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STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

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STIHL marks century with host of celebrations: The world’s best-selling chainsaw brand, STIHL, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Since 1926, STIHL has defined the global standard for battery and petrol-powered forestry, landscaping, and residential gardening equipment for professional and domestic users alike.

Built to make work in nature easier, STIHL began as a one-man operation in a Stuttgart workshop. Today, it stands as an internationally renowned leader in dual technology solutions. The family-owned company, rooted in petrol-powered products, celebrates its centennial by continuing to lead innovation across both petrol and battery-powered technologies.

STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

STIHL marks century with host of celebrations

To mark the milestone, STIHL will host a range of celebrations in Great Britain and across its global network throughout the year. To kick off, STIHL will pay tribute to the famous MS 500i, the world’s first mass-produced petrol chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection, by launching a centennial edition of the model. The tool achieves an impressively low power-to-weight ratio of 1.24 kg/kW and features an elegant black design and distinctive centenary detailing. Remaining true to the performance of the original, the special edition model continues to set the benchmark for demanding forestry applications and will be available to buy later in the year from selected dealers.

Additionally, STIHL will run a series of competitions on its social channels throughout the year to reward its loyal customers and help them share in the celebrations.

Taking place at its Contra House headquarters on 25th June, STIHL will also host a special dealer conference with dedicated awards ceremony, recognising its valued dealer network. The STIHL 100 Awards will shine a spotlight on star dealers, acknowledging the contribution they make to the brand’s continued success.

Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Advisory Board of STIHL, said: “Any company that reaches the grand old age of 100 hasn’t got there by relying on tradition alone.”

“It can only stay successful for a century if it knows its roots, while also recognising when it’s time to start a new chapter. With that in mind, our anniversary is not just a time to look back, but also a moment to recognise the strength that comes from our combination of heritage, engineering expertise, and the courage to innovate.”

For more information on STIHL products, visit www.stihl.co.uk or contact your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer.

Find out more about STIHL’s historic milestone, here: https://100.stihl.com

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Travel’s a breeze with Kubota RTV’s

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Travel’s a breeze with Kubota RTV’s: How do you quickly and easily navigate over 300 acres of Championship golf course, ensuring that people and materials are always exactly where you need them? Well, if you’re the greenkeeping team working across the 45-holes at Blairgowrie Golf Club, with a fleet of five Kubota RTV’s – that’s how!

Delivering more than four years of rugged and reliable transportation, the RTVX-1110’s working alongside six Kubota compacts tractors have been credited with keeping the whole maintenance operation on course.

Travel’s a breeze with Kubota RTV’s

Travel’s a breeze with Kubota RTV’s

Since its formation in 1889, Perthshire’s Blairgowrie Golf Club has grown from an initial layout of 9 holes that now forms the ‘wee course’, with the addition of two further 18-hole courses. Over the years, the Rosemount and Lansdowne Courses have played host to many national championships for Scottish Golf, European Golf Association, DP World Tour and the R&A and consistently feature in Scotland’s Top 100 rankings. These accolades contribute to the high expectations of the 1800 members, putting the pressure on the greenkeeping team to retain the highest of standards all year-round.

“Our Kubota equipment is incredibly important to the operations at Blairgowrie Golf Club” comments Managing Secretary Stuart Wilson. “The six compact tractors ranging from the smallest B2261 up to the biggest, 74hp, M7060 are used daily for all elements of the maintenance programme. Whether it’s towing implements such as mowers or seeders or assisting with winter construction projects, they are a reliable source of power and performance.”

Equally versatile and popular are the five RTV-X1110’s, installed and maintained by the team at HRN Tractors. “The Kubota RTV’s are robust vehicles that are perfectly suited to the terrain of our courses and, ultimately, mean that we can traverse our sizeable site in good time” Stuart explains.

“The hydrostatic transmission and outstanding build quality means they can handle our undulating fairways with ease, providing the perfect combination of power, practicality and comfort. The high payload allows us to move tools and materials around quickly and efficiently, significantly improving our productivity. In addition, the hydraulic tip feature on the RTV’s is a favourite with a number of the team, meaning heavier or awkward loads can be dropped off both quickly and safely.”

From a maintenance perspective, the RTV-X1110’s tick even more boxes! “Compared to other utility vehicles, our mechanic finds the RTV’s incredibly easy to work on. Having said that, other than the routine service checks, there’s been very little he’s had to do with them as we’ve had no major issues to report in the four years we’ve had them!”

Should a question or issue arise, Stuart adds that the team are in safe hands with the back-up support available via HRN. “We have an excellent working relationship with HRN Tractors who are located only a short distance from the club. They have a very knowledgeable after sales team that can assist at short notice when required.” He concludes, “The RTV’s and Kubota equipment in general has been an invaluable asset to our business.”

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Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

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Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI: Grasstec UK & Ireland with PTx Trimble is proud to announce that we are now officially Authorised Partners of ISEKI UK & Ireland. This exciting collaboration brings together two trusted brands in the agricultural and turf machinery sector, strengthening our ability to deliver innovative solutions to dealers and customers across the region.

Alex Thorneycroft-Taylor – Territory Manager, speaking on behalf of Grasstec UK & Ireland, stated:

Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

“This partnership aligns the two brands, working alongside the dealer and customer base to offer the full range of PTx Trimble Guidance and Auto-Steer solutions across the range of ISEKI machines. By combining ISEKI’s renowned machinery with PTx Trimble’s advanced technology, we are setting a new standard for precision and efficiency in the industry.”

The partnership will officially launch at LAMMA on 14th–15th January 2026 and BTME on 20th–22nd January 2026, where visitors can experience firsthand the integration of ISEKI’s premium machinery with PTx Trimble’s cutting-edge guidance and auto-steer systems.

For more information about the partnership and the solutions available, please visit Grasstec Group – Iseki UK & Ireland

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The Show Goes On with Kubota Fleet at The NEC

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The Show Goes On with Kubota Fleet at The NEC: A fleet of 30 G261 units from Kubota’s G-Series are helping to keep waste and facilities services on track at one of the country’s leading exhibition centres. The delivery from Hunts Engineering to The NEC Birmingham in March 2025 was well received by Darren Hawkins, Head of Soft Services, and a large team of OCS Group operatives who are now benefitting from Kubota comfort, convenience and reliability across the NEC, Vox Conference Centre and BP Pulse Arena.

OCS Group have been responsible for cleaning, waste, cloakrooms, portering and the wider estates at the NEC Group’s venues since 2012. Encompassing five venues in total, the need arose to replace the vehicles which are pivotal to the maintenance operation at three of the campus’s busiest sites. “We narrowed our search down to two brands before speaking to Richard Lucas from Hunts Engineering who brought us a Kubota G261 on demonstration” explains Darren. “We really put the machine through its paces, determined to find the limits of its capability and quite quickly discovered it could deliver everything our previous machines could with the added benefit of fantastic support from Richard and the team.”

The Show Goes On with Kubota Fleet at The NEC

The Show Goes On with Kubota Fleet at The NEC

With a couple of additional bespoke features – such as the fitting of amber safety beacons – to ensure the G261’s were fully fit for purpose, the first delivery of 20 units was made in March 2025, later joined by an additional 10 in July. “Their main task is to tow 1280 litre bins to various points, collecting litter and other waste during event build ups and breakdowns. As the old saying goes ‘the show must go on’ whether we’ve got machines to collect the litter or not so reliability is critical for us. So far, the Kubota’s haven’t missed a beat.”

The reliability of the fleet of G261’s reaffirms the sentiments of the NEC Estates Team, who have benefitted from the trusty power and performance of a Kubota M5-092 for the last 18 months. “It was the positive feedback from the Estates Department that really spurred me on to look at smaller machines in the Kubota range” Darren adds.

Depending on the event calendar, it’s not unusual for 20 or more of the G261’s to be out working on any given day. “The team have all received training on their operation which has made the transition relatively seamless, and hopefully means we’ll be able to better protect our investment.” Moving forwards, a combination of in-house monitoring and routine maintenance and servicing by Hunts will ensure the venue can continue to depend on the performance of the G261’s for years to come.

Steve Cartmell, NEC Group FM Contract Support Manager added, ““The teams’ choice of working with Hunts to provide Kubota machinery has ensured that the services OCS provide across our site can continue with improved reliability, fuel efficiency and user safety features, making the operation from event to event seamless.”

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Bernhard and Company Partners with Laguna Golf Phuket

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Bernhard and Company Partners with Laguna Golf Phuket: Bernhard and Company, the leader in fine turf maintenance solutions, has completed a major machinery installation at Laguna Golf Phuket, one of Asia’s most prestigious golf destinations and the recent Asian Tour host venue. 

This installation, carried out in collaboration with Bernhard’s regional distributor, Sports Turf Solutions, represents a significant advancement in Laguna Golf Phuket’s long-term strategy to enhance course conditioning to world-class standards.

Bernhard and Company Partners with Laguna Golf Phuket

Bernhard and Company Partners with Laguna Golf Phuket

Laguna Golf Phuket has invested in Bernhard’s industry-leading Express Dual and Anglemaster grinding systems as part of a renewed agronomy vision under the direction of Jhomer Darlito Q. Patalot Jr, Director of Agronomy. This initiative aims to improve the performance, reliability, and longevity of the equipment fleet while also aligning with the broader sustainability commitments of Laguna Golf Phuket.

Jhomer Lito Patalot Jr. and his team are responsible for maintaining Laguna Golf Phuket, which involves approximately 15 cutting units. As part of the installation, Bernhard and Company provided hands-on training to 12 members of the greenkeeping and mechanics team. This training was led by Mirai Takahashi Business Development Manager for Japan. “Laguna Golf Phuket was seeking a long-term solution to extend the life of their cutting blades and equipment while improving the overall health and performance of the turf,” stated Wilson. “With our Express Dual 4100 and Anglemaster 4100 now installed, along with a dedicated team trained to maximise the benefits of this technology, Laguna Golf Phuket is well-positioned to provide exceptional playing conditions consistently.”

The installation process included training for mechanics Jakree Srikanha, Prasit Pintu, Seksan Suwan, and Sanya Samkamlue, ensuring the on-site team can maintain precision sharpening standards year-round.

Laguna Golf Phuket, renowned for hosting prestigious regional and international golf events, has announced its decision to invest in Bernhard machinery. This move aligns with their goal of being at the forefront of golf tourism in Asia and ensuring tournament-ready course conditions.

Paul Wilson, the Managing Director of Laguna Phuket, stated: “The new Bernhard machinery reinforces our commitment to providing world-class playing surfaces and maintaining consistent quality throughout the year. Additionally, the advanced technologies enhance the efficiency and capability of our greenkeeping team, leading to improved turf health, reliability, and overall course presentation. The equipment also supports our sustainability goals by promoting energy and resource efficiency, while extending the lifespan of our machines.”

Wilson further emphasised that “Bernhard and Company’s proven reliability, technical expertise, exceptional customer service, and established global track record of working with Top 100 venues make them the ideal long-term partner for maintaining elite playing conditions.”

As one of Asia’s most recognised golf destinations, hosting high-profile tournaments and attracting golfers worldwide, Laguna Golf Phuket’s investment is a strong endorsement of Bernhard’s esteemed reputation in top-level course management.

To find out more about Bernhard and Company’s range of Express Dual reel grinding machines, head to: https://bernhard.co.uk/reel-grinders/

To find out more about Bernhard and Company’s range of Anglemaster bedknife grinding machines, head to: https://bernhard.co.uk/bedknife-grinders/

To learn more about Laguna Phuket, visit: https://www.lagunagolfphuket.com/

To learn more about Sports Turf Solutions, head to: https://sportsturfsolutions.com/

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