A quick reminder that SALTEX takes place at the NEC on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

The team from Service Dealer and our sister title for commercial turfcare end-users, TurfPro, will be attendance. We have a stand at D030 so do drop by and say hi - although the likelihood is we'll spend most of our time up and down the aisles, speaking to the industry movers and shakers, checking out what's new..

It will be fascinating to see how many of our valued dealer readers choose to make the journey to Birmingham this year. Is SALTEX still as high on everyone's agenda as it once was? There are undeniably several key manufacturers who our readers will stock in their showrooms not taking stands in 2026. Will this put dealers off from leaving the workplace? Also, will coming shortly after a GroundsFest that was genuinely busy have an impact? The same question can be asked of the professional practitioners who the GMA aim their event at - will they be there in their droves?

The impression that we've started to get these past few years, when these two shows have run within a few weeks of each other, is that maybe it's more landscapers and contractors that head to Stoneleigh, whilst the higher-end sports facility custodians visit the NEC. Will next week continue to play out like that? It will be interesting to see. 

This year the show has made a real effort in the run-up, promoting itself across traditional and social media, highlighting the fact that they are celebrating the 80th staging of the event. They are leaning into their storied heritage, whilst at the same time pushing the innovations, forward-looking learning opportunities and chance to network with industry peers that SALTEX affords. We will see on Wednesday how that message has landed.

Dealers of the year

Talking of innovations and forward-looking, I was lucky enough to hear plenty of stories with these ideas at their heart on Tuesday this week, as I had the privilege of forming part of the judging panel for our magazine's Dealer of the Year Awards.

L-R: Duncan Murray-Clarke, Service Dealer owner; Keith Christian, Service Dealer contributor; Laurence Gale, TurfPro editor; Steve Gibbs, Service Dealer editor

I feel confident in saying that the caliber of entries we received across the board this year, was absolutely remarkable. In what has a been a challenging season for multiple reasons, it's clear that out there in the network are businesses not just surviving, but utterly thriving. To me this was encapsulated by the tales we heard across the nominations in the Best New Initiative category.

Not only did we have more submissions for this Award than ever before, but the levels of entrepreneurship, of innovation, of progressive thinking and action, were off the charts. We're not talking about companies putting up some new shelves and doing a Twitter about it here. These were some major projects that dealers have undertaken this year to further their businesses. We're looking at concepts along the lines of whole new branches, special events, ways of communicating or new departments offering new services. And all of these are, of course, geared toward enhancing and nurturing customer relationships. It really was quite something to hear and super difficult to judge.

As were all the awards to be fair. The responsibility we have as judges is not lost on any of us. We all appreciate how fairness and impartiality is incumbent upon us all, with every nomination receiving an equal hearing. Businesses and individuals alike impressed us from start to finish. However, in the end I am satisfied that we have an incredibly special cohort of winners for us all to celebrate come December 3rd.

If you haven't yet guaranteed your place for the Awards evening or the Conference that precedes it, there are still a few tickets left, I believe. If you've not attended before, the gala dinner where the prizes are handed out is a truly joyous occasion and the Conference this year has an absolutely stellar line-up of speakers. So do check-out the options that are available still.

Until then, enjoy SALTEX if you go next week and tell us what you thought of it - and we'll look forward to welcoming you to Stratford-Upon-Avon in a few week's time.

Globe Technologies say they continue to invest in their UK operations with the appointment of Rob Hartill as product demonstrator.

 
Rob joins the business with a wealth of experience across the outdoor power equipment industry, having worked in arboriculture in both the UK and Australia, as well as holding roles in retail management, IT and marketing within the garden centre sector.
 
Rob said, "I'm really pleased to be joining Globe Technologies and becoming part of the Greenworks Commercial team.
 
"I've spent most of my working life around outdoor power equipment, from working with chainsaws in the UK and Australia to spending time on the other side of the counter in a dealership. It's given me a good understanding of what people need from their machinery, whether they're using it every day or recommending it to customers.
 
"There's a lot happening at Greenworks Commercial, particularly with the move from Cramer branding, and it's an exciting time to be joining. Battery technology has come such a long way, and I'm looking forward to showing people just how capable this equipment is.
 
"Most of all, I'm looking forward to getting out on the road, meeting our dealers and customers, and hopefully introducing a few more people to what Greenworks Commercial can offer."
 
John McGrady. country director, UK & Ireland, added, "As we continue to grow Greenworks Commercial across the UK, it's important that we bring in people who not only have the right experience and knowledge, but who also share our enthusiasm and ambition for the brand.
 
"Rob brings a fantastic combination of practical industry experience and commercial understanding. Having worked both out in the field and within the dealership environment, he understands the challenges our customers face and, just as importantly, what our dealers need from us as a manufacturer."

JCB employees have helped raise thousands of pounds for this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal by snapping up commemorative digger themed pin badges.

 
The poppy pin badges - the brainchild of retired Staffordshire firefighter Kelvin Chell - feature a JCB backhoe loader and have been sold at all 11 of the company’s UK manufacturing sites in the run up to Armistice Day. The initiative raised more than £11,400, with the manufacturer boosting the total to £12,500.
 
Within days of being offered for sale, employees bought all 2,400 of the badges while Kelvin has sold another 850 at local retail outlets and online, with orders from as far afield as the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the Orkney Islands.
 
Kelvin, who has produced 39 different themed poppy badges in recent years, approached JCB on hearing it was the company’s 80th anniversary last year. After giving its seal of approval to the design, the company, and Fenton-based JCB supplier Rayne Engineering joined forces to help fund production of the badges.

 
And the bespoke design has helped take Kelvin’s fundraising total for the Royal British Legion past the £150,000 mark over the last six years - and he has no plans to stop fundraising.

L-R: Tom Smith, of Rayne Engineering, Kelvin Chell, Mark Smith, Poppy Appeal Manager for North Staffordshire, and JCB head of defence Adam Fraser-Hitchen DL.
 
Kelvin said, “Sales of the JCB badges have been brilliant. I have had orders from all over the world and we could definitely have sold more. I am very grateful for the support of JCB and Rayne Engineering in bringing this idea to life. The Royal British Legion is a cause close to my heart and every badge sold will help veterans and their families.”
 
JCB Head of Defence, former Army Brigadier Adam Fraser-Hitchen DL, officially handed over the funds raised at JCB World Headquarters, in Rocester. He said: “It has been a real privilege for the company to support Kelvin’s incredible fundraising work and it is no surprise that the badges have sold out so quickly. As a company we hold the UK’s Armed Forces in high regard and we employ many veterans.”
 

As part of a technology-neutral propulsion strategy, Claas, MAN Engines and WTZ Roßlau are currently developing an ammonia-powered drive system for use in agricultural machinery. GAMCO - Green Ammonia Multifuel Combine - is designed as a research project and aims to investigate the suitability of an ammonia-powered drive system as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and to sustainable fuels such as hydrogen in internal combustion engines.

In practical use, agricultural machinery requires a very high level of power that is reliably available over many hours. The GAMCO research project is investigating how these requirements can be met using a sustainable ammonia-powered internal combustion engine. The assessment covers the entire well-to-wheel pathway, including the production and supply of the fuels used.

The engine used in the project utilises ammonia as its primary energy carrier. Ammonia itself contains no carbon and therefore produces no direct CO₂ emissions when combusted. Ammonia can be produced from renewable energy sources worldwide in locations where energy is particularly cheap. Thanks to its high energy density and ease of storage compared to hydrogen, it is well suited as a transport medium for green energy.

MAN Engines and WTZ Roßlau are responsible for developing the engine system. At Claas in Harsewinkel, work is underway to integrate the technology into an agricultural machine. In this way, engine development and agricultural application are specifically brought together within the project.

The project aims to demonstrate the potential that sustainable fuels hold for high-performance agricultural machinery – and that even the internal combustion engine can contribute to the decarbonisation of agriculture.

The organisers of October's Equip Exposition say the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition again drew approximately 30,000 attendees and continued to break records.

Held over the 21st to 23rd of last month, Equip’s registered attendance grew across key demographic categories, and the show sold out its exhibit space for a fifth straight year, delivering 1.3 million square feet of exhibit with the latest new products, innovations, inspiration and training for the industry. 
 
“In the face of rising fuel prices, interest rates and other extraordinary challenges, our attendees were eager to come to Louisville and connect with friends and colleagues, both on the show floor and at key social events like our opening reception at Churchill Downs and closing party at Paristown Point,” said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns and manages Equip Exposition. “It just goes to show that when times are tough, Equip is the place to be to talk to others who are going through the same things.”
 
Earlier this year, Equip was named the third largest trade show in the U.S. in 2025 by Trade Show Executive magazine.
 
To help attendees seize future business opportunities, Equip expanded its Tree Care Arena, and added educational offerings in snow and ice management, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and women’s leadership at this year’s show. The show’s ever popular Outdoor Demo Yard spanned 30 acres and was packed with landscape professionals and contractors trying the latest outdoor power equipment. 
 
The 2027 show will be held October 19-22, in Louisville. Attendees will benefit from planned expansion of the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), with the opening of 300,000 square feet of new exhibit space.
 
The show again is in Louisville in 2028. The improvements at the KEC over the next two years, including an anticipated new West Wing in 2029, will give Equip more than 500,000 square feet of new exhibit space.
 
In 2029, Equip will begin a biannual rotation to Orlando, Florida, returning to Louisville every other year.

AgVantage has strengthened its specialist crop machinery offering after being appointed as an official dealer for Bauer irrigation equipment.

L-R: Andy Carse, managing director, AgVantage and Adrian Tindall, of Bauer UK & Ireland

The new partnership will see AgVantage supply and support Bauer’s range of crop irrigation equipment, bringing together the manufacturer's specialist irrigation technology with AgVantage’s experience in potatoes, vegetables and other high-value crops.

AgVantage, based at Coates near Peterborough, says the appointment represents a natural extension to its existing portfolio of specialist machinery and further strengthens their ability to provide customers with equipment and support throughout the growing season.

Andy Carse, managing director, said, “We’re delighted to be joining the Bauer dealer network. Irrigation is an incredibly important part of growing potatoes and other high-value crops, so Bauer fits extremely well alongside the machinery and services we already provide."

He continued, “Our aim is not simply to sell machinery; we want to provide the level of aftersales support that customers expect from AgVantage. We see significant potential to develop the Bauer business and build a strong long-term partnership.”

Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland sales manager, said of their new dealer, “The company has a strong presence within the specialist crop sector and, importantly, understands the level of sales, parts and service support that professional growers require.

“There is a strong overlap between AgVantage’s existing customer base and users of irrigation equipment, particularly within the potato and vegetable sectors. We believe that makes this an excellent fit for both businesses."

Henton & Chattell will be showcasing the latest innovations from the Cobra Fortis professional mower range at SALTEX 2026, taking place on 11–12 November at Birmingham's NEC. Visitors to Stand C035 will have the opportunity to discover an impressive line-up of machinery engineered to deliver exceptional cutting performance and outstanding playing surfaces.

Taking centre stage will be the new Cobra Fortis Rotary 34 and the impressive Fortis Stadium 34 professional cylinder mower, alongside other models from the Fortis range and its versatile Sports Cartridge System.

INTRODUCING THE NEW FORTIS ROTARY 34

One of the main attractions at SALTEX will be the new Cobra Fortis Rotary 34, an 86cm (34") professional rotary mower developed to deliver exceptional performance across sports pitches and premium turf environments.

Powered by a Honda GX200 engine and featuring Cobra's innovative X-FLOW™ collection technology, the Rotary 34 combines powerful cutting performance with outstanding grass collection and a beautifully presented finish.

Its split differential rear roller provides excellent manoeuvrability while helping create the distinctive striped appearance expected on professional playing surfaces. With robust construction and a generous 90-litre grass collector, the Rotary 34 offers grounds teams a powerful and practical addition to their turf maintenance equipment.

PRECISION CUTTING WITH THE FORTIS STADIUM 34

Alongside the Rotary 34 will be the impressive Fortis Stadium 34, Cobra's flagship 86cm (34") professional cylinder mower, developed for grounds professionals who demand precision, consistency and an exceptional quality of cut.

At its heart is Cobra's innovative TRUECUT on-cut design, engineered to minimise movement and vibration, maintain cutting accuracy and deliver a consistently clean, uniform finish.

Available with six- or eight-blade cutting cylinders, Honda petrol or EGO battery power options and interchangeable turf care cartridges, the Stadium 34 combines exceptional cutting performance with impressive versatility.

DISCOVER THE WIDER FORTIS RANGE

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore other machines from the expanding Cobra Fortis range, alongside its versatile Sports Cartridge System.

With interchangeable cartridges for scarifying, verticutting, aerating, brushing and other essential turf maintenance tasks, the Fortis range offers grounds teams practical and versatile solutions for maintaining healthy, beautifully presented playing surfaces throughout the season.

Together, the Rotary 34, Stadium 34 and wider Fortis range demonstrate Cobra's commitment to innovative engineering, professional performance and exceptional results.

COME AND EXPERIENCE THE FORTIS DIFFERENCE

SALTEX is the perfect opportunity to get up close to the latest Fortis machinery, explore its innovative features and discover how the range can help you achieve exceptional playing surfaces.

The Henton & Chattell sales team will be on hand throughout the exhibition to answer questions, discuss the machinery and offer expert advice on choosing the right equipment for your needs.

Come and see us at SALTEX 2026, Stand C035, at Birmingham's NEC on 11–12 November. We look forward to seeing you there for a chat!

For more information, visit www.cobragarden.co.uk, or contact the Henton & Chattell sales team on 0115 986 6646.

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