are as steep as 28 degrees, posing challenges for normal mowers”, said James.

Two Ventrac’s for Chelmsford GC maximise versatility

Two Ventrac’s for Chelmsford GC maximise versatility

James initiated the purchase of two Ventrac 4520 traction units, an MR770 triplex reel mower, a rotary MJ840 Contour Mower, a Tough Cut mower and an ET202 Turbine Blower, when he became Head Greenkeeper, driven by the machine’s versatility. He noted that “specialized grass machinery is increasingly expensive. The appeal of Ventrac was its ability to perform two, four or even ten different jobs,” said James, “offering more value for money and making it a worthwhile club investment.” James specified optional rear 3-point-hitches with quick hitch 3 in1 adaptors to allow generic attachments to be used such as turf conditioners and a carrying box. This allows for simultaneous operations (e.g., one machine with reels, another with the contour deck) and easy swapping of attachments.

James explained that “previously, the first cut was done with a rotary mower, which struggled with damp, dewy mornings, leaving grass clippings behind.” The Ventrac’s reel mowers were purchased to transition to a cleaner cut, effectively managing wet conditions and improve contour following. The course has some very undulating terrain. Larger previous mowers struggled to follow contours, leading to scalping. Ventrac’s reel mowers and contour deck “hug and float” [the ground] better, adapting well to the terrain. The Ventrac’s allow for precise cutting heights, “25mm with the cylinder mowers and better definition from the green to the collar, using two bands with the cylinder mower and two further bands with the contour deck 51mm”. said James.

In addition, previously, tasks like clearing brush, bracken, and bramble in woodland areas between greens required hiring machinery. Now, the Ventrac Tough Cut Deck can be deployed on demand, saving time and costs associated with hiring. The Ventrac Turbine blower, utilizing the diesel-powered tractor’s engine, is more fuel-efficient and maneuverable than the previous petrol-powered, tow-behind blower, which also tied up a utility vehicle. Significant manpower savings are achieved by combining tasks, for example, using a GreenTech turf conditioner on the three-point hitch at the back while simultaneously using the blower on the front. James explained that “this allows one person to do the work that previously required two, saving about a day, to a day and a half over three days of work on the fairways”. The Ventrac’s stability on steep slopes (up to 30 degrees) makes it safer. Chelmsford has slopes of up to 28 degrees. James also highlighted “excellent support” from Price Turfcare and Invictor Ground Care, noting quick parts replacement and technical assistance.

While the Ventrac units were only acquired just after Christmas 2024, James anticipates long-term financial savings and has already seen significant time and manpower efficiencies. He is considering adding more attachments in the future, such as a power rake or rotary brush.

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Minimise emissions and maximise uptime with the ZE range

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Minimise emissions and maximise uptime with the ZE range: The ZE Electric Zero-Turn range from Kubota has proven its credentials with operators looking to reduce their environmental footprint, all without detriment to productivity or cut performance.

Verifying that sustainability does not have to result in a compromise in turfcare standards, the fully-electric ZE-421 and ZE-481 mowers from Kubota’s Zero Turn collection are exceeding expectations too on operator comfort – reducing the noise, odours and vibrations associated with ICE-powered equipment.

Minimise emissions and maximise uptime with the ZE range

Minimise emissions and maximise uptime with the ZE range

With no internal combustion engine, the ZE produces no CO2 or particulates during operation, supporting the UK air quality and net-zero commitments of local authorities and other green space managers. Instead, the ZE range is powered by a durable 48V, 10kWh lithium-ion battery which allows the mower to cover up to 15,000m2 on a single charge. Depending on site conditions, the operator can choose between Eco, Standard or Boost mode deck settings to further optimise battery life whilst choosing between two transport speeds, when exhausted, the battery module can be removed and exchanged in minutes.

The advanced K-Sense auto-adjustment system also actively monitors deck load in real time to automatically balance mowing and travel speed to preserve cut quality on varying grass types and densities.

The ZE-421 and ZE-481 models come with a 42” or 48” side-discharge deck, ideal for professional contractors and landscaping applications, with an optional mulching kit available. Smooth and quiet in operation, additional comfort is provided by the adjustable seat and ergonomic deck controls designed to reduce fatigue and improve operator wellbeing.

In addition, the ongoing maintenance of the ZE range is significantly simplified, making it ideal for busy grounds teams. With no engine oil, spark plugs, fuel filters or exhaust systems to service, the routine upkeep is reduced to essential checks such as blade sharpening, tyre inspection and periodic battery monitoring. The electric drivetrain also results in fewer moving parts and less wear and tear, lowering the risk of breakdowns and maximising uptime.

The ZE range forms part of Kubota’s ongoing declaration to support a carbon neutral environment by 2050. For more details on other sustainable solutions for professional groundcare, visit www.kubota-eu.com

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Maximise uptime with Toro’s MVP kits

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Maximise uptime with Toro’s MVP kits: Minimising downtime is something turfcare professionals actively guard against – and rightly so – but how much is maximising uptime considered? With Toro there are numerous ways to do this – and a small way that can make a significant difference. 

Maintenance, value, performance – the three top priorities for turfcare professionals all wrapped up in one time-saving, budget-stretching package. Toro MVP kits provide all the parts for over 100 different maintenance issues in one box, helping to maximise uptime in multiple ways.

Maximise uptime with Toro's MVP kits

Maximise uptime with Toro’s MVP kits

Lasts longer

They are the same MVP kits everyone is used to with one significant difference – now the contents can cover longer hours, starting at 400 hours with some covering up to 1000.

Savings on individual parts costs

Not only are these maintenance parts competitively priced, but the total cost of each kit is significantly less than what it would be to purchase each part separately.

Streamline the process to save time

Toro understands that maintenance teams and workshop managers have lots of tasks to prioritise and these kits take several steps out of the process. With the maintenance task list listed on the box, it’s easy to stay on track and eliminate the guesswork.

Make planning easy

Why complicate maintenance? These kits bring peace of mind that the workshop is fully stocked all the time. They eliminate the need for much of the workshop planning and streamline the shopping list – and now there’s no need to look up the individual parts numbers!

Guarantee factory line specifications

MVP kits are designed to make it easier for technicians to maintain Toro equipment to factory specifications – every part fits perfectly and everyone can rely on the fact that the equipment is always properly maintained.

No downtime, only uptime

There’s no need to worry about missing that vital part right when it is needed and putting a hold on the machine incurring lost hours. Pretty much every eventuality is covered Toro’s MVP kits from rebuilding rollers and replacing hydraulic hoses to overhauling cutting units – making sure that no matter what the issue uptime is maximised and the machine keeps up with the turf’s demands.

Michael Hampton, Purchasing and Sales Process Manager at UK Toro distributor Reesink Turfcare, says: “It’s important for a machine’s performance and longevity that genuine parts are used with the exact engineering specifications for the machine. By choosing Toro MVP kits customers can be sure they get the best performance now with fewer problems down the line, all at the best possible price.”

Contact a local dealer to take advantage of Toro’s MVP kits, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

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Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units

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Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units: Ian Robson, of ProSport UK Ltd, the UK & Ireland Importer/Distributor for Foley Company, explains why relief grinding maximises the performance of reels by giving a factory finish every time.

Avital question for a workshop manager is how to maximise efficiency and minimise labour and maintenance equipment costs. One area to achieve excellent savings is to look at how you maintain the sharpness of your cutting units.

Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units

Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units

Firstly, why is having sharp cylinders (reels) that are the correct shape so important anyway? The answer is obvious – unhealthy turf brings a whole host of other issues which are costly to correct.

Therefore, prevention is a far more economic approach than a cure.

A huge amount of research and development has gone into designing a cutting unit to produce the cleanest cut possible with the least amount of fraying and tissue damage to the plant. The result is that all manufacturers of grass cutting equipment supply new units with relief ground edges.

WHY RELIEF GRIND?

Tests carried out by leading manufacturers have established that relief ground cylinders stay on cut up to 3 times longer than spun ground ones and require less horse power to drive the unit, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and less stress on the hydraulic power systems. In addition, a relief ground cylinder will withstand the abrasive effects of top dressing far better than one spun ground because the relief edge on both the bed-knife and the cylinder allows the top dressing to clear the cutting blades easily, helping to prevent the dulling effect seen on spun only units.

Continual relief grinding also decreases the squeezing and tearing of the grass as the units get dull, and most importantly it allows the cylinder to be returned to a factory specification perfect cylinder as quickly as possible.

The overall cleaner cut achieved by relief grinding gives a better after-cut appearance, increased recovery rate due to the clean cut of the grass and reduces the stress on components because less horsepower is needed to drive the cylinder.

As a reel wears flat and loses shape (becomes coned), more stress and strain is put on the cutting systems.

A 5-gang cutting unit with relief can require up to 4.5 HP (5 x 0.88HP = 4.5HP) to drive the cutting units therefore a 35HP engine has 30.5HP remaining to drive the rest of the traction system. A 5-gang unit which has been spun ground only, can require up to 13Hp (5 x 2.59HP = 13HP) leaving only 22HP to drive the rest of the traction system.

Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units

Maximise workshop efficiency: Relief grind your cutting units

So, it has been established that relief grinding your cutting units saves you money not only by reducing workshop maintenance time with far fewer grinds but also through a reduction in fuel costs and replacement parts.

It is also important to acknowledge what relief grinding does for a reel. By removing metal from the trailing edge of the blade it forms a relief angle, which reduces the contact area of the cutting edges, resulting in less friction, longer wear life.

Typically, when a new mower is delivered the reels will be a perfect cylindrical shape. Over time the blade naturally loses shape, and the sharp edge it arrives with becomes flat and dull, often meaning the reel is no longer a perfect cylinder from end to end. This is referred to as ‘coning’ and a natural point for grinding to take place. The decision then sits between touch-up and spin grinding, or relief grinding.

If there is sufficient relief still on the reel then a quick touch-up is fine but once more than 50% of the relief has gone my advice would be to relief grind again and remove any coning. Failure to remove the coning will eventually be seen in an uneven cut appearance of your turf.

Foley machines are set-up for both choices, and some models, such as the ACCU-Sharp, ACCU-Pro and ACCU-Master, have automatic grinding pre-sets and adjustment systems to decrease time and labour.

But, the main question mentioned at the beginning comes back; how to get the most out of your workshop resources by choosing the most effective method to sharpen your cutting units. The answer is to trust the manufacturer’s judgement and return the reels as close to the original factory standard as possible, and for that, relief grinding is the best option. The bonus is this method also maximises performance and gives the best cut.

Maximise disease resistance this autumn

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Maximise disease resistance this autumn: Greenkeepers, groundsmen and amenity space managers should apply more than just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to their green areas this autumn, with magnesium and iron essential to maintaining healthy, disease free grass throughout the winter.

That is the latest advice from Richard Brown, Amenity Sales Manager for Germinal GB, who, speaking at the SALTEX show on 30th October, recommends the application of specialist fertilisers to ensure grassed areas remain healthy as the weather turns cooler.

Maximise disease resistance this autumn

“No matter how naturally resistant a grass cultivar is to diseases such as fusarium, an unhealthy or nutrient deficient sward won’t be able to withstand the disease pressures associated with the onset of wetter and colder autumn conditions,” Mr Brown explains. “Greenkeepers, groundsmen and amenity space managers must therefore remember that feeding the sward goes beyond applying the main three macro-nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, and should apply additional micro-nutrients, namely magnesium and iron, to bolster tolerance to disease and cold conditions.”

Germinal’s specialist G13 Protekt and G14 Alleviate Fe fertilisers are formulated to provide the necessary nutrients to protect grass swards at crucial times such as during the onset of cooler autumn and winter conditions.

G13 ProteKt is a 3-0-22 (+3% Fe) anti-stress fertiliser. Containing 22% potash and 3% iron, it can be used during the autumn and winter to harden turf, heighten sward colour and prevent disease attack. Used at this time of year, G13 ProteKt enhances wear tolerance, protects the sward from frost damage and enables quicker recovery in the subsequent spring.

G13 ProteKt can also be applied in the spring and summer when its high potassium content aids transpiration control in dry periods and fortifies the drought tolerance of grass plants.

G14 Alleviate Fe is a 4-0-10 (+8% Fe) fertiliser which is ideal for protecting high value turf areas such as sports fields, golf greens and tees and bowling greens throughout the growing season, but especially during the autumn and winter months. G14 Alleviate Fe contains magnesium, a vital component of chlorophyll, which helps to maintain good metabolism of energy for healthy plant growth. Its high iron content improves resistance to disease and ensures quick greening throughout the growing season without causing any intense flushes of growth. G14 Alleviate Fe also helps to control and inhibit moss.

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