Professional Groundscare July 2023

Visitor registration for SALTEX 2023, Europe’s largest free sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition, is now open.

And with it the chance to win a one-night stay at the Moxy Birmingham NEC on the first night of the show.

The theme for 2023 SALTEX is ‘boost your game’ which will see SALTEX focus on providing visitors and exhibitors with all the key tools needed to be successful in the groundscare sector.

With last year’s show bringing together over 8,300 visitors from 50 plus countries with the biggest names in the groundscare industry, there is no better place for those working in the grounds car industry to boost their game.

Sarah Cunningham, director of commercial and events at the Grounds Management Association, explains: “At this year’s attendees will be supported in boosting their

knowledge, career, skills, sales, surface, and network – all of which will result in an industry that is better connected, holds more expertise, and continues to be at the forefront of turfcare around the world.”

Sarah continues: “SALTEX was set up by the industry for the industry, keeping the many different reasons that people attend in mind, at all times. For example, boosting sales is much easier when over 60 percent of visitors attending play a role in the purchasing decision.”

In addition, Sarah confirms, “Visitors can hear from the industry’s leading experts, as well as groundscare professionals from the country’s top sports grounds, covering burning topics in the Learning LIVE seminar programme.

“There will be opportunities to speak to grassroots pitch advisors from the GMA and representatives from the National Governing Bodies to

receive technical advice as well guidance on accessing muchneeded funding and ways to upskill through the Grounds Management Framework,” she says. “All this is in addition to the unrivalled opportunities to network, earn CPD points and speak to experts offering career advice.”

With soon-to-be-announced exciting new show features making their first appearance at the show, Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association is keen to ensure that SALTEX continues to adapt and cater to the industry’s needs as it has done numerous times over its 76 exhibitions: “All income generated by the show is ploughed back into the industry securing its future for generations to come.

“By attending SALTEX, visitors are supporting the vital yearround work that enables the GMA to invest in important resources for the sector, as well as developing closer and more

collaborative relationships with sports bodies that can help create inward investment back into the sector. Registering for your free ticket doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits the industry too.”

Registering now comes with the bonus of being entered into a free prize draw with the first 1,000

July 2023

Getting

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has revealed that Janne Lehto, course manager at Hirsala Golf, has become Finland’s first certified Master Greenkeeper.

Janne, 30, is chairperson of the Finnish Greenkeepers Association and is an agronomist for the Finnish Golf Union.

He began his career at Hirsala, before spells at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland and Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. He returned to Hirsala in 2016, before taking on the course manager role in 2017.

Hirsala hosted the Finnish Open in 2011 and 2015, but is also considered one of the

For more information on our full range –or a no obligation demonstration call 01332 824777 or visit www.dennisuk.com or www.sisis.com

most forward-thinking and environmentally conscious golf clubs anywhere.

The club is GEO Certified and has worked alongside WWF Finland on a number of projects including wetland management, waterway restoration and marine conservation.

people to register as visitors in with a chance to win a one-night stay at the Moxy Birmingham NEC on the first night of the show.

SALTEX takes place at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023.

Turf

the best quality finish

Line

Marking

Dennis G860

PROUDLY BRITISH

45

READER ENQUIRY

Sisis Auto-Rotorake Mk5

For more information on our full range –or a no obligation demonstration call 01332 824777 or visit www.dennisuk.com or www.sisis.com

Turf harvesters join the Campey range

Campey Turf Care Systems has added the Dutch-made Van Vuuren Turf Harvesters to their industry-leading staple of machines.

Van Vuuren has been the leading supplier of machinery for the turf industry since 1988, with their technological innovations offering turf growers optimal results under any circumstance.

Lee Morgado Sales Director of Campey is delighted to be adding the Van Vuuren equipment to the Campey line-up. “We’ve known the company a long time and have a good relationship with

Handy to partner with AVA Pressure Washer

them. Together, we can provide the sales, service and back-up network to drive the whole range, in particular the The TurfTick 2316 Universal Stacker and BigTick 1040 turf harvester, forward in the UK and Ireland.”

The TurfTick 2316 Universal Stacker and BigTick 1040 turf harvester follow the traditional Campey attributes of being reliable, widely compatible, easy to maintain and userfriendly whilst excelling in their operation.

Campey Turf Care Systems Enquiry 46

European Deere dealers explore advances in precision turf technology

More than 50 John Deere dealers have been given advanced training on how greenkeepers can make the most of the latest technological innovations developed by the company.

Held at Golfpark Kurpfalz – a renowned German complex largely maintained using John Deere machinery – the event saw representatives from across Deere’s European network of dealers trained by experts from across the golf and turf division.

Chris Meacock, Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, said: “Our innovation pipeline looks to improve every aspect of a machine’s performance and that covers many facets of a product.

“What’s changing fast is the opportunity to use technology and data to make the process of using a John Deere product more efficient and productive for our customers.

“This event was a chance for the dealer network to see all our precision turf technology in action, working together to demonstrate the advantages of GPS-driven accuracy.”

The training centred on the direct impact precision applications can have on reducing inputs while increasing accuracy and productivity through effi ciency gains.

Dealers were shown how mowers and compact tractors equipped with Deere’s satellite-steering AutoTrac technology can reduce overlaps and fuel consumption. HD200 Progator sprayers were demonstrating their ability to place fertilisers and herbicides in exactly the right place, avoiding spraying non-target areas and wastage.

The advantages of accurately mapping a course’s tees, greens,

fairways, bunkers and paths was presented using Starfire GPS receivers and dealers were given further training in how the data produced could be accessed and tailored for course managers using the John Deere Operations Center.

Sessions were also run on how OnLink – the cloud-based golf

course management software acquired by John Deere in 2019 – automatically synchronises any machine and operator working anywhere on the course, allowing course managers to remotely create and assign tasks and meticulously manage equipment and labour costs.

John Deere Enquiry 47

British garden equipment manufacturer and distributer Handy is excited to announce a new partnership with Norwegian pressure washer specialist AVA, whose product lines are designed and built on a sustainable ethos: durable, long lasting, and easy to maintain.

The partnership was officially announced at this year’s Glee at the NEC, Birmingham.

There are four AVA pressure washer ranges which will

be available to UK retailers through Handy, to meet different customer needs and price points. Each come with a warranty of up to 20-years.

Mark Moseley, Handy’s Sales & Marketing Director, said: “AVA of Norway are passionate about their products and want them to last. Their focus on maintenance of solid products is simply a good environmental measure.”

Handy Distribution Enquiry 48

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them - whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them.

One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed.

Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.

“I’m now Head Groundsman at seven clubs and use J Premier Wicket at all of these, along with the numerous other sites

at which I’m contracted,” he explains. “It continues to offer brilliant wear tolerance, disease resistance and coped well with the challenges of the hot and dry weather last summer.”

J Premier Wicket is formulated from four top-rated perennial rye cultivars that deliver proven, reliable performance and outstanding camera appeal.

Johnsons Sports Seeds Enquiry 50

Agrovista Amenity launches new seed brochure

Agrovista Amenity, a leading supplier of professional products and specialist advice, has launched its new seed brochure for 2023/24.

The new brochure features an extensive list of Agrovista Amenity’s seed offerings, including a comprehensive range of grass and wildflower mixtures. Many turf professionals have benefitted from using the CleenCut and TechniTurf ranges of grass seed which have been specifically selected to maximise the strengths of different cultivars and species.

Readers of the brochure can discover how the CleenCut range offers mixtures at a competitive price, whilst using quality STRI

Aspen delivers a decade of clean and convenient power

listed cultivars and how every mixture in the TechniTurf range is coated with the innovative GroMax technology to maximise plant development.

The brochure will also be an opportunity to find out more about Agrovista Amenity’s wildflower meadow mixtures, the Pro Flora range, and the Colour Boost portfolio.

The new seed brochure comes complete with advice on how to get the best results from the products, including recommended period of use, directions for use and application rates.

Agrovista Amenity Enquiry 51

More than a decade since he first started using Aspen Alkylate fuel in his tree surgery business, The Arborist Ltd, Owner Tony Gascoyne says he’s never looked back.

Having originally switched for the health & safety benefits for him and his team of operatives, he notes the reduction in mechanical failures and simplicity of bulk delivery and invoicing has brought a new efficiency and convenience to his operation.

Tony founded the Mansfieldbased business 23 years ago after a period spent working in Stockholm, with the majority of his day-to-day workload made up of domestic tree and hedge maintenance.

“It was really the health benefits for the operator that appealed to me, but based on the other claimed USP’s such as reduced engine component failure and the extended shelf life I gave it a go and it has really delivered on every front,” he explained.

Being free from ethanol and most of the other hazardous hydrocarbons traditionally found in unleaded petrol from the pump, Aspen Alkylate fuel burns cleaner, reducing the negative impact on the operator, machinery and surrounding environment.

Further labour savings are also found with the safe and simple bulk delivery of Aspen to site.

Aspen Enquiry 52

Bobcat launches new line of mowers

Bobcat has launched the first four models in the company’s new range of mowers for the European market, as part of the Ground Maintenance Equipment (GME) portfolio introduced at the end of 2022.

The introduction in Europe follows on from the successful launch in North America two years ago, when the company acquired the BOB-CAT line of mowers, including the Johnson Creek manufacturing facility, with a proven history of making high quality mowers since the 1970s.

The models being introduced in Europe include the ZT3000 and ZT3500 professional Ride-On Zero-Turn Mowers, as well as the ZS4000 Stand-On and WB700 Walk-Behind models.

The new mowers are a perfect complement to the existing line-up of Ryan Turf Equipment, compact tractors and mini track and small articulated loaders that already make up the GME range from Bobcat.

Bobcat Enquiry 53

MAKES AERATING EFFORTLESS

The IQ dual-clutch F24/R24 gear box was chosen as it makes manoeuvring the tractor around the course whilst operating the equipment so easy. Another feature we really like is the Auto PTO function or the Headland Management System, it is brilliant for when we get to the end of the run with the aerator, we can lift the implement up, the PTO automatically cuts out, we can turn around then lower again and PTO restarts by itself. Brilliant for safety and avoiding damage or excess wear and tear on the implements themselves.”

Daniel Spencer, Letchworth Golf Club

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Star performers in managing and maintaining turf

Smithco sprayers will be familiar to many in the golf sector, and the company is now pioneering the latest nozzle control technology for greater accuracy and ease of use, as Jane Carley discovers.

Forward speed is set on the throttle for the required spray quality, and an alert is given if the sprayer is operated outside its parameters. Nozzles are spaced at 25cm giving a high level of accuracy.

PWM also offers turn compensation, increasing flow to the nozzles on the outside of the boom and decreasing flow to the inside when travelling around a curve, maintaining the selected rate.

The spray nozzles are represented on the monitor as a row of lights; this indicates if a blockage has occurred and shows those which are switched off when the sprayer travels over already sprayed ground.

allows the operator to return to a job that has been halted without having to use blob markers.

Supplied by Ernest Doe in England and Wales, Fairways Group in Scotland and Brodericks in Ireland, the sprayers are part of a wider range that also includes rollers and bunker rakes.

The Spray Star ride-on is a collaboration between Philadelphia-based manufacturer Smithco, which builds the skid unit, tank and booms and spray tech specialist Teejet, which provides the control system and nozzles.

Capacities are up to 1000 litres, with booms from 4.5-6.0m mounted on a chassis with hydrostatic drive and cruise control. There’s a wide range of options but the company expects most interest in the highest levels of tech available.

The sprayer uses pulse width modulation (PWM) technology to control nozzle output,

allowing application rates to be easily set or adjusted from Teejet’s Aeros terminal.

Teejet’s DynaJet PWM system uses an electronic control valve for each nozzle body to manage it individually. By adjusting the opening of the aperture on the nozzle, droplet size can be controlled precisely to give the required spray quality depending on the product or application and to suit the prevailing weather conditions.

GPS can be used to map the golf course and to then apply a prescribed application rate and spray quality according to that map, turning nozzles on or off to avoid overlaps or misses.

“The cost of chemicals and the time involved in spraying are increasingly of concern to golf club course managers,” explains Smithco’s John Moore.

“There’s also pressure from committees and other parties such as local authorities to control what is applied and when and minimise the impact on the environment.”

“By managing the way liquid is delivered to the nozzles, droplet size can be controlled more accurately, extending the spray window. This is particularly relevant for courses in exposed locations such as at Hunstanton Golf Course in Norfolk, but many courses have a mixture of wooded and open areas which can have an effect on the nozzle output and cause drift.”

Adam McColl, course manager at Gerrards Cross Golf Club, comments: “It’s very straightforward to use. Once the course is mapped, I can create a prescription for every green, tee and fairway, select the prescription on the monitor, check the satellites are visible and start spraying.”

Adam comments that the lowprofile design of the sprayer gives excellent all round visibility which improves safety on a busy course, and that being able to record where applications have been made

“There’s no risk of overspraying or misses because you can see exactly where you’ve been, which avoids wasting chemical. The wide application range

also means that we can use one nozzle for a number of different chemicals; we’ll probably only need two different nozzle sizes for all our spraying. It’s a brilliant development for us and makes spraying more efficient.”

Smithco Enquiry 55

Three years on at Honiton Golf Club

Honiton Golf Club in Devon purchased their Ventrac compact tractor and Contour mowing deck in March 2020, just days before the first Covid lockdown and in that time it has been performing consistently well, according to Stuart Broom, the club’s head greenkeeper.

“We needed to improve the visual appearance on the banking around our greens and tees and also the semi-rough,” he explained. “I looked at several competitor machines across the major brands, but the Ventrac stood out because of its versatility; there’s a wide selection of implements you can get for it.

“The second reason was that it’s certified to operate on 30-degree slopes, so from a health and

safety point of view, it’s a nobrainer. We have numerous slopes out there that we used to strim, but we now use the Ventrac and save multiple work hours, they get cut more regularly and they look better.

“During the original demo, the demonstrator noticed that we had a SISIS slitter in the shed and asked if he could attach it to the rear linkage and take it across the greens. I was bit sceptical because we usually tow it with our worktruck and I wouldn’t put that on the greens as they were wet.

“Undeterred, he put it on the back, went across the green and you just wouldn’t have noticed; it was impressive. So, the light footprint was another significant selling point and we use it for that

Top dressing and overseeding made easy with Turfco

purpose as well during the winter.

“We recently purchased a small link box for the rear of the machine, which can carry a selection of tools and again we use it winter for changing holes.

“We also have it on the back when cutting banks, so we can carry a strimmer and blower to complete the job in a single operation.

“We hired the Tough Cut deck from our local dealer, Devon Garden Machinery (DGM), to clear gorse and bracken from around our 9th and 13th greens and it performed brilliantly; it’s a fantastic piece of kit. I did break a couple of belts, but the servicing information on this machine is superb.”

Price Turfcare Enquiry 58

Turfco turf maintenance equipment is ideal for fine sports turf management with a range of overseeding and topdressing machines, which can be tractormounted and towed-behind a suitable transport unit.

They are ideal for recreational and professional sports pitches, stadium pitches, cricket outfields and most fine turf areas on golf courses.

The TriWave 60 and TriWave 45 are a new breed of overseeder that can signifi cantly increase the success of overseeding operations by up to 30%, especially on contoured ground.

Disruption of existing turf, the inability to follow ground contours and limited seed germination when using existing equipment, was the driving force behind this development.

The TriWave 45 is a selfcontained trailed overseeder, which can be towed behind a utility vehicle, quad bike, bunker rake or tractor, and provides versatility and easiest operation of any overseeder on the market.

Power comes from an 18.4 kW (25 hp) Briggs and Stratton Vanguard petrol engine and it quickly attaches to most turf vehicles making it convenient and efficient to use.

Profihopper - the professional’s choice

Mow Scarify Collect Mulch Roll

WideSpin 1550 topdressers are available in truck-mounted and tow-behind models with petrol engine or hydraulic power options.

They are available with standard electronic control or a patented digital Smart Controller. Standard electronic control models are easy to use and offer good value for the money.

Smart Controller models offer rate calculation and programmable pre-sets for greater productivity and labour savings.

Turfco Enquiry 59

Wet or dry grass, long or short, collect or mulch, the PH 1250 and PH 1500 models take it all in their stride. And it’s that flexibility that sets the Profihopper apart from the crowd.

The sharpened wing blades on the horizontal SmartCut rotor cleanly cut and shred the grass before conveying it via the cross auger on to that unique second vertical auger to be packed into the collection hopper - meaning less time emptying and more time mowing. To add to that versatility, the sward is rolled after cutting and scarifying comes as standard.

The more than adequate power is provided by engines that are already Stage V Exhaust emission compliant and require no AdBlue.

Don’t compromise - choose the machine that comes with more compaction built-in for maximum work rates and less emptying.

Contact the Amazone Team on: 01302 755 725.

The two augers provide blockagefree collection and maximum compaction

MM50 serves up a treat at Roehampton Award-winning Rams choose Mansfield Sand

MM50 grass seed was recently selected for the construction of nine qualifying tennis practice courts and one show court at AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Roehampton.

Formally the Bank of England Sports Centre, the site is managed by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. As well as hosting the Wimbledon Qualifying Event, the Club provides facilities for community sport and works with local schools and groups to host sporting activities, training sessions and matches from September to May.

Fineturf, a long-established, sports turf contractor, carried out the vast project at

Tewkesbury Park get a break with RootPruner

Protruding roots on fairways and approaches were causing mower damage and affecting play at Tewkesbury Park, but the Imants RootPruner supplied by Campey Turf Care Systems, provided a clean and easy solution.

Removing roots meant excavating around the area, which would cause disruption and look unsightly. For Course Manager Paul Hathaway this was unacceptable because it was at odds with his standards.

The RootPruner cuts roots up to 100mm in diameter with no clean-up, making it useable on the course with no worries of shutting holes through surface damage. It also has the ability to decompact tight, narrow areas with ease and includes a unique patented triplereduction planetary gearbox

CS-PRO

for smooth, maximum torque drive to the rotor shaft.

The RootPruner also features a factory set, torque limiting PTO shaft eliminating all shear bolts and spring clutches.

For a parkland course, it can be an invaluable machine. “Once we had the demo, we were very impressed with the smoothness, cleanness and size of the roots it would cut,” said Paul.

“It’s a machine that is so quick and easy to use, it will save you downtime and money on repairing mowers which are damaged from hitting tree roots, and also make the surface better from not having roots protruding through the surface.”

Campey Turf Care Systems

Enquiry 62

3M MOWER FOR COMPACT TRACTORS

• 3m working width. 2m transport width

• Heavy duty gearboxes ensure consistent mowing rates even in the toughest conditions

• High blade-tip speeds finely cuts and evenly disperses clippings

• Front and rear rollers allow the mower to follow ground contours while producing a striped effect

• Adjustable cutting height from 15 - 100mm

Roehampton due to its longstanding working relationship with AELTC. The project consisted of the construction of nine qualifying practice courts and one show court as well as irrigation to all surfaces.

MM50, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hard-wearing ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 4-5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

The Fineturf team applied MM50 at a rate of 70g per m2 in late summer at Roehampton.

MM Seed Enquiry 61

Derby County Football Club, which won the Sky Bet League One’s 2022/23 Grounds Team of the Season award, have been using Mansfield Sand’s products for over 20 years.

Choosing the correct products to apply to the pitch played a part in their success and Paul revealed how products from Mansfield Sand have always had a place in their maintenance programme.

“Ever since I’ve worked at Derby County, we have always used Mansfield Sand products,” said Head Groundsperson Paul Thompson.

“Throughout the playing season at the stadium we use the kiln dried sand – DM40, and for renovations we use MM40 sports turf sand.

“We also use MM40 across the 12 pitches at the training ground.”

Both MM40 and DM40 are sourced directly from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the company produces its renowned Mansil range of Silica Sands.

MM40 is a moist, medium sand which is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces. DM40 is of the same consistency and quality as MM40 but is kiln dried.

“We have a SISGrass hybrid system, and the kiln dried sand helps dilute any of the algae build up on top of the surface,” he added. “It also helps with the playability and drainage.”

Mansfield Sand Enquiry 63

Remove turf easily and efficiently with the Eliet Turfaway

Major CS Pro leaves lasting impression

The CS Pro is a multi-purpose mower for compact tractors in the 20hp to 35hp range.

The patented mulching blade system delivers an exceptional finish in everyday mowing and jobs requiring a superior after cut appearance.

Heavy duty gearboxes power multiple rotors for reliable mowing in a in dense vegetation as well as estate lawns and sports turf.

The MJ65-300 CS Pro takes as little as 30hp to power, making ideal for use with a subcompact or smaller utility tractor.

The 3.0m wide machine has two wings folding up to 2.0m transport width.

Four rotors and 16 blades deliver intense shredding in light and heavy material. Full width rollers on each deck follows ground contours while producing a striped effect without scalping. Cutting height is easily set between 15 and 100mm.

A major advantage of the gearbox driveline is the low maintenance and ease of operation. With fewer wearing parts than a flail mower, owners can save significantly on maintenance costs and operating downtimes.

These are important factors for Celtic Turf in Cornwall, who supply turf to commercial, tourism and residential clients all over Cornwall, Devon,

and the Isles of Scilly. The galvanised fi nish is especially useful when working in coastal climates around the South West.

Sports turf contractor Parkers Pitches was drawn to the pristine finish and reliability of the CS Pro.

Important considerations for their partnership with the Suffolk FA and IOG on the Grassroots Pitch Programme for football in Suffolk.

The versatility of the CS Pro means Jockey Club Estates can use one machine for nearly all its turf needs at the training grounds in Epsom.

Major Equipment Enquiry 67

For major lawn renovation that requires complete reconstruction, it is essential to remove the old turf.

By removing a thin top layer, you can not only remove weathered grass plants, but also any overgrowth of weeds, moss and other parasites that have settled into the lawn over the years.

The ELIET Turfaway 600’s unique concept allows you to quickly loosen a thin turf layer with precision. The unique construction of this turf cutter on tracks ensures a stable machine with optimum soil grip, which ensure maximum comfort for the operator.

Thanks to the increased traction the tracks provide, the ELIET Turfaway, which is available

from PSD Groundscare, can loosen turf that is 60 cm wide.

The pedestrian DZC450 and DZC600 overseeders from innovative award winning Belgium manufacturer Eliet are exclusive to the market in terms of how they deliver seed into the ground.

The DZC600 (60 cm working width) or its little brother the DZC450 (45 cm working width) introduce the seed to a target depth of 5-7mm by cutting a slot and accurately dropping the seed into the grooves.

The blades are Tungsten tipped (DZC 600) giving up to 300 hours worth of work even on sandy root zones. This process can be done in a single pass at 25 mm spacings at varying seeding rates from 15 gm-35 gm per m2

Using a seed mixture with grass that creeps will help knit the grass together reducing the appearance of lines.

On more bare areas then a double pass can be done ‘up and down’ and ‘left to right’ for example, putting twice as much seed down in the area doubling the benefits such as grass coverage and speed of recovery.

The powered rubber roller at the back of the machine ensures that there is good contact between the soil and the seed by pressing the earth down providing excellent soil to seed contact, which is essential to encourage germination.

PSD Groundscare

Enquiry 66

Terrain Aeration’s long-term treatment reaches one metre deep where compressed air blasts the compaction. The soil is opened up for good drainage and a healthy sward with minimum disruption. We have been successfully aerating sports turf, bowling greens, golf courses, parks, trees and gardens for over twenty-five years.

From humble beginnings in New Zealand to a world leader in commercial mowing –our success is driven by our passion to help customers find a better way.

Guernsey States Works switch to TinyLineMarker Pro X

At the end of February 2023, Origin Amenity Solutions delivered their latest GPS guided robotic line marking machine, the TinyLineMarker (TLM) Pro X, to the States Works Propagation Unit in Guernsey.

Richard Langmead manages the Land Management section of States Works, where the team carry out grounds maintenance predominantly for States of Guernsey local Government which includes maintaining school grounds, parks and gardens, social housing, coastal areas, and cliff paths, as well as health properties including the main hospital.

Richard comments, “The primary use for the line marker

will be to mark out sports pitches on our education sites. We will also be offering a service to other sports clubs on the island. My team used to mark out by hand using a manual line marking machine but this is time consuming and as our workload has grown so has the requirement for us to be faster and more effi cient. I decided to purchase the TLM Pro X robot for many reasons but mainly the effi ciencies the robot will give us.”

Tiny Mobile Robots is marketed and distributed exclusively in the UK by Origin Amenity Solutions which brings together four leading industry namesHeadland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, TurfKeeper.com and Symbio.

Packed with a range of brandnew innovative features, the TLM Pro X is an exciting new GPS robot designed to make line marking projects as streamlined and effortless as possible.

Richard adds, “As a business we were looking at ways to do tasks more efficiently and are always looking at technology to try and help with this. We came across the TLM Pro X on the internet. The potential cost savings on labour and the ability to have a pitch marking service that we could offer to other sports clubs on the island did appeal and fitted in with our business plans.”

“We have only just started using the robot, but it has already made the initial marking of the pitches

much more efficient, and we certainly expect to see the savings in labour costs going forward.”

The TLM Pro X easily manages line marking from start to finish, whether it’s initial marking or overmarking. The robot runs on the ultra-reliable RTK (RealTime Kinematic) network which means it doesn’t need a base station like some robots use. The robot will mark or remark the pitch in the correct location every time, even if previous lines have disappeared. Once set up it incredibly simple to use and very reliable.

The TLM Pro X has over 200 customisable pitch templates which include sports pitches, athletic tracks, and parking.

“The ability to quickly and accurately mark out various pitch templates is a fantastic benefit to us.” Richard adds.

A popular new feature of the TLM Pro X is the multi-select tool and Richard agrees that it gives a “noticeable time saving.”

This tool gives users the ability to queue up multiple pitches to be marked out in a specific order of their choosing. The robot will then mark out the designated areas without having to recalibrate the robot each time. To help avoid problems, the robot displays the route it will take to mark out all queued pitches, so the user can ensure that the path is clear of obstructions for a seamless line marking project.

time is wasted due to running low on paint when sending the TLM Pro X off to mark multiple pitches in succession.

When the robot is running low on paint, an automatic alert is sent to the user’s hand-held tablet notifying paint level is low. In addition, the robot will also send an alert if there is blockage which is preventing the robot from marking.

“A simple yet time saving feature that is going to be incredibly useful to us” comments Richard.” “It means my team can carry out other jobs nearby while the robot does it thing, making us more productive and efficient. We don’t need to waste time monitoring the robot closely but are aware immediately when the paint is low, and we can top up before it runs out.”

The Origin Amenity Solutions team offer onsite training, maintenance, and general advice.

As a part of this feature, the robot also gives an estimated time of completion as well as the distance to drive so users know when they can expect their project to be completed.

Working hand in hand with the Multi-Select Tool, the Low Paint Alert feature ensures no

Richards concludes by saying, “The communication with Simon Hughes and Glen Howard from Origin Amenity Solutions has been excellent, from the initial inquiry, right through to the training once we had purchased the robot, technical support is only a phone call away which is reassuring.”

Origin Amenity Solutions

Enquiry 71

Turf Tank in top ten of robotics firms

Turf Tank, Inventor of the world’s fi rst autonomous line marking robot joins the ranks of Open AI, Disney, Tiffany & Co., and more by being named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2023.

This year’s list highlights the businesses at the forefront of their respective industries, paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow.

Turf Tank is the inventor of the world’s first autonomous, GPS-guided line-marking robot designed for painting athletic fields.

To date, the company has more than 1,200 robots painting fields across the UK and the rest of the world with more than 1,600 globally, from schools and local authorities, to independent colleges and universities,

Premier League, MLS teams, as well as NFL stadiums.

The robot is controlled with a tablet, completely transforming the way turf managers paint their fields.

One robot can paint a soccer field all by itself in less than 25 minutes, compared to traditional manual methods which require a team of two people up to two hours to paint the same field.

With the time saved, the grounds crew is now free to focus on other important tasks around the fields which helps improve the overall quality of the facility.

Turf Tank continues to innovate with its next-generation linemarking software which enhances the robot’s usability and boosts the efficiency of the line marking process.

Get your line-marking solutions online

All of Pitchmark’s products are available to purchase through the updated Turfix.co.uk website.

The move to Turfix.co.uk will not only provide a fresh and updated platform to showcase Pitchmark products, but also allow you to explore a wider range of products

that Turfix has to offer. In addition to the popular line of line marking paints and equipment, you will now be able to purchase fertilisers, grass seed, and a variety of other sports pitch products.

Pitchmark

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The development of the new system was a result of years of communication with turf managers and aims to improve the overall user experience, enabling them to complete their tasks with greater speed and ease.

By simply tapping a few buttons, the user can produce a professionally marked field that adheres to the regulations of different governing bodies.

Additionally, the updated software provides turf managers with greater flexibility and complete control over every aspect of the line marking process, allowing them to customize the fi elds to suit the specifi c requirements of their organization, a feature never seen in the industry before.

The company achieved another significant breakthrough with

the implementation of the text and logo functionality, which enables sports organizations to enhance their fields by incorporating robot-generated texts, messages, and logos.

Previously, only large colleges and professional teams could afford this feature, but now, thanks to Turf Tank’s technology, even small sports clubs and local high schools can provide their fans with an exceptional sports experience.

Players can now feel like they’re playing on professional fields, no matter the level of their play. The technology also allows organizations to promote local charities, raise awareness about community issues, and attract sponsorships.

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