Tag Archive for: Turf

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

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Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure: As far as jobs go, Eton College provides a unique challenge. As one of the most recognisable names in education with great historical significance, the school’s reputation from students to sports pitches is paramount.

Since May 2020, Eton’s 38 winter sports pitches and 1,500 acres of land spanning the M4 all the way to 2012 Olympic venue Dorney Lake have been under the control of Grounds Manager Lee Marshallsay.

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

Turf Tank One relieves staff pressure

His tenure has coincided with the Covid pandemic, which brought to light the number of man-hours his team spent line marking and the fact something needed to be done about it.

For context, Lee has a team of thirty. Eleven are groundsmen, with two on the college’s golf course full time and another pair dedicated to line marking. Over the summer, the line marking duo spent six to seven weeks marking out football and rugby pitches for the commencement of the school year, and in November, Lee checked his Turf Keeper records to discover his team spent over 850 hours marking.

The man-hours and pressure involved in completing this task between terms had Lee looking for alternative options. Despite being initially sceptical of a robotic line maker, he eventually turned to Turf Tank. https://turftank.com/en/

“It was also about helping the team, so they didn’t feel under pressure all the time. With the robot, where it’s taken us six or seven weeks to mark everything, we can effectively do that in a week now. Suddenly, the pressure has gone, and if we have staff on holiday or off sick, it keeps us out of trouble.

“We’ve got some projects lined up this summer that we are going to do in-house, and suddenly, that marker frees up two people, and we can put extra staff on the projects. That’s how we’ll use it as an aid and addition to the team to help plan workload and projects.”

With the Turf Tank One in place, Lee is looking to cut his marking hours by more than half. For him, this will increase pitch quality with additional aeration, cutting and finessing taking place. But choosing a robot and company that could provide everything he needed was critical.

The support from Alex and the Turf Tank team has been exemplary, with all questions answered quickly and I know that there is a full-time service engineer if I ever need hands-on assistance.”

“I think to be fair; the Turf Tank instantly ticked a lot of boxes for us. And it wasn’t just me, my team were there, and we tried other machines a week apart on the same pitch. We looked at line quality, how much paint it was putting out, how quick it was to set up, and there were similarities.

“But then we started to think about the differences. Do we want to be tied into a paint deal? Do we want an annual subscription fee? Turf Tank gave us that bit more flexibility.

“The other factor was the base station. You read a lot about the pros and cons, but to be honest as soon as I saw how it interacted with the machine, and how much more accurate the marking was, compared to those without using a base station, the whole team were like ‘it’s a no brainer, isn’t it?’ It blew us away, to be fair, and we bought the Turf Tank, and we now have base station points installed across the site, and it has worked really, really well.

“The Turf Tank records templates for initial marking and subsequent over-marking. Being able to get those templates was a significant point for us and nothing has been out of the remit of the robot. We’ve got most of the pitches loaded up now, including where the goals are actually smaller than a football goal, but we’ve managed to get the robot between the two posts and mark. Everything we’ve asked for has happened, and it has been great

“We want to teach our staff new skills and using and understanding the latest technology is very much part of Eton College’s ethos. I’m very much won-over and very impressed with the Turf Tank One line-marking robot. And if I were to move anywhere else, it is one of the first things I’d want to have in my fleet.”

For more information on the Turf Tank One or to have a demonstration contact alex@turftank.co.uk (southern UK) or matt@turftank.co.uk (northern UK) Michael@turftank.co.uk (Scotland and Ireland)

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Sports turf consortium formed

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Sports turf consortium formed: Elite Pitch Alliance, a consortium of industry leaders in the consultancy, design, construction, and management of professional sports fields, launched today with a mission of providing solutions to stadium venues and training facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 renewal will be the first competition hosted by three nations, while also being the first to include 48 teams.

The consortium’s founding members STRI, DA Hogan & Associates, and Sports Fields Inc. will look to assist venues in providing bespoke natural grass fields in conformance with the exacting standards required by FIFA. The group brings together decades of experience in the design, construction, management, maintenance and inspection of sports facilities, turf fields and international tournaments in North America and around the globe.

Sports turf consortium formed

Sports turf consortium formed

“This is an exciting step forward for the development of World Cup venues throughout Canada, USA and Mexico, enabling facilities to provide world class surfaces for this prestigious event” said Andrew Brooker, Commercial Director for STRI Group. “STRI Group is very pleased to have partnered with DA Hogan & Associates, and Sports Fields Inc, companies who share our company’s vision of delivering excellence in sports surfaces across a multitude of sectors”.

D.A. Hogan principal Dave Anderson added “Our Alliance uniquely combines extensive World Cup and NFL playing field experience.  DA Hogan & Associates is very excited to be collaborating with STRI, Dr. Andy McNitt, and Sport Fields Inc. to provide FIFA compliant pitches of the highest quality for the 2026 World Cup as well as ensuring the NFL venues are fully restored with the appropriate surface for the 2026 NFL season”.

“This collaboration opens up a unique opportunity to bring the best in business to the table for a common goal – design, building and maintaining world class surfaces for the 2026 World Cup” said President and CEO of Sports Fields Inc., Mark Stalnaker. “We are tremendously excited to build upon our portfolio of successful projects and use that experience to support the selected venues in preparing for a generational opportunity”.

The overarching goal of the consortium is to provide venue specific permanent and temporary pitch solutions which are cost conscious, environmentally responsible, and minimize the disruption to existing tenants and operations.

As the group begins to work together, STRI, Sports Fields Inc., DA Hogan can look forward to future jointly developed projects and shared resources for years to come.

ABOUT STRI

STRI is the leading global pitch design and consultancy specialist for the development of elite standard sports surfaces in stadia. We were established in 1929 in Yorkshire, England and now operate globally.

We have successfully masterminded the installation of over 180 stadium pitches in 30 countries at the highest-level including FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships and Olympic Games. Our expertise is in the delivery of a comprehensive solution where a multi-faceted approach is required to understand the venues environmental, economic, and operational requirements to deliver the optimal code compliant sporting surfaces.

Our vastly experienced teams of consultants, researchers, designers, planners and engineers provide comprehensive science backed turf solutions. Our technical teams are at the cutting edge, incorporating innovation and sustainable thinking in out practice. STRI has seen considerable growth, which has been connected to increased demand and a clear desire from clients to receive sustainable, high-quality end to end solutions.

ABOUT DA HOGAN AND ASSOCIATES

D.A. Hogan & Associates is a consulting engineering and landscape architecture firm based in Seattle, Washington that was formed in 1960. The firm specializes in outdoor athletic,

physical education, recreational, and sports facilities.

Over the last 60 years we have provided design and construction management services for more than 500 sports facilities including natural and artificial. This experience has provided us with an exceptional level of expertise relating to the design concepts and attention to detail that is required to ensure a successful field installation.

ABOUT SPORTS FIELDS INC.

Sports Fields Inc. (SFI) is a leading sports field planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations organization headquartered in the greater Atlanta area. The company provides end-to-end or single-source solutions to professional sports organizations, municipal governments, non-profits, and higher education clients who are seeking to address unique sports challenges & opportunities.  SFI was launched in 2005 and quickly earned a reputation for quality workmanship and outstanding customer service.  SFI is an industry leader in the construction of synthetic & natural turf construction and has completed dozens of projects for organizations within Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).   SFI is recognised for successful, on-time completion of time-sensitive, high-profile professional sports projects.

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Tillers Turf invests in Kubota power

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Tillers Turf invests in Kubota power: Leading turf grower and supplier Tillers Turf has invested in Kubota’s new M6-142 tractor to provide the power for high output maintenance and harvesting equipment.

The 142hp tractor from the latest M6002 series is powered by a Kubota Stage V 6.1 litre four-cylinder engine and weighs in at just six tonnes, offering an excellent power to weight ratio for work with more demanding implements while maintaining a light tread on the top quality turf, which is used in leading sports venues around the country.

Tillers Turf invests in Kubota power

Tillers Turf invests in Kubota power

Its 24×24 (36×36 with creeper) speed Powershift transmission makes the best use of the engine’s muscle whether on the road or in the field, and rear linkage lift capacity of 7000kg with up to four spool valves means that it can handle a wide range of implements.

For Tillers Turf’s specialist requirements the M6-142 has been equipped with the latest Egnos guidance system for increased accuracy on tasks such as mowing. It has also been fitted with BKT turf tyres which exert minimal ground pressure as possible and have a wide, flat bottom tyres to avoid making indentations in the ground.

The tractor immediately impressed when paired with a 23 reel, 16m working width V-Mow cylinder gang mower, purpose-built for large scale turf production, but the team at Tillers’ Turf also put their prospective purchase through an extensive series of trials, as Production Manager Charles Applewhite explains:

“We run a fleet of some 20 tractors of 100-160hp for a variety of turf growing tasks and when we had M6 on demo we trialled it on 12 different applications from towing large trailers of turf rolls from the field to rotary mowing, cylinder mowing and powering specialist equipment for drainage operations, all of which it performed really well.”

This was thought provoking for the company, he adds:

“We even used it for some of the land work applications that are normally carried out using six-cylinder tractors. The M6 has an interesting engine – a 6.1 litre, four-cylinder which is a very large displacement, so there’s less lag. It’s a more traditional approach than some other engines, but easy to operate and it really surprised us with the variety of tasks it can do.”

Tillers Turf also asked eight different operators to put the tractor through its paces and Mr Applewhite comments that it got the thumbs up.

“They really liked it – they praised the suspension, which gives the ride you’d expect from a bigger tractor, and found the Kubota extremely comfortable on the road.”

“The decent DAB radio, heating and air conditioning and comfortable seat were also appreciated,” he reports. “It may sound trivial, but when you are putting in long hours in the tractor, comfort is very important.”

The M6 also scored highly for its manoeuvrability, with a good steering lock, and for how it performed on the turf, he explains:

“It’s light and power dense, which is crucial for us as we don’t want to put excessive ground pressure on the areas that we are working on.”

With the M6-142 now in its first season at Tillers Turf, and its bigger brother the M7003, also now in for evaluation, the tractors’ capabilities have led him to think of the future:

“We have five front line tractors which are changed every couple of years, but we also have 15-20 much older tractors which are kept in the fleet because they are simpler and we can maintain them ourselves in our own workshop. With the front line tractors, we are slowly losing the ability to do this, because everything needs a computer and specialist tooling,” he explains.

“The M6 is unique because while it’s as straightforward to maintain as one from the early 2000s, it still offers all the benefits of a modern tractor. We may be able to replace our older fleet with the Kubotas, which is where we saw it fitting in.”

“What surprised us, however, is there were jobs that we thought only a six-cylinder tractor could do, but it could perform these. So looking to the future, a tractor like this with 140hp under the bonnet, but being so light and capable, could fit into our business model very well.”

Tillers Turf Production Manager Charles Applewhite put the Kubota M6-1452 through a comprehensive evaluation process before purchase.

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Turf clean-up made easy with Billy Goat

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Turf clean-up made easy with Billy Goat: With the summer months approaching, it’s important to clear turf now to prepare it for the heavy use it will endure during the season ahead. Whether it’s community fields, golf courses, residential areas or football pitches, every space will require clean-up and maintenance to get it looking and feeling its best.

Billy Goat has designed and manufactured a range of property clean-up products for all types, including residential, commercial or municipal requirements. Billy Goat understands the importance of keeping spaces tidy and its range of tools make sure that maintenance is simple and hassle free.

Turf clean-up made easy with Billy Goat

Turf clean-up made easy with Billy Goat

Remove loose debris

As the growing season begins, turf benefits from being exposed to sunlight as this will encourage strong and effective growth. A layer of debris over grass can cause stunted growth and due to the dark, damp environment debris creates, it is also at risk of encouraging various diseases. So, clearing away debris will not only help reduce damage to grass but it will also allow vital nutrients, air and water in so it can remain healthy and vibrant for summer.

Billy Goat offers a wide range of powerful and robust debris loaders and vaccums that effortlessly remove all types of debris from turf and the DL1302H Debris Loader offers the perfect combination of power and size. With 2,100 cfm of commercial suction and a discharge chute, high productivity leaf and debris removal across small and midsize jobs and crews is made effortless. Plus, with a dual shredding 14.5” diameter armor plate impeller with a Piranha™ blade that reduces debris up to 12.1 and allows you to load up across multiple properties before dispensing, time and effort is reduced.

For both lawn and hard surface areas, the MV601 multi-surface vacuum offers the perfect machine for larger clean-up projects, thanks to its Braggs & Stratton electric easy start engine, self-propelled and 3-speed vacuum. Plus, its powerful 6-blade serrated impeller encourages maximum suction, picking up leaves, grass clippings, litter and other debris quickly and efficiently, making mass clean-up easy.

The MV601 has also been manufactured using abrasion-resistant composite housing components, offering a lightweight model that won’t rust or dent so it can be used year after year.

Scarify to remove thatch

Whilst removing loose debris from on top of turf is vital in preparing it for the summer months, it’s also important to make sure that thatch, moss and any other unwanted growth is removed from turf to ensure strong, healthy growth.

Scarifying is an effective way of removing thatch from turf and can be done around March and April time, when grass starts to grow and can recover quickly. Billy Goat has a versatile range of scarifiers that takes the backache out of turf maintenance. Its CR550H Power Rake is just one example of its impressive products that efficiently removes matted thatch from small to medium sized lawns, thanks to its rugged design and powerful Honda engine. The model is also self-propelled and can be fitted with a spring tine reel, so even thatch in hard to reach places can be removed, leaving every inch of lawn looking like new.

Undertaking clean-up projects now will help to keep turf looking lush throughout the summer, and Billy Goat provides the tools to help clear turf of any size with ease.

Aerate lawns to life

The Billy Goat range of Plugr aerators enables grounds professionals, landscapers and contractors to be able to tackle large areas of lawn quickly and easily. Plugr aerators offer the perfect solution to promoting spring growth, improving drainage and encouraging new growth by making holes throughout the turf that breaks up compacted soil and allows air, water and nutrients to circulate through the roots. This results in healthier, stronger roots, grass and turf.

The PL1801H has an 18” working width so are ideal for smaller grounds. It also has four tines that place cores 2.75” deep and aerate 22,000 square feet per hour. They have an easy-folding handle that allows for compact use, transportation and storage, and its lightweight design allows for ease in manoeuvrability. For those seeking a more productive, cost-efficient way of aerating larger areas, the 25 Series is best. It offers the best combination of productivity, comfort and results, whilst boasting intuitive controls, and variable speed fingertip hydro-drive innovation.

The PL2501SPV is powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 203cc engine and is best suited for more intense usage and larger areas. The models have a 25” working width and eight reciprocating cam driven tines that punch to core depths of 2.75”, delivering aeration to up to 42,500 square feet per hour.

Billy Goat products are available nationwide through Henton & Chattell’s dealer network. For more information and to see videos demonstrating their performance visit www.billygoat.co.uk.

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Collier Turf Care seminars back with a bang

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Collier Turf Care seminars back with a bang: After a pandemic-enforced two-and-a-half-year break, Collier Turf Care were delighted to resume their ever-popular bowls seminars. Hosted alongside Robert Jack and Andy Walker of Dennis and SISIS, over 40 attendees across two days were able to listen to talks on industry relevant issues, see some excellent machinery demonstrations and take part in thorough Q&A’s.

John Noyce & Chris Humphrey of Collier Turf Care led the presentations covering all things bowls! Turf disease, pests and future methods of prevention were top of the agenda. After a very informative morning the attendees were led outside to watch a very interactive demonstration of Dennis and SISIS’s latest equipment – after being fuelled by a hearty lunch of course.

Collier Turf Care seminars back with a bang

Collier Turf Care seminars back with a bang

The day was enjoyed by all and we would like to thank both Horley Bowls Club and Newick Bowls Club for being excellent hosts and also providing the brilliant weather!

Testimonials

We were so blessed with a perfect spring day for the Seminar jointly hosted by our friends from Collier Turf Care in association with Dennis and SISIS.

After morning coffees, we were treated to a talk on Disease Management from Chris Humphrey followed by another very interesting insight into Earthworm Management by John Noyce, both representing Colliers.

After lunch, the Fine Turf Management talk and Machine demonstrations by Rob Jack and Andy Walker from Dennis/SISIS showed off some very nice machines.

All in all, we had a very informative and enjoyable day and everyone who attended got a great deal out of it.

Brian Wilson – Greenkeeper (Horley Bowls Club)

Just wanted to say thank you to you and all your team at Horley Bowls club, yesterday, for an excellent day.

Found all the talks and demonstration very interesting and informative. All in all, we had a very informative and enjoyable day and everyone who attended got a great deal out of it.

Philip Waterman – Tandridge District Council

The events also saw the launch of our new Bowling Green Groundsman’s Maintenance Guide. This booklet is full of excellent tips and advice on keeping your bowls green looking its best. To get your copy please get in touch with your local Collier Turf Care representative or call our offices on 01328 700600.

If you are interested in updates of future seminars or think that your club would be interested in hosting such an event, please get in touch by emailing benb@collier-turf-care.co.uk

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