Tag Archive for: Power

Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health

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Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health: By ICL’s Henry Bechelet. A Greenkeeper’s Reality: The Battle Against Stress

You’ve been here before.

Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health

Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health

A long, dry spell stretches on, and the greens start showing signs of stress – wilting, thinning, roots struggling to reach deeper for moisture. Then,
just as relief comes in the form of rain, it brings a new challenge: soft, unpredictable surfaces, weakened turf, and patchy recovery.

In these moments, turf resilience isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s essential. Stronger roots mean faster recovery, better stress tolerance, and consistently high-quality playing surfaces. And for years, greenkeepers have turned to seaweed extracts to support plant health.

But here’s the thing: not all seaweed based biostimulants are the same. The difference isn’t just in the seaweed itself – it’s in how its powerful compounds are extracted.

Why SMX is Different: Science, Innovation, and Sustainability

ICL, in partnership with Acadian Seaplants – the world leader in seaweed technology – has developed SMX, a scientifically engineered seaweed biostimulant designed to
enhance turf performance from the roots up. With cutting-edge extraction methods, a commitment to sustainability, and proven results, SMX isn’t just another seaweed extract. It’s a smarter approach to turf management.

The Science Behind SMX: Why Extraction Matters

Not all seaweed extracts deliver the same results. For decades, seaweed has been used in turf management. But how it’s processed determines whether its most beneficial compounds reach the plant in a usable form.

There’s a common belief that cold-pressed seaweed is always superior. It’s a nice idea, but the reality is more complex. Research shows that different extraction
methods yield different benefits – some unlock higher levels of bioactive compounds than others.

Alkaline Extraction: A Proven Advantage

Independent trials, including those led by Dr. Andy Owen and the ICL team, have demonstrated that alkaline extracted seaweed can significantly enhance root length and volume – key factors in improving turf resilience.

Here’s why it matters:

  • Better root initiation – SMX helps roots establish faster and deeper, providing stronger anchorage and access to moisture.
  • Enhanced stress tolerance – Turf treated with SMX recovers more effectively from drought, wear, and disease.
  • Improved nutrient uptake – Healthier roots mean better absorption of essential nutrients, supporting long-term turf quality. It’s not about saying one method is always better than another – it’s about understanding what actually works in turf management. And SMX is backed by real-world trials.

What Sets SMX Apart?

Specialist expertise from Acadian Seaplants. Acadian Seaplants is a global leader in sustainable seaweed harvesting and extraction technology.

By partnering with Acadian, ICL combines world-class seaweed innovation with its own expertise in turf agronomy, ensuring SMX delivers real, measurable benefits.

Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health

Unlocking the power of seaweed: SMX difference for turf health

Extraction that works for turf, not just for labels:

  • SMX’s alkaline extraction process enhances the availability of plant growth regulators and stress response compounds.
  • Trials confirm that SMX-treated turf recovers faster from drought, wear, and disease, helping greenkeepers maintain high performance playing surfaces.

Real-World Results, Proven by Science

Independent research shows that SMX:

  • Increases root initiation
  • Strengthens turf against environmental stress
  • Improves long-term resilience on golf courses, stadiums, and sports pitches.

Sustainable Innovation: The SMX Commitment

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a responsibility. Acadian Seaplants ensures every harvest is carried out responsibly, using satellite imaging and drone technology to monitor seaweed bed regrowth. This protects marine ecosystems while ensuring a continuous, high-quality supply of seaweed.

For greenkeepers, choosing SMX means choosing a product that supports turf health and respects the environment.

SMX: The Next Step in Turf Management

Greenkeeping isn’t just about managing grass – it’s about understanding how to give turf the best possible foundation to thrive.

With increasing environmental challenges, greenkeepers need proven, research-backed solutions – not just marketing claims. SMX is more than just another seaweed extract.

It’s the next step in root health, stress resilience, and sustainable turf management.

Are you ready for the SMX difference? Contact us to learn how ICL and Acadian Seaplants are setting new standards in turf management.

Kubota M4073 praised for delivering power and productivity

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Kubota M4073 praised for delivering power and productivity: A Kubota M4073 has been praised by Meldrum House Golf Club, providing high capacity and productivity on turf tyres, ensuring a sensitive footprint.

Delivered alongside an L2452 with loader by HRN Tractors in August 2024, the addition of the higher horsepower model has given the team the ability to tackle larger and more specialist tasks in-house, to the benefit of both the golf course and wider estate.

Kubota M4073 praised for delivering power and productivity

Kubota M4073 praised for delivering power and productivity

Meldrum House was acquired by Apex Hotels in May 2024. As part of ongoing investment in the site, Golf Course and Grounds Manager Kenny Harper, was tasked with the replacement of the clubs tractor fleet – and he knew exactly where to turn, thanks to his longstanding relationship with local dealers HRN. “A major part of any equipment purchase for us is the back-up support we receive, and we know we have that in HRN” Kenny explains. “With that assured, we then needed to know that the machines themselves were up to task when HRN switched franchises to Kubota. They brought in demonstrator models and it wasn’t long before we decided that was spot on too.”

“Increasingly, we were finding implements were putting too much strain on the tractor, or the tractor itself didn’t have enough power or grip for some of the heavier tasks. The solution was to purchase two Kubota models – an L2452 which is a straight replacement for a similar size compact tractor we were using and the M4, which is a pretty sizeable step-up to give us greater scope and capacity.”

The M4 series from Kubota is a proven all-rounder, with an extremely spacious and comfortable cab and a reliable, efficient 4-cylinder Kubota diesel engine at its core. With 74hp, the M4073 model delivers maximum power and particularly strong rear hydraulics to provide full lifting power to suit all greenkeeping and estate management tasks.

“One feature the team and I particularly like on both tractors is the gear selection and constant speed controller which gives us pinpoint control over engine speed which is important for creeper tasks such as trenching or sandbanding.” He continues, “The pair have been pretty much non-stop since they arrived with winter aeration and renovation works and haven’t missed a beat.”

Another of the winter tasks the M4073 has taken in its stride is woodland management across the 18 parkland holes and hotel estate. Partnered with a new 8-tonne trailer, Kenny and the team now benefit from twice as much space and power than their previous set-up. “We had to hire-in equipment for large tree works and were dependent on what was available when we needed it. The Kubota and trailer now enable us to conduct the task in-house which, in itself, brings many benefits.” He concludes, “We’re yet to really find anything the M4 can’t do!”

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Aspen Fuel provides environmentally-friendly power

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Aspen Fuel provides environmentally-friendly power: One of the country’s leading treework, grounds and estate contractors has praised the role of Aspen Fuel in powering their environmentally-friendly maintenance operation.

Based on the outskirts of Cardiff, TR33 is utilising Aspen alkylate petrol in all of their 2-stroke equipment, playing its part in a wider ‘green’ strategy and helping the firm to win a number of commercial groundcare tenders.

Aspen Fuel provides environmentally-friendly power

Aspen Fuel provides environmentally-friendly power

Undertaking all elements of tree surgery, grounds and estate management, TR33 are proud to work for a number of local governments, housing associations, retail and park managers within a 90-minute radius of their base in Michaelston Y Fedw. Neil Davies has been one of TR33’s Managers for the last four years and oversees a team of over 50 operatives. “Whether you call it humility, respect or admiration for nature or being ‘green’ or environmentally aware, TR33’s ethos right from the outset 20 years ago is to work in harmony with our surroundings” says Neil.

“Our use of Aspen Fuel pre-dates me, but the reasons we continue to use it for all of our two-stroke equipment remains the same –this being the benefits it brings to the environment and the health of our operators.”

Free from ethanol and many of the hazardous hydrocarbons found in traditional unleaded petrol, Aspen alkylate petrol burns cleaner. Its use, compared with pump fuel, reduces ground-level ozone – which can negatively affect plant growth and reduce carbon uptake – by up to 40%. Together with keeping engine components healthier for longer, using Aspen also all but eliminates the smell and knock-on health implications of prolonged exposure to the haze omitted from petrol-powered equipment.

“Ultimately we’re nothing without our staff so putting their welfare front and centre is incredibly important to us.” He continues, “The Aspen 2 is delivered in barrels supplied by Forest Park & Garden to our yard and arrives pre-mixed which avoids us having to police how the 2-stroke oil and petrol is being mixed, further improving health and safety and giving us fantastic consistency for our chainsaws, hedge cutters, leaf blowers and other 2-stroke equipment.”

When it comes to commercial tenders, Neil explains that it’s important for TR33 to demonstrate that they are practicing what they preach. “Explaining that we use Aspen Fuel is another way for us to demonstrate our environmental credentials. This has undoubtedly played its part in securing some of our big commercial contracts over the years.”

He adds, “People will be aware there is a cost implication for using an alternative fuel such as Aspen, but for us that is more than offset by the knowledge that our team can go about their business in a way which is not detrimental to their health. It’s something appreciated by the operators, our customers and, increasingly, by the market as a whole.”

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Aspen provides clean, reliable power

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Aspen provides clean, reliable power: Three years after receiving the initial recommendation, the team at The Worcestershire Golf Club are continuing to discover the benefits of running their 2-stroke equipment on Aspen Fuel.

Course Manager Steve Lloyd explains how Aspen alkylate petrol is providing clean, reliable power for an array of high-output hand tools and claims that, since switching, the club have all-but eliminated costly carburettor issues and machinery downtime.

Aspen provides clean, reliable power

Aspen provides clean, reliable power

Nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills, The Worcestershire is proudly one of England’s oldest golf clubs – offering the membership a challenging, mature parkland course. It was here, in the purchase of new backpack blowers for the momentous task of leaf clearance, that Steve and his team of seven were put onto Aspen. “Tim Lane of ATH Machinery suggested we give Aspen-2 a try, explaining the benefits it could bring to engine life and reliability and also for the cleaner working environment it creates for the operator. We’ve not looked back since” Steve says.

“Aspen-2 being pre-mixed gives us unbeatable consistency which is not only far better for the health and function of the engine but is quicker and safer for the operators not having to manually mix. The transformation in engine performance and reduction in emissions was evident very quickly.” He continues, “This saw us convert over to Aspen for not just the backpack blowers, but also our strimmers, chainsaws and other high-output hand tools which – as it stands – are not viable to run efficiently or economically on battery-power.”

Virtually free from ethanol, aromatics and benzene, Aspen alkylate petrol presents a 99% cleaner fuel than ordinary petrol in regard to the levels of hazardous hydrocarbons. This equates to benefits for operators, equipment and the wider environment alike – where the significant reduction in toxic emissions makes it a popular choice for professional users and those pursuing greater sustainability in their maintenance operations.

“I think people can sometimes be deterred by the cost implications of using an alternative fuel” Steve adds. “In our experience, this has been offset by the lack of mechanical and component issues we’ve experienced since using Aspen, together with the convenience of it being pre-mixed and the time saved by having the 60L drums delivered to site.”

Those wishing to trial Aspen within their businesses can now do so, risk-free, with a money back guarantee. Subject to a bulk purchase, if you don’t ‘Experience the Difference’, Aspen will refund you the cost difference compared to what you would have spent on pump fuel. More details on this can be found on the Aspen website, or by speaking to the team at BTME on stand 423.

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EGO Power Plus launches new Whitepaper

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EGO Power Plus launches new Whitepaper: Leading battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist, EGO Power Plus, has launched a new whitepaper to educate heavy commercial outdoor power equipment users about the benefits of switching to battery power.

Despite progress in the domestic and light commercial sector, petrol is considered the ‘go-to’ for many heavy commercial users, however EGO’s ‘Battery Power, Performance, and Public Spaces: A Case for Battery-powered Equipment’, builds the case for battery powered OPE equipment, demonstrating how batteries and tools have evolved to meet the exacting demands of professional users since the early days.

EGO Power Plus launches new Whitepaper

EGO Power Plus launches new Whitepaper

Beyond providing insight into the evolution of battery technology, the document also shares the stark differences between petrol and battery-powered tools in terms of noise and vibration levels and also reveals the results of emissions testing conducted by one of the UK’s leading emissions testing specialists on behalf of EGO.

In addition, the whitepaper also highlights the financial benefits of switching to battery power and showcases a range of efficiency advantages that can be discovered by heavy commercial users with the ever-growing range of IoT-connected equipment.

Vince Brauns, Product Director for EGO, comments: “It is fair to say that a certain ‘range anxiety’ exists for many professional OPE equipment users. In our early days as a manufacturer, domestic tool users were quicker in adopting the new technology compared to heavy trade users, with many unconvinced that the performance and run time of petrol could be surpassed. We have put all our efforts into the research and development of producing a battery platform that is arguably one of the most advanced in today’s market and the whitepaper will hopefully help to challenge any remaining misconceptions.”

This year, EGO launched its reimagined Pro X series, designed to meet the demands of heavy-duty commercial users. With upgrades and developments based on user feedback, the Pro X series is EGO’s first big step in breaking down barriers to the adoption of battery power. The whitepaper examines these perceived barriers head-on and gives readers a look at EGO’s latest developments, which should reinforce commercial users’ confidence in the capabilities of battery power.

Vince adds: “Our findings build the case that petrol has had its time. Battery technology is now at the point where it can meet the needs of the most demanding users, with fewer environmental or health risks and lower maintenance costs to support businesses. The time to switch is now”.

To download the Whitepaper from EGO Power Plus, visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/ranges/professional-x-range

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