As the dust settles on IOG SALTEX 2012, Brintex Events is confident about taking over the sales and marketing reins for the show, and is already setting out plans for 2013.
Incoming IOG SALTEX Event Director, Jon Gibson, believes that the number of serious buyers who attended this year forms a solid platform on which major growth can be built.
Speaking on the third day of IOG SALTEX 2012, he commented: “Well over 100 stands had been optioned for 2013, which reflects great support for the show. There’s no doubt that this year’s show faced a number of obstacles – not least the austere economic climate that is headlined by the fact that local authority budgets continue to be put under tremendous pressure.
“But it is clear that decision-makers from across the open space spectrum, including local government departments as well as our other core visitor markets that include sports turf, did turn out in their thousands – over 6,000, in fact – to not only keep abreast of the latest developments and technologies but also to buy, order and request demonstrations of kit that will make them even more effective and efficient.”
Jon Gibson again: “IOG SALTEX continues to be the only annual event where open space professionals can see everything they need at the same time – and we are determined that next year’s show will provide visitors and exhibitors with even more value for the time and money they commit to the show.
“We will be working closely with exhibitors and partners to develop initiatives that will deliver highly relevant content and features for each of the show’s key market sectors that include machinery, turf, play and landscaping.”
BLEC GLOBAL launches four new products at Windsor
As well as a new dual-grade laser levelling system fitted to the tractor-mounted BLEC Power Box Rake -that will allow accurate raking and grading to within 3mm – they also launched two machines designed for two-wheel tractors.
These are the Cultipack Seeder for initial seeding and the Multiseeder for overseeding which has cast ring spike-rollers just like the tractor-mounted versions.
Also launched was the GKB Combinator, a machine that can fraise mow, collect and elevate all in one pass. It is also able to verticut with a change of tines.
Manufacturer Jan-Willem Kraaijeveld, who also makes the GKB Sandfiller, said he was delighted that BLEC had added the machine to their range.
“This versatile machine allows for the fast removal and loading of unwanted turf,” he said. “It also has accurate depth control and has a verticutting tines option.”
One GKB Sandfiller was sold to Peter Knight of Bury Turfcare, who used it the following week to treat 18 golf greens at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.
Available for tractors from 35-125hp, the GKB Combinator comes in four widths – 1.2m, 1.6m, 2m and 2.4m.
Also demonstrated at Saltex were the BLEC Multivator – with both heavy-duty and compact models. This multi-use machine carries out a wide range of tasks achieved with only one drive unit – decompacting, soil recycling and topdressing all in one pass,
The contractor’s favourite, the BLEC Laser Grader, was also on show. It’s an essential tool for levelling and grading golf tees that need renovating.
BLEC’s Turfmaker Seeder features a well-proven method of accurate seeding with a heavy-duty three point linkage frame and spacer rings available to allow for better germination of seeds.
Gary Mumby, BLEC managing director, says: “Saltex this year was very successful for us and we sold four machines off the stand – which is a great result. Windsoris a very important show for us where we get the chance to demonstrate all our new innovations for turf and landscaping professionals.” www.blec.co.uk
New Generation Koro outstrips the rest
Once again Campey Turf Care Systems leads from the front with the introduction at Saltex of two new patented rotors for the renowned Koro by Imants Field Top Maker.
Building on the qualities of the proven Koro FTM range, Campey launches two significant developments; one for natural turf and the other for all surfaces. Both will take the renovation of natural and artificial turf sports surfaces to previously unseen levels of performance.
- The Terraplaner Rotor achieves a perfectly level turf surface, ready for aeration and overseeding by quickly removing unwanted organic material such as poa-annua, thatch, weeds or the entire surface to a depth of 50mm. Recently acquired by The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Nick Stubley, Head Groundsman claims “The new Koro FTM Terraplaner will take our natural turf renovation to a new level.”
- The Universe Rotor is for removing a year’s accumulated organic matter from synthetic, natural and hybrid surfaces in only one pass. It has been tested on DESSO Grass Master with fantastic results, demonstrating the ability to totally remove the organic accumulations on the immediate pitch surface. So efficient is it in exposing the Desso Fibres and creating excellent surface hygiene, new seed can be sown quickly and with confidence.
“Richard Campey explains the importance of these two new rotors: “The Terraplaner and Universe rotors are the next generation of Koro by Imants Field Top Maker. We have to keeping moving forward and improving through experience, mindful of changes in the way surfaces are used and maintained.
“In conjunction with Imants we have built on the knowledge gained from years of experience and good practise with Koro. We learn from the results and translate the findings into even better machines for better playing surfaces in the future.”
Campey Turf Care Systems is one of Europe’s largest independent grounds care machinery suppliers, and this year celebrates providing specialist equipment for turf professionals for 25 years, over the years Campeys have earned a reputation for offering practical advice and superb aftercare service.
The company acts as a new equipment dealer for some of the most respected grounds care machinery manufacturers including Dakota, Imants, Koro, Raycam, Vredo and Omarv.
The company also has a thriving used machinery business and a subsidiary company, Tines Direct, which supplies replacement tines, blades and replacement parts for a wide range of turf care machinery www.campeyturfcare.com
30 years worth celebrating
Charterhouse Turf Machinery, the UK arm of Dutch manufacturer Redexim, have a history to be proud of supplying leading types of groundcare equipment.
Back in 1982 the company gained the rights to sell the iconic Redexim Verti-Drain into the UK market, which was destined to become the benchmark of their success over the next 30 years. To complement this product, and to help Groundsman and Greenkeepers carry out their tasks better, they designed and built some of their own equipment, including an overseeder and one of the first top dressing machines available in the UK.
Along with these products, Charterhouse built a portfolio of complementing equipment from leading manufacturers of the day until they caught the eye of rapidly expanding Redexim BV. Their Top Dressers and Overseeders fitted nicely with Redexim’s ‘Verti-Drain’ aerators and the resultant amalgamation has been an unqualified.
Nick Darking, General Manager of the UK operation, attributes their success to being able to “adapt operations and products to meet new trends and emerging markets. In the beginning,” he says, “we started out by supplying local golf clubs and Contractors who were key in Charterhouse’s success, but have now developed the business and can count prestigious venues like Ascot Racecourse and Chelsea Football Club amongst our customers.”
The small team of staff at the Surrey based headquarters see the last 30 years as a testimony to their skill and flexibility to bring to market products that have made turf professional’s lives much easier. The iconic ‘Verti-Drain’ aerator, which changed aeration techniques, now rubs shoulders with the more recently introduced range of synthetic turf maintenance equipment.
This year they lived up to their reputation of having maintenance equipment for all types of playing surfaces with the launch of three new products at this year’s Show including the new Redexim Verti-Drain 1517.
The new 15 series models are a little lighter than their 7 series range without loss of robustness or productivity. The first of the 15 series is the 1513 which gives a working width of 1.3M and now the company has introduced the 1517 with a much greater 1.76M width.
These high speed Verti-Drains offer increased outputs to ease busy workloads; handling depths of up to 50mm (6”) but only weighing in at 520kg, so only needing a tractor from 30hp to operate it.
Gone is the need to compromise on working widths, and productivity, if you only have recourse to a sub 30hp tractor. The 1517 is everything expected from a normal Verti-Drain – the same unique Redexim adjustable parallelogram action that has become the industry standard solution for intensive aeration of sports turf surfaces. The action is a ‘forced heave’ one to shatter pans of compacted soil that prevent free drainage and inhibit grass growth. The result is minimised waterlogging and reduced standing water in periods of heavy rain. On the golf course this means uninterrupted year-round play without resorting to temporary greens, and can reduce the need for expensive drainage works. Options on the Redexim Verti-Drain 1517 are hollow tines; turf hold down fingers and multi tine blocks.
Speaking of the Show in general, Nick Darking said: “The quality of the visitors was very good. We could spend more time with the customers and took some orders on the stand.” www.charterhouseturfmachinery.co.uk
MO Bacter sales ‘buoyant’ in wet summer and ready for autumn
DJ Turfcare reported a “buoyant” summer of sales with the award-winning MO Bacter lawn fertiliser and moss eliminator at Saltex.
Garden centres in Scotland, the first to try it, found the product flying off the shelves in this year’s wet summer months – perfect conditions for the moss-eliminating organic lawn fertiliser.
Now the award-winning product, in bright attractive packaging in two sizes, is being targeted for autumn sales – both in garden centres and on-line.
DJ Turfcare managing director David Jenkins says: “MO Bacter has proved one of our most successful lawncare products this year and this is largely down to the weather conditions.
“We have had a great deal of repeat business from satisfied users – and press and TV coverage has boosted new sales. Garden centres stocking MO Bacter are reporting great sales, especially as we have had a wet summer – and are likely to have a warm autumn.”
MO Bacter is popular with less-able gardeners because it removes the need for raking out dead moss and disposing of it.
MO Bacter is an organic granular lawn fertiliser that destroys moss and eliminates debris by bacterial action, avoiding the need to rake.
It has recently been featured on BBC TV’s Beechgrove Garden series in Scotland where it received much praise for success in trials on their moss-infested lawns.
The new 7.5 kilo bag will treat up to 75 square metres, while a regular 20 kilo bag treats up to 200 square metres.
“This year’s wet summer months have created the perfect environment for continued sales of MO Bacter,” says David. “Because the product needs damp and warm conditions to operate effectively we have not been hit with the usual slower sales that would have been caused by a drought.”
MO Bacter, from Viano of Belgium, is a totally organic product which eliminates moss and fertilises lawns without the need for raking debris.
It won the Turf Pro Magazine ‘Product of the Year’ at BTME, the national golf industry show in Harrogate, and has since received much praise from both professionals and amateur gardeners alike.
MO Bacter is an organic slow-release granular fertiliser which eradicates moss, feeds grass and improves the soil. Scarifying after treatment is not necessary. Lawns are fed for six weeks with one application.
Moss dies as a result of excess potassium but leaves no black debris. The dead moss is then digested by the bacteria in MO Bacter (npk: 5-5-20). The product does not stain stonework, patios or paths.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has seen remarkable results in which two inches of moss at one cemetery in Oxfordshire was virtually eliminated in six months, with no need for scarifying to remove debris. And headstones are completely unmarked.
Former Wimbledonhead groundsman Eddie Seaward tested MO Bacter and said he found it to be “very effective and very efficient.”
The product is harmless to animals and wildlife and will not damage border plants. DJ Turfcare is the sole distributor in the UK for Viano fertilisers. www.djturfcare.co.uk
Schiller Groundscare reported a record opening first day at this year’s IOG SALTEX.
Having secured several firm orders from the outset, the company received a multiple order by Northamptonshire garden machinery dealer, the Mower Shop. This included the new Mantis Deluxe and XP Tillers, cordless hedge trimmers and hand shears plus the Little Wonder HPV Vacuum and Optimax Blower.
In addition, the company’s new Little Wonder Pro-edger was purchased by machinery dealer, Ben Burgess Groundcare. Mantis UK Managing Director David Goose said: ”Our new location at the front of show area ensured that we saw the top buyers immediately after they entered the event. Coupled with the superb weather, this has been a very productive three days! The quality of visitors is high – which ultimately is the most important factor.”
TriloS3 Sucks Above its Weight
The Trilo S3 vacuum sweeper, from The Grass Group, is the latest product to emerge from a programme of producing equipment for use with sub 30Hp tractors. Along with lighter machines have come more competitive prices without any compromise in quality or performance.
The industry asked for a smaller vacuum sweeper to work at 1.5 metres wide to work at hard to get to areas were ground pressure and dimensions mattered. The result is the Trilo S3, a smaller sister to the S4 released last year. Along with a smaller working width came a reduction in weight to only 1200kg, so that only a mid-range compact tractor of 28 HP is required.
The new design is the result of many years of experience to meet the requirements of councils, contractors Groundsmen and Greenkeepers in an economically challenging environment. The 1.5 metre full floating brush head and low ground pressure allows the machine to work under the heaviest of conditions where others may struggle. The balanced fan wheel gives a reliable and above all a safe source of power. The impeller casing can be opened at the top and has an inspection trap in the lower section to allow easy cleaning.
To cope with the amount of material collected in a 3M³ container, the Trilo S3 also features a 1.6 metre high tip facility meaning it can unload into the back of a truck or skip, keeping downtime to a minimum.
A 5 metre long 200mm diameter hand held wander hose makes the S3 suitable for versatile use all year round to clean hard to get areas such as bunkers, shrubberies or refuse bins.
The high standard of manufacture and design specification allows not only ease of use, but also means less time spent on routine maintenance allowing more time in the field and less spent in the workshop. www.thegrassgroup.co.uk
IOG SALTEX 2013 (www.iogsaltex.co.uk) will be held on 3-5 Septemberat Windsor Racecourse,Berkshire,UK