Tag Archive for: The

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

/in , , /by

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R: Head groundsman Garry Watson and his deputy John Holmes have praised the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower for keeping several grass areas in fantastic condition at the King Edward’s School in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Founded in 1552, King Edward’s School is one of the most successful boys’ schools in this country. For nearly 400 years the school stood in New Street at the heart of the city. In 1936 the school moved to its present 50-acre site in Edgbaston, shared with King Edward VI High School for Girls, which provides extensive space and facilities matched by few day schools in the country.

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

It’s elementary with the Dennis PRO 34R

The school’s academic performance places it amongst the very best in the country and King Edward’s has a long list of notable alumni including two Nobel Prize-winners, JRR Tolkien, Edward Burne-Jones, Lord Willetts and Lee Child.

The grounds department is overseen by Garry, who has been working at the school for an incredible 35 years. Alongside his trusty deputy John Holmes, the duo recently began searching for a new rotary mower.

“We were previously using 20-inch mowers and we wanted something bigger so we could cut more regularly and more quickly,” said Garry. “We also wanted an alternative to that of putting tractors or triple mowers on the pitches – something that would keep the weight off the pitch.”

The case was solved as soon as they saw the Dennis PRO 34R in action: “As soon as we had the demonstration, John said this is it – this is the machine we need to have. Yes, there are other rotary mowers on the market, but we made a decision there and then based on how good it was.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R offers a fantastic cut,” continued Garry. “It is predominately used on the rugby pitches for presentation and to also clean-up after matches.

“After about a week of having the PRO 34R, we made the decision to purchase another one – it was that good. It is absolutely fantastic for sports pitches, but we also have a large number of big lawns – which must be kept in good condition. Therefore, the second PRO 34R is all about presentation on these lawns. We use it for cutting and striping.”

Garry also said that the decision to purchase the PRO 34R was based on his experience of using Dennis in the past.

“We’ve had Dennis before, and I’ve never had any issues, so I tend to stick with what I know works. Plus, the service is all part of the overall package with Dennis.

“I like to deal with personalities and Jason Briggs from Dennis and SISIS is fantastic. I know what I like – and Dennis Mowers have never let me down.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

The true cost of cutting costs?

/in , , /by

The true cost of cutting costs?: When a machine is operating at optimum performance and being utilised in the correct conditions, professional groundskeepers or operators can expect to see healthy and pristine looking turf. But performance could be hampered if a mower isn’t properly maintained and that includes the choice of replacement parts.

Currently, we’re in the thick of the core mowing season, and it’s likely that replacement parts will be required to maintain that optimum experience and result.

The true cost of cutting costs?

The true cost of cutting costs?

Here, Franck Pillittieri at The Toro Company, shares some reasons why it’s essential to consider true lifetime value and not just a low price point when it comes to purchasing replacement parts.

“We know that for many in our industry, as in many others, there is a need to try and reduce cost when it comes to maintenance work on equipment. In the current climate especially there is likely to be more pressure than ever to cut costs in the short term – but what is the true cost when the price is lower?

“As a premium manufacturer, our parts are not the lowest price on the market. We offer our customers the Toro Genuine Parts solution for a Genuine performance. Below are the top reasons we recommend buying discerningly when replacing parts in your mower.”

Quality fit

Our Toro Genuine Parts are custom designed for each machine, so when one needs replacing it makes sense to fit a like for like piece. Cost demands though, could lead people to consider a cheaper alternative. However, not only could the lower cost part not fit correctly, but it could also compromise the machine going forward, increasing wear and general run down of the machine.

Durability

Whilst a cheaper price may seem like a great saving at the time, it is likely to prove a false economy in the long run if the part isn’t built to last. Not only may you have to incur the expense of replacing non-genuine parts more often, you also may experience longer downtime for your machine, impacting your productivity.

Safety

With any replacement product that is not designed for the machine there is a risk to the safety of the user and the lifetime of the machine. Often, cheaper replacement parts come from manufacturers who focus more on cost than safety. We, at The Toro Company, place the safety of the users and the performance of the machine at the top of our priorities.

Machine damage

When parts are purchased from a Toro-approved channel partner, the consumer can trust that the channel partner is committed to the care of the machine. We cannot expect this to be true for unrelated suppliers that may offer the cheapest parts on the market. Cheap parts could damage to the machine, resulting in a cost that could counteract any potential savings. Downtime for repairs can also result in lost income. For example, belts and filters go into the core of the equipment, and there is a risk of causing a break down or technical issue by using non-genuine parts.

Time efficiency

If certain parts of the mower are replaced with non-genuine replacements there is a possible impact on the time it takes to complete a job. For example, all Toro blades are engineered for our specific machines to increase efficiency. A replacement blade could be less effective and require more frequent cutting, again incurring more overall costs and decreasing efficiency.

Poor results

There is also the possibility with cheaper parts that you could achieve a poorer cut with your mower. When using cheaper tines, for example, you may damage the turf and have a reduced result.

“At The Toro Company, we offer a high-standard after-service experience in collaboration with our channel partners. This includes 24-48 hour delivery, meaning less downtime for your machine, knowledgeable service technicians if you need help installing parts or require information on your mower, a 90-day warranty for peace of mind, and a guarantee that we are investing in innovation to benefit customers now and in the future.

“So, whilst we appreciate the current situation that many of our customers are in, we encourage everyone to consider the longer-term view for the best outcome for their machines.”

For more information please visit www.toro.com/en.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

AH75 the solution to excessive first cuts

/in , , /by

AH75 the solution to excessive first cuts: With the impending difficulty some green space professionals will soon be experiencing from a delayed first cut, many are turning to the Etesia Attila AH75 brushcutter as a solution. 

The Etesia Attila AH75 brushcutter offers ride-on performance in a pedestrian machine and has been designed to work in the toughest of conditions. This powerful workhorse effectively deals with clearing vegetation from a wide variety of sites – long grass, weeds, bracken and brambles on woodland paths or orchards. Ease of operation and manoeuvrability ensure total efficiency and high output.

AH75 the solution to excessive first cuts

AH75 the solution to excessive first cuts

At a time when many will be facing excessive first cuts, green space professionals – particularly those working for local authorities and landscape contractors, will find the Etesia Attila AH75 a cost-effective solution. At just £3,200 plus VAT, this reliable and powerful machine has been proven to outperform many of its counterparts at a fraction of the price.

The Attila AH75 is powered by the Honda GXV 390 engine and fitted with a T3 transmission combining differential lock and front wheel locking system with a simple height of cut adjustment from the new handle bar design which allows movement into offset for use on slopes.

Efficiency

  • Heavy-duty brush cutting (up to Ø30)
  • Mowing on the most difficult slopes (up to 20°) thanks to the hydraulic transmission with a differential lock
  • Two idlers that can be locked without a tool for improved stability on slopes
  • Possibility to fit two wider rear wheels as an option
  • Cutting height adjustment with three positions from the new handle bar design
  • Handle offset control from the operating position with three working positions and one transport position

Comfort

  • High manoeuvrability thanks to the hydraulic transmission – three forward speeds and one reverse speed
  • Differential lock can be engaged without interrupting movement
  • All operating controls are available from the operating position for convenience and safety
  • Central handle bar that allows easier access to low controls (parking brake, forward transmission bypass, engine starter), with full protection for cables
  • Parking brake for safe immobilisation
  • Anti-vibration rubber handles

Ruggedness

  • Machine can be moved into vertical position to gain access to the cutter blade for maintenance and cleaning
  • Maintenance-free hydrostatic transmission with forced-air cooling, integrated expansion vessel
  • Flail blades: reversible, protect the blade transmission system, low maintenance costs
  • Rugged and reliable engine: Engine crank shaft mounted on bearings.

A full two-year commercial warranty comes as standard.

You can view a video of the machine in action: https://youtu.be/LDpj7a013Ys

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 Twitter @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.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Give your mowers the edge

/in , , /by

Give your mowers the edge: The hardened tool steel of Toro’s EdgeMax bedknives delivers edge retention that lasts up to three times longer for a sharper, cleaner cut, all season long.

And being the growing season, now’s the time to make sure your machines are in pole position to bring the best quality of cut to your greens and fairways mowers by replacing worn bedknives with Toro EdgeMax.

Give your mowers the edge

Give your mowers the edge

Brought to the UK by Reesink Turfcare, Michael Hampton, parts manager at Reesink, says: “Customers appreciate the precision engineering of Toro’s EdgeMax bedknives. They have a hardened tool steel insert for a cutting edge that exceeds industry standards to last three times longer than a standard fairway bedknife and twice as long for greens. Not only do they last longer, but the hardened steel results in 50 percent less time adjusting, backlapping, grinding and replacing, too.”

Blades that maintain their sharpness ensure a cleaner cut for optimum turf health and as the machine incurs less wear, it works more smoothly and more efficiently. What’s more, because EdgeMax bedknives last up to three times longer, parts costs are also reduced and Toro believes that this combination of longer life and reduced maintenance time can equate to long-term cost savings.

Michael continues: “With genuine Toro parts, you can be sure you’re getting first-rate parts built to fit perfectly with your cylinder mowers, with consistent hole alignment on every bedknife, steels coils and computer-controlled machining and finishing, thanks to Toro’s leading manufacturing process. With Toro EdgeMax bedknives you can be sure you’ll be replacing your bedknives quickly and without the hassle or stress of gambling on likely inferior ‘will fit’ parts.

“It’s not often that there’s a short cut to a longer, better performance, but with Toro EdgeMax bedknives there is, hence this product’s popularity with customers.”

Toro EdgeMax bedknives are available across Toro’s Greensmaster and Reelmaster ranges on models fitted with DPA (Dual Precision Adjustment) cutting units. EdgeMax bedknives bring a 9.5mm and above height-of-cut to fairways and a 1.59mm and above height-of-cut to greens.

Reesink is still open for business and teams in our service centres, warehouses and across our supply chain are working tirelessly to deliver parts for our customers.

Drop them a line at info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call Spare Parts: 01480 226854

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

The Worker Is King: GKB Sandfiller

/in , , /by

The Worker Is King: GKB Sandfiller: GKB Machines, the company behind sustainable, reliable and robust maintenance machinery for natural, synthetic and hybrid turf are offering the possibility to remove organic matter and sand-fill in just one simple and efficient operation, thanks to the GKB Sandfiller.

Understanding the primary target and aspiration of greenkeepers is to achieve perfection from tee to green, the GKB Sandfiller helps fulfil this aspiration. Combining scarifying and sand-filling in one hassle free operation, this impressive machine takes a 6-person job and allows this working method to be executed by one person. Scarifying and sand-filling in this way means the surface always remains stable and improves the drainage system.

The Worker Is King: GKB Sandfiller

The Worker Is King: GKB Sandfiller

From the foundations of the reliable and much-praised GKB Combinator, the GKB Sandfiller encompasses its robust and effectiveness to provide the ultimate renovation tool. The GKB Sandfiller features a slitting rotor which is provided with carbide scarifying blades, these blades and a unique paddle attachment create wind to lift the removed material off the surface. Offering different thicknesses of 2, 3 and 4mm blades depending on the amount of organic matter that is needing to be removed and sand to be injected. The 1.2 metre working width of the machine allows jobs to be carried out quickly and efficiently with sand being injected every 4cms’ by the sand coulters.

The scarifying blades allow the removal of organic matter up to a depth of 4cm and the sideways-tipping hopper enables the immediate removal of the scarified material. Consequently, there’s no need to remove excess material from the surface. Once the hopper has been emptied, simply refill the separate sand hopper with drainage sand.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617 to enquire about the GKB Sandfiller to help give you the best playing surfaces possible.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.