Tag Archive for: Product

EGO appoints IoT product manager

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EGO appoints IoT product manager: Outdoor battery-powered equipment specialist, EGO Power Plus has appointed its first Internet of Things (IoT) Product Manager to its European Product Team.

Andrew Frohock will be leading the development and delivery of EGO’s new digital solutions designed for both commercial and domestic users.

EGO appoints IoT product manager

EGO appoints IoT product manager

From creating enhanced diagnostics and improving customer engagement for dealers, to strengthening product features and services for EGO customers, Andrew’s role will provide a positive experience throughout the whole distribution channel; and ensure that customers are getting the most out of what the EGO tools and battery platform have to offer.

With previous roles including Diagnostic Systems Engineer for British Gas, and Technology Manager for HIVE, Andrew brings with him a host of experience having spent most of his career developing solutions, diagnostic systems, and services across a wide range of sectors including smart meters, electric vehicles, and smart home security.

Andrew will steer EGO’s journey into connectivity, leading the digital transformation of its business strategies and product range through IoT solutions. EGO has specifically introduced this new role to drive innovative changes through its business and build better value for its customers through enhanced experiences and more responsive services.

Andrew Frohock, IoT Product Manager at EGO comments, “I am thrilled to be joining EGO Power Plus and spearheading its journey into digitalisation. Having committed over a decade of my career to developing diagnostic systems and optimisation solutions, I feel more than equipped to turn my expertise and knowledge of IoT type connectivity to a new industry and bring a fresh perspective to the outdoor battery-powered equipment industry.”

Peter Melrose, Managing Director at EGO says, “We are continually investing in advancing our portfolio of products and services to ensure that our customers have the best possible experience. We have created the role of IoT product manager and brought Andrew on board to innovate our digital solutions and introduce connected IoT solutions into our business, so that we may provide a superior experience for our customers.

“Andrew’s career achievements and passion for the role are clear, and we are delighted to welcome him into the team. We are excited to see how Andrew’s experiences in other industries will influence the contributions he makes to the business, bringing EGO into the world of connectivity.”

To find out more about EGO Power Plus please visit: www.egopowerplus.co.uk

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Soil carbon data added to product information

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Soil carbon data added to product information: In its drive to lead the industry in providing extensive product information to its customers, British Sugar TOPSOIL is measuring its BS3882:2015-compliant general purpose topsoil, Landscape20, for total soil carbon.

Soil scientists Tim O’Hare Associates have carried out a comprehensive audit of the carbon contained in a typical sample of Landscape20 and will now sample the soil every six months at the point of despatch to monitor its carbon content.

Soil carbon data added to product information

Soil carbon data added to product information

The focus on soil health and its role in mitigating climate change has drawn attention to the levels of carbon that can be stored in soil. In order to give British Sugar TOPSOIL’s customers useful data on Landscape20’s carbon sequestration potential – i.e. its ability to capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is a major contributor to global warming – Tim O’Hare Associates will be monitoring:

  • Organic Carbon Stock (tonnes/Ha)
  • Total Carbon
  • Soil Organic Carbon
  • Soil Inorganic Carbon
  • Soil Organic Matter
  • Total Nitrogen
  • Organic Carbon:Nitrogen ratio

National TOPSOIL Manager Andy Spetch said: “We believe this data on the carbon content of Landscape20 topsoil will be particularly useful to housebuilders, developers, and construction and landscaping professionals who need to evidence their approach to delivering environmentally sustainable homes to regulatory and other bodies. All this information is freely accessible and downloadable from our website and customers can call us if they require clarification on the carbon content or any other technical aspect of our products.”

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Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials

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Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials: Indigrow developed Diamond Green as a liquid fertiliser based on potassium, calcium and magnesium. It contains essential plant oils to enhance plant health and increase disease resistance in turf grass. The combination of nutrients in Diamond Green improves the plants natural resistance to many known pathogens.

After the successful development the additive formulation, trials of Diamond Green at different application rates were carried out to assess its impact on the spread of Fusarium and Red Thread. It was tested three different application rates to assess it’s effectiveness.

Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials

Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials

Diseased turf cores were harvested from infected areas of turf on a parkland golf course. The cores were harvested in late Summer 2021 when these diseases were very active. Disease levels were consistent across each core at the time of harvest.

Throughout the trials, our aim was to find our the effectiveness Diamond Green had of different turf grass diseases without killing the fungus. As Diamond Green is a fertiliser with additives, it was important for us to show how this formulation would prevent the spread of the fungus within the cores taken from the parkland golf course.

Treatments

The following treatments were tested for their potential to reduce disease spread in already infected turf stands:

Number               Treatment                                                                                                           Rate

1                              Water:                                                                                                                  Untreated

2                              Fungicide (Tebuconazole 200 g/lt + Trifloxystrobin 100 g/lt):         1 lt/ha

3                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              10 lt/ha

4                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              20 lt/ha

5                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              40 lt/ha

Methods

The turf cores were harvested for each treatment, one infected with Fusarium Patch and one infected with Red Thread. The cores were then sprayed with each treatment until the turf surface was fully covered. The treated turf was then sealed in clear boxes to provide the humidity conducive to active disease spread. The development of the disease and the health of the turf was then monitored over the next 4-5 days.

Fusarium – Observations 4 Days After Treatment

Over a period of 4 days, the active Fusarium had spread freely on the untreated turf core and white, active mycelium was observed. The fungicide treatment has suppressed the spread of Fusarium, but there is still a small amount of active mycelium present.

Number               Treatment                                                                                                           Estimated Disease

Spread (%)

1                              Water:                                                                                                                  47%

2                              Fungicide (Tebuconazole 200 g/lt + Trifloxystrobin 100 g/lt):         14%

3                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              19%

4                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              8%

5                              Diamond Green:                                                                                              3%

At 10 lt/ha, Diamond Green has supressed the spread of Fusarium, but like the fungicide there is still a small amount of active mycelium present.

At both 20 and 40 lt/ha, Diamond Green has not only supressed the spread of Fusarium but allowed the turf to start to fill in disease scarred areas of turf. There is only a very small amount of active mycelium present on the turf

Red Thread – Observations 5 Days after Treatment

Over a period of 5 days, the active Red Thread has spread freely on the untreated turf core and active red areas can be observed.

At only 10 lt/ha, Diamond Green has had a limited impact on disease spread. However, at 20 lt/ha, the Red Thread has been almost completely suppressed and the turf has had a noticeable green up response and there is an obvious increase in growth rate.

Effect on Disease

It is important to state that Diamond Green is not a fungicide, it is a fertiliser with additives. We trialled both the fertiliser formulation without additives alongside the full Diamond Green formulation with additives. We found that when treated in isolation, the fungal growth is the same for just the fertiliser component as it is for the finished formulation containing the additives.

This confirms that it is the systemic acquired resistance within the plant that stops the spread of the disease.

Figure 1 – Diamond Green – Fertiliser component only

Figure 2 – Diamond Green Final Formulation Fertiliser component + additives

Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials

Diamond Green – Continuation of Product Trials

Other Diseases

As Diamond Green acts as a trigger to the plants natural defences, rather than having a direct effect on the fungus itself, it is safe to assume that the activity shown here on Fusarium and Red Thread would be similar on other turf grass diseases including: Anthracnose, Dollar Spot, Snow Moulds and Leaf Spot.

Conclusions

The applications of Diamond Green have been successful in reducing the spread of Red Thread and Fusarium and the higher the application rate of Diamond Green, the stronger the effect is on disease.

At higher application rates of Diamond Green, the treatment also produces a strong growth response, with turf able to quickly ‘fill in’ previously diseased/scarred areas. Although this trial was only observational, we have a strong indication that Diamond Green can play a vital role as part of an integrated disease management strategy. With the benefits to turf health (shown by increased growth response and improved colour), we predict that turf treated with Diamond Green will have improved resistance to future disease attack.

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EGO to unveil new product at SALTEX

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EGO to unveil new product at SALTEX: EGO, the specialists in battery-powered outdoor power equipment, will be showcasing brand new products for lawn care professionals at this year’s SALTEX, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 3rd-4th November.

Leading the line-up of new products is the EGO Z6 – the first ride-on lawn mower in the market-leading EGO range. SALTEX 2021 will provide visitors with their first opportunity to see the product, which will be available to professionals from January.

EGO to unveil new product at SALTEX

EGO to unveil new product at SALTEX

Demonstrating the capability of battery power, the Zero Turn mower allows users to load up to six ordinary EGO batteries, combining their power to cut up to three acres on a single charge. Living up to EGO’s reputation for high quality zero emission tools, the Z6 ensures consistent quality of cut and provides users with a number of useful features – from three driving modes through to ten height adjustments.

Vince Brauns, Group Product Manager at EGO, said: “As our first major exhibition since the easing of restrictions, we’re really excited to be coming to SALTEX with brand new products to share with visitors, including something very special. EGO’s new Z6 Zero Turn ride-on mower is now launching across Europe and we can’t wait for the show to open to pull back the covers on this exciting product.”

EGO will be on stand H090 at SALTEX from 3rd-4th November.

For more information, visit www.egopowerplus.co.uk.

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Carbon Gold wins eco-friendly product award

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Carbon Gold wins eco-friendly product award: Carbon Gold, the leading supplier of biochar products to professional growers, tree care specialists and gardeners around the world, has been announced as the winner of the Eco-Friendly Products Award in the 2021 Great British Growing Awards.

The award-winning range, which includes environmentally friendly compost, seed compost, fertiliser, soil improver, tree soil improver and lawn improver, is made using biochar, a high-carbon form of charcoal that is proven to boost plant health and vitality when used in soil.

Carbon Gold wins eco-friendly product award

Carbon Gold wins eco-friendly product award

As well as benefiting plant development, Carbon Gold’s biochar-based products also have a direct impact on the user’s carbon footprint. For every kilo of biochar put in the ground, three kilos of harmful CO2 are permanently sequestered from the atmosphere, helping professional and home growers to directly counter the effects of climate change.

The Great British Growing Award winners were announced during an official award ceremony at Glee, the UK’s leading garden and outdoor living show. The prestigious awards were presented by presenter and author, Ellen Mary, and recognise the very best of the gardening industry, from sustainability stars, through to seed suppliers and gardening writers.

Mike Hartshorn, Managing Director of Carbon Gold, comments: “We are delighted to have been selected as the winner of the best Eco-Friendly Products Award. The Great British Growing Awards are renowned within the industry as the ultimate symbol of quality within the gardening sector, so to be recognised as part of the awards as a leader in eco-friendly gardening is fantastic.

“At Carbon Gold, we understand the impact that that gardeners and horticulture professionals can have on the environment and are passionate about ensuring that it is a positive one. If every gardener in the UK ditched the peat-based products and converted to biochar, we’d be making significant steps toward offsetting our carbon emissions. Our mission is to help more and more people to discover the benefits of sustainable gardening, and this award marks an incredibly positive step in this process.”

For more information about Carbon Gold, visit https://www.carbongold.com/

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New Product – Diamond Green

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New Product – Diamond Green: As more and more fungicides are withdrawn from sale across the UK, Europe and globally, turf managers have had to look for alternative methods to manage turf diseases.

One of the most common ways turf managers can achieve this is by using more natural or organic products, along with managing available nutrient levels in the soil profile. Ensuring that plants have enough of each of the important macro and micro nutrients as well as using natural well known plant health products like chitosan (Asset Chitosan) have led to reduced disease pressure in many circumstances.

New Product – Diamond Green

New Product – Diamond Green

Minimise Disease Pressure

To help further minimise disease pressure, Indigrow have developed Diamond Green, the latest innovation to the turf managers fight against well know turf diseases. Diamond Green is a liquid fertiliser based on potassium, calcium and magnesium which contains essential plant oils to enhance plant health and increase disease resistance.

The combination of potassium, calcium and magnesium included in the Diamond Green formulation helps increase cell wall strength within the plant and enhance root mass. The increased resistance to disease in achieved through this improvement in cell wall strength and increased root mass.

Essential Plant Oils

As well as the macro and micro nutrients, Diamond Green also contains essential plant oils which further enhance plant health and the ability of the turf grass plant to resist disease pressure. The latest research undertaken has proven that these essential plant oils have shown to slow the progress of the growth of the pathogen by increasing the plants natural resistance to the disease.

All of these benefits to the turf grass plant help to improve the plants natural resistance to many known pathogens.

Disease prevention agents, like Diamond Green, should be partnered with traditional nutritional products as part of an effective turf management strategy. Diamond Green should be applied before anticipated disease pressure to achieve optimum results.

More information on our trials work is available from our technical team – if you are interested in further information, please contact us using: growth@indigrow.com

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New regulations for plant protection product suppliers

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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.

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Demonstrating product excellence with Toro

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Demonstrating product excellence with Toro: Toro, a global leader in turf and landscape maintenance, is going the extra mile when it comes to product demonstrations, with the launch of the new Toro® Demonstration and Support Trailer.

The support trailer is an exciting step forward and sees Toro bringing the product closer to the customer for a real-life demonstration of capability and quality.

Demonstrating product excellence with Toro

Demonstrating product excellence with Toro

When it comes to products seeing a demonstration is essential in deciding whether it is the right one for your business. The Toro Trailer aims to bridge this gap by bringing the solution direct to the customer for demonstration. And not only that, customers will get to see a whole range of Toro products on board. The support trailer offers a new, professional and completely secure way to transport and showcase Toro products.

With a secure, sleek design, the Toro Demonstration and Support Trailer is able to securely transport multiple machines and product ranges ensuring stock arrives in perfect condition. Whether products are requested for a demonstration or are being dropped off for a trial period, the Trailer can carry everything from the smallest handheld tools to the largest lawncare and construction machines.

Stamped with the distinctive red Toro branding, the Trailer is a real standout presence on site and when travelling. For trade show demonstrations, the Trailer will be invaluable at not only showcasing the full range of Toro products, but supporting the brand with this unique asset. With more people realising the joy and value of outdoor spaces in the past year, the Toro Trailer will
play an invaluable role in supporting customers to care for these spaces, while helping make the Toro brand even more present in the market.

Discussing the new Trailer and its potential, Sales Manager Matthew Coleman said: “Having the Toro Trailer means we can bring products right to customers and demonstrate what they can do on site. Customers get to see the products doing what they do best, in the environment where they would be used. I am excited to get the Trailer and Toro products out on the road in 2021, delivering demonstrations and trials to customers new and existing. It’s great to be able to visit customers again and see how Toro can support their landscaping and turf care needs face-to-face.”

For more information, visit toro.com

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New ICL 2020/21 Product Guide

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New ICL 2020/21 Product Guide: Redesigned from the ground up, the new ICL Turf & Landscape Product Guide includes an up-to-date listing of products and an abundance of useful information for those who manage turf and amenity areas.

The Product Guide consists of sections on key product areas:

Nutrition

ICL’s unique cutting edge, controlled release and slow release technologies deliver nutrients accurately and efficiently. Turf managers across the globe have long trusted the proven fertilizer range which includes micro-granular fertilizers such as Sierraform GT and Greenmaster Pro-Lite; mini-granular fertilizers for sports and amenity turf such as Sierrablen, Sierrablen Plus, ProTurf and Sportsmaster; liquid fertilizers in the form of Greenmaster and soluble fertilizers including the Sportsmaster WSF range.

New ICL 2020/21 Product Guide

New ICL 2020/21 Product Guide

Water Management

At a time when it’s increasingly important to manage water effectively, not only to save money, but to tackle environmental issues, ICL’s range of unique and flexible wetting agents/dew dispersants, available in liquid, granular and table form help optimise water and moisture management.

Turf Protection

When it comes to protecting turf and managing landscape areas, ICL’s range of plant protection and control products provide the tools needed in any armoury.  Featuring Syngenta’s leading range of fungicides such as Instrata Elite and Medallion TL; a powerful line-up of fast acting herbicides including Praxys and Esteron T; the number one growth regulator Primo Maxx II and the innovative turf pigment Ryder – there is a solution to ensure that turf managers are in control at all times.

Vegetation Management

In this section of the brochure, readers will find a wide range of specialist products to help manage public areas, industrial zones and the transportation infrastructure. Containing dynamic herbicides with residual, pre-emergent and post-emergent activity, the likes of Ecoplug Max, a patented product for tree stump control, and LockStar, a total herbicide that controls a broad spectrum of weeds, will provide users with effective vegetation management solutions.

Grass Seed

The development of ICL’s range of grass seeds is growing all the time and the ProSelect range brings advanced, up-to-date material to the market. Formulated with the best varieties and highest ranked cultivars, there are 12 blends to choose from for golf courses, sports pitches, turf growers and landscape contractors. Furthermore, the ProSelect range of seed is boosted by the inclusion of ZipSeed technology – a coating treatment which improves germination speed by up to 30%, enhances rooting and increases grass coverage by up to 20%.

To request a copy please contact ICL via email at marketing.ukire@icl-group.com or call 01473 237100.

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

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SALTEX product launch from Ryetec

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SALTEX product launch from Ryetec: It’s here, The ROBOFOX ELECTRA fully electric remote controlled flail mower with the power and performance of an engine driven machine but without all the noise, fumes and environmental contamination thanks to an innovative battery & drive system and the complete absence of any hydraulic system.

The ROBOFOX ELECTRA features a powerful electrically driven 900mm wide flail mower capable of cutting and mulching material up to 2 cms in diameter, combined with a track drive system and ultra-low centre of gravity for bank mowing on angles of up to 55°. An intuitive proportional remote control allows the operate to work at a safe distance from the machine (up to 150 metres) and the heavy duty battery pack give an autonomy of 2-3 hours work depending on conditions, and for longer duration the battery pack can be exchanged for a fully charged unit, re charge time is 3-4 hours.

SALTEX product launch from Ryetec

For operators working in areas where engine power is not a problem then the ROBOFOX HYBRID is available with a 28hp petrol engine to drive the flail head and fully electric track drive system, which still eliminates any hydraulic systems and on board batteries also allow the machine to be driven without the engine running, ideal it driving past buildings, people and animals to the working area or should the engine run out of fuel the ROBOFOX can be recovered from the working area.

ALSO at SALTEX for the first time, The NEW Peruzzo TB100 tracked chipper, with a 100mm capacity and a width of 76cms this nimble machine can access gardens, wet ground and sloping terrain with ease. The powerful 18hp engine drives a cylindrical chipping drum which automatically feeds itself without the need for complicated and expensive hydraulic and electronic systems and the powerful ejection force easily send chip through the directable chute for efficient spreading of the chipped material onsite or loading into a vehicle to remove from site.

Visitors can also see the NEW MOTOFROG pedestrian flail mower from Peruzzo, a compact machine with full track option for effective and safe mowing on banks, and wet areas with plenty of traction and ground holding. The 13hp petrol engine has plenty of power for the 75cm wide flail head which easily cuts and mulches thick vegetation, and forward speed is easily controlled with the 4 speed gear box and easy to operate steering clutches.

Come and see us at stand L183

For more info contact Ryetec on 01944 728186

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