I suspect if small business owners from sectors other than ours were asked what external factors traditionally hit them the hardest, I might imagine the answers to include matters like the economy, interest rates, political uncertainty or changing technology. But whenever we've surveyed our valued dealer readers about which pressures beyond your control impact fortunes the greatest, there's always one clear winner. The weather.

Too wet, or, as we've seen this summer, too dry, and the effects on showrooms and workshops can be immediate and consequential.

That's one of the reasons I'm particularly pleased that Mark Hunt, the man behind WeatherBlog, is joining our speaker line-up at the Service Dealer Conference this December.

I won't speculate on what wisdom Mark will impart to our dealer delegates when he takes to the stage. But I do think the subject he's coming to talk about represents one of the most significant conversations our industry can have with itself.

Weather has always been a defining factor in the seasonal fortunes of our dealerships. A wet spring can spoil what might have been a great start to a dealer’s year. Whereas a prolonged dry spell will leave grass yellowed and dormant, with domestic and professional customers alike questioning whether they need new machinery or indeed if it’s worth getting their existing kit serviced. And, as we've seen this summer, drought conditions can have consequences stretching well beyond turfcare showrooms, hurting agricultural and plant hire businesses too.

There's a cliché that in this country we are obsessed with talking about the weather. Perhaps we are. But when you live with a climate as temperate, changeable and frankly interesting as ours, there's always something to discuss. And for our industry, this isn't simply about making pleasant small talk, it has a direct bearing on the bottom line.

Then there's the bigger picture. We can't ignore the words climate change when discussing the weather and its influence on our businesses. The effects of changing climate patterns are already being felt, and there's every reason to expect that adapting to them will become an increasingly important consideration for dealers and manufacturers alike.

How can businesses better prepare for the seasons ahead? How much more important will reliable forecasting become when planning stock, staffing and servicing capacity? And might changing weather patterns influence the types of machinery manufacturers develop and dealers choose to stock in their showrooms?

These are all questions worth considering. Better anticipation of the conditions we're likely to face won't remove the uncertainty, of course, but it could help businesses make more informed decisions.

That's why I'm genuinely looking forward to hearing Mark's session. I suspect it'll give our delegates plenty to think about – and, knowing our audience, plenty to chat about over a drink in the bar afterwards.

You can find all the details of this year's Service Dealer Conference and Awards on our website. Nominations for the awards have now closed with judging about to commence.

It’s not long now until we welcome everyone to Stratford-upon-Avon. If you haven’t secured your place yet, please do take a look at the fabulous content and invaluable networking opportunities that attendance guarantees. We look forward to seeing you there!

The organisers of December's Service Dealer Conference are delighted to confirm the latest Insight speaker for this year's event.

Mark Hunt, from Prodata Weather Systems, has worked for over 35 years in the amenity market within the areas of product development and agronomic support. His main area of interest is dovetailing the effect of our changing climate on agronomic processes, such as disease development, grass growth and plant nutrition.

He currently writes a weekly Weather Blog intended for the turfcare industry. 

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "Everyone in the industry knows how much the weather can impact sales. Mark is speaking at a time when uncertainty in the weather patterns is the new normal. He also has a great understanding off our sector - especially pro turf."

Mark added, "There’s no doubt in my mind that weather patterns and the seasons have changed significantly over the last 30 years and in particular through the autumn / winter and early spring. These changes are having a big effect on grass growth, disease growth patterns and pest activity.

"As a keen weather observer and working with Prodata on Davis weather station hardware and software, I try to link weather patterns, agronomic observations and data together. Nowadays having data to support what we are seeing and why, is key to communication and understanding."

The Service Dealer Conference & Awards takes place at the Crowne Plaza Stratford-Upon-Avon on Thursday December 3rd 2026.

Bobcat’s RogueX3, an experimental loader exploring new approaches to construction equipment design, has won a Red Dot Award: Design Concept – the second accolade for the manufacturer’s RogueX platform.

The RogueX2 won in the same category in 2024.

RogueX3 features a patent-pending, rear-mounted linear actuator tilt system that replaces conventional front hydraulic cylinders, reducing mechanical complexity by more than 50% compared with a typical compact loader. The design also aims to improve forward visibility and simplify maintenance.

Other features include an integrated battery and electric drivetrain, with a modular platform that can accommodate tracks or wheels, different lift-arm configurations and various power systems.

Autonomous capabilities incorporate GPS navigation, sensors and cameras, while the machine can also be operated remotely using Bobcat’s MaxControl system.

Introduced at CES 2026, RogueX3 remains a research and development project and is not commercially available. Bobcat says it is using the concept to explore technologies and design approaches that could influence future equipment.

Following the addition of a number of partners to the ALLPRO Battery Alliance in recent months, STIHL have now announced that AS-Motor, Kwern and Tielbürger have also decided to offer their commercial customers equipment that is compatible with the battery system.

 
For the 2027 season, AS-Motor is equipping three professional tools with battery-powered motor units - known as 'powerheads' - from STIHL: the two weed brushes, the AS 30 E-WeedHex AP and AS 60 E-WeedHex AP, and the AS 510 E-ProClip A AP mulching lawnmower.

Kwern is also equipping its GreenbusterPro 66 E weed brush with a STIHL Powerhead, and by the end of this year, eight sweeper models and two weed brushes from Tielbürger will be able to run on the manufacturer's ALLPRO batteries. 

Through the Alliance, jointly founded by STIHL and Kärcher, 14 manufacturers of battery-powered equipment for commercial use are pooling their expertise. They say the aim is to offer professional users across various sectors a "future-proof battery standard that combines maximum performance with a high degree of flexibility." 

The partners in the ALLPRO Battery Alliance already include 4F, AS-Motor, Brandschutztechnik Müller, CEMO, Eder, Gölz, Köppl, Kwern, PortableWinch, SuperVac, Tielbürger and Westermann. STIHL say further partners will follow.

RVW Pugh Group has joined forces with QJ Motor to offer its customers a wider range of ATVs and UTVs for use in agricultural, forestry and leisure settings. 

L-R: RVW Pugh's Andrew Purnell and Robert Pugh with QJ Motor's Damien Butterworth

QJ Motor was established in 1985 and has over 30 million global riders of its motorbike and ATV ranges. With a range of six agricultural ATVs, RVW Pugh say they felt that a partnership with the manufacturer was a good fit.

Robert Pugh, director, said, "We like to give our customers a great choice of different machines to fit individual requirements, and QJ Motor provides this throughout their range."

Pughs are the first dealer to bring the QJ Motor range to its areas of Staffordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Shropshire and Wales. The ATVs will be available from all four depots, along with parts and accessories. 

Andrew Purnell, sales director for RVW Pugh Ltd added, "We are very impressed with the whole ATV range and look forward to seeing the new UTV arrive in April 2027. The range is stylish as well as a vital practical machine for many different types of farming."

Dealers from around world recently gathered at the GKB factory in Barendrecht, to celebrate 80 years of the GKB Group.

In a two-day event, attendees were invited to reflect on eight decades of engineering and were given a look ahead at what the future holds for all areas of the business - including new innovations in the GKB Machines portfolio. 

Representatives from GKB’s global dealer network joined suppliers and friends for a company-wide celebration which marked not only 80 years of the GKB Group, but 40 years of the separate GKB Machines division. 

A series of presentations from speakers including managing director Jan-Willem Kraaijeveld explored the story of GKB, from its origins and development over the past 80 years through to its current position and future ambitions. Alongside the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to see a selection of GKB Machines’ latest equipment, providing a practical showcase of the solutions available across the company’s range for both natural and artificial surfaces.  

UK operations manager,Tom Shinkins, said, “It was fantastic to be a part of an event that brought together people from across the entire GKB network, with one objective which was to celebrate everything that’s been achieved over the last eight decades."

We are 40 years old this year!

Established in 1986 by Ray Brown, a former employee of Autocar (The original Briggs & Stratton UK Distributor), he saw a gap in the market for a Specialist Engine, Transmission & Parts Distributor to serve the Industrial Trade & Original Equipment Manufacturer sector.

Since 1986 the business model has not altered, we do not sell end products, which would place us in direct competition with our customers.

Via our dedicated Service Division with field support vehicles, we offer full Trade/OEM Service & Warranty support, including 3rd Party Warranty for Direct OEM Machine Dealers.

We have an extensive company website with protected trade account login, parts catalogues, webcart & live stock availability. Our stock levels are monitored on a daily basis, resulting in popular Engines, Transmissions & Spare Parts being readily available when you need them.

We would like to thank everyone for their valued custom & support over the years, we look forward to the next 40 years & beyond together!

Our Kawasaki Pre-Season Offer order form & brochure are now available to download by clicking the links below.

Please refer to the order form for full terms & conditions.

Kawasaki Brochure Download

Kawasaki Order Form Download

Please only use the downloadable order forms to place your orders and email them to: info@uni-power.co.uk

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