Last week I was invited to attend the launch of Fleet Line Markers’ new robotic line marker at Malvern College, alongside 70-plus industry professionals.

On arrival at the college, we assembled in one of the lecture theatres to hear a presentation by John Carr and Iain Courage on the development of the robot and how it fits in with the industry’s needs, complimenting the company’s existing portfolio.

 
I personally, was wondering why Fleet had waited until this moment to announce the development and production of a robotic line marker. From what they were saying, since the development of the MAQA GPS line marking system, it was only going to be a matter of time before they produced a robotic version of the technology. 

However, Covid got in the way and delayed the project. It was not until 2023 that they pushed on with the programme to design and build the new product.

It began with some collaborations with several companies in New Zealand and Australia in May of that year and by December they had built their first prototype. Then in January ‘24 they had completed all testing and were ready for the launch in New Zealand. 

With over 70 years of trading, Fleet Line Markers have built up a strong reputation for developing new line marking technologies.

 
John was keen to get across the relevant details of the new robotic linemarker, talking abouts its development and key features. 

 
The precision and accuracy of the robot is delivered by Fleet having developed their own RTK Base Station network, with the base station supplied with the purchase of the robot.

The robot is fitted with a removable integrated RTK plotter (spike) that you can use to plot your pitch positions. Via 4G connection it communicates with the software and satellites to deliver precise pitch lines for a range of sports.

During the talk a few questions were taken from the floor about the performance of the robotic line marker, centred around its accuracy - which was stated at about 5mm.

Questions were also asked about the range of the base station, which is about 6 miles.   However the question on everyone’s mind was how much it cost?

The final slide of the presentation revealed this, and to be honest most of the audience were relatively surprised. It came out at £15,000 for the robot and £2,500  for the annual subscription. 

And if you were to buy and use Fleet’s paints, the annual fee would be reduced by 50% and you get some discount on long term paint supplies.

Comparing these prices against existing competitors’ robotic line markers, which can range anywhere between £22,000 and £36,000, Fleet’s robots are considerably less costly. But as John said in his presentation, “We want to take the market by storm and sell 1000’s globally. We’ll make our money on paint sales.”
 
So, for many of the customers in the room I believe the Fleet Robotic line market could be a game changer. It will no doubt cause a stir with its competitive price.

Guests then had a chance to see the robot marking out a football pitch from scratch. John explained how to set up the robot and used the remote control to set the machine up and send it on its way. It took around 25 minutes to complete the marking, during which time we had some lunch provided and had time to network with each another. 

I met up with many Fleet customers who were parks managers, council operatives and sports turf contractors – some of whom already use other makes of robotic line markers and were keen to see the performance of this new one. First impressions were good they told me. They liked the look of it and its build quality.

For me personally, I was impressed with its design and layout and the fact it seemed simple to use as well as being a robust machine.

John was keen to point out that there were a number of further improvements in the pipeline and urged anybody who buys one that has suggestions of ways of improving the machine, they would only be too glad to accommodate where appropriate.

All in all, I had an enjoyable day seeing a new piece of equipment that will help improve the efficiency and accuracy of pitch line marking. 

Work is underway on a brand new ‘Showcase’ facility at DLF’s UK headquarters in Inkberrow, Worcestershire.

Scheduled to be fully operational by Spring 2025, the Showcase sees six hectares dedicated to amenity seed trials, product development, training and education for staff, distributors and customers - which the producer says will make it one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

 
Alongside plots sown with current cultivars and mixtures, DLF say the Showcase will have an area dedicated to new and upcoming developments giving visitors the chance to exclusively see and compare future trial and demo formulations. It will also be the base for a sizeable programme of UK testing which feeds into the global picture of climate and disease tolerance trials, which DLF say will ensure ".. that the mixtures of tomorrow are the most resistant, fit for purpose and sustainable to tackle the environmental challenges faced in the amenity market."

Centre to the Showcase will be a sports zone, featuring a hybrid winter sports pitch, cricket wicket, tennis court and small-scale golf tee, fairway and green, sown with mixtures from across the DLF portfolio by specialist contactors Fineturf who were commissioned with the construction. 

Commenting on the work, amenity sales & marketing manager Derek Smith said, “It’s incredibly exciting to see the start of what promises to be an industry-leading facility and asset to the Johnsons Sports Seed, Masterline and MM Seed brands. A big thank you to the Fineturf team for their work to date, and over the next six months we look forward to the construction of new conference facilities and the continued extension of the sample plots to give us a fully-functioning training centre come the Spring.”

 
Further updates on the project are expected in the new year.

Baroness UK have announced the expansion of the territory area for existing dealer partners Lister Wilder.

Lister Wilder's Phill Hughes and Baroness's Adam Butler

Effective immediately, sales and support across the Baroness range will now be offered to customers in the Dorset area which will be serviced by the Lister Wilder Salisbury depot, which opened in late 2023.

The manufacturer says the move marks a natural progression for the territory already covered by their longstanding dealer, adding the Dorset region to the counties of Gloucester, Wiltshire and across to Hampshire, Kent and London already under Lister’s remit. 

Phill Hughes, sales and hire director for Lister Wilder said, “We are delighted to have been appointed as Baroness dealers for Dorset following our move last year into the area with our new Salisbury branch. Having now sold and supported Baroness machinery for over 10 years, we believe we understand just what the golf and fine turf sports industry needs when it comes to purchasing and supporting this type of machine."

Phill continued, “The Lister’s company logo ‘Sales with Service’ highlights the importance that we deliver good local support. With this latest addition to our area coverage, we are looking forward to serving customers from the Kent coastline to the Bristol estuary with our network of branches providing on-site support and backup.” 

Adam Butler, Baroness sales director added, “Expanding Lister Wilders already substantial area is yet another move to show continued growth and customer support throughout the UK - yes our machines are great, but we must have equally great service to back them up. Lister Wilder’s track record in customer service is second to none and we’re very happy to be in partnership with a company that demands these high standards across the board. We also thank Highwoods for their superb efforts and all they’ve done for the brand in this area over the last few years.” 

Organisers of the upcoming GroundsFest 2024 have unveiled the event's education programme that will be spread across four seminar theatres and will include some practical sessions.

The seminars are free to attend, and visitors can earn up to 12 CPD points by attending the sessions. 

Seminar Theatre 1, sponsored by Lantra, kicks off on 10th September with a range of sessions, including: 

• OCR Regulations - All You Need to Know by The Amenity Forum.
• A Year in Edgbaston - Gary Barwell from Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
• Challenges and Opportunities in the Amenity Sector, featuring experts like Professor John Moverley (Lantra), Jim Croxton (BIGGA) and Alisdair Mason (LanGuard).

On 11th September, Seminar Theatre 1 continues with sessions like Reducing Glyphosate in Amenity Settings and The Benefits of Volunteering to Progress Your Career.

Seminar Theatre 2, sponsored by Dennis and SISIS, will feature content on 10th September, such as:

• Sustainable Seed Solutions for Landscaping and Sports Turf by Stuart Yarwood from DLF.
• The Future of Amenity Weed Management by Sean Faulkner from Kersten UK Ltd.
• Boost Your Turf: How Silicon Supercharges Grass Growth by Kate Williams from Orion Future Technology.

On 11th September, there is Water Management for Grassroots Football by Kelly Clack, An Introduction into Playground Standards and Inspections by Jon Dalton from The Play Inspection Company, and Understanding Gravity-Fed Chippers: How To Ensure Your Customer Gets The Right Solution by Andy Wain from HANSA.

Gwalia Garage, located in Tywyn, Gwynedd has announced that it has rekindled its partnership with Yamaha.

L-R: Wyn Humphries, business owner, Gwalia Garage and Carl Stuart, Yamaha area sales manager

The local vehicle and tyre repair business has welcomed the brand back into the fold, describing it as a full-circle moment for the company.

Owner Wyn expressed his delight at the opportunity to once again represent Yamaha, a brand his father sold over three decades ago. The dealership says the appointment comes as a natural progression for themselves, having invested significantly in their premises, creating a modern showroom and workshop to showcase the Yamaha range. Selling the utility, leisure and golf car ranges, the business believes there is plenty of opportunity to widen their customer base.

“It’s a dream come true to bring Yamaha back to Gwalia Garage,” said Wyn Humphries. “We have a loyal customer base and a strong reputation for service, which makes us the perfect partner for Yamaha. The area has huge potential for both utility and leisure vehicles, and we’re excited to offer our customers a wider range of products with future potential to widen our customer base into golf courses.”

Carl Stuart, area sales manager at Yamaha Motor UK, added, "We’re thrilled to welcome Gwalia Garage back to the Yamaha family. Their commitment to customer service and their local knowledge make them an ideal partner for us. We’re confident that they will be a great success.”

HEDGE FUND

CONTROLLING WEEDS

LETTING THE GRASS GROW . . .

ENHANCING THE CAREERS OF TURF PROFESSIONALS

RISE OF THE ROBOTS

WE ALL KNOW IT'S SUMMER . .

DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS

FACILITIES MUST RECOGNISE & REWARD TURF PROFESSIONALS

AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE

A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR PROFESSION

IN-DEPTH WORK REQUIRED

A SAD DECLINE

WHAT MAKES A PERFECT LAWN?

WE MUST NOT BE THE CREATORS OF OUR OWN DOWNFALL

RENOVATIONS ON TOUR

A WORRYING TIME FOR PARKS

CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONDITIONS

STILL DELIVERING QUALITY GREEN SPACES

WATCH OUT!

THE VALUE OF SPRING RENOVATIONS

FULLY LOADED ARMOURY

THE VALUE OF TREES

WE MUST SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

COUNCIL SERVICES IN DECLINE

INVESTING IN NATURAL GRASS PITCHES

WORRY OF WEATHER CLOSURES

BUSY & BUZZY BTME

A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS

COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGES

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SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRAINING SECTOR
Grasping the challenge of encouraging more sustainable practice

SUSTAINABILITY IN LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Lessons learnt and experiences

SKILL SETS NEED RECOGNITION
Turf professionals are underappreciated

GREATER RESPECT FOR GROUNDS STAFF MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
To the recruitment crisis

A COMPETITIVE SALARY
Why employers should advertise the salary when recruiting new staff

ON TEST
Makita XGT UV001G lawn scarifier

AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN MACHINERY SUPPLY
Focus on Kubota

MY PERSONAL GREENKEEPING PHILOSOPHY HAS NEVER CHANGED
I don't follow any set program

SUSTAINABILITY IN LANDSCAPING
A substantial element of amenity activity

IS IT TIME TO SAY NO TO 'NO MOW MAY'?
Any real benefits?

SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR PARKS & PUBLIC GREEN SPACES
Meeting the challenge

THE PATH TO WIMBLEDON
For groundstaff member, Conrad Cavil

ON TEST
EGO LBP8000E backpack blower

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LAWN CARE SECTOR
A key consideration

BEEKEEPING IN COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENTS
The current situation

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE IN THE AMENITY SUPPLY SECTOR
Optimising land use through integrated solutions

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE GOLF SECTOR
Focus on BIGGA

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE
Bringing together key points

DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR GOLF
R&A are supporting clubs

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF EVERY POUND OF BUDGET
A course manager's view

A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS
Who look after grassroots pitches

SUSTAINABILITY & THE UK ACTION PLAN
For weed, pest and disease management

CONCERN FOR PARKS FOLLOWING COUNCIL BANKRUPTCIES
What does the future hold?

TAKING A GLOBAL LOOK AT SUSTAINABILITY
Is the rest of the world also driving towards sustainable practice?

RENOVATIONS, PLAY AND THANKS
On my mind this week

SUSTAINABILITY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING & EDUCATION
Set to play a crucial role going forward

TULIP TREE
Liriodendron tulipifera

LYDIA BROOM
Genista lydia

THE LAWN AND ITS VALUE
Changing attitudes

GIANT HOGWEED
Invasive and potentially harmful

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS & SUSTAINABILITY
Considering every stage of the journey

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY
The most important nutrient

BERBERIS THUNBERGII
A shrub that has stood the test of time

ENSURING FUTURE PROSPERITY
Advice imparted at road shows

INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
A key focus

PHOTINA RED ROBIN
A sensational flowering shrub

VALUING THE GRASSROOTS
We must not overlook those who maintain these grounds

MANAGING WEEDS SUSTAINABLY
In amenity spaces

DETECTING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
In turf plants

SPRING RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
A crucial period

SUSTAINABILITY IN SUPPLY
A focus on those who supply essential inputs to our sector

CHANGING CLIMATE
Is a borehole the key for clubs?

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE SHARP END
How to put into practice when budgets are tight?

ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GRASSROOTS RUGBY
Clubs are struggling

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Seeking transparent and robust supply chains is essential

TIME FOR ACTION
To reverse recruitment crisis

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

Earlier this year I was loaned a complement of EGO Multi-tool attachments to try out.

Included were the STA1600 line trimmer; PSA1000 pole saw; CTA9500 cultivator; BBA2100 bristle brush and EA0800 lawn edger attachments; EP7501 extension pole and the PH1420E multi-tool power head.

They all came in well-packed cardboard boxes with instruction manuals and a couple of 2.5 Ah batteries and a CH5500E - rapid charger.

Over a period of several months I tested each attachment, using them for a variety of tasks in friends’ and customers’ gardens. 

First up, was the chance to use the pole saw to crown reduce the canopy of a Gleditsia tree in my friend’s garden. 

Both Rob and I soon got working to reduce the height of the tree and remove any weak growth. We erected some scaffolding to help us carry out the work. We used the extension pole to increase the length of the saw.

We got to grips with the handling of the saw, which effortlessly cut through the branches. After a couple of hours, we had completed the job of reducing the canopy of the tree.  

 
The next piece of equipment to try was the EA0800 grass edger. We used it to reform a grass edge on a lawn, finding it ran quickly, soon cutting a neat edge.

 
Next up was the cultivator which we used to prepare a vegetable plot. I was not sure at first if it would do the job, but once underway, it soon became clear this tool has the power and torque to cultivate the hardest of soils. Once you get used to how it works, the job becomes easy and efficient.

As for the bristle brush, I used it on one of my customers’ brick paver drives. Again, a powerful attachment, that once you get to grips with how to use it, soon gets the job done. 

 
The strimmer tool was also good, working really well to cut some long grass and nettles. 

EGO also has additional attachments, such as the short and long-reach hedge trimmers, the RTA2300 rotocut, the BCA1200 brushcutter and even a snow shovel, that are compatible with the PH1420E multi-tool power head. This is powered by EGO’s 56V ARC Lithium batteries ranging from 2.5Ah to 12.0Ah to offer different running times, they are interchangeable with the entire range of EGO products. 

I’d say the EGO multi-tool is a compact, powerful, and neat system that would be a great investment for self-employed gardeners and small landscaping contractors.

I was especially very impressed with both the bristle brush and cultivator attachments. Both are powerful tools that made the job of cleaning paths and cultivating soil easier.

Changing the tools is quick and easy and, for people like me, having the ability to carry a range of attachments means I can be prepared for any job that comes my way.

EGO also sell four varieties of multi-tool kits that come with a selection of attachments, batteries, and charger. For example, the MHBC1204E multi-tool kit comes with the PH1420E power head, STA1600 strimmer, PAS1000 polesaw, BCA1200 brushcutter and long-reach HTA2000 hedge trimmer. It also includes a single-shoulder harness, 5.0Ah battery and CH5500E rapid charger, selling for around £1129.00. 

As for the individual tools, they range from £100- £200 depending on the type of tool it is. All good value for money I feel, when you compare it with buying a single use battery powered tool.

These types of systems are getting more popular with several manufacturers now bringing out their own ranges of power tools - meaning customers have plenty of choice when making purchasing decisions.