Tag Archive for: productivity

High speed, high productivity with GKB DTA models

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High speed, high productivity with GKB DTA models: If you’re looking for greater productivity in golf course aeration, then a stop by the GKB Machines stand at BTME 2026 is a must with the launch of the new Deep Tine Aerator High Speed (DTA HS) range. Available in three working widths, the DTA HS combines GKB’s precision engineering with significantly enhanced speed of operation helping greens teams to achieve optimal soil decompaction while reducing disruption time.  

Designed for superior output without compromising aeration depth or quality, the DTA HS models allow greenkeepers to cover more ground in less time – an ideal solution for today’s increasingly time-sensitive maintenance schedules. With 1.2m, 1.6m and 1.8m working widths available, whether you’re tackling compaction on tight tees and greens or larger, undulating fairways, there’s a DTA HS model to meet your needs.

High speed, high productivity with GKB DTA models

High speed, high productivity with GKB DTA models

Productivity is also assured with the Sandspreader range, which will also be on show at Harrogate Convention Centre in January. Positioned at the entrance to the show, the SP100 mounted model will set the tone for precision turfcare – compact, reliable and engineered for accurate sand distribution, the Sandspreader is the perfect partner to the new DTA HS for those upcoming spring renovations.

On the topic of renovations, the GKB technical team will be on hand across the duration of the show to discuss the full fine turf maintenance portfolio – whether it’s aeration, topdressing, scarification or seeding on the cards. For the latter, the GKB Combiseeder utilises the tried and trusted combination of two spiked rollers and two brushes to accurately deliver seed into the surface and optimise conditions for germination. Suitable for seeding and routine overseeding work, the Combiseeder is available in four working widths to suit greenkeepers, sports turf managers and contractors alike.

All of this and more can be found on stand 644 when BTME returns on 20th to 22nd January 2026.

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Landscape Services productivity soars with Kubota zero-turns

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Landscape Services productivity soars with Kubota zero-turns: Over the last 18 months, much of the green grass across Kent has seen an influx of orange cutting equipment in a transition to Kubota for Landscape Services, part of the Commercial Services Group.

Landscape Services has enhanced efficiency with the addition of 15 ZD1211 zero-turn mowers, alongside other Kubota equipment including an F391 and G231HD mower and an LX-401 compact tractor.

Landscape Services productivity soars with Kubota zero-turns

Landscape Services productivity soars with Kubota zero-turns

For over 80 years, Landscape Services has specialised in planning, developing and implementing grounds, landscaping, arb and pest control projects across the South East. Today, more than 80 operatives are responsible for the maintenance of over 1000 sites including schools, sports clubs, housing associations, national parks and private land owners to name but a few. Helping them service the vast and varied requirements is a significant fleet of equipment from Kubota.

As part of a strategic move from cylinder to rotary mowers, Landscape Services have taken delivery of 15 ZD1211 zero-turn mowers via local dealer Lister Wilder in the last 18 months. Managing Director Phil Morgan takes up the story, “The switch to Kubota and the zero-turn mowers in particular has enhanced the way we operate. Their manoeuvrability allows our team to work efficiently on sites of all shapes and sizes, with their ease of use and low maintenance resulting in significant productivity improvements.”

Kubota’s ZD1211 zero-turn mower has been engineered from the ground up to deliver quality, performance, comfort and durability. The 3-blade, 140mm deep deck features a flat design and unique baffling system to lift and cut grass with accuracy and ensure clippings are evenly discharged. Phil concurs, “The quality of the end result is outstanding and, most of all, the team enjoy using them!”

Working alongside the zero-turns are other ride-on machines from the Kubota portfolio including an F391 and G231HD cut and collect machine which, again, has improved both the productivity and safety of the grass cutting operation. “We also have a compact LX401 tractor which has proven to be a capable all-rounder. We use the LX401 on contracts where its narrow frame allows us to reach places a larger tractor can’t access, most often when cutting hedgerows.”

Running close to 20 Kubota machines, dealer support for Landscape Services is critical. “We are pleased with the service we’ve had from Lister Wilder, so much so that we even awarded them ‘Supplier of the Year’ for 2025.” Phil adds, “We were hesitant in making such a substantial change to our equipment fleet but the results we’ve seen have been staggering and with the service agreement we have in place, we know we can expect reliable service from our Kubota equipment.”

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Etesia Hydro 80 Transforms Productivity

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Etesia Hydro 80 Transforms Productivity: James Duke Garden Maintenance, based in Whitstable, Kent, has experienced a significant boost in productivity after investing in an Etesia Hydro 80 ride-on mower.

James explains that the decision to upgrade came from a growing need to handle larger sites more efficiently.

Etesia Hydro 80 Transforms Productivity

Etesia Hydro 80 Transforms Productivity

“Some of the grounds we look after can be quite large in size,” says James. “We also care for small residential gardens and commercial sites. Beforehand, we were using pedestrian mowers on the bigger areas, and it was hard work — it took a long time. So, we started looking for a ride-on.”

After exploring various brands, it was Etesia’s Hydro 80 that stood out — particularly following a demonstration arranged after meeting the team at GroundsFest last year.

“We were highly impressed with what they had to say,” James recalls. “Ian from Etesia came down, dropped off some mowers for us to try out on site, and we were blown away. We tried the Hydro 80 and as soon as we did, we ordered one.”

Since making the switch, the difference has been remarkable.

“Compared to using pedestrian mowers, the Hydro 80 is just so much quicker,” he says. “It’s freeing up so much more time for us — we’re finishing jobs earlier or fitting more in. I’d say we’re getting the jobs done in about half the time, which is fantastic.”

The Etesia Hydro 80 is packed with features that make it ideal for both large areas and tricky, confined spaces. With an 80cm cutting width and a tight turning circle, it’s easily manoeuvrable and can pass through small gateways or between parked cars with ease.

“The size is incredible — we can get it through tight spaces, around buildings, and even in between cars,” James explains. “And because it’s so compact, it fits straight into the back of our van at the end of the day.”

The Hydro 80 is powered by a 15hp twin-cylinder Kawasaki engine, delivering reliable performance across varying conditions. Its hydrostatic drive makes operation smooth and user-friendly, and James and his team noticed the ease of use immediately.

“From the get-go, we found the mower so easy to use. The controls are simple, and the machine feels great to operate — it’s a joy, an absolute pleasure.”

One of the key benefits of the Hydro 80 is its ability to cut and collect both long and short grass without clogging, even in wet conditions — a huge improvement for James and his team, who previously battled with constant blockages.

“The collection is fantastic — especially in the wet,” he says. “With our old pedestrian mowers, they were always clogging up and we had to stop to clear out underneath the deck. We don’t have that hassle anymore. It’s saving us so much time.”

The Hydro 80’s 240-litre grassbox can be emptied from the driving seat and features a buzzer to indicate when it’s full.

“The grass box is huge — we can just keep going and going,” says James. “With the pedestrian mowers, we were stopping every five minutes. Now we can mow huge areas before we need to empty. And when we do, it’s so easy — just lift the handle and tip the grass out from the comfort of the seat.”

The versatility of the Hydro 80 has also impressed James.

“It collects, it mulches, it side discharges — it ticks all the boxes for what we need. We’ve used the mulch plug and it leaves a great finish. It just does everything we ask of it. We haven’t found a single issue with it. It’s solid, dependable, and just brilliant to use.”

Reflecting on the buying process, James also praised the support and communication from the Etesia team.

“They were absolutely brilliant to work with from the start. They talked us through everything, gave us the chance to try out the mowers, and let us see how good they really are.”

Asked whether he would recommend the Hydro 80 to others, James doesn’t hesitate:

“Absolutely. If you’re in the market for a ride-on that can collect, mulch, or side discharge — this mower ticks all the boxes. It’s small, nimble, and a total game changer for our business.”

To watch a video of the customer in action click here.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on X @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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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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Salsco rollers deliver proven productivity

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Salsco rollers deliver proven productivity: There is no more valuable resource to golf course managers than time, which is why efficiency ranks highly when it comes to sourcing new maintenance solutions. Looking specifically at turf rollers, the HP11-III from Salsco with three driven rollers is the widest and quickest on the market – delivering proven productivity and performance at courses across the UK.

One club reporting a 40% reduction in the time taken to roll all 18 greens is Cowdray Golf Club in West Sussex, who purchased their Salsco HP11-III from Lister Wilder in May 2024. “Greens ironing plays such an important part in ensuring that people’s experience of their visit is as good as it can be,” explains Course Manager Jonathan Smith. “Previously, we had a much smaller greens iron, and while it did a fair job, it used to take us about four hours to get round where the Salsco can do it to a high standard in under two and a half.”

Salsco rollers deliver proven productivity

Salsco rollers deliver proven productivity

Jonathan also notes the rollers flexibility to cope with climatic challenges. “If the weather is particularly hot, for example, we tend to prefer to roll rather than cut because we believe it gives the greens the best chance and gives our players the best performance.”

“The other beauty of it is that if I am doing any type of renovation work, I will utilise the roller for effective consolidation. If the need arises, we can add water to the individual rolls to increase the psi from 7.0 to 9.2 which has been particularly useful when we are Verti-Draining and Pro-Coring during our maintenance week” he adds. “Within a few days you would never know the work had taken place.”

The three independent rolls that oscillate and articulate on the HP11-III not only allow for complete control over weight distribution, they ensure 100% ground contact. It’s ability to maintain traction without slipping was a key consideration for Graeme Roberts, Course Manager at Hayling Golf Club, and their decision to invest in Salsco.

“Depending upon events, we try to roll between one and three times a week in the main season and then, in the autumn and spring when the growth rate is down, maybe up the rolling in exchange for cutting” says Graeme. “We have a lot of slopes on the edges of our greens and it’s very important that it can roll without losing traction and creating stress, especially when changing direction. Having every roller driven on this model means that you get the best traction possible.”

“I also like the fact that it has wider self-cleaning rollers so is a lot more efficient and effective in the finish that it achieves.” He concludes, “The ball roll definitely improves with it, and it’s proven invaluable in getting sand into the soil profile when you have top dressed, while also helping to reduce the mess that is often left by other rollers.”

For more information on the HP11-III or the other rollers in the Salsco range, visit salscorollers.co.uk or get in touch with the team at Lister Wilder.

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