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Innovative App a Passport to Success

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Innovative App a Passport to Success: Passport365, a sport facilities management app developed in the East Midlands, has sold its Australian territory rights to synthetic grass specialist Tuff Group in a six-figure deal.

Passport365, an innovative mobile application, allows all of those connected with sports surfaces across the world to book in jobs, record their daily activity and upload images from the sites they manage and maintain, which can be viewed by asset managers in head offices across the globe in real time.

Innovative App a Passport to Success

The application is the brainchild of Garry Martin, Managing Director of Long Bennington-based synthetic grounds maintenance specialist Replay Maintenance, who developed the app over two years and launched it for global sale at the end of April this year.

Fraser Gehrig, Manging Director of Tuff Group Holding Pty Ltd, heard about the app soon after its launch and after trialling the software was immediately impressed by its potential benefit to his company, which specialises in the design, construction, installation and maintenance of synthetic grass and all forms of sport and recreation surfaces across Australia and New Zealand.

Fraser, a former professional Australian rules footballer, was so keen to make use of the app for his customers that he jumped on a plane to the UK to meet the Passport365 team and see the app working out in the field.

He believes that implementing Passport365 will significantly increase the capability of the business. Fraser said: “Passport365 will give us the ability to deliver a level of service not seen in Australia before.

“We operate across the entire surfaces industry, including retail, residential, commercial and maintenance. We will be implementing the system across all our divisions, allowing our staff to communicate more effectively and substantially improving the end results we deliver.

“Being able to report to our clients in real time from anywhere in Australia, on any job, will mean we are delivering innovation and new standards to the market here. The system provides real clarity to the client and helps mitigate risk in ensuring the customer is getting exactly what they pay for.

“We have invested heavily in technology and systems to support our growth and Passport365 complements this perfectly. As the sports field construction industry continues to grow across the country, Tuff Group will be using this system to ensure that every job we do is delivered to our own high standards and that our clients can see the progress every step of the way.”

Tuff Group was established in 2009 and supports clients such as the International Rugby Board, FIFA Football, IAAF Athletics, FIH Hockey and the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Garry Martin said: “It’s been a hectic six months for Passport365, having launched for global sale in April this year.

“Our early adopters have given us amazing feedback and we’re now supplying the software to clients who are managing everything from single-use sports facilities all the way up to those running hundreds of surfaces across the UK.

“Having met Fraser and listening to his passion for delivering high levels of service to his customers, I knew that Passport365 would support him and his employees working within Tuff Group in delivering this.

“Having all of the information about any one site, in one place and accessible on the go will help his team manage the assets they install and service and will eliminate the need for paperwork – halving administration time and connecting Tuff Group to its customers for the lifetime of the surfaces.

“Passport365 allows everyone working on or managing a site to be able to view, update, share and collate reports from the app either through their phone or on their desktop and will display in real time through the bespoke portal application or on mobile if you are away from your desk.

“Most importantly, app users can check on each of their sites or team members while they’re hundreds of miles away at head office or even in another country.”

The application, which will be personalised with Tuff Group branding in Australia, also boasts a reporting system, making data, statistics and images available at the touch of a button.

The connectivity the software provides enhances all levels of service, from health and safety to quality assurance without the heavy administrative burden providers often have to implement.

Garry and the Passport365 team are currently in talks with sport and leisure surface specialists in other parts of the world who are interested in buying the rights to use the app in their territories.

For more information, or to register for a free 14-day trial of the app, visit: www.passport365.co.uk

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Sherriff taking Bovey Castle back to the top

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Sherriff taking Bovey Castle back to the top: Scott Duff, head greenkeeper at Bovey Castle in Devon, is using a range of Sherriff Amenity products to help the club get back into the Top 100 Golf Courses.

Designed in 1926 by J F Abercromby, one of the finest British golf course designers of the last century, Bovey Castle’s 18 hole championship golf course is challenging and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Dartmoor.

Sherriff taking Bovey Castle back to the top

Scott, who has been at Bovey Castle for four years, started his turf career in football at Torquay United FC before switching to greenkeeping. He admits that it was somewhat of a challenging transition but claims that he has no regrets.

“When I was in football groundsmanship, I had always wanted to try greenkeeping but to be honest I was always worried that I would be out of my depth,” he said. “I went from looking after just one surface which had a fairly consistent maintenance regime to suddenly looking after a multitude of different areas – each with their own requirements. It was the biggest challenge in my career but also the best because I can confidently say that I love my job.”

Scott excelled in his new role and was rewarded two years ago when he was promoted to the position of head greenkeeper. Now, alongside Sean Bennett – course manager, the two of them have a very clear goal.

“We are a championship course which used to be in the top 100 but not anymore unfortunately. Quite simply our goal is to get back in there. I think with Sean’s knowledge of managing a course, his drive and his passion, along with the improvements he wants to make, I think it is very realistic.

“We are not a million miles away but we still have a lot of work to do and with people like David Chammings from Sherriff Amenity on-board then this will only boost our chances. David has really changed the way we approach our feed programmes and also some of the work we do out on the course because he draws up management plans which concentrate on what we should be doing throughout certain periods of the year.”

After consultation, David recommended a tank mixture consisting of iNTrench fertiliser 15.0.9 and GoGreen Energy bio-stimulant for the greens – two products which perfectly complement one another.

iNTrench is a controlled uptake nitrogen fertiliser designed specifically for the needs of professional sports turf. It gives up to ten weeks of improved blade colour and a higher quality turf with 66% the nitrogen rate of leading competitors. Its tank-mix partner, GoGreen Energy, is a concentrated bio-stimulant, formulated to assist plant health and relieve stress symptoms.

“Every course is different and you have to work out what is best for your site,” said Scott. “With iNTrench and GoGreen, we find that if we go at half rate (20 l/ha) every two weeks, then the greens seem to hold the nutrients a lot better. By applying it like this we notice healthier greens and also better longevity out of the products. This tank-mix has worked really well for us and there has been a big improvement in the greens.

“In fact, we also use this mix with the addition of seaweed on our tees if they need some instant colour-up.”

Scott also reported excellent results from Sherriff Amenity’s Aqua-Zorb 45 – a unique wetting agent, which helped him through a somewhat difficult summer last year.

“Last year, Aqua-Zorb was a real saviour for us. I would say that at least 90% of courses in the UK would say that the disease period for golf was horrendous last year and a good wetting agent could have saved money on fungicides and relieved the drought stress.

“We had such intense heat last year and Aqua-Zorb still worked incredibly well considering we were frequently seeing temperatures of 30°C plus.

“I feel we have been going through a massive transition period and this year we will see even more improvements to the course. The Sherriff Amenity products have played a big role in the success over the past couple of years and I can’t fault the service from David whatsoever.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity

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ISEKI To Exhibit At SALTEX

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ISEKI To Exhibit At SALTEX: ISEKI is excited to be showcasing two new models of compact tractors this year at SALTEX alongside our exceptional mower range.

The new TXGS24 is replacing the exceptionally popular TXG237, the ultimate multi-purpose groundscare compact tractor.  Fitted with new accessories, ergonomic controls and refreshed design plus the addition of a new front loader.

 

On display at the show will also be a new TH5420 to join the established and reliable TH range of ISEKI compact tractors. This is a brand new product with a Stage V compliant engine, a new range of accessories plus a factory fitted cab.

The unmistakable ISEKI range of mowers will also be on the stand, suitable for any tasks from brushcutting, to extensive mowing.  Leaving a superior finish, along with the ability to cut and collect whatever the weather throws at you is the hallmark of ISEKI mowers.

Comes and see us on stand E057.

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GKB To Top All At SALTEX

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GKB To Top All At SALTEX: The GKB Top-Clean is a full mechanic, self-driven machine that removes all kind of dirt from the top of a synthetic pitch, from cigarettes, leaves and papers to plastic bottles.

This machine can easily be connected to almost every tractor by using a standard three-point hitch or electric drawbar. Using a high driving speed (around 10 km/h) will result in a perfect looking artificial pitch that you can be proud of!

GKB To Top All At SALTEX

Designed as a full self-driven machine, the Top-Clean features two rubber wheels at the front ensure that the machine will roll softly across the artificial pitch. Not only this, but a rotary brush is connected with the wheels by a chain drive. You can determine the speed of the brushes with the driving speed.

During operation debris and infill will come on a vibrating sieve. This sieve will separate infill material from the debris and thanks to the vibration of the sieve, all pollution moves to the bins at the end. Containing two separate bins, after use, the bins can easily be removed to get emptied in a regular waste container.

GKB is proud to be showcasing this new to range model at the 2019 SALTEX show. Visit stand H051 to discover more.

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 Top Clean ready for next season.

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Campey To Launch AllTrec Tool Carrier

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Campey To Launch AllTrec Tool Carrier: Campey Turf Care Systems will be exhibiting the new AllTrec Tool Carrier for the first time on stand C050 at SALTEX 2019.

The Dutch made machine is 100% electric and can be used with either the cutting deck, weed brush, hedge trimmer or weed killer attachments. Because it is fully electric there are zero CO2 emissions and very low operating costs. During operation the machine makes barely any noise, making It is very well suited for use in busy urban environments.

Campey To Launch AllTrec Tool Carrier

Also on display will be the recently released Campey Uni-Scratch. This machine is the ideal solution for professional and effective maintenance of natural grass and can also be used for the final organic matter removal on natural grass hybrid carpet pitches when carrying out annual renovations.

Away from turf grooming, Campey will also be exhibiting the Air2G2 Air Inject and Air2hp. The pedestrian aeration machine has become a recognised figure in the turf industry by allowing users to aerate as and when they need to with no disruption. This has been taken a step further with the Air2hp. The hand probe is ideal for sand bunkers, small spaces and hard to reach places and can quickly treat areas of standing water using the hand-operated valve to inject air below the surface in a diameter of up to 3ft (0.9m).

Renovations will also play a part on stand C050 with the 1.6m Koro FIELDTOPMAKER. Since the introduction of the machine to market, fraise mowing has become a standard practice, and as the technology has become more refined, it has been used on new sports surfaces, with cricket the latest to adopt the practice. The accuracy on multiple surfaces comes from using the UniverseÒ rotor with 3mm and 5mm blades. With the 3mm blades on four spirals, you can remove 30% of the surface with 3mm removed and 7mm remaining. There is also the option of removing 15% using two spirals with 3mm removed and 17mm remaining. Having these options available means each job can be tailored to what the surface requires.

Campey To Launch AllTrec Tool Carrier

A machine that is equally variable is the Dakota 310. This compact and very manoeuvrable dual spinner topdresser can spread up to 6m wide, with the width and amount of topdressing infinitely variable using the individual hand controls on the handlebar. It is ideal for spreading sand, rubber crumb and other topdressings on surfaces that require lightweight machines to be used or are difficult to access with larger spreaders.

Completing the line-up will be a Vredo Overseeder along with a team of Campey product specialists, who will be available to answer any questions related to the machines and turf maintenance.

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