Tag Archive for: without

CombiTool delivers maintenance without compromise

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CombiTool delivers maintenance without compromise: Proving that multi-purpose certainly doesn’t have to mean compromise, a CombiTool from GKB Machines has been delivering on every front since its delivery at Rookery Park Golf Club in May 2023.

Head Greenkeeper Neil Davey explains how the ability to conduct multiple operations in a single pass is not only saving them labour hours, but the flexibility to adjust the working depth of each attachment independently is delivering even better results than they’d hoped for across greens, tees and approaches.

CombiTool delivers maintenance without compromise

CombiTool delivers maintenance without compromise

The heavy clay profile of the club in Lowestoft, Suffolk, is the number one challenge for the greens team – with anything allowing them to get some well-needed extra drainage a welcome addition to Neil, his fleet and the team of five. “You see this kind of equipment in use a lot at football and sporting venues and, after seeing it for the first time at SALTEX, I thought why are we not using this sort of machine to slit & roll tees and approaches on a golf course!” explains Neil.

“The build quality of the GKB kit always impresses me so having seen it on the stand, and thinking about the uses for the various attachments we purchased the CombiTool without even having a demonstration. It hasn’t disappointed… in fact, since it was delivered by Stuart Paterson at Ernest Doe it’s been out on the course more than it’s been in the shed and has exceeded all of our expectations!”

Launched in November 2022, the CombiTool features four attachment slots which can be tailored to the venue or task at hand, offering versatility and value-for-money while allowing multiple maintenance operations to be completed in a single pass. “We opted for the 1.6m working width with mini-slit on the front, followed by harrows, then a roller and the brush at the rear for presentation and to stand everything up ready to cut behind. We’ve so far passed over the tees and approaches a couple of times, along with two operations on the greens, where we simply raised the brush and harrows to make the operation less invasive.”

“That’s the real beauty of this machine – the versatility and ability to control the depth of each attachment means you can be as soft or aggressive as the surface demands. You could also swap different attachments in or out to suit, making it super simple for us to get some slits in the ground for additional drainage or ahead of applications of wetting agents or topdressings.”

Neil continues, “The possibilities of this unit are endless around the course. We’re going to try it out on the fairways once the current spell of dry weather is over. We’re also going to remove the roller and use the harrows and brush to see how that combination gets on with wormcasts.”

“Not only does this machine give us so much flexibility, the convenience of it is another major plus. If I wanted to slit and brush ordinarily, this would be two people running two separate machines. With the CombiTool, it’s all done in one pass, with a second team member following on behind with a mower, leaving an incredible quality of finish” he adds.

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Where would the sporting world be without turf?

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Where would the sporting world be without turf?: Football, cricket, golf and the National Football League (NFL) are some of the world’s most watched sports. As of the 2021/22 season, the combined market value of these sports amassed over $105 billion. However without one crucial element, none of this would have been possible. 

The crucial element we’re talking about is turfgrass – a surface that many of the world’s sporting heroes have once graced: Lionel Messi, Shane Warne, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, the list goes on.

Where would the sporting world be without turf?

Where would the sporting world be without turf?

Despite its worldwide use and lucrative nature, the turfgrass industry also has its challenges. For example, the industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact and implement more sustainable maintenance practices that utilise and/or optimise fewer agronomic-related resources.

A new book published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing promises to be the ‘go-to’ reference for those across the globe wishing to adopt more sustainable turfgrass management strategies.

Achieving sustainable turfgrass management has been edited by one of the world’s leading experts on turfgrass ecology, diseases and plant protection, Professor Michael Fidanza.

“As global populations grow, annual climate vagaries increase, and biotic and abiotic plant stresses become more uncertain it is now more important than ever to understand how factors like species selection, edaphic conditions and cultural management decisions influence the ecology and persistence of managed turf systems,” says Dr Cale Bigelow, Professor of Turf Science and Ecology at Purdue University, USA.

Turfgrass is used on more than 700,000 athletic fields in the US alone, however it isn’t just used for sporting purposes. In fact the turfgrass industry consists of such a diverse group of consumers, including general homeowners, lawn care managers, architects, parks and grounds superintendents and landowners.

With such a massive consumer base and tens of thousands of people relying on the industry for their livelihoods, there is now an even greater need to improve the industry’s sustainability credentials and reduce its contribution to climate change.

This new book considers the range of alternative, sustainable management practices that utilise fewer agricultural outputs, such as fertilisers, pesticides and fuel to power agricultural machinery.

A significant benefit of the book is its final part which contains five case studies on the establishment of good turfgrass management written by a combination of industry practitioners and academic researchers.

“The book’s inclusion of case studies on unmanned aircraft, variety selection, wildflowers, pollinators and irrigation scheduling provides a unique and interesting overview of the ways in which the industry can adopt more sustainable practices,” says Dr Peter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science at The Pennsylvania State University, USA.

The book also explores the challenge of treating diseased turf in the face of fungicide resistance and highlights recent advances in turfgrass disease, insect pest and weed management.

“This book contains the latest research-based information on turfgrass science and management and has been written by some of the world’s leading authorities in turfgrass science and ecology,” says Professor Michael Fidanza

“It should be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of every scientific researcher in the field of turfgrass science and management, industry practitioners and students as well and should be top of the list for those in charge of sporting pitches and playing surfaces as an invaluable knowledge resource,” he concludes.

Find out more about this new book here: https://shop.bdspublishing.com/store/bds/detail/workgroup/3-190-109531

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Compact without compromise

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Compact without compromise: The new EK1 Series from Escorts-Kubota combines simple operation and powerful performance in a new compact entry-level package.

The versatility and range of practical accessories and options available makes the EK1-261 perfect for the small-holding and home owner markets, delivering robust efficiency for tasks such as mowing, landscaping and light soil work.

Compact without compromise

Compact without compromise

The fuel-efficient 3-cylinder 24hp Stage V diesel engine powering the EK1-261 is reliable in demanding conditions, protected by a one-piece cowling that is quick and simple to remove ensuring easy access to engine maintenance points – all without the need for tools. Shifting between the nine forward and three reverse gears is also easy thanks to the ergonomic shift lever and constant mesh transmission system which enables gear changes while on the move.

Compact at just 2.67m in length and 1.035m wide, the highly-manoeuvrable EK1-261 also doesn’t compromise when it comes to comfort with a range of features including optimally-positioned controls, a weight-adjustable operators seat and foldable ROPS protection enhancing both productivity and safety. Whilst simple in many aspects, the small details on the EK1-261 such as the charging socket and mobile phone holder have not been overlooked for a practical and more enjoyable operator experience.

A high-capacity rear hitch and impressive lifting capacity completes the specification, intuitive to operate via the powerful three-point rear linkage. The EK1-261 has an open-centre hydraulic system and is also equipped with a double-acting spool valve.

The EK1-261 comes with 5-year Kubota Care as standard – delivering full peace of mind and access to expert trained technicians & genuine Kubota parts to protect your investment and ensure optimal performance. Those interested in finding out more about the new EK1 Series will be able to see the EK1-261 as it makes its UK show debut on stand C070 at SALTEX this November.

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GSK Couldn’t Be Without ELMO

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GSK couldn’t be without ELMO: British multinational pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has explained the benefits of having adopted Husqvarna Automower® technology to maintain the green spaces around its Global head office in Brentford over the past three years.

GSK house in Brentford has relied on ELMO, a robotic lawnmower manufactured by Husqvarna and named by GSK staff, to work unassisted and maintain a large lawn area surrounding its headquarters.

GSK couldn’t be without ELMO

ELMO stands for Electronic Lawn Mowing Operative and is a Husqvarna Automower® – a robotic lawnmower which is able to maintain green spaces up to 5000m2 per machine. Installed in 2017 by Sodexo, GSK’s grounds maintenance provider, the robotic mower has quietly gone about its business and without disturbing office staff, cutting little and often through its random mowing pattern, ensuring that grass of GSK house remains a lush, healthy green.

The Husqvarna Automower® has freed up time, allowing the grounds staff to spend more hours on maintaining other, more labour intensive areas of the GSK site. Husqvarna Automower® is an environmentally friendly machine and means that the team now does not need to use as many petrol machines in order to keep the grounds looking pristine.

Sodexo’s Senior Facilities Service Manager for GSK, Michelle Chapman, commented: “ELMO has truly become part of the family at GSK house – our staff just love watching the robot work and GSK couldn’t be without ELMO now.

“For us, the Husqvarna Automower® means time saved and an environmentally way for us to manage the green spaces at our headquarters whilst improving the lawn appearance. It gives the grounds team more time to focus on other, more crucial things and the fact that it’s silent in its working means it does not disturb staff when cutting the grass.”

The little and often cutting principle of Husqvarna Automower® means the mower feeds micro-clippings back into the soil as natural fertiliser and its random mowing pattern improves lawn quality. The extremely low noise levels also ensures that the machine can work away without disturbing people.

UK Manager – Husqvarna Professional, Kevin Ashmore, commented: “Sodexo’s close relationship with Husqvarna was key in them being one of the first in the UK to trial Husqvarna Automower® in public spaces. The result was that GSK Brentwood recommended the Husqvarna Automower® to many of its main Global sites.”

Husqvarna has an impressive list of commercial installations across the UK, ranging from municipalities (Edinburgh, London & Glasgow), botanic gardens, multi-national headquarters, stately homes, sports facilities, universities & schools and zoos & animal parks.

To learn more about its technology and for more information on the Husqvarna Automower® range visit: http://www.husqvarna.com/uk/products/robotic-lawn-mowers/

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