Tag Archive for: task

Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

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Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation: It’s not just the greenkeepers that are impressed with the fleet of six Echo TM-2050 robotic mowers installed by GroundTech at Hartsbourne Country Club, the members are too!

Less than a month after their delivery, players and staff alike have recognised the transformation in presentation of some of the club’s perimeter areas which previously proved near-impossible to maintain in challenging winter conditions.

Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

Six Echo TM-2050’s transform the task of winter presentation

Like many heavy clay soil courses, this 27-hole club in South Hertfordshire can often lay wet during prolonged periods of rainfall, creating problems in getting machinery out to regularly cut the rough and fairways. General Manager Terry Mulford-Lawlor explains that the knock-on impact extends well beyond the winter, “Both presentation and playability suffers and then, come the spring, the grass is so long and dense that it takes a lot of hard work to get them back to where we want them to be.”

“The proposition that the Echo robotic mowers could be cutting consistently whatever the weather was of great interest.”

Terry was assisted in his search by Marcus Glover and Sam Baker from GroundTech, along with Sam Daybell from Echo who paired the club with six TM-2050 robots with solar array and portable battery chargers. The largest of the Echo range the TM-2050 offers the pinnacle of productivity, capable of mowing areas of up to 75,000m2 while simultaneously providing precise mulching of material for an immaculate finish.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that these mowers have been a gamechanger for us. The intention was that they’d be used only for the rough. However, the GroundTech team mapped all of our fairways and with the results so outstanding we’d be mad not to use them everywhere.” Terry adds, “The work these Robots are doing has already freed up our skilled team of ten greenkeepers to then focus their efforts elsewhere,  hand-cutting areas such as aprons which we’ve not previously had the resources to do and focussing on the technical and agronomic aspects of course management that will take our offering to the next level.”

“Members have been quick to comment that the rough has never looked better, but what’s more they just love watching the robots at work – we’ve even been asked if it’s possible to name and sponsor them!”

Terry concludes, “The process from start to finish has been smooth, personalised and professional. GroundTech supported us and went the extra mile to ensure we had the right set-up and infrastructure to get the most out of our machines. They didn’t over-emphasise what the mowers were capable of, but then they didn’t really need to! We already see this is the future for us.”

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Trilo transforms the task of cut and collect

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Trilo transforms the task of cut and collect: Following BCP Council’s declaration of a climate and ecology emergency in 2019, the decision was made to review the management of some green spaces across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas.

With a subsequent reduction in the cutting of some verges and open land, a Trilo S20 with its large 20m3 hopper capacity was brought in to increase productivity as the cut and collect operation expanded – taking not just large quantities of meadow grass in its stride but also assisting with leaf clearance during the winter months.

Trilo transforms the task of cut and collect

Trilo transforms the task of cut and collect

The versatile Trilo S20 was purchased in May 2022 by Simon Woodall, Team Operations Manager for BCP Council and spearhead of a 30-strong team responsible for looking after all aspects of parks and housing grounds maintenance and landscape construction. “Our ecology programme included creating more grass meadows by leaving areas uncut to improve carbon sequestration and increase our biodiversity to support pollinators. We also reduced cutting on other green spaces such as verges to give plants a chance to flower, providing a valuable source of nectar and adding interest and colour to amenity areas” he explains.

“With this change to our cutting operation, we needed a machine that could handle large-scale cut and collect and found the Trilo was a perfect addition to our existing fleet of mountable cut and collect machines.” The S20 is the largest capacity model in Trilo’s multi-purpose S-Line range which, when fitted with a flail shaft, offers a cutting width of 2.1m and powerful vacuum collection of the clippings to leave a clean finish after every pass.

Following the delivery by Hunt Forest Group, the S20 was put straight into operation between August and October. “The size of this unit has transformed the task of maintaining our meadow areas” Simon explains. “Not only does it cut and collect in its own right, but we can use it to support the smaller tractor mounted and ride on machines which can cut in tighter areas then tip their arisings on the ground to be sucked up by the hose on the S20 – all done using the intuitive control box from the comfort of the cab. This in itself has increased productivity and reduced vehicle journeys to dispose of waste.”

“Through December and January we then used the S20 to assist with leaf collection within the larger parks in our area, and will certainly be using it more for this function in future.” He concludes, “With Trilo you’re also assured of excellent build quality and excellent service from specification right through to installation. It’s the full package and has already proven itself to be a fantastic investment.”

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