Tag Archive for: Turf

Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

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Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost: Initial marking for athletics and other sports used to be a source of anxiety and stress at Dollar Academy, but since using the Turf Tank One, the mindset of the team has been positively transformed.

Situated in the town of Dollar, Central Scotland, the co-educational day and boarding school occupies a 70-acre site at the base of the Ochil Hills. It is there Head of Grounds, John Vaughan-Davis, and his team strive to provide the best surfaces possible for the 1300 children aged 5-18.

Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

Turf Tank Brings Mental Health Boost

A significant part of that task is pitch presentation and line marking. Previously, the job of initial line marking for athletics, in particular, brought a lot of stress to the team, creating a negative environment to work in. But with the Turf Tank robot at their disposal, that’s all changed.

“I think the mental health of our team has improved because of the Turf Tank,” John begins. “Historically, leading up to athletics marking, initial rugby marking, and football initial markings, there’s always been a bit of anxiety, a bit of stress, and it was a really, really anxious environment to be around.

“Now that we’ve got the Turf Tank, it’s completely changed the team’s mindset. It’s gone from being tense to just relaxed and having faith and trust in the Turf Tank. It just eased everyone’s concerns. It’s made a much better working environment for all of us, leading up to those points by removing an added stress and taking it away.

“So mental health is probably one of the biggest benefits that I’m not sure people talk about enough.”

As well as benefitting the existing team, John has also seen an impact when recruiting. In his experience, the use of innovative technology has interested potential candidates and should be used as a tool to attract people into the industry.

By attracting new staff and boosting the morale of the existing team, the Turf Tank is helping John achieve his goals for the site and add finishes like school logos and numbers on rugby pitches, which they couldn’t do without the robot.

“Having pride in what we do reflects across the whole school, and that’s very much at the core of our working process,” John explains.

“We want to try and produce the best pitches that we can in the conditions we are given, and the Turf Tank certainly helps us present the pitches in the best way possible.

“We can’t do a lot of the things that the Turf Tank does by hand. For example, the numbers that we did today, the school badge or a lacrosse pitch at short notice that we can now do within 20 minutes. We’ve marked small football pitches for charity days and other events that we couldn’t have done without the Turf Tank.

“So for us to produce the best pitches we can is one thing, but being able to do things on short notice is another thing that we keep on having to do. The Turf Tank takes all the pressure off of that element of it, but also knowing that when we do put it out, it’s going to do a 100% job.

“It is correct every single time we put that machine out, it’s spot on. Regardless of the event, it is always, always 100% right.”

Dollar Academy Video Interview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NC6cGNsO1A

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John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf president

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John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf president: Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) announced today that it has named Deanna Kovar as its new President of Worldwide Agriculture and Turf, Small Ag and Turf, and Regions 1 and 2, which include the company’s presence in Asia, Africa, and Europe. She replaces Mark von Pentz who is retiring.

In this role, Kovar will be responsible for the overall management and performance of the company’s Small Ag and Turf business, as well as John Deere’s performance in these markets. Kovar previously served as vice president, Production and Precision Ag since 2020, where she led a global team focused on delivering equipment and technology solutions that help ag operators be more productive, profitable, and sustainable.

John Deere's Worldwide Agriculture & Turf president

John Deere’s Worldwide Agriculture & Turf president

Kovar joined Deere in 2000 and spent most of her career in positions in channel and product management, where she gained a deep understanding of ag customers’ requirements. She has developed an extensive background in precision technologies, beginning with her move in 2010 to the company’s Intelligent Solutions Group as Manager of Portfolio Management. Later positions included Division Sales Manager, director, Production & Precision Ag Marketing, and director, Global Operator Stations.

“Deanna and her team will play an instrumental role in advancing our smart industrial strategy to deliver enhanced customer value in the Small Ag and Turf markets, as well as in Regions 1 & 2,” said John May, Chief Executive Officer for Deere & Company. “Her deep customer understanding, professional background in channel and product management, keen business insights, and record of consistent success make Deanna well-qualified for her new role.”

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Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

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Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC: Dun Laoghaire Golf Club recently played host to the insightful Turf Science Live seminar, an event co-organised by ICL and Syngenta. With the goal of sharing the latest knowledge and trends in turf management, the seminar proved to be a very useful gathering for industry professionals.

Attracting around 100 participants, the event brought together greenkeepers and groundsmen from sporting venues across Ireland. The day was packed with lively discussions and opportunities for collaborative learning.

Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

The day commenced in the impressive Dun Laoghaire clubhouse, setting the tone for the informative sessions that were to follow. Attendees were divided into four groups, ensuring an intimate and comprehensive learning experience. The four groups rotated through different stations, two in the morning and another two after lunch.

Speaking of lunch, it wasn’t all business. Participants had a chance to engage in a ‘nearest the pin’ golf competition, adding a bit of fun and friendly rivalry to the day.

Four key sessions were on the agenda, each covering a specialized topic in turf management:

  • Station 1: Revolutionary insect control’, presented by Sean Loakes, Syngenta’s Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland.
  • Station 2: ‘Trial updates from eqo.s, the new environmentally friendly outfield nutrition, presented by ICL’s Henry Bechelet and Colman Warde.
  • Station 3: From soil analysis to turf nutrition programmes ‘, presented by Fergal Greenan from ICL.
  • Station 4: ‘Preparing for autumn: A comprehensive guide to fungicide planning’, led by Glenn Kirby of Syngenta.

David Callanan CGCS MG, Course Manager at Beech Park Golf Club remarked, “It was a great event and I’d like to thank ICL and Syngenta for their continued support to the industry here.”

“It was a top-class event and venue, with great presentations,” commented Richard Doyle, Head Groundsman at RDS.

Special thanks were given to the club’s course superintendent, Des McGann, and his team for helping host the seminar.

Events such as Turf Science Live play a pivotal role in enhancing the standards of the turf industry by ensuring professionals are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and practices.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice: Turf Tank, the global leader in robotic line marking, is bringing the industry defining Turf Tank Two to Saltex 2023.

The Turf Tank is going from strength to strength, not only is it popular at Premier League level with 50% of Premier League Football Clubs owning a Turf Tank robot, but the number of other users has also increased dramatically. Grass roots clubs, independent and state schools, local authorities, contractors, league football/rugby/hockey and other sports are also finding the Turf Tank ideal and affordable for their clubs too.

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Your opportunity to see the new model Turf Tank Two will be at the NEC on 1st and 2nd November, where Turf Tank is exhibiting on stand F102. Visitors can experience the next step in GPS line marking as the company that built the world’s first robotic line marker continues to innovate.

Performance and accuracy are the hallmarks of Turf Tank, and a combination of refinements, including two motor drives for better momentum and new wheels for improved grip and traction, have led to faster marking times with the Turf Tank Two.

Enhanced Sprayer Module

While the speed and accuracy of marking are paramount to efficiency, so is the usability of the Turf Tank Two. Several sprayer module upgrades have made fine-tuning simple with the twist of a knob, including disc height, width and a disc ruler for a better overview.

Tighter tolerances ensure sharper and crisp lines between 5-15cm, with the rack-and-pinion system letting you go from minimum to maximum in a single turn. The height of the sprayer discs can be easily adjusted in increments of 5mm, allowing you to approximate the correct sprayer height. Fine-grained adjustments can be made via a turning knob to get the height precisely as you want and get consistent results every mark.

To make maintenance more manageable, the module is now an independent part. It can be removed by loosening two screws, allowing easy access to specific parts, while one-hand solenoid removal has also been made possible for quicker working.

Quick Control

A new front panel provides quick pause/resume options, LED indicators to show the robot status and a start/stop sprayer button. A LED indicator on the battery has been fitted for a quick status check – if it’s plugged in or not – and batteries can now be hot-swapped without needing to shut down the robot.

Ergonomic Improvements

Numerous ergonomic improvements have been made to make working with the Turf Tank Two quicker and easier.

A tilted pump cover allows up to 20 litres of paint to be slid into the robot rather than being lifted in and out of the top. The newly designed compartment increases efficiency by ensuring the suction rod can use all the paint, and battery access has also been simplified, with only one movement needed to slide it in place.

Additionally, handles are now on the front and back to make lifting in and out of vans and buggies easier.

New Powers in the Palm of Your Hand

New in-app guides are introduced to walk you through most features, and the new Wizard guides you through the cleaning and priming process of the paint system. To quickly troubleshoot any calibration errors, a new augmented reality guided calibration routine lets you take a picture of lines and automatically fix any calibration errors.

All of these features also work in Offline Mode, which means you have the full functionality of the Turf Tank Two in cases where an internet connection can’t be established.

Remote Support

The new software also builds on Turf Tank’s leading customer service through remote access. Turf Tank staff can assist in setting up fields, diagnose problems and provide support instantly wherever you are. A new built-in help centre is also available to answer frequently asked questions and get you marking within minutes of encountering an issue.

Turf Tank’s product specialists will be on stand to answer any questions and demonstrate the advancements made with the Turf Tank Two.

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution: Wildflower Turf Ltd are delighted to celebrate their 20th birthday as the original innovators of Wildflower Turf. Their remarkable journey has seen Wildflower Turf Ltd expand from their Hampshire HQ to Shropshire and Yorkshire.  

This news comes in the wake of many groundbreaking initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

  • How their first square metre of wildflower turf was discarded, only for it to flourish in the yard one month later!
  • Their first RHS Chelsea Flower Show appearance in 2004.
  • How a green roof above a playhouse in 2004 is now eclipsed by huge projects such as Skelton Lake Services.
  • The highly acclaimed 256-page book ‘How to make a Wildflower Meadow’ by James Hewetson-Brown was released in 2016.
  • In 2023, Wildflower Turf Ltd James Hewetson-Brown was voted onto the GRO (The Green Roof Organisation) board.

To learn more about the 20 year milestone, click here.

About Wildflower Turf Ltd: Founded in 2003, Wildflower Turf Ltd pioneered and developed a soil less growing system which has transformed the concept of turf growing. As the original innovators of Wildflower Turf®, the research laboratory at their Ashe Warren Farm headquarters reinforces them as leading experts in Wildflower spaces, with unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable practices and biodiversity.

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