Tag Archive for: Pressure

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure: As far as jobs go, Eton College provides a unique challenge. As one of the most recognisable names in education with great historical significance, the school’s reputation from students to sports pitches is paramount.

Since May 2020, Eton’s 38 winter sports pitches and 1,500 acres of land spanning the M4 all the way to 2012 Olympic venue Dorney Lake have been under the control of Grounds Manager Lee Marshallsay.

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

His tenure has coincided with the Covid pandemic, which brought to light the number of man-hours his team spent line marking and the fact something needed to be done about it.

For context, Lee has a team of thirty. Eleven are groundsmen, with two on the college’s golf course full time and another pair dedicated to line marking. Over the summer, the line marking duo spent six to seven weeks marking out football and rugby pitches for the commencement of the school year, and in November, Lee checked his Turf Keeper records to discover his team spent over 850 hours marking.

The man-hours and pressure involved in completing this task between terms had Lee looking for alternative options. Despite being initially sceptical of a robotic line maker, he eventually turned to Turf Tank. https://turftank.com/en/

“It was also about helping the team, so they didn’t feel under pressure all the time. With the robot, where it’s taken us six or seven weeks to mark everything, we can effectively do that in a week now. Suddenly, the pressure has gone, and if we have staff on holiday or off sick, it keeps us out of trouble.

“We’ve got some projects lined up this summer that we are going to do in-house, and suddenly, that marker frees up two people, and we can put extra staff on the projects. That’s how we’ll use it as an aid and addition to the team to help plan workload and projects.”

With the Turf Tank One in place, Lee is looking to cut his marking hours by more than half. For him, this will increase pitch quality with additional aeration, cutting and finessing taking place. But choosing a robot and company that could provide everything he needed was critical.

The support from Alex and the Turf Tank team has been exemplary, with all questions answered quickly and I know that there is a full-time service engineer if I ever need hands-on assistance.”

“I think to be fair; the Turf Tank instantly ticked a lot of boxes for us. And it wasn’t just me, my team were there, and we tried other machines a week apart on the same pitch. We looked at line quality, how much paint it was putting out, how quick it was to set up, and there were similarities.

“But then we started to think about the differences. Do we want to be tied into a paint deal? Do we want an annual subscription fee? Turf Tank gave us that bit more flexibility.

“The other factor was the base station. You read a lot about the pros and cons, but to be honest as soon as I saw how it interacted with the machine, and how much more accurate the marking was, compared to those without using a base station, the whole team were like ‘it’s a no brainer, isn’t it?’ It blew us away, to be fair, and we bought the Turf Tank, and we now have base station points installed across the site, and it has worked really, really well.

“The Turf Tank records templates for initial marking and subsequent over-marking. Being able to get those templates was a significant point for us and nothing has been out of the remit of the robot. We’ve got most of the pitches loaded up now, including where the goals are actually smaller than a football goal, but we’ve managed to get the robot between the two posts and mark. Everything we’ve asked for has happened, and it has been great

“We want to teach our staff new skills and using and understanding the latest technology is very much part of Eton College’s ethos. I’m very much won-over and very impressed with the Turf Tank One line-marking robot. And if I were to move anywhere else, it is one of the first things I’d want to have in my fleet.”

For more information on the Turf Tank One or to have a demonstration contact alex@turftank.co.uk (southern UK) or matt@turftank.co.uk (northern UK) Michael@turftank.co.uk (Scotland and Ireland)

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Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

Makita launches new cordless pressure washer: Makita UK has expanded its cordless power tool range with the new 36V LXT Cordless Brushless Pressure Washer. The first of its kind from Makita, the new high Pressure Washer features a 50L storage tank enabling users to tackle dirt and grime anywhere.

Featuring a self-priming function to extract water from an external water source such as a rainwater tank, the new 2x18V (36V) LXT Pressure Washer can be supplied with water not only from a tap, tank or bucket, but features a storage case that doubles up as a 50-litre capacity water tank to create a functional pressure washer without the need for a mains water supply.

Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

Makita launches new cordless pressure washer

Powered by two 18V LXT batteries in series to supply energy to a powerful 36V brushless motor, this cordless pressure washer offers up to 34-minutes run time when used with two 6.0Ah LXT batteries. With two pressure selections, the solution delivers an impressive pump speed of up to 3,450rpm and a maximum water flow of 380L per hour.

Perfect for outdoor stairwells, patios, washing down vehicles, or cleaning off tools at the end of the day. As well as the standard accessories supplied with the DHW080, a wide range of useful accessories are also available (sold separately) such as the curved under-body spray lance, extension pipe set, wash brush and foam nozzle perfect for cleaning vehicles. The rotating brush head accessory is ideal for cleaning smooth surfaces such as glass or garage doors.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “We are pleased to launch this useful addition to our growing cordless line up, enabling those working outdoors to work flexibly, without the constraint of cables. What’s more, as the DHW080 Pressure Washer can be used without needing to be connected to a tap, users can work with total freedom on site with the power to tackle dirt and grime in places never previously accessible.”

To find out more about Makita and the new LXT Cordless Pressure Washer DHW080, please visit www.makitauk.com

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STIHL extends pressure washer range

STIHL extends pressure washer range: STIHL has enhanced its extensive range of high-power pressure washers with the launch of the RE 150 Plus, a new premium model ideal for extensive heavy-duty domestic and semi-commercial applications.

Designed with versatility in mind, the new 13A RE 150 Plus offers robustness and powerful performance with 612 litres per hour maximum water throughput and 180 bar of pressure. Whilst powerful, the new model also offers flexibility and control thanks to individual pressure, flow rate and detergent dosage controls. Operators can make adjustments depending on what or where they are cleaning, particularly useful on machinery where bearings chains and linkages can be damaged with the use of excess pressure. An induction motor, brass pump head and stainless steel piston are also used to provide durability for extended usage.

STIHL extends pressure washer range

STIHL extends pressure washer range

The new pressure washer features a soft grip and rotating spray lance for maximum comfort over long periods and simple adjustment to the cleaning task at hand. In addition, the quick connection system allows users to get the machine up and running in next to no time.

Other features include 12m of steel reinforced high pressure hose with anti-twist, quick action couplings stored on an integrated hose reel, rotary and adjustable jet nozzles with an integrated storage compartment, and an integrated detergent tank. The new pressure washer also utilises an aluminium telescopic handle for simple transportation and storage.

A wide range of accessories are compatible with the new RE 150 Plus, including a snow foam nozzle designed specifically for this model.

For more information on STIHL’s extensive range of high-power pressure washers, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Cabrio fine under pressure

Cabrio fine under pressure: For greenkeepers and groundsmen looking for a top-performing perennial ryegrass with the very best fineness of leaf, there is still only one choice.

That is according to Richard Brown of Germinal GB who explains that, for the fourth year running, Cabrio has been announced as the number one variety on the BSPB’s Table L1 for perennial ryegrasses.

Cabrio fine under pressure

Cabrio fine under pressure

First introduced as a new cultivar in 2016, Cabrio Ultra Fine Ryegrass went straight to the top of Table L1 in 2017 with a fineness of leaf score of 8.8.  It subsequently retained this position in 2018 (8.8) and 2019 (8.7) and holds the top spot again in the 2020 list thanks to another score of 8.7: a rating which puts it half a point clear of its nearest rivals at 8.2.

“Ever since its release in 2016, Cabrio has remained the top performing cultivar on the BSPB’s list of perennial ryegrasses mown at 10-15mm,” explains Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Sales Manager.

“With good all-round scores for shoot density (7.8), visual merit (7.9), slow re-growth habit (7.2) and cleanness of cut (7.1), Cabrio is still the number one choice for groundsmen, greenkeepers and turf growers who want to produce an exceptionally fine-leaved, hard wearing and aesthetically attractive sward that can not only tolerate a close mowing regime, but which will also give good ball roll or bounce.”

Cabrio is recommended for use on golf tees and golf green aprons as well as tennis courts and cricket squares where it is ideal for repairing baselines and wicket ends. As such, it is included in Germinal’s A5 (Cricket, Tennis and Tees), A10 (Golf Tees and Divot Repairs) and A28 (Ultra Fine Ryegolf) seed mixtures where it partners with a selection of other cultivars to provide enhanced sward density, wear tolerance and repair capability.

“For all of these seed mixtures, plagiarism is the best form of flattery,” Mr Brown continues. “We are therefore pleased to see others within the industry responding by bringing their own fine-leaved offerings to the market. However, it is worth remembering that there are only seven ryegrass cultivars on Table L1 with a fineness of leaf score of 8.0 or above, two of which – Cabrio (8.7) and Escapade (8.1) – are exclusive to Germinal. As such, copycat mixtures are unable to match the performance of our Grade A mixtures, which remain the best option where a ryegrass mixture that will blend in with other fine-leaved species is required, such as, for example, with fescues on a links golf course.”

Cabrio also ranks highly on Table G4 (perennial ryegrasses mown at 4-7mm) where its 8.4 score for fineness of leaf is the highest. “At these low cutting heights Cabrio’s fineness of leaf simply can’t be surpassed,” Mr Brown concludes.

Cabrio: cultivar characteristics*

  Table L1

(mown at 10-15mm)

Table G4

(mown at 4-7mm)

Shoot density 7.8 7.3
Fineness of leaf 8.7 8.4
Slow regrowth 7.2
Visual merit 7.9 7.5
Mean 7.9 7.4
Resistance to Red Thread 3.8 4.8
Cleanness of cut 7.1
Winter greenness 5.2 5.4
Summer greenness 6.0 6.0

*Source: BSPB Turfgrass Seed booklet 2020

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Demon’s Battery Pressure Washers At SALTEX

Demon’s Battery Pressure Washers At SALTEX: Demon International are one of the leading manufacturers in the UK of industrial pressure washers and the leading company for innovation.

Over the last 5 years Demon have introduced a range of new pressure washers to meet the needs of the market.

Demon's Battery Pressure Washers At SALTEX

Over the last few years as emission regulations on engines have changed Demon has looked at alternative fuels and has produced a range of Honda powered LPG engines for its mini-bowsers and Hurricane combi machines. LPG offers a reduction of 60% for CO and greatly reduced hydrocarbon emissions. There are many benefits for the hire industry using LPG as they sell the fuel and reduced maintenance for the engines.

Recently Demon have re-introduced the Tornado Electron battery powered pressure washer using Lithium Ion battery technology. Demon are the only manufacturer making an industrial battery pressure washer at this time and can now offer the future of pressure washing today. We now have a machine based on the successful range of Tornado Mini-Bowsers offering 2 hours of constant cleaning with re-charging times of 2-4 hours depending on the charger fitted.

As demands on emissions grow we at Demon look to how we can evolve pressure washers to keep up with not only better, more efficient ways of cleaning, but also complying with new regulations.
Currently we are using petrol and diesel engines, and electric motors to power our pressure washers which is the present. The future is in the developing battery world and DC motors. One option to bridge this gap is alternative fuels such as LPG.

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New Makita Pressure Washers

New Makita Pressure Washers: Makita has added two further pressure washers to the range which spans the 100 to 140 bar capacities.

The new Makita HW1200 model has a regular operating pressure of 100 bar with a maximum pressure capacity of 120 bar, and a maximum delivery rate of 420 litres per hour, whilst the Makita HW1300 with electrical 2-pressure settings, has regular operating pressure settings of 110 bar on Hi and 80 bar on Lo. A similar 450 litre per hour flow rate is available from the HW1300 which has a maximum operating pressure of 130 bar with delivery controlled by a front mounted rotary switch.  Both are powered by series motors for performance and reliability and are supplied with a 10m delivery hose and pressure adjustable spray lance. The HW1300 has an integrated hose reel.

These new Makita pressure washers feature a self-priming pump operation which means that they can be used with water supplied from a tank, or water butt, simply by immersing a self-suction supply hose (supplied separately) into the water source. The traditional mains water hose supply connection is conveniently located at the front of the washer.  These lightweight washers are quiet in operation, double insulated for safety, come complete with a convenient 5m power cord and can be used with water at up to 40°C.

New Makita Pressure Washers

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com.  Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk

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