Greenkeeper Marcus Fuller provides real-world feedback for the product development team
IN ACTION
Practical product development The team at Jacobsen is taking steps to enhance its understanding of customer needs at every level Manufacturing mowers that deliver a high-quality cut has always been the cornerstone of Jacobsen product development along with key features such as battery powered machines, swing-out centre reels and programmable height of cut. Listening to the needs of users is a crucial factor in producing those features, and Jacobsen wants to further its product development by increasing the knowledge of customer needs throughout the company. As part of this strategy,
The 34in Infinicut mowers’ simplicity and user-friendliness has impressed the team
Raising standards Two Infinicut mowers are keeping the hybrid pitches at Loughborough University’s football hub in top condition 22 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT | AUGUST 2020
Textron Specialised Vehicles (TSV) president and CEO, Gunnar Kleveland, spent time at the Ransomes Jacobsen factory in Ipswich with the product development team. Guided by vice president of turf, Simon Rainger, Gunnar also trialled a selection of mowers to gain first-hand experience of how current features benefit turf professionals and what can be done in the future to meet their developing needs. A significant focus of this process is on the practical application of features using Ransomes Jacobsen’s experienced greenkeeper, Marcus Fuller. Since joining the company in early 2020, Marcus has been working closely with the product team to pinpoint features that can enhance the user experience. Marcus explains: “When the product development team has an idea, they’ll talk me through it and ask my thoughts on it so they can get a hands-on practical
The Loughborough University Stadium is the jewel in the crown of the dedicated ‘football hub’ at the site’s Holywell Sports Complex. In June 2019, team leader at the complex, Kris Nurse, purchased two Infinicut 34in FX mowers, together with a set of TurfClean cassettes, to keep the stadium’s new SIS hybrid pitch in first-rate condition. “The cricket division has used a fleet of 22in and 26in Infinicut mowers for many years and has always sung their praises,” explains Kris. “We used them and were impressed with how lightweight the mower is and how simple it is to setup and use. “Together with the quality of cut and finish they deliver, the University was also keen on the fact that they’re battery powered. Because of the amount of large machinery we operate on a daily basis, we have a real issue with hand-arm
perspective. I’m the type of person they are making these machines for, and they are genuinely interested to know the everyday struggles we have so they can develop features that address them.” By consulting Marcus and the industry at large, Jacobsen is striving to manufacture mowers that exceed expectations in cut quality, machine maintenance and on-board features. For more information visit www.ransomesjacobsen.com
vibration so our pair of 34in Infinicut mowers have been a fantastic step forward in improving that.” Since the new hybrid pitch was installed in September 2019, it has hosted over 60 games for student teams, together with a number of external matches. To keep the pitch playing at the standard required, the mowers are in use four or five times a week. Kris also purchased a set of TurfClean cassettes from the TMSystem. “These have been great. We use these after play to rid the surface of any debris and stand the grass back up. It then takes less than 10 minutes to swap those out and put the cutting reels in, and we’re straight back out to cut. This gives us a quality of finish that is fitting to the arena and the standard of play we host.” For more information visit www.infinicut.com
