There was a feeling that SALTEX was a little more compact this year, but still nevertheless worthwhile for those who exhibited and attended.
Arriving at the NEC on Wednesday morning, before the doors opened to visitors, my first impression was that the exhibition perhaps occupied a smaller footprint than in previous years, with the stands contained within a more confined space across two halls. There also seemed to be a little more room given over to seating areas, coffee points and a large display of vintage machinery.
There were also, undeniably, some notable absentees from the exhibitor line-up. AL-KO, Husqvarna, EGO and Kress for example, were among the familiar names not exhibiting this year. And it’s hard to pretend that their absence wasn’t noticeable.
However that said, walking the aisles and talking to exhibitors, I did come away with a positive impression of how the show had worked for those who had made the trip - not least, because those who had chosen to support the GMA's event, could monopolise those commercial professionals who had made the trip to the NEC.
And certainly between around 10am and 1pm, the available exhibition space felt busy. The aisles were packed at times, there was a good buzz about the place and, perhaps more importantly, almost every manufacturer I spoke to was pleased with the caliber of visitors coming onto their stands.
The consistent message was that, while other exhibitions might generate a larger footfall of whole grounds teams, SALTEX was primarily attracting people who were involved in purchasing decisions. Exhibitors were talking about meeting turf professionals, contractors, local authority representatives and people responsible for budgets at quality facilities, with conversations taking place with decision-makers from right across the country.
Several told me they had already arranged follow-up demonstrations and anticipated that the contacts made would translate into worthwhile leads.
And ultimately, that's what matters to our dealer readers. If manufacturers can take away a list of genuinely interested prospective customers and pass those opportunities on to their local dealers, then the show has achieved something valuable, regardless of the overall size of the exhibition.
And there were still of course, plenty of familiar brands and interesting developments to discover.
Around the show
PSD was giving prominence to the launch of the SABO MowIt Pro Premium, a fully autonomous mower incorporating radar and an intelligent camera. One of its more interesting features is that it uses conventional blades rather than the small razor-style blades found on many robotic mowers. This means it can tackle rougher areas and cope with twigs and debris in semi-rough conditions. PSD sees potential for the unit in areas such as golf clubs and local authorities. The machine can be operated remotely or autonomously, with availability through the dealer network planned for next season. The company is also looking for early-adopter dealers to help establish the product.
STIHL had a busy stand, once again this year promoting its AllPro battery system, with products from its own range alongside machines from other manufacturers, including Westermann and Kwern incorporating the technology. The company believes its television advertising has helped raise awareness of the battery range throughout 2026. Among the products attracting interest were the lightweight HSA 90 topiary hedge trimmer, a battery-powered felling wedge, the FKA 160 and the new KSA 20 battery-operated chain sharpener, making its first appearance at the show.
Greenworks Commercial occupied one of the larger exhibition spaces, displaying its expanding range of professional and commercial machinery. Its new UTV, previously seen at Futurescape, was among the highlights, alongside multi-tools and a wider selection of equipment. Following the transition from Cramer branding, many familiar machines are now carrying the Greenworks Commercial name, alongside additions to the range.
On the AriensCo stand, the AS 510 E-ProClip A, now powered by a STIHL battery powerhead, was attracting attention. The machine's ability to cut wet grass without clogging was highlighted, making it particularly relevant to local authorities and contractors. The use of the STIHL batteries I was told, also opens up the machine to customers who already have a number of these batteries in their existing equipment fleet and can therefore now expand their usefulness.
Iseki was showcasing the Raymo remote-controlled mower and the attachments available for it. These included an up-rated 42-inch cutting deck, a trimmer attachment for working around posts and puncture-proof tyres. A version combining remote-controlled operation with autonomous capability is also available, allowing work on steep banks of up to 45–50 degrees. I heard that the ability to remove operators from potentially hazardous mowing situations is proving an important selling point, particularly for roadside and reservoir maintenance. The stand also featured the company's new VinChip partnership which you can read more about here.
Ventrac who have been in the news lately were making use of the demonstration zone at one end of the hall, where visitors could watch its 45 RC remote-control tractor tackle steep slopes and bumpy surfaces. The decent crowds drawn to watch the manoeuvres saw the unit’s ability to switch between remote-controlled operation and conventional operator-driven use at the flick of a switch.
Cobra told me they had generated some promising leads for the Fortis cylinder mowers, with interest from football clubs, stadiums and large estates. Both battery and petrol versions were attracting attention, with demonstrations being arranged around the country.
Kubota once again had a prominent stand, with its front-collection machines receiving particular attention. Developed from the company's acquisition of Gianni Ferrari, the machines are becoming increasingly recognised in the professional grounds sector. The manufacturer also highlighted its work with the Environmental Farmers Group, supporting community and environmental projects through both financial sponsorship and use of their machinery.
Advanced Turf Technology (ATT) was showing its InfiniCut machines, which have established themselves at sports venues internationally. The company is now looking to develop the golf market with its 22-inch version. With more clubs introducing robotic mowing on fairways, ATT believes there may be an opportunity for greater attention to be given to the quality of green cutting, where cut quality and noise levels are important considerations.
STIGA also reported good interest in both its robotic and ride-on machinery. Its initiative to introduce robotic mowers to rugby clubs has continued to develop, with around 600 clubs now signed up to the scheme.
BAGMA were promoting a new series of business training courses for dealers. The Association has teamed up with some well-known industry trainers to offer the courses, including ones on big topics such as succession planning, which they say are all geared to help build sustainable dealerships.
Quality over quantity
So overall, despite the missing exhibitor names and the condensed size of the show this week, perhaps the more useful measure of SALTEX's success is what those who did exhibit, and those who chose to visit, were there to achieve.
And like I say, pretty much universally the exhibitors I spoke to seemed genuinely encouraged by the quality of the conversations they had enjoyed, and there appeared to be a shared feeling that the people attending were there with decision-making intentions. (Although I’m not sure if the Duke of Edinburgh left with a new leaf blower?)
For our valued dealer readers though, that potentially is the most important takeaway. If those conversations that took place at the NEC turn into demonstrations, sales and on-going business at dealerships around the county, then SALTEX will have done its job.
