Partners in Productivity
LAURENCE GALE MSc reports on how the combination of new machinery and an increased range of grass mixes has helped rejuvenate the turf growing industry
IN recent years the production and choice of amenity and domestic turf has increased significantly due to the advancement in grass breeding techniques, improved specialist machinery and the willingness of turfgrass growers to experiment with different grass blends that are better suited to the end user. The combination of new machinery development and an increased range of grass mixes has helped rejuvenate the turf growing industry. At a recent press launch
organised by Turfmech and Inturf near York there was the opportunity to see at first hand some of the latest innovations. Turfgrass producers can now offer a wide range of turf products to meet customer needs, and the competition to supply these products is growing all the time. At the last count there were over 38 growers belonging to the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA).
Since its formation in 1995, the TGA has been at the forefront of improving the quality of cultivated turf supplied to professional and domestic customers by constantly seeking to raise standards through the sharing of knowledge and the uptake of new ideas and developments.
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The success of any company is dependent on how well it is managed. Inturf, like most other turfgrass producers, is constantly looking at ways of reducing overheads by the introduction of better working practices and investment in time and labour saving machinery. The company is run by the
Edwards family and has a good reputation for being innovators in the industry. They led the revolution for big roll turf installation with their 750mm wide turf laying (AKA TIM 750) machines back in the 1990’s.
In fact, I must have been one of their earliest customers in 1992 when, working for Telford & Wrekin Council, I commissioned the reconstruction of Madeley Bowling Green and took the opportunity to use their big roll turf. It certainly saved time and made the job much easier.
Joint managing director of Inturf is Stephen Edwards, who is also chairman of the TGA. In 2005, Stephen, and his brother Alex, saw the need for a wider precision mower to bring greater efficiencies to their turfgrass maintenance and production. Enlisting the expertise of
Staffordshire engineering company, Turfmech, the concept was developed and
discussions held last December with Austin Jarrett, managing director of Turfmech, and his engineering director, Jerry Archer.
In less than six months, the two companies managed to produce, and trial, the new mower, which they have aptly named the MaxiMow13. Equipped with 13 Ransomes Jacobsen cutting units producing a mowing width of more than 9 metres, it is believed to be the largest commercially available mower of its type in the country, if not the world. The machine is hydraulically powered and uses in-cab electro-hydraulic controls to operate the hydraulics, enabling precise control over the mower’s floating or fixed head cutting units.
The MaxiMow’s heavy duty construction, articulated frame and computer- designed arm geometry ensure that all the cutting units remain firmly and squarely on the ground, even at high speeds. The unit is also able to turn tightly without damaging the PTO shaft, achieved with the help of a cleverly designed swivel hitch, which moves in line with the draw bar. The placement and
arrangement of the cutting units on the frame has also
been designed to reduce drag and build up of grass clippings, coupled with the fact that the height
adjustment for the mowers is achieved by a simple twin knob click system fitted on the ends of each mower unit. The frame folds up neatly to a 2.5m transport width, with a ground clearance of 375mm, enabling most gated entrances and track ways to be accessed easily and safely. The operator also has the choice of mowing widths by raising or lowering the wing- mowing units, giving total flexibility in mowing configurations. The mower will easily cut up to 9 hectares of turf per hour at a forward speed of 10km/h. A 100hp tractor is required to power the machine.
It is surprising what can be achieved in such a short time when companies work together. The practical knowledge of Inturf and the engineering expertise of Turfmech has paid dividends in the design and
development of this machine. The MaxiMow 13 retails at around £55,000, a
considerable investment but, in terms of the potential savings and increased productivity, this mower could have a promising future in the turfgrass growers industry and perhaps with other users needing to
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