Tag Archive for: Service

Harrowden offers ‘dropship’ service

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Harrowden offers ‘dropship’ service: Harrowden Turf has launched its second new initiative to support the horticulture sector in as many weeks. “Let’s Build A Garden” was designed to encourage family-wide engagement in thinking about and making the most of a home’s outside space. 

The company also recognises that many traditional retailers in the sector have been adversely affected by coronavirus restrictions.  Harrowden Turf is looking to offer its “Dropship” or home delivery solution which enables retailers to continue to service customers via telephone or online orders which will be fulfilled directly by Harrowden Turf using its well-established no-contact direct to home delivery service.

Harrowden offers 'dropship' service

Harrowden offers ‘dropship’ service

Stuart Ridd-Jones – Managing Director

“There is currently significant interest in home-improvement projects and with the improved recent weather the garden is no exception.  Harrowden Turf’s “Dropship” service gives retailers the ability to continue to sell turf and other landscape products without holding stock or otherwise being involved in fulfilling that order”

“We have a well-established no-contact direct to home delivery service which can enable you to continue to provide ongoing service to your loyal customers whilst generating some much-needed revenue.  This is very straightforward to set up and administer.”

Whilst supporting retailers we would like to reassure you about ordering from Harrowden Turf during the COVID-19 outbreak. As a business, our priority above all, is to keep our people and customers safe. We are following the expert advice of the Government, Public Health England and World Health Organisation to make the necessary changes to our business to ensure everyone stays as healthy as possible.

Nearly all office staff are working remotely from home but the important work that can only be completed at our farms means that some staff are travelling to work as normal but we have adopted strict hygiene and social distancing protocols to protect both them and customers safety.

Our carefully selected delivery partners have introduced “no contact” delivery procedures in order to protect their drivers and our customers as much as possible.  We are currently able to operate a normal home delivery service.

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Otterbine service resumed

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Otterbine service resumed: Otterbine has been chosen again by Northamptonshire County Golf Club to maintain its irrigation reservoir.

Otterbine has been impressing the Open Regional Qualifying club in the Midlands with its ability to keep 3.5 million gallons of water clean, clear and heathy for 15 years, so when the club’s high volume 5hp surface spray aerator reached the end of its life, it was soon replaced like-for-like.

Otterbine service resumed

Otterbine service resumed

Rob Hay, course manager, says: “The reservoir was built 18 years ago after a couple of particularly hot summers to take us off the mains for irrigation. The reservoir doesn’t have a particularly large surface area, but it is very, very deep, and the greenkeeping team at the time soon noticed the water quality was fast degrading and a build-up of algae was forming.

“Otterbine was recommended by the club’s irrigation contractor, Stuart Sanders of SJS Irrigation, and from the moment it was installed it has delivered on its promise to manage the reservoir’s severe aquatic environment. Its power and longevity are exemplary. The contractor advised never turning the aerator off, so it wasn’t, and it has performed consistently for 15 non-stop years!”

This is particularly impressive considering the quantity of water it’s dealing with and the fact that the club has a standard usage cycle of 80,000 litres of water a night. Continuing the good work is another high volume 5hp Otterbine aerator from distributor Reesink Turfcare.

Rob continues: “We kept with what we knew and what we could rely on. Seeing the ripples of water from the new aerator reach all the way to the edge of the reservoir was a good feeling as it meant it was doing what it should, and normal service had resumed.”

The reason for Otterbine’s longevity comes down to being manufactured from highly durable, corrosion-resistant oil-cooled 18 gauge/316 grade stainless steel. Its aerator float has been manufactured from rugged closed cell, foam-filled polyethylene which means it manages effluent or high nutrient water with ease, and its efficiency can be attributed to the precision pitched stainless steel impeller that’s virtually indestructible.

Peter Newton from Reesink says Otterbine is the perfect choice for customers looking for a degree of water self-sufficiency: “Otterbine’s high volume range is outstanding at keeping large bodies of water healthy and usable and we’re seeing excellent results from golf clubs who want to come off the mains and recycle or reuse water.

“Holding good quality water on site for irrigation is something Northamptonshire County Golf Club has been doing for years with no issues, in fact it’s brought huge benefits in terms of cost savings and the club’s sustainability.”

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Greenkeeper’s 30 years of service

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Greenkeeper’s 30 years of service: Market Drayton Golf Club’s head greenkeeper has achieved a remarkable 30 years of service with the club.

Simon Cotterill, who joined the club staff as the 11-hole course was expanding to 18 holes, has greatly influenced its development.

Greenkeeper's 30 years of service

Greenkeeper’s 30 years of service

Market Drayton Golf Course is now recognised as one of the best in the area and can boast a challenging, well-maintained, scenic course that is rarely closed.

During the ongoing development of the course, the club has been mindful of its beautiful natural surroundings, with Cotterill always been a great advocate in this area. He also undertakes extracurricular work on behalf of the club through his role in maintaining the playing areas of a number of local sports facilities.

The club said: “The extraordinary contribution of Cotterill over the years and the superb quality of the course and greens, is testimony to his long-term commitment.

“Simon is a keen angler and the club demonstrated their gratitude for such loyalty by presenting him a significant gift to enhance his enjoyment of his favourite pastime.”

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Cousins’ 70 Years Of Service

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Cousins’ 70 Years Of Service: Two cousins have celebrated 70 years of service to the same golf club.

Bobby Hay retired earlier this month after 45 years with Gullane Golf Club, while cousin Paul Hay toasted 25 years of long service.

Cousins' 70 Years Of Service

Bobby, who was irrigation and drainage technician, and Paul, who is head greenkeeper at Gullane No. 1, were invited to a special presentation at the main clubhouse of the club, which is closing in on its 140th anniversary.

Bobby, 65, was presented with a camera and voucher, while Paul received a green jacket and voucher for The Bonnie Badger restaurant in Gullane.

Bobby thanked the golf club committee for their gifts and revealed what made the job so enjoyable.

He said: “It was the people I worked with and being outside.

“Previous to that, I worked in a bakehouse for five years. I was breathing in flour dust and at Gullane I did not have to work Friday nights!”

The Gullane resident, who recalls course visits by stars such as Sir Sean Connery, Harold Sakata – who played Oddjob in Goldfinger – and Sir Bruce Forsyth, has plenty of hobbies to enjoy in his retirement.

He said: “I don’t know yet [what I’m going to do with my spare time]. I am that busy with that many things I want to do.

“I look over the course and it is a funny feeling knowing I am not there now after 40-odd years.

“I do archery, wood carving, wood turning, photography and I look after the archery range at Archerfield.”

Gullane Golf Club has attracted plenty of international golfing stars in recent years – holding the Scottish Open twice in the last four years, with Brandon Stone winning last year and Rickie Fowler lifting the top prize in 2015, as well as the Ladies Scottish Open last year, with Ariya Jutanugarn crowned champion.

Bobby described the club as “the most superior course in the Central Belt of Scotland”.

Meanwhile Paul, 42, explained why, despite not considering himself a golfer, he loved his job.

He said: “One, it is local, and two, every day is different.

“There have never been two days that are the same. We have got a good team and it has been good to work for Gullane Golf Club so far. It does not feel like 25 years for sure!”

Paul, who lives in the village, said changes in machinery, staffing levels and the number of visitors to the golf club meant the job had changed since he started.

He added: “We’ve got to make sure the course is looking tip-top.

“There is an added pressure – if the course is not looking at its best, it is going to be picked up on.

“You definitely have to make sure everything is looking its best at all times and present it every day as if it is [for] a competition.”

Ward councillor Jeremy Findlay, who lives in the village, works as a tour operations manager for a golf tour company and is a member of the golf club, congratulated the duo on the achievement.

He said: “The golfing fraternity and golf club members really appreciate all the effort and time that they have put in over the years and I’m sure the many thousands of visitors to the club also appreciate their great work.”

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre: Makita UK has opened a third regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) in the busy London borough of Hounslow.  This new FSC joins Makita’s HQ facility in Milton Keynes, which serves the whole of the country, as well as Glasgow, which supports the rapidly expanding market penetration of the brand in Scotland and northern England.  The London FSC will primarily service the essential London and South East region.  In order to offer the best service levels in the industry Makita is committed to offering improved national coverage for the benefit of end user customers, as well as the network of Makita distributors, by building these dedicated FSC’s.

While these facilities satisfy a vital role in providing technical repairs and maintenance services for all mains and cordless construction machines, and the rapidly expanding range of grounds care tools, including 2-stroke and 4-stroke petrol engine products, training remains the cornerstone of Makita’s marketing success.  It ensures that both authorised distributors and operators are fully conversant with the power tools they own, or may purchase in the future; how to obtain the best and safest performance from these machines, and how to maintain them for efficiency and productivity.

Makita's New Factory Service Centre

The first FSC to be opened is based at South Street, Glasgow, which offers Makita product training across the complete range of products; product servicing courses, as well as accredited courses such as the successful and certificated City & Guilds Correct & Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools.  A user or instructor certificate is issued upon successful completion.  Courses are available to meet individual needs and bespoke power tool training can be designed to meet specific requirements.

At each location the theory elements of courses are held in a lecture theatre, followed by essential hands-on practical work which is carried out in specially adapted and fully equipped training demonstration rooms.  Courses are of 1 or 2 day duration or tailored to specific needs.  The CITB certificated course, which can include a combination of in-house and on-site training, relates to abrasive wheel training, and both instructor or user courses are available.  Gas nailer user training, chainsaw cross cutting and service courses are also available.

Tony Coleman, Technical Manager, Makita UK, says: “We are already receiving a very warm welcome from all sectors of the power tool industry in this heavily populated area of west London.  If demand becomes similar to that we’ve established in Glasgow and Milton Keynes we will be looking for additional training personnel.  Both employers and operators will benefit from this convenient location offering improved local services to all customers.”

Makita's New Factory Service Centre

Makita has great experience in supporting worthwhile challenges as WorldSkills UK, APL Apprenticeships and Hire Association Europe Apprenticeship schemes to help support customers of the future with product and training support.  Employees and employers can benefit from Makita’s outstanding training courses, which compliment high quality power tools used by professional trades’ people, raising ambitions and abilities for many.

The Makita range is supported with an equally comprehensive range of over 4,500 accessories and consumables products.

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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Kubota’s New Field Service Manager

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Kubota’s New Field Service Manager: Kubota UK has announced the appointment of Martin Tyler as its Field Service Manager. This is a new management role created within the organisation to offer more support to its extensive independent dealer network and end-user customers.

Martin will take full responsibility and control of all Kubota UK field service activities. This will include field product quality reporting, Kubota’s Customer Satisfaction Survey, Dealer Service Excellence, the development of service business activities and the resolution of any customer or dealer warranty enquiries.

Kubota's New Field Service Manager

Keith Miller, Service & Training Manager at Kubota UK, said: “At Kubota, we are constantly investing in new and innovative ways in which we can enhance the service we provide to both our dealer network and end-user customers. The creation of this new role will provide a more focused approach to Kubota UK’s service provision, and is yet another example of our continued commitment to provide service excellence.”

Bringing more than 20 years industry experience to his new role, Martin joined Kubota in 2014 as a Regional Service Manager for the East of England, before being promoted to Service Supervisor for Agricultural Tractors. Previous to this, Martin spent the majority of his career at a New Holland dealer. He started as an apprentice and quickly rose through the ranks of Senior Service Technician, Warranty Administrator and finally to Service Manager.

Martin commented: “Our dealer network plays a pivotal role in sustaining our position as a first-class machinery provider, so ensuring we can provide them the highest levels of service and support is paramount.

“The creation of this new role will enable Kubota to enhance its close working relationships with its dealers. It will ensure they have dedicated support and access to all the necessary tools and advice needed, to enhance their business operations. This in turn will lead to better service levels provided to our end-user customers.”

For more information on Kubota UK visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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Duo Rewarded For Loyal Service

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Duo Rewarded For Loyal Service: Head greenkeeper Alan Smith and deputy head greenkeeper Graham Hipkin have both celebrated 40 years of service to Clacton Golf Club.

The duo are pictured being presented with a gift from the club and a bottle of champagne from club chairman Bert Foster.

Duo Rewarded For Loyal Service

They were thanked for their hard work over the decades.

Meanwhile, Clacton held their first mixed Turkey Shoot competition of the year and the winner was Steve Chignell, who won on countback with 40 points.

He was followed in a close second, also with 40 points, by Steve Yates.

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre & Academy Has National Role

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Makita’s New Factory Service Centre & Training Academy In Glasgow Has A National Role: Makita UK has opened their first regional Factory Service Centre (FSC) & Training Academy in Glasgow’s Govan commercial district to support the rapidly expanding market penetration of Britain’s number 1 professional power tool range in Scotland and Northern England.  Whilst this new facility is already providing a valuable regional role the FSC has already been awarded the national responsibility for the secure environment of servicing Makita’s comprehensive range of dust extraction machines.

To carry out maintenance or repair functions on an extractor approved for use with Class L, M or H dust particulates, the repair facility must protect both the technician working on the machine as well as the workshop environment from dust contamination should material escape from the extractor.  The FSC facility will now handle all dust extraction servicing for the brand right across the UK.

Makita's New Factory Service Centre & Academy Has National Role

Commercial Photography by Ian Arthur

“The protection of our staff is paramount and that is why we have made this substantial investment,” says Norman Dodds, Manager of Service & Training at the Glasgow FSC.

The Factory Service Centre & Training Academy covers nearly 1000m³ on South Street in the G14 area and delivers technical repairs and maintenance services for the full range of Makita products, including all mains and cordless construction machines, and the rapidly expanding range of grounds care tools, including petrol engine products.

Training is a cornerstone of Makita’s marketing success ensuring that both authorised distributors and operators are fully conversant with the power tools, how to obtain the best performance from the machines and how to maintain them for efficiency and productivity.  Makita offers a full itinerary of training courses covering the extensive product range.  A key course: The Correct and Safe Use of Handheld Power Tools is a City & Guilds accredited course which offers either a user certificate or instructor certificate upon successful completion of the course.

The theory element of courses is held in a lecture theatre, followed by the essential hands-on practical work which is carried out in specially adapted and fully equipped training workshops.  Courses, including Health & Safety related and Correct Use, are of 1 – 2 days duration.  Any CITB certificated courses, which may include a combination of in-house and on-site training, relate to Abrasive Wheel training; an instructor’s course or user course.  Gas Nailer user training, chainsaw cross cutting and service courses, are also available.

“We are receiving a very warm welcome from all sectors of the power tool industry in this part of the world,” reports Norman Dodds. “I foresee that we will need to increase our staff and in particular our training personnel as demand grows from both employers and operators who can now benefit from this convenient location.”

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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