6 minute read
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, 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
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
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
Cover story
Switching to J Nitro Premier Wicket has improved coverage and wear at Exeter County Ground
New tricks
A renovation from Campey Turf Care Systems has brought a touch of magic to Sutton Upon Derwent Tennis Club’s grass courts The grass courts at Sutton Upon Derwent Tennis Club are the only two grass surfaces in the York Tennis League, one of the biggest in the UK. While the condition of the courts has always been at a usable standard, club member and volunteer groundsman, George Hobson, saw the potential in them and took it upon himself to raise the quality.
George – who works as a magician – had no experience of turf maintenance when he started two seasons ago, but he has made significant progress with the courts.
Cricket has been played at Andy Ellett (right) with volunteer groundsman Steve Hinde (left) the County Ground for over 130 years, with the club investing in a brand new pavilion, opened in 2016. “The developments in other areas of the ground made me review elements of our maintenance programme,” says Andy, “and it was our local distributor who recommended the J Premier Wicket seed mix. Wimbledon’s Grass Court Seminar in August last year, and he had the machinery on the courts there. I asked him if he knew of anyone who had a Koro in our area. Campey said it would do a renovation demo day on my tennis courts, so that’s how it started. “The courts have never April to early September. There’s a lot Delivering the strongest coverage, The improvements in sward density and recovery head groundsman quality were immediately evident and Andy Ellett has seen in his 13 seasons when Ian Barnett from DLF Seeds came at the club, J Nitro Premier Wicket is in to look at the results, he suggested taking the quality of Exeter’s County we try the ProNitro coated option.” Ground to new levels. Having made the The ProNitro coating on J Premier switch two seasons ago, Andy says the Wicket ensures the germinating and improvements in surface quality have developing seedling receives the full delivered a wicket that now resembles a benefit of the additional nutrients. bowling green. Combining both fast-acting and slowrelease sources of nitrogen, ProNitro encourages faster, more uniform establishment and rapid, strong growth. “We applied the J Nitro Premier Wicket at the end of the 2019 season, then used it for repairs on the bowling and batting ends. In the past it would have taken us two months to get these high-wear areas back but with the coated seed, we achieved full coverage in under a month.
“Sward density and appearance have all improved, as has root growth, meaning the wicket is now looking, playing and wearing much better.” After closing the gates during the pandemic, the club is gradually re-opening and Andy looks forward to hosting play once again over the coming weeks.
For more information visit
He says: “I first met Ben Volunteer groundsman George Taylor from Campey at Hobson enlisted Campey’s help
really had a renovation so the for longer. The use of the Vredo seeder thatch was like a sponge. The quality and Uni-Scratch prepared the seed of the courts wasn’t there because of bed perfectly to allow for very high that, but the Koro did the job. germination rates.
“The courts are fantastic now. As “The grass courts are in a this was our first complete renovation really prominent position in the of the courts, it was a steep learning village so there’s a lot of traffic curve for me. I selected a new grass going past them and seeing them in seed that was a 100% ryegrass as our such good condition has attracted tennis season runs from the end of new members.”
www.dlf.co.uk
of wear on the courts, so I hoped this For more information email would allow them to stay at their prime info@campeyturfcare.com
TO ADVERTISE in Grounds Management
