News
Crocodile heads to Derby following purchase by Dennis Mowers
Exclusive behind the scenes look at Crocodile Precision following purchase
A select number of the turfcare trade press were recently invited to the factory of Crocodile Precision (formally Crocodile Golf) for a behind the scenes look at the new factory and an insight into the future vision and continual investment of the company from the new owners.
Ian Howard and Roger Moore extended a warm welcome, before explaining the history of Crocodile Golf, the previous owners and the markets in which they operated - which includes golf, sports and municipal users. Customers include clubs, dealers and trade, local authorities and contractors as well as potential with OEMS (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
When based at Wolverhampton, Crocodile’s biggest customer was Dennis Mowers at Derby. A key part of Dennis’ long term supply chain strategy was to secure the supply of quality cutting cylinders and bottom blades for their world famous mowers. A management group, consisting of six members of the Dennis senior team, purchased the assets and intellectual property rights from Crocodile Golf and formed Crocodile Precision Ltd.
The deal was concluded in late February 2015, when the new team began the task of moving the manufacturing operation from Wolverhampton to Derby in a tight two month schedule, as Ian
Howard explained: “It was a big challenge to move from Wolverhampton to Derby. The aged machinery, weighing almost eighty tonnes, was in need of repair and maintenance to bring it back to good working order. The processes involved in producing cylinders and a blade is complex and a ‘black art’ to get things just right. A lot of this know-how lay with the key staff at Wolverhampton, some of whom had twenty years of knowledge and expertise.”
“Our current team consists of four from Wolverhampton who now travel to Derby on a daily basis. Before they joined us, we explained our plans for future investment in the facility, equipment and in them as people and are very pleased that they have bought into our ethos - to manufacture the best cutting cylinders and bottom blades for the professional market with a quick delivery for end customers, dealers and the trade.”
Quality, using the best materials, a proven engineering method and British manufactured were all in evidence when everyone was invited for a closer look in the factory. Both the cutting cylinders
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and bottom blades are being manufactured on site in Derby after an initial investment of over £200,000. Capacity is said to be 10,000 cylinders per year and in excess of 60,000 bottom blades.
“There will always be pressure on people to look for lower cost alternatives,” explained Ian Howard. “It’s essential to consider the full costs of replacing cylinders and bottom blades. You have to consider all of the labour, grinding, down-time and lost mowing time. Inferior quality components will result in more frequent changes, poorer cut and, thus, dramatically increased costs. With a typical municipal triple taking anything up to eight hours for a change-over, inferior quality blades and cylinders are a false economy.”
Marketing will commence imminently, with stands at the NEC and Harrogate already booked.
An apology
In the last issue of Pitchcare magazine we published an article on Aston Villa’s involvement with the Rugby World Cup and the preparations Grounds Manager Paul Mytton and his team were to undertake to host Rugby at Villa Park.
Unfortunately, due to errors by ourselves, the article went to print having not been approved for publication by Aston Villa Football Club and so contained a number of inaccuracies.
We unreservedly apologise to all at Aston Villa for this oversight on our part.
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