Tag Archive for: New

Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

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Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB: The new HRX476 XB has a 47cm cutting width and a high performance 1.8kW battery-powered motor. A new bespoke deck and low friction blade make the most of the power available, contributing to extended operating times between charges and great results – even when cutting long or damp grass.

Premium Interface

Mower operation is through a new Premium Interface which is conveniently mounted on the handlebar. With Select Drive the blade and variable-speed wheel drive are engaged by separate levers which are ergonomically designed for comfort and ease of use. Travel speeds between 0–1.3 m/sec are available to suit the user and conditions, which allows a speed to be set and stored for cruise-like control.

Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

Honda UK Launches new HRX476 XB

Additional functions include a battery charge level indicator so the user can check the remaining capacity at a glance, and a Quiet-Mode selector button.

Quiet operation

Quiet-Mode reduces the blade speed from 2,600 to 2,200 rpm, with a significant reduction in operating noise from 92 dB in Standard to 87 dB in Quiet-Mode. The high-performance brushless motor achieves similar torque operating in Quiet-Mode as it does in standard setting, and in normal working conditions there is little difference in cutting and collecting performance. However, for heavier conditions including damp or long grass, Standard Mode is recommended.

Variable mulching

The HRX476 XB also has Honda’s unique Versamow™ variable mulching system. A convenient deck-mounted selector allows users to easily switch between mulching and collecting grass or achieve a combination of the two. Equipped with a large 69-litre grass bag, and the powerful filling action makes the most of the capacity even in challenging conditions.

Practical and convenient

Cutting height is easily adjusted using a single, deck-mounted lever between 25mm and 79mm.
Battery capacities of 6Ah and 9Ah are available, allowing users to select the size to suit their lawn area and situation, and Honda’s rapid charger will fully charge the 6Ah battery in less than one hour. Honda’s Universal Battery System allows batteries to be shared between compatible products, adding convenience, and reducing cost of ownership.

The new HRX476 XB achieves best-in-class cutting and collecting performance, and will appeal to customers needing a durable, quiet, and environmentally friendly mower for domestic and professional use. The attractive but functional styling is easy to look after and keep smart.

Find out more about our new HRX range here https://www.honda.co.uk/lawn-and-garden/products/lawnmowers/hrx/overview.html

Buy now HRX476 XB

Sales advice and service support are available through Honda’s authorised dealer network.

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New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

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New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club: Chorley Golf Club has got its 125-year anniversary off to a good start by updating its machinery fleet.

The course sits in 127 acres between Bolton and Preston, drawing players out of both major conurbations to be challenged while taking in prime views that extend as far as the Lake District and North Wales.

New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

New lease of life for machinery fleet at Chorley Golf Club

With both healthy membership numbers and a high number of visiting players, Head Greenkeeper Tony Grayson and his team of four – deputy John Cottam, Chris Riley, Stuart Angus, and Daniel Woan – are working to meet expectations every day.

“I try to produce the best course I can every day, as we have so many competitions”, he says. “It’s all about the presentation and of course – people want what they see on TV.”

Living up to the manicured greens and fairways seen on televised competitions is no mean feat in the north west of England, where consistent rainfall and clay soils present major challenges.

“The ground is very quick to get wet but also quick to dry as we are on a couple inches of topsoil and thatch on the fairways,” Tony said. “The Bunkers are really difficult to maintain in bad weather because the clay contaminates the sand and, although others might put in liners nowadays, on a limited resource it costs a fortune.”

Pests and diseases, particularly fusarium, anthracnose, worm casts and leatherjackets are an increasing challenge too, with many chemicals being taken off the market. Frequently warm and wet conditions make this pressure relentless.

Keeping the course in top condition takes attention to detail, and the team can afford little  machinery downtime. A breakdown can threaten to overwhelm the team so when they were handed the keys to a brand-new shed just before the first covid lockdown in March 2020, the impetus was there to invest in new machinery.

Tony said: “It had been difficult to invest in machinery because of the previous sheds in terms of their security and the environment – you don’t want to be keeping machines in damp conditions.

“We had an ageing fleet and the reliability, particularly of our previous rough mower, was going down. When you’ve got the grass growing like mad and a rough mower down, it’s difficult to manage.”

The team’s new shed now stores a John Deere 7500 fairway mower, a 9009A TerrainCut rough mower, an 8000A E E-Cut Hybrid fairway mower, a XUV86SM Gator, three 220SL SL PrecisionCut walk-behind greens mower and two 2500 greens mowers.

Tony said: “Looking at other brands, I found that John Deere, as well as being at the top, was offering value for money as well. Once I demoed everything, it was obvious what I was looking for. The machines are now specific to our course and environment so we can go out with more confidence, getting a nicer cut.

“The 8000AE is so versatile and it can even act as a backup fairways mower by quickly raising the height of cut. It is our key machine and the one that will make people notice in terms of the appearance of the surrounds and approaches. Now, the green-side bunkers are part of the surround and we’re able to cut around this area with the new machine, making the presentation so much better.”

For the majority of the new machines, Tony opted to use John Deere Finance. And with a strong relationship with John Deere’s specialist servicing dealer Balmers GM spanning  20 years, the team at Chorley has direct access to support to maintain the machines. For its flagship machine, the 9009A, Tony reasoned that an operating lease, whereby the team would only pay for the use of the machine, would be the best option.

“The club looked at the hours our machines were doing – and with the rough mower doing the most hours, we took it out on an operational lease as we have a lot of semi-rough, and will look to change after five years.”

Following a successful 2021 with summer on the greenkeepers’ side and armed with a new machinery fleet, Tony’s sights are now set firmly on future proofing the course – and the reliability of the new machines will be crucial to ensure this work can happen.

“Our aim now is to make the course longer by building a few more tee zones set right back onto the course’s boundaries to cater for an increasing number of golfers hitting the ball further. All this has to be done without disrupting golfers’ experience or making a mess with the heavier equipment required.

“Our industry isn’t without its challenges but investing in the machines has really given our greenkeepers more pride in their work, and the machines are doing a fantastic job at presenting the course in the best light.”

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New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

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New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract: ICL is rebranding its alkaline-extracted seaweed ‘SeaMax’ as ‘SMX’.

SMX is a highly concentrated Atlantic Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed, harvested from sustainable and renewable sources by Acadian Seaplants.

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

For any turf professional it is important to weigh up the evidence from product trials. Multiple trials carried out using SMX clearly demonstrate how seaweed extract improves the condition and rooting of the turf. This is because the SMX extraction process retains important and influential biochemical compounds.

As an example, research recently published in the European Turfgrass Society Proceedings showed how different Ascophyllum nodosum extraction methods produced contrasting effects on turfgrass rooting. The alkaline-extraction method (as used in the production of SMX) produced significantly greater root length and root volume than other commonly used extractions.

Independent trials also showed that SMX helped the turfgrass produce longer roots, a greater root mass and it improved the quality of growth (shoot weight), compared to competitor products or controlled conditions (using no seaweed extract). Trials that placed the turf under drought conditions, showed that the turf quality and colour improved noticeably when treated with SMX.  In addition, when SMX has been included in annual nutritional programmes, the turf quality remained significantly higher throughout the autumn and in the lead up to winter.

Although the name might have changed, the formulation is the same. SMX is available as a standalone product in water soluble form (Sportsmaster WSF SMX) and in liquid form (Vitalnova SMX). It is also included as an effective dose in SierraformGT Spring & Summer CalMag 14-0-7 as well as the new organo-mineral fertiliser Gronamic Golf 6-2-4.

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

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

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New mixture from Johnsons Sports Seed

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New mixture from Johnsons Sports Seed: A number of new and updated formulations have been announced with the launch of the Johnsons Sports Seed guide for 2022.

Particular highlights include the introduction of new highly rated cultivars into the Johnsons J Links and J Rye Fairway fine turf mixtures, and a brand-new, first-of-its-kind mixture for sports turf – Johnsons J Premier 4Turf – delivering proven Brown Patch tolerance.

New mixture from Johnsons Sports Seed

New mixture from Johnsons Sports Seed

The 2022 formulation of Johnsons J Links is set to deliver even better salt and drought tolerance to those courses under links conditions thanks to the introduction of Absolom Slender Creeping Red Fescue. Absolom is a highly rated cultivar, offering exceptional disease resistance and tolerance for close mown management. Absolom joins Cezanne and Nigella in this pure Slender blend – backed by DLF’s 4Salt® research, creating mixtures optimised for performance in saline conditions. New formulations of Johnsons J Fairway and J Rye Fairway are also available this year, with the inclusion of Esparina Chewings Fescue and Aniston Perennial Ryegrass respectively.

Also backed by research is the brand-new Johnsons J Premier 4Turf mixture. Following two years of trials into Brown Patch tolerant varieties, J Premier 4Turf takes full advantage of the findings – combining the outstanding wear tolerance and visual merit of the original J Premier Pitch mixture with 20% 4turf® and the most tolerant diploid varieties identified in the study. Featuring 10% Fabian and 10% Tetragame tetraploid perennial ryegrass, J Premier 4Turf promises to become the ultimate football and rugby renovation mixture for disease-resistance, rapid establishment and exceptional wear tolerance.

The larger seed and root system of DLF’s 4turf® varieties deliver strong, fast establishment at temperatures as low as 4oc, as well as healthy plant development. Its improved tolerance of drought and disease means the sward retains better colour and recovers quickly from periods of stress. Because of their tolerance to challenging conditions and lower reliance on inputs, 4turf® mixtures have become a popular choice with sports turf managers, with new formulations of both Johnsons J 4Turf and J 4Turf 100 available for 2022.

Details of all the new and updated formulations across the golf and sports turf range can be found in the 2022 Johnsons Sports Seed catalogue, or by visiting www.johnsonsportsseed.co.uk.

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership: KAR UK has revealed its delight at the recently announced partnership between Hunter Industries and POGO and is looking forward to revealing more details at BTME 2022.

Hunter Industries has joined forces with turfgrass technology solutions leader POGO to bring new sensor and visual insight integrations to the best-in-class Hunter Pilot Network.

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

Hunter’s robust irrigation control system effectively balances watering demands with flow capacities to determine the most efficient watering cycles possible. Best of all, the highly intuitive software is fully customisable according to the daily irrigation management needs of the turf.

KAR UK, the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK and an integral distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, has welcomed the news according to UK Sales Manager, Mike McDonnell.

“The new partnership signals exciting times and will help turf managers to make smart irrigation decisions that will ultimately result in healthier and better-quality turf.

“KAR UK is incredibly proud to work so closely with Hunter Industries and the team is looking forward to championing this unique new irrigation technology. We hope to see many of you at BTME where we will reveal more exciting details about the partnership and what benefits it will bring.”

KAR UK & Hunter Industries will be in the Red Zone 228 at BTME and will be showcasing a leading range of irrigation equipment that could make a significant improvement to your golf course.

To find out more about KAR UK please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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