Interesting news today that Husqvarna are launching pilot schemes in Edinburgh and London to monitor the effectiveness of robotic mowing in public parks.

The company clearly believe this style of maintenance will play a significant role in the upkeep of our public green spaces of the future.

However, it would seem that specialist dealers may well have somewhat of an educational job on their hands, convincing professional buyers that they want to be purchasing these tools.

The task ahead may not be so much in trying to convince turf professionals that these machines can perform an effective job. Nor what my first reaction to the news would be if I cut grass for a living, that a robot is trying to steal my job!

More so the hurdle which may need to be addressed by dealers is persuading grounds care professionals that these robots will not be a massive target for thieves.

We ran this story of Husqvarna's robotic pilot scheme in Edinburgh and London in our sister publication TurfPro on Monday this week - and as that newsletter is targeted at grounds care professionals I was fully expecting to hear a bunch of comments along the lines of 'I don't want a robot taking away my work'. And to be fair, we did receive one like that ("Admirable technology, but does nobody ever consider the bigger picture of job reduction and stagnating wages".)

But surprisingly most of the comments received from the turf professionals were sceptical of the security of these units.

For example:

• "Great. It's the way to go. How do you stop someone stealing it?"
• "How long before it is stolen? Great idea though."
• "Health and safety implications, unmanned cutting equipment, vandalism, theft, problems! Like the idea though."
• "And when they have stolen the mower, how long before they destroy the perimeter, digging the cable out for the copper?"

I found it interesting and unexpected that this was the first reaction from a section of TurfPro's specialist readership. Educating these users why theft hopefully shouldn't be too much of an issue due to all the advanced security features of modern robotic mowers, will now fall on the shoulders of dealers.

The fact that the units are rendered useless once away from their base station and perimeter wire, and that top end ones feature GPS communication abilities which can alert owners to their whereabouts via SMS messages, need to be imparted to buyers. These buyers then in turn might want to consider publicising this information locally if they are going put the robot to work in an unmanned public space. If the info is out there in the public consciousness that nothing of any value can be achieved from a robot alone, one would like to hope that maybe criminals wouldn’t bother with the effort of stealing one?

It seems clear from the direction which companies such as Husqvarna are heading that they see automisation very much increasing in commercial grass cutting applications. I attended the company's Silent City conference in Stockholm last year where the future of urban parks maintenance was discussed in some depth - with robotic mowing talked of as a significant element of future grounds care.

They have another Silent City event coming up in October, this time held in Edinburgh. Perhaps by then they might have some initial data from these trials both here in the UK and in Sweden which could hopefully allay some fears.

It would be great if dealers had some hard, factual evidence they could show potential professional customers as to why these units won’t go missing as soon as they are put out to work.

New Holland dealer Russells Ltd (Hallmark Tractors) has signed a deal to expand its territory into Northamptonshire, covering the area around Wellingborough.


The new depot is under construction in  Rothwell, near Kettering

Just 18 months after Hallmark Tractors joined the Russells group, the dealership will expand its business and territory with the construction of a new depot in Rothwell, near Kettering. The depot will serve customers in Northamptonshire and the surrounding area.

The new depot will be operational in time for the main harvest season, with full sales, parts and service facilities offered. Andy Loxton will manage sales, Mark Harris the service department and Brian Lenham the parts operation. All the staff have a vast amount of experience of the New Holland brand in the local area.

Paul Russell, Russell Ltd’s Dealer Principal, says of the expansion: “We are confident that we have the right people in place to be able to deliver a professional service and are looking forward to promoting the New Holland brand in the new territory. Jim Nash and the team at Hallmark Tractors have done a great job and are relishing the challenge this new opportunity presents.”

Andrew Watson, New Holland Business Director UK and Ireland says: “We are extremely excited about the new developments within the Russell’s family. We are sure the new depot will be very successful as it covers a key area for New Holland. The Hallmark and Russells teams are exceptionally knowledgeable and they will surely offer great opportunities and a new level of service to all customers in the area."

Husqvarna has launched an international robotic pilot to improve productivity and sustainability in parks across the country - a first for the UK.

The trial, which is working in conjunction with Quantified Planet, will take place in Edinburgh and London over the next five months, which intends to provide both cities with a more efficient, high-tech and sustainable solution to maintaining its green spaces.



As part of the project, Husqvarna Automower robotic lawnmowers have been installed in various locations across each city, including Princes Street in Edinburgh and Regents Park in London.

Each lawnmower will be equipped with wirelessly-connected sensors, operate come rain or shine and collect data about the environment, the quality of air, water and levels of light and sound and illustrate how robotic lawnmowers improve overall park maintenance.

The data will be collected by Quantified Planet, using a cellular connection and a digital cloud.

This will help each city better understand its microclimates, the impact of air pollution and how the use of battery-operated lawnmowers could reduce carbon emissions.
Amongst the benefits of the new lawnmowers are increased efficiency - allowing each city to concentrate on horticultural activities elsewhere, improved safety on steep grass verges and a positive impact on the environment thanks to battery operation.

Husqvarna UK Professional Manager, Kevin Ashmore said, “One of the biggest roadblocks to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is the lack of data. Cities, like Edinburgh and London need better environmental data to improve health and create cities people want to live in. The aim of this project is to help cities around the world support this mission.

"The technology used allows us to monitor the impact and after the first stage of the trial we will be able to measure, through the sensors, the total impact on the environment.”

The project measures the  gains and potential time savings of mowing public lawns with robotic lawnmowers. The test will measure the reduction of noise pollution as well as direct emissions when replacing petrol powered products with battery driven robotics.

Stewart Plant Sales, the groundcare equipment division of Scot JCB, has been appointed as the Baroness UK dealer for central and southern Scotland.


L-R: Director, Iain Bryant; Groundcare Manager, Richard Green; and Jim Whitton, Business Development Manager, Baroness

Based in Glasgow and run by Groundcare Manager Richard Green, the company provides technical support via a team of mobile engineers, providing service and parts back up from five local depots across the territory.

Commenting on their appointment, Director Iain Bryant said, “We are delighted with our appointment as Baroness dealers as the equipment is highly regarded within the industry and we look forward to growing market share within the territory.”

Baroness UK Business Development Manager Jim Whitton added, “Scotland is a tough and demanding market and we were looking for a dealer partner that had a proven track record of delivering unrivalled service support across Scotland and the sales expertise and market experience to offer a truly consultative approach to the golf and sports ground customers.

“We are fortunate to be able to partner with Stewart Plant Sales whose significant aftersales resources will prove to be a key differentiator in the professional groundscare industry in Scotland”.

The announcement is part of what the manufacturer describes as its ongoing commitment to expand and strengthen its agricultural dealer network.


L-R: Stewart Whitlow, Dedicated Kubota Salesperson, Kevin Price, Kubota Dealer Manager, Andrew Dutton, Co-owner of K Farm Machinery 

K Farm Machinery Ltd is undertaking a significant investment programme to launch its new branch in Higher Whitley, near Warrington, which is due to be officially opened later this year.

The dealership is being launched by Andrew Dutton and Steve Sykes, both of which have extensive experience and knowledge of the local agricultural market. Andrew and Steve have developed an excellent reputation across Cheshire and North Wales for providing a friendly and first class service offering to their customers.

Andrew Dutton, co-owner of K Farm Machinery Ltd, commented: “This is an extremely exciting partnership. By joining forces with Kubota UK and making a significant investment in our Higher Whitley branch, it highlights the commitment we are making to the farming community in this region. We are extremely passionate about supporting local farmers and believe this announcement with Kubota UK makes a real statement to the industry.”

K Farm Machinery Ltd will supply Kubota’s full agricultural range.

Steve said: “Both Andrew and I are extremely proud of the excellent reputation we have developed across the North West for our service and support over the years. Joining forces with Kubota UK and launching K Farm Machinery Ltd is all about taking this on to the next level."

K Farm Machinery’s branch will include a showroom, stores and a workshop. Accompanying Andrew and Steve will be Stewart Whitlow, who will be the dedicated Kubota salesperson and Jez Karkos, a qualified Kubota service engineer.

Rob Edwards, Kubota UK’s Business Development Manager for its Agricultural Division, concluded: “The Kubota brand already has some heritage in this area but this important new partnership with K Farm Machinery presents us with a massive opportunity to target the professional farming market in Cheshire and North Wales much more strategically. We are delighted to officially announce our partnership with K Farm Machinery Ltd.

“Joining forces with K Farm Machinery Ltd is an exciting opportunity and I would like to wish Andrew, Steve and their team all the success in developing Kubota’s presence in this area.”

According to figures released by the AEA the total tractor power sold in the first half of 2017 was 1.002 million hp, an increase of 17% against the same period in 2016 (only agricultural units of over 50 hp).

Stephen Howarth, AEA Agricultural Economist, said, "The average horsepower (163.1 hp) represented a further rise (2.9%) in the year.

"Most horsepower bands saw increases in the number of units registered during the period, with the exception of those between 100 and 120 hp. The fastest growth was in the middle of the power range, between 140 and 200 hp."

The chart below shows a breakdown by power grouping:





Regional breakdown

The below regional data table and chart show that most regions of the UK recorded increased registrations of agricultural tractors, with the exception of North East England, where there was a decrease, and the South East, Home Counties and East Midlands, where there was little change.

Stephen Howarth said, "Among the biggest increases were those in the South West and Eastern England, which are the two leading regions for tractor registrations."

This year’s Royal Welsh Show takes place next week, runinng from Monday 24th July to Thursday 27th July 2017.

The show, organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, is the number one attraction of its kind in Wales and saw an attendance of over 250,000 last year, with visitors travelling from all over the UK and overseas.

Plenty of machiney will be on show, including:

New Holland

Representatives from New Holland’s Welsh machinery dealers, Teme Valley, JG Plant, T Alun Jones, Malpas, Gwili Jones, JE Lawrence and Menai will walk and talk visitors through the different machines on the stand and explain the history of blue tractor production.


T5 tractor range

New Holland has recently expanded its T5 tractor range with an additional five models, to complete its mid-range tractor line up. The latest T5 Utility models offer between 75 and 114 hp and continues the heritage of New Holland’s T5000 series, including 24x24 Dual Command transmission, capable performance, and compact size, all at a competitive price.

The new T5 Utility tractors can be specified with a choice of two- or four-wheel drive on all Synchro-Shuttle models (four-wheel drive on all others), plus a wide choice of transmissions including Dual Command™, Power Shuttle, and Creep-speed to suit individual requirements.

New Holland’s Boomer series will also be at the show, with three models on display, the Boomer 20, Boomer 30 and Boomer 50.

Kubota

Kubota will be represented on two stands at the show. Its groundcare stand (E408) will launch its new RTV-X1140 utility vehicle, as well as its new Z122R petrol powered ride-on mower and its L1361 compact tractor.


RTV-X1140 utility vehicle

All three new groundcare machines will be making their show debut. A host of other groundcare products will also be on display, including a special 0% finance incentive promotion on the Kubota RTV400, RTV500 and RTV-X900.

Taking centre stage on the company’s Agriculture stand (E353) will be their recently launched implements range.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see Kubota’s flagship M7001 Series (130hp to 170hp) and its M5001 Series (95hp to 113hp).

Suzuki

Alongside the full range of Suzuki ATVs on display, Suzuki will be giving visitors to their stand the chance to win a Suzuki branded workwear kit consisting of a bodywarmer and overalls in a daily competition.


Special edition Welsh flag wrapped Suzuki ATV

The special edition camouflage KingQuad 750 and Welsh flag wrapped ATV will also be on the stand, along with the junior range, and a Suzuki Vitara car on display. Attachments from ATV City and Logic will also be available to view on the stand.

Expert Suzuki ATV dealers will be on hand to answer questions.

Whether the mower is large or small, petrol or electric, or even no longer in working order, Toro say they are happy to accept it for a trade.

Machines availale in the offer include the Recycler with SmartStow, a new 46cm high-wheel push mower, the TimeMaster and the newly launched TimeCutter HD zero-turn range of ride-on mowers.

To find out more about the “Trade up to Toro” promotion, visit www.tradeuptotoro.com

HMP Kirkham prison officer Andy Maxfield from Inskip in Lancashire is finalising plans to set a brand new Guinness World Record by driving from John O’Groats to Land’s End on a John Deere lawn tractor, while raising money for Alzheimer’s Society.

L-R: Andy, Karen and Kathryn Maxfield try out John Deere’s lawn tractors for size at the company’s UK & Ireland headquarters in Langar, Nottingham

The ‘Driving the Distance for Dementia’ Challenge is now due to set off from John O’Groats at 8am on Tuesday 25th July 2017; the signposted distance to Land’s End is 874 miles. The planned route goes past the Maxfield family home, where Andy spends much of his spare time cutting the grass in public open spaces around the village.

Since changes were made to the original plans in order to meet Guinness' stipulations for the record, which has not been attempted before with an unmodified lawn tractor, Andy is still hoping to complete the distance in less than five days on his own. He has recently been promoting the challenge at shows and events in the north of England, starting with a visit to his beloved Blackburn Rovers FC – see video below -  and including this month’s Great Yorkshire Show.

The current route takes him through north-east Scotland to Inverness, then mostly through central Scotland to Lockerbie. From here the route follows north-west England via Carlisle and Preston, and onwards along the English/Welsh border via Shrewsbury and Gloucester to Bristol. The final stretch runs down through Taunton and Bodmin to Land’s End.

Andy Maxfield will now be using a 24hp X750 lawn tractor and accompanied by support vehicles provided by John Deere. The X750 has power steering, cruise control and a top road speed of around 10mph, and it will be specially equipped with John Deere’s JDLink remote monitoring system to help provide evidence of the completed journey to Guinness World Records. Andy will also be supported on the journey by his wife Karen and their daughters Kathryn and Kaitlyn.

Andy’s 77 year old father James and James’ mother Theresa were both diagnosed with dementia, which prompted Andy to start seriously fundraising for the charity in January this year. “Initially I had the idea of a fundraising ball to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society, which will be held in Preston in December,” he says.

“After that, because friends and neighbours often take the mickey out of me for being into lawnmowers - I’ve got eight altogether for cutting the grass around the village - I just thought it would be appropriate to try for the world record for driving a lawn tractor the length of Britain. I asked John Deere, although I don’t have one of their mowers at home, as I know they make quality products and I wanted something to get me from A to B without breaking down!”

John Deere Limited turf division manager Chris Meacock adds: “Our UK and Ireland employees select a specific charity each year to support with a variety of fundraising activities. By coincidence we had chosen Alzheimer’s Society when we were approached by Andy Maxfield to help with the Guinness World Record attempt, so it was very good timing on his part!

“We are delighted to back this very worthy cause and are looking forward to the challenge. In addition to providing the X750 for ‘Driving the Distance for Dementia’, we have offered Andy a new X350R lawn tractor worth over £5000 as a special raffle prize for the family’s charity ball.” The ball will take place at Preston Masonic Hall on Saturday December 9th.

Andy Maxfield’s charity ball has a JustGiving website page for donations at www.justgiving.com/andrew-maxfield, with the total already standing at over £2200 in early July; donations can also be made by texting MAXF80 £3 to 70070. More information on the ball and the challenge are available at www.facebook.com/ForgetMeNotPreston, and by following Andy on Twitter @AndyMax69.

Alzheimer’s Society is available for anyone affected by dementia and there are lots of ways the charity can help – for details call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk.

A man who allegedly tried to make his getaway by fleeing on a ride-on lawnmower was caught by police as he was driving down an A road last Sunday.

LincolnshireLive reports he was found shortly before 2am on July 16 when patrol officers stopped the man on the A1031 heading towards Marshchapel.


The lawnmower the man was arrested on

A 23-year-old man from Grimsby was later arrested on suspicion of theft and going equipped for burglary, and was later released under investigation

Lincolnshire Police are now looking to find the owner of the lawnmower to return it to them.

A police spokesman told LincolnshireLive, "If you have had a similar model stolen recently, please call 101, quoting incident number 53 of July 16."

*New* to our range, the Trenchex ‘Carry’ takes the strain off your back and helps you to work effortlessly.

Versatile yet easy and useful support for all operations in the garden, yard or kitchen garden. It is perfect for moving grass cuttings, pruning disposal and earth moving operations aswell as the transport of firewood and other heavy materials. Comfort and Power in just one product.

The ‘Carry’ has an 85 litre galvanised tank equipped with tipping gear. A choice of Honda or B&S Power Units embraces 1 forward and 1 reverse gear. Automatic brake stopping system.

Accessories available include; Snow Blade, skids for Snow Blade, Sheet Platform and Snow Chains. Large cleat tyres and rugged construction keep the barrow moving over difficult terrain. Carrying capacity is 100kg (75kg max on steep slopes).

Our parts department sell spare parts from the following brands:

• Eurosystems
• Briggs & Stratton
• Grillo
• Alpina
• Lawnflite
• GGP Global Garden Products
• MTD
• Husqvarna
• Castelgarden
• Rover
• American Yard Products
• Yanmar

Whether you have many branches, you are a family run dealership, or a one-person service agent, we can offer you;

• Comprehensive parts and technical backup for all our products
• Helpful and friendly staff at your disposal with expertise and technical knowledge
• UK wide delivery service (with next day delivery available, see terms)
• One of the largest stocks of replacements parts in the UK
• Telephone and Online ordering systems via our exclusive website; www.lawn-king.co.uk

Since our business was founded in 1963 we have prided ourselves in giving our customers competitively priced machinery, alongside excellent customer service and backup support. We have always been, and remain to this day, an independent family run business and now in our third family generation we’re still small enough to care, but big enough to deliver the service and products to support you in your business needs.

What are you waiting for? Give us a call today! 01889 565155

The following organisations have confirmed their sponsorship of the 2017 Service Dealer Conference and Awards. We’d like to welcome them on board and thank them for their support and input. 

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

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Want to become a sponsor? Email: julie@theadplain.com