Dennis E-Series shines at San Siro

Two models in the Dennis E-Series battery-powered range are setting the standard in Italy by maintaining the pitch at the world-famous San Siro stadium.

San Siro is the home stadium of two of the most successful Italian Football League clubs: A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale (Inter), and in addition to hosting the matches of Milan and Inter, it welcomes concerts of many of the most renowned Italian and international artists.

Giovanni Castelli has been the Agronomist at San Siro since the Italia 90 World Cup. He oversees a team of 6 groundstaff and is responsible for every pitch operation.

Under his remit, Giovanni also decides on which machinery should be used at the San Siro, and he explained his reasons for choosing the Dennis ES-860 and ES-34R.

After an E-Series demonstration, Giovanni selected the ES-860 and the ES-34R.

The ES-860, 34” battery powered turf management system delivers maximum versatility and the range of 13 interchangeable cassette options provide a solution to many dayto-day maintenance tasks such as cutting, scarifying, brushing, slitting and verticutting.

Furthermore, traditional G860 cassettes will also fit the ES860, meaning that customers will not have to purchase additional cassettes.

The ES-34R is a 34” (860mm) battery powered twin blade rotary mower. It is ideal for fine turf mowing and cleaning up operations in stadia and training facilities. Utilising the contra rotating hardened steel blades and low chute ensures maximum collection performance.

A robust LCD keypad screen is an integral feature of the handlebar console on every model in the ES range. This provides the operator with a multitude of information options including speed, clip rate, service checks, lifetime running reports and battery information.

The San Siro grounds team purchased the E-Series models through Pratoverde, a Dennis and SISIS Italian distributor, and Antonio said their support has been invaluable.

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Repton School in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside has an educational history spanning over 1000 years.

Sports facilities at Repton School are of a superb standard and signifi cant investments in recent years give pupils and the wider community access to state-of-the-art facilities including two floodlit waterbased Astroturf hockey pitches and a sand-based Astroturf.

It is these sports surfaces that Andy Butler, Head of Grounds and Gardens, is responsible for, covering an area of 66 acres at Repton and a further 44 acres at the preparatory school. Already an experienced groundsman at

Repton for 14 years, Andy took over 18 months ago as the man in charge. His priority was to review and re-structure the working days of the entire grounds team.

Andy cited an example of the Imants ShockWave decompactor, supplied through Campey Turf Care Product Specialist Simon Holland.

“We have had the Imants ShockWave on-site now for over six years, using it intermittently for areas with excessive compaction or standing water issues. Now, in the new system, we schedule the ShockWave treatment for all turf pitches over the Autumn period when the conditions are perfect for this process, neither too cold nor too dry.”

The minimal surface disturbance of the ShockWave, results in no disruption or cancelled games following treatment and all of Repton School training sessions went ahead as planned. The timing allowed the turf to then lay dormant over the cold winter spell, while creating the perfect soil and root structure to encourage excellent turf growth in the Spring. This in turn created natural turf sports surfaces that were strong and resistant to the amount of wear and tear played out throughout the sporting fixtures.

Campey Turf Care Systems

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