We feature a fascinating story today regarding a recent report from Aviva that has revealed that British consumers are embracing smart technology in ever-greater numbers - with robotic mowing solutions said to be among the fastest-growing sectors.

The news states that last year alone, over £300 million was spent in the UK on robot lawn mowers. We know from speaking to you, our valued dealer readers this year, and from the responses you've given to our surveys, that our android friends are now seeing excellent growth not just amongst homeowners, but increasingly in the professional sector too.

Segway, makers of the Navimow range, have certainly noted the shift in buyers' attitudes and have used the Aviva report to show off their own figures. The company says global revenue for its robotic mowers rose by 380% in the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the previous year - and points to advancing GPS integration, improved smart home compatibility and better battery life as key factors in the category’s popularity in the domestic sphere.

Certainly the GPS integration is a factor that many dealers have remarked to us this year as being a huge contributory factor to the uptick in sales. Several have told us this development has almost made the boundary-wire models obsolete overnight.

What is clear is that robotic mowing is no longer a niche solution for tech-loving, early adopting, enthusiasts. These machines are quickly becoming mainstream, with broad appeal that spans domestic gardens, estates, local authorities and, especially, golf courses. Several dealers we have spoken to recently, are pointing to the technology as a real bright point in what might be described as a challenging season.

Husqvarna's renaissance

To get a clearer view of how the UK industry is responding, Service Dealer's owner Duncan Murray-Clarke, along with our operations coordinator, Nikki Harrison, visited the Husqvarna factory and HQ at Newton Aycliffe last week - a key production site for robotic mowers worldwide.

They met several members of the senior management team, including Stewart Carter, Jonathan Snowball, Karl Hansell, Paul Coates, Phil Holdsworth and Steven Irvine. Duncan said the visit offered an eye-opening look at a company with a long history in robotics. 2025, in fact, marks 30 years since the launch of their Automower. Today the company is continuing to invest heavily to maintain its position in the market.

Much of Husqvarna’s global robotic mower range is now manufactured and assembled at Newton Aycliffe, with many key components, including batteries, also made on-site. The Service Dealer team said it was impressive to see a strong British manufacturing story backed up by automation, but also a flexible and significant local workforce, ranging from 230 employees up to 880 at peak times.

Like many in the industry, Husqvarna was not immune to the challenges of the post-Covid period - including supply chain disruption and staffing pressures. However, the management team was candid to Duncan and Nikki about these issues, saying they have responded with a renewed focus on resilience and logistics. Considerable investment has gone into both the team and facilities, and the impact on dealer service levels appears to be positive.

Phil Holdsworth, head of sales operations, shared that dealer response time targets are now being met 89% of the time whilst back order waiting time is reduced by 50%, backed up by a team which has doubled in size recently. An area of ongoing focus.

Sales-wise, we were told that 2025 has started solidly for the company. Residential robotics are up 5%, handheld battery tools have surged by 31%, and even petrol product sales are up 5%. Meanwhile, ride-on mower sales are down 5% - a shift that clearly mirrors the rise in robotic alternatives. Their professional robotics are up 69% and the dealer network now numbers 186 store locations, with 81 of those certified Ceora specialists.

Last year was a record-breaker for Husqvarna UK, with turnover reaching SEK 800 million. That confidence was reflected in the mood of the Newton Aycliffe team, with Duncan describing them as upbeat, focused, and keenly aware of the brand’s opportunities, particularly in commercial sectors.

Perhaps most symbolic of how far things have come, we were told that we are about to see the first ever Women’s Open tournament played on a course where robotic mowers maintain the fairways - an achievement approved by the The R&A and a world first.

“The AIG Women's Open is a very exciting project we are proud to be involved with," Jonathan Snowball, head of Professional UK told us. "Royal Porthcawl Golf Club have really embraced the technology and the results are amazing." 

Duncan summed up the visit saying, "It is clear that there has been an overhaul at Husqvarna UK and the results seem to be reflecting that. The team looked confident and upbeat. Now in their 30th year of the Automower, they pioneered the robotic mowing scene and arguably have stayed ahead of the competition. With one third of Europe’s golf courses in the UK using robotics, their focus now is very much on the opportunity that the Ceora offers in the golf and sporting world."

It seems to me that many industry experts believe that robotic mowing is poised to become the dominant force in professional turf care. Husqvarna clearly believes that they and their dealers are well placed to benefit from what is shaping up to be a significant, sustained shift in the market.

Of course other manufacturers also offer professional robotic mowing solutions and will be keen to make sure that their offerings are competitive, giving turf professionals - and dealers -  real choice. And for those manufacturers currently without a commercial robotic mower on the market, surely they must be working at double-speed behind the scenes to get one out into dealerships?

AriensCo has announced a change of leadership in the EMEAA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia). 

Jochen Schneider, executive vice president of the region has left the company with immediate effect. In a statement the company thanked him for his commitment and wished him all the best for his future endeavours.

Jim Young, chief financial officer at AriensCo, will assume interim responsibility for the region in close coordination with Nick Ariens, president AriensCo and the Ariens family. 

"Looking to the future, we are convinced that greater family involvement in the EMEAA region is crucial to realising our long-term vision," says Nick Ariens. "In addition to our home market, the EMEAA region is hugely important for our global development. We want to further strengthen our commitment in this region with the AS-Motor and Ariens brands.

"Together with our EMEAA team, we look forward to further developing the product portfolio, further expanding our sales channels and growing market share throughout Europe."

Merlo UK has announced that Turney Group is now representing their brand from a new depot in Bredon, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as of 1st July 2025.

L-R: Turney Group's Dan Coates, operations manager; Phil Bush, managing director; and Peter McFerran, aftersales manager; with Craig Parkes, regional sales manager, Merlo UK

This follows the planned closure of P&D Engineering (Bredon) Ltd at the end of June, marking the retirement of Mike Pullen after 49 years in business - more than 20 of which were as a Merlo dealer.
 
The Bredon depot will serve as a dedicated Merlo centre for the area, offering full sales and aftersales support for the range of telehandlers. Turney Group will also offer a range of groundcare and agricultural machinery brands at the site, but with Merlo the sole telehandler franchise at this location.
 
Several members of the former P&D Engineering team will be joining Turney Group at Bredon, ensuring continuity and familiarity for customers, and reinforcing the company’s commitment to trusted local service.
 
“The Merlo brand will be a key part of our machinery offering from Bredon, and we are proud to extend Turney’s coverage into Gloucestershire and Worcestershire,” said Phil Bush, managing director at Turney Group. “This new depot will allow us to build on our commitment to offering premium machines with exceptional service and support.”

 
Owen Buttle, national sales manager at Merlo UK, added, “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Turney Group through the addition of their new Bredon depot. Their specialist team and long-standing reputation align perfectly with Merlo’s values of quality, innovation, and customer care. We’d also like to thank Mike Pullen for his decades of dedication to Merlo and wish him all the best in retirement.”

A recent Aviva report has revealed an uptick in new technology usage across British homes, with the market expected to more than double over the next five years, as household robotic device capabilities improve.

Last year alone, for instance, Britons spent more than £300 million on robot lawn mowers.
 
On the back of this report's findings, Segway, makers of the Navimow robotic mower range, have stressed how increasingly popular with UK gardeners, robotic lawn mowers are becoming. They point out how the current market features a wide range of brands and models specifically designed to handle gardens of all shapes and sizes. 
 
According to George Ren, CEO of Segway Navimow BU, “Offering unparalleled convenience and productivity, robotics continues to reshape the way we live, especially as more budget-friendly options enter the market, driving widespread household adoption. 
 
“Not only can robotic mowers fulfil the everyday needs of households, regardless of size and maintenance requirements, but their capabilities are increasingly extending to commercial use for estate managers, local councils and more, all the while saving time and achieving outstanding results."
 
In the first three quarters of 2024, Segway say the Navimow’s global revenue increased by 380% compared to last year, reflecting the trend in the wider robotics market.
 
George continued, “Our growth reflects our dedication to innovation and commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our customers worldwide. As such, the foundations we laid in 2024 have positioned us for sustained momentum and continued year-on-year sales success.
 
“There has been a clear uptick in robotic lawnmower usage driven by advancing technology in GPS integration, smart home connectivity, and battery life, which we can only expect to continue as households increasingly seek everyday convenience. With time, and as autonomous mowers’ capabilities improve, their potential for commercial application presents a gap in the market for further innovation in slope and terrain navigation,” he concluded.

Hartpury University and Hartpury College have officially opened its newly refurbished Agricultural Engineering Workshops and SMART Livestock Hub - a development that they have described as "a major milestone in the institution’s continued investment in future-ready, industry-aligned education."

The facilities, unveiled during an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, mark the latest stage in just under £8 million of investment into agriculture at Hartpury University and College since 2018. Backed by £1 million in refurbishment funding and a further £1.5 million in state-of-the-art equipment, the new workshops will especially support the delivery of the T Level in Land-Based Engineering. These include high-specification resources such as a dynamometer, advanced electronic diagnostic equipment, and a suite of cultivation and harvesting machinery designed to prepare students for the realities of modern agricultural practice.

The SMART Livestock Hub will further enhance T Level teaching and learning on both the Livestock Production and Crop Production specialisms. Students will have access to the latest livestock technology and digital systems that are reshaping food production and animal welfare standards.

The opening was officiated by Charles Nicklin, CEO of IAgrE. His presence underlined the strong ties between Hartpury and the agricultural engineering profession.

Speaking at the event, the leadership team highlighted the critical role these developments play in aligning education with local, regional, and national skills needs.

“Our curriculum is designed in partnership with employers to ensure students leave Hartpury ready to make a meaningful impact,” said Claire Whitworth, deputy principal of Hartpury College.

“These new facilities will allow learners to develop the technical skills and confidence needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.”

The project has been made possible through funding from the Department for Education and the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), alongside contributions from individuals including Niel Curwen, a former Hartpury student and long-standing governor. Hartpury University and College also acknowledged the support of Business West, SGS College - the lead partner in the Gloucestershire LSIF bid - and numerous industry partners who they say continue to play an active role in shaping the student experience.

Wildwood Machinery who have their main headquarters at East Horton Golf Club in Winchester and who launched three years ago, have now been appointed as an Iseki dealer.

L-R: Wildwood’s James Bastian and John Clifford, sales manager Iseki UK

Alan Prickett, sales director at Iseki UK & Ireland, said, "The Iseki principle is to exceed customer expectation and we expect our dealers to provide the best possible advice, support and maintenance so that they can get the absolute best from their groundcare machinery. We’re delighted to be working with Wildwood Machinery, who share our values and commitment to quality."

Wildwood Machinery managing director James Bastian, added, “This new dealership complements our existing product portfolio perfectly. Our aim is to recommend and supply groundcare equipment that is perfect for the task, whether that is cutting a large lawn or maintaining a Premiership football club pitch."

James continued, “For a world-renowned manufacturer such as Iseki, one of their biggest demands is that dealers must have the capacity to keep equipment properly-maintained at all times, and to respond quickly and efficiently to call-outs. Our mix of mobile and workshop-based servicing has a growing reputation for rapid response and fast turnaround.”

HRH The Princess Royal was given an insight into JCB’s hydrogen technology when she visited a special zone at the Royal Highland Show highlighting net zero innovations.

HRH The Princess Royal with JCB engineer Cameron Scott
 
The Princess was shown around the engine at the show in Edinburgh by JCB principal engineer Tom Beamish and JCB engineer Cameron Scott, who are part of the team helping to develop the manufacturer's hydrogen technology.
 
It was the hydrogen fuelled internal combustion engine’s second VIP visitor in 24 hours after Scottish First Minister John Swinney was shown around it on the opening day. The engine was the centrepiece of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Show Society’s Presidential Solutions Hub highlighting solutions designed to help meet Net Zero climate targets. It was also the first time it had been exhibited at an agricultural event.
 
Tom Beamish said, “The Princess Royal was very interested in JCB’s development of the world’s first hydrogen combustion engine and spent several minutes with us talking about it, showing showed particular interest in the opportunities hydrogen offers for farmers. It was also great to show The First Minister the hydrogen engine and he was impressed that it was a completely new engine, which delivered the same power, performance and efficiency as the diesel equivalent, but with zero emissions. He was also struck by the fact it has been developed in the UK using in-house skills.”

For a fourth year in a row, Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition, has sold out its available exhibit space at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, USA.

Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the OPEI who own Equip said, “We have 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space, including the Outdoor Demo Yard. Every inch of the Kentucky Exposition Center that can be used for exhibit space this year has been sold, as of mid-June 2025. That translates to thousands of products and services that can help landscapers, contractors and dealers expand and better their business.”

Kris noted that due to high demand to participate in the show, over the past year the Equip staff worked with KEC officials to re-imagine space and opened up Freedom Hall to exhibit sales for the first time. Equip also moved and expanded the UTV Test Track to deliver an even better experience for attendees in 2025. 

“People are excited to be here and part of this dynamic industry. We have more than 1,100 exhibits. This is the place where innovators roll out new products and talk about where this industry is headed. It’s where landscape contractors try out new equipment and meet the people who design and make it,” says Kris.

 
Attendees can register for early bird tickets until September 4, 2025. Equip Exposition drew a record-breaking 28,500 attendees last year from all 50 states and 50 countries and is one of the top five largest trade shows in the U.S. 

Check out Service Dealer's Digital Special Report from last year's Equip.

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