Tag Archive for: Plant

Grass Plant Ltd praise Redexim Verti-Drain®

/in , /by

Grass Plant Ltd praise Redexim Verti-Drain: After 15 years of reliable service running a fleet of smaller Redexim Verti-Drain® models Martin Guy, owner of Grass Plant Ltd, comments that the addition of a high-speed Verti-Drain® 2519 has brought new-found efficiency to both internal contracting operations and external hire projects… so much so, that plans are already in the pipeline to add more!

Martin leads a team of 25, undertaking construction and ongoing maintenance of all types of natural turf sports surface, working with venues across the Southeast. “Across the board, agronomic expectations are on the rise but due to play demands and climatic conditions, the time available to deliver these standards is getting ever smaller” he explains. “This meant increasing demand was placed our high-speed aerator, but the competitor model we were running was not delivering what we needed it to. As soon as the 2519 was introduced we were straight onto our local Redexim Partner Tuckwells, and we were one of the first to try it.”

Grass Plant Ltd praise Redexim Verti-Drain®

Grass Plant Ltd praise Redexim Verti-Drain®

Offering a PTO speed of up to 540rpm, the Verti-Drain® 2519 can cover up to 8739sq.m per hour when spaced at 165mm making it the most productive aerator in its category. Its ability to accept a range of tine options and working to variable depths of up to 250mm mean the 2519 is well suited to an array of applications – something thoroughly tried and tested by the Grass Plant team.

“It’s adaptable, which is critical for us considering the broad spectrum of places we work at” Martin explains. ”On a golf course for example you can start on a tee, then use the same machine to aerate the fairways and the greens. There are very few machines that allow you to do that.”

He continues, “You tend to find that the higher speed these machines operate at, the more there is that can go wrong, but the build quality of the Verti-Drain® is as solid as ever and, since taking delivery of the 2519 close to three years ago, we’ve seen very little downtime.” This reliability has found favour both internally and with self-drive hire customers. “We get a lot of repeat business on our hire fleet and we wouldn’t get that if we were giving them machines that weren’t fit for purpose or were falling apart in front of their eyes! Trouble is, everyone is so impressed with just how much the 2519 can do that now we need more of them!”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

DMC sales & plant hire choose Wiedenmann

/in , /by

DMC sales & plant hire choose Wiedenmann: Limerick business owner, Darragh McCormack, Director of DMC sales and plant hire, has purchased a Wiedenmann Maredo STrac 700 system with four interchangeable heads

Based in Ardagh, in the south west, his recently launched business has gone from strength to strength also including a ground care division which carries out turf projects.

DMC sales & plant hire choose Wiedenmann

DMC sales & plant hire choose Wiedenmann

“Initially, I discovered the kit online and watched You Tube footage. Then I found out Michael Weldon at local Wiedenmann dealer, Seamus Weldon in Kerry was able to supply and it all took off from there,” commented Darragh.

The new Wiedenmann Maredo STrac 700 system is ideal for turf renovations to bowling greens, sports pitches, landscaped areas and, especially, to turf surfaces where tractors cannot access.

Brought to you via your local Wiedenmann UK dealer, the pedestrian Maredo unit has a powerful guiding handle and a set of inter-changeable heads which all come with a working width of 65 cm. A noticeably short turning radius means the rear wheels can adopt a variety of operating positions, while the tools connect effortlessly, cassette style.

Darragh chose four of the six cassettes that make up the system; the Flex- Verticutter which scarifies to 25 mm; a Vibe-Spike aerator which relieves compaction down to 60 mm; the FlexFrase Mower which strips the top layer to 20 mm, which also removes bumps and undulations on goal mouths; the VibeDisc-Seeder, a slit seeder which can dose seed from 0 to -15 mm at as low as 2 g/m ² to 15 g / m²

At delivery, Darragh received full installation training from Andy Kerr, Wiedenmann’ s lead demonstrator and started putting it use on his own grounds.

“It’s really impressive,” commented Darragh. “The seeder in particular reaches 10-15 mm below the surface and is very precise. The scarifier and aerator cassettes will contribute hugely towards plant health removing thatch and organic matter. It‘s a really great solution when a tractor just can’t get access.

“The versatility of the STrac will be enormously helpful for our projects. The heads are easy to change and the way the wheels configure on the pull along unit means it can work close to hedges, walls etc and gives access to areas you would have previously considered unreachable. I can see enormous potential, too, for golf courses and those who have transitions and levels to manage.

“We’ve got lots of uses for it locally, but it will be available for hire across Ireland very shortly. Anyone interested can contact me at DMC on 086 360 6420.

Michael Weldon, Director at Seamus Weldon said: “The clever engineering where you can just add another cartridge to the guiding unit is genius. I know that a new HighSpeed-Corer head is about to be launched, bringing the choice of cassettes to six. For some turf professionals and landscapers, the STrac might be the only system they ever need for surface conditioning.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

/in , /by

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has launched a new scheme that will see exhibitors at its annual trade show and education conference encouraged to ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’.

The 2022 edition of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) was held from 22 to 24 March at the Harrogate Convention Centre, but is anticipated to return to its regular January date in 2023. Exhibitors who sign up to attend the 2023 event will be given the option of purchasing a tree, to be planted at a nominated golf course.

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

BIGGA launches ‘Plant a Tree for BTME’

It is hoped that over the years sufficient trees will be planted to create a network of ‘BTME community woodlands’ around the UK, with Harrogate Golf Club the first club to participate in the scheme.

With individual trees capturing up to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide from our air over its lifetime, the scheme will raise awareness of the carbon footprint generated by major events such as BTME and be a flagship initiative as BIGGA seeks to improve its sustainable practices, as is echoed at forward-thinking golf facilities everywhere.

BIGGA Membership Services Manager for Sustainability James Hutchinson said: “The idea of planting trees as a means of offsetting carbon generated by people travelling to attend BTME was first proposed by a BIGGA member a couple of months ago and it is something that struck me as making a lot of sense. Those who know me know that I’m a dendrophile – I love trees – and as we explored the possibility further we uncovered schemes such as the National Trust’s pledge to plant 20 million trees by 2030, so it just made a lot of sense to get involved.

“It is always important to take great care when selecting what trees to plant on a golf course as not all species are appropriate or will generate the desired result, but by working with courses that are eager to create areas of woodland for the wider community, we believe this scheme will help to raise awareness of the good work that golf courses are doing to protect the natural environment.”

Harrogate Golf Club’s course manager, Ken Ward, said: “An old employer of mine once told me, ‘we’re just custodians of this land’. That rang true with me. We’re not here for that long but we want to leave it in a better place than we found it. This is an opportunity to get our members and two local primary schools involved with a project on the golf course, which is a fantastic thing.”

Plant a Tree for BTME is just one of a number of initiatives that BIGGA has undertaken to reduce the carbon footprint of BTME. BTME returns from 24 to 26 January 2023 at the Harrogate Convention Centre. The event is free to attend and for more information visit www.btme.org.uk

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Kubota appoints FJS Plant

/in , /by

Kubota appoints FJS Plant: Kubota (UK) Ltd is pleased to announce that FJS Plant Repairs Ltd is to become the first Kubota full-line dealer in the Republic of Ireland, with effect from today (01 November 2021).

As a natural expansion of its existing Kubota construction dealership heritage, FJS based at Timahoe, in Co Kildare, will now be responsible for Kubota tractors and ground care equipment. As part of its growth, FJS is forging ahead with plans to open a second depot at a one-acre site in Naas, to include a new showroom, extensive workshop facilities and additional staff.

Kubota appoints FJS Plant

Kubota appoints FJS Plant

“This appointment reinforces Kubota’s commitment to its customers and the market, while supporting FJS with the opportunity to continue to grow its business,” explains Henry Bredin, general manager of Kubota (UK)’s Tractor Business Unit. “This partnership will also help Kubota to further strengthen its position in these important market sectors, by serving a wider cross-section of customers from one business.”

A market leader in the sales, service and supply of mobile plant and demolition equipment in Ireland, FJS was established in 1993. With its highly skilled and manufacturer-trained staff providing the highest levels of customer care across its sales, service and repair divisions, the business is looking forward to expanding its operation with the addition of Kubota’s tractors and ground care product ranges.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been appointed as a full-line dealer for Kubota,” explains Frank Smyth, managing director of FJS. “We believe that Kubota has tremendous potential for market growth in this area, and this move provides us with a range of tractors up to 170hp, ground care equipment and RTVs to sell to our growing customer base.”

“The integration of Kubota tractors and ground care products into our existing business is great news, both for new and existing FJS customers. And our long-term strategy, as a full-line Kubota dealer, also includes opening a third depot,” he adds.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

/in , /by

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers: The Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations 2020 (the 2020 Regulations) have recently been issued with a policy statement.

These apply to the whole of Great Britain and supplement existing regulations that govern the sale and use of plant protection products or PPPs. The Northern Ireland Executive has put in place its own legislation implementing and enforcing official controls for PPPs.

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

The regulations are in place to:

  • allow regulatory authorities to enforce legal requirements that apply to the placing on the market and use of PPPs throughout the supply chain
  • explain the action enforcement authorities can take where non-compliance is identified or suspected

The 2020 Regulations also apply to components of PPPs such as active substances, synergists, co-formulants and to adjuvants.

Under the Regulations, businesses concerned with the placing on the market of PPPs authorised for professional use, and/or the placing on the market of components of PPPs are required to notify competent authorities of their details and business activities by 22 September 2021. This includes businesses that produce, manufacture, process, import, distribute and sell those products. Information will be requested about company details and contact information, product types, storage and capacity.

Similarly, all users of PPPs in a professional capacity will need to follow a similar process by 22 June 2022. Further information is to be provided for these businesses over the coming months. The HSE will operate controls and enforce the 2020 Regulations in Great Britain, taking a proactive, risk-based approach. It is also expected that Local Authorities will have a role. Enforcement of existing PPP regulations will remain unchanged.

Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are finalising the details of the control programme. These will be provided in communications over the coming months and the Amenity Forum has already engaged with all involved in such discussions. As further information comes available, the Forum will issue further releases. These control measures come at a time of significant policy change when the UK Government is already preparing its revised and refreshed National Action Plan in relation to weed, pest and disease management.

A key element of the Amenity Forum conference will be a focus on policy change and how it impacts on the sector. The conference is to be held at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Trent on October 21st. Registration for the conference and associated exhibition is now open and further information can be obtained by contacting Kate at admin@amenityforum.net . Given support from the sector, this allows ticket price to be maintained at 2019 levels of £95 with early bird discounts for registrations prior to September 1st.

Professor John Moverley, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said ‘’this issued policy statement is highly significant for our sector. However all operating to professional standards has nothing to fear and such controls chime well with the introduction of the UK Amenity Standard, providing full assurance to all involved that organisations are meeting requirements seeking to create safe and sustainable amenity and sports spaces fit for purpose.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.