SALTEX moving from Windsor Racecourse to NEC Birmingham

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

SALTEX, the show for grounds care, open space management, parks and playgrounds, so BRINTEX, its organizers, have decided, is moving from the great open air venue Windsor Racecourse to indoors at the NEC Birmingham.

This move might be regretted, if indications are to go by from exhibitors and visitors, and most of all by the IOG. Many exhibitors that I spoke to on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, certainly were more than apprehensive of this move and were even wondering as to whether they would continue, and could afford to continue, to exhibit at SALTEX.

While it is true that changes often are viewed with apprehension as one ventures into the unknown the concerns of many of the big machine exhibitors is that (1) they may have problems getting those in to the NEC and (2) that they will not be able to run actual demonstrations of how those machines perform in the setting they will have to be working in. Static displays can be had in every showroom.

It is probably true that SALTEX in its long-standing location of Windsor Racecourse might have, at least in the last couple of years, turned into somewhat of a regional show for the South of the UK with visitors coming mostly from that region and not so many from anywhere north of the Watford Gap. Though, having said that, one has always seen visitors from councils and other agencies from “up north” as well, including such places as Yorkshire.

What really might have been needed might be two more or less regional shows, one remaining where is was, Windsor, and another one on a similar venue in the northern part of England, maybe in Yorkshire, such as Harrogate.

The drop in attendance over the last two years, in both visitors and exhibitors, has not so much to do with the fact that the show was in the South, so to speak, but with the fact that the money is tight, due to the ongoing Great Recession and that especially with local authorities and such agencies who are thus unable to consider new equipment and also travel of their personnel to the show at Windsor.

The move to Birmingham will certainly cause the visitor numbers from the South go down to a trickle due to the costs of traveling (and staying) in Birmingham.

I wish SALTEX and the IOG all the best with their move to the NEC and hope they will not regret leaving Windsor.

© 2014

RIGBY TAYLOR AND TOP GREEN SPONSOR IOG YOUNG GROUNDSMEN’S CONFERENCE

The inaugural IOG Young Groundsmen’s Conference being held at this year’s SALTEX (Sports, Amenities, Landscaping Trade Exhibition) is being sponsored by Rigby Taylor in association with its seed breeding partner, Top Green.

The two companies are at the forefront of supplying innovative products for the successful management and maintenance of turf surfaces, and are committed to promoting excellence across all aspect of sports grounds management.

The ‘Our Career, Your Future’ Conference – on Tuesday September 2 at Windsor Racecourse – is a major educational initiative designed to enlighten young people about the benefits of a career in groundscare. The event will also bring head groundsmen up to date with advice on how to attract youngsters into the industry by offering expert advice on apprenticeships.

Young people will gain invaluable career-shaping advice from head groundsmen at high profile, international sports venues. They will also learn about the benefits of working in the industry from young groundsmen who are currently progressing their careers across a wide range of sports facilities.

Commenting on the sponsorship announcement, Rigby Taylor’s marketing director Richard Fry, stated: “It’s not often that an opportunity arises to promote education and development to the next generation of groundsmen, and we are very excited about becoming involved with the IOG Young Groundsmen’s Conference.

“Rigby Taylor has a long history of supporting industry association initiatives, particularly in the area of education and development. We are a long-term sponsor of the IOG Young Groundsman of the Year Award and were a founder Golden Key member of the BIGGA Education and Development Fund.

“Most recently, the company has also sponsored a full set of ‘technology tools’ for each of the 10 newly appointed IOG regional pitch advisors to advance the development of grassroots playing surface groundsmanship.”

Geoff Webb, IOG chief executive, added: “Developing opportunities for young people in grounds management is a key aim of the IOG and I am very pleased that such significant industry names have stepped up to sponsor this inaugural event. Rigby Taylor and Top Green must be applauded for their proactive support.”

Chaired by 28-year-old John Ledwidge, head groundsman at Leicester City FC, the Conference will include a question and answer session with Keith Kent from Twickenham Stadium and England & Wales Cricket Board pitches consultant Chris Wood, as well as Neil Stubley from the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

IOG representatives will take questions and discuss the numerous training pathways available before 27-year-old Ryan Golding from Leeds Rugby, takes to the stage to provide first-hand advice on how he has travelled the industry career path to become head groundsman at one of the country’s leading rugby stadia.

In addition, there will also be a question and answer session with the IOG Young Board of Directors (who programmed the event), a group of young groundsmen who are continually ‘spreading the industry word’ in schools and colleges, as well as to young people at public events up and down the country.

Visit www.iogsaltex.com for full details.

SALTEX (www.iogsaltex.com), the Sports Amenities Landscaping Trade Exhibition organised by the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) and managed by Brintex Events, will be held on 2-4 September 2014 at Windsor Racecourse, Berks. Founded in 1938, the exhibition is attended by open space professionals and volunteers who design, construct, manage and maintain the UK's outdoor facilities - from sports grounds of every type to motorway service stations, and from stately homes to local council parks and schools.

They visit SALTEX to meet suppliers of the machinery, tools, vehicles, turf, soils, seeds, aggregates, artificial or natural surfaces, playgrounds, landscaping equipment, street furniture, arboriculture, horticulture, safety, security, training and education services designed to help them do their jobs as effectively as possible.

Organised by the Institute of Groundsmanship – and managed by Brintex Events - the first IOG exhibition was staged in 1938, the forerunner to today’s SALTEX Sports, Amenities Landscaping Trade Exhibition. Held annually at Windsor Racecourse, SALTEX is the annual extravaganza for everyone who cares for and/or manages open spaces – including groundsmen, greenkeepers, contractors, local authority and leisure facility managers. The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. For more information visit www.iog.org

IOG Saltex 2012 – Show Review

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

This year saw a rearrangement of the display areas are the usual top area close by the river could not be used as it had be rather churned up during the 2012 London Olympics boat races.

However, in my opinion, and that of many others, the fact that one directly entered the show when arriving by river taxi which, as per usual, was provided by French Brothers, the new layout of the show is very good indeed.

This view appears not to have been shared by many of the big companies, such as Toro, Husqvarna and Johnsereds, to name but a few, who were conspicuous by their absence and, as far as I understand, due to the fact that they could not have their usual spaces in the top area by the river.

Stihl took a space in the area just from the entrance from the river taxi side and it was, I would think, very well placed there and others would have been equally well served in the other zones.

The weather was glorious which, unfortunately, seems to have kept many groundsmen and -women and contractors away as they were trying to catch up with work that they could not do during this year's wet season, aka the wettest drought in history.

It was good to see an old face in a new dress, so to speak, in that Rolcut has come back to the British market though its original, should we say, parent, company, namely Original Loewe. I am sure that those of us who used to love good ol' Rolcut will be very much pleased with this.

Original Loewe is 100% Made in Germany and is represented in the UK though its sole agent Quality Garden Tools of Virginia Water in Surrey.

As usual the show gave me an opportunity to see new products and catch up with old friends in the industry and also writer colleagues.

Campey and Trimax both had some new exiting grounds- and turf care equipment on show, as did a number of others, and the display of turf care though a century plus of Olympic Games held in Britain gave a great insight in how things have changed over the decades but also how things might end up again if and when we are, finally, running out of cheap oil.

Trimax now has also, which is good news, begun manufacturing in the UK itself and thus the lead time for products should become smaller.

Trimax Striker

Their latest additions to the range, such as the new hydrological flail mowers for the John Deere and other kinds of ride on mowers and the Striker, a rotary mower specifically designed for low powered compact tractors will be most welcome by many users.

The Grass Group presented the latest addition to the Trilo vacuum sweepers, the S3, the little brother to the S4 (seen side by side in the photo), aimed for use with compact tractors of 25HP and above, and also the newest version of the InfiniCut pedestrian mower that can run on battery and either Honda or Kohler engine, and which can be interchanged in a very short space of time.

Another product and service that has to be mentioned especially as going green is now definitely the order of the day is the non-poisonous weed control by WeedingTech called Foamstream. While this is, by no means a cheap system it is superior to all other systems as it is not harmful to the environment, can be applied in almost all weathers and operators require no certification, as no poisonous chemicals are being used.

DJ Turfcare used Saltex 2012 to launch Viano MO Bacter in the smaller 7.5 kg pack designed for the domestic gardener wishing to give his lawn the same treatment as for the large greens on gold courses and bowling greens.

And another range of products that caught my interest almost immediately were Portek's bird scaring devices, and this case the kites, Terror Hawk and Terror Eyes, the Crop Gard and the Hawk Eyes, the latter being rotating globes in two different colors to scare away the birds silently, economically and environmentally friendly. The globes are definitely a must for those of us who have allotment gardens and who grow vegetables at home.

Well, this about wraps it up, except to say that it would appear that visitor numbers were rather down this year, at least on the first day. The second day things looked like they were picking up somewhat. But, as I said before, this is probably down to the fact that this were the first good days in a long time and both councils and contractors had to concentrate on the work in hand rather than a visit to a show, I would guess.

In addition to that, with the economy as it is and reduction in funding for councils, there is also very little money available for new products and machinery and thus visitor number also may have been down to that factor.

© 2012

IOG Saltex as important as ever

IOG Saltex as important as ever for grounds- and park managers and industry supplying the field

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

IOG Saltex, held annually in the first week of September at Windsor Racecourse – and long shall it remain there – and in 2012 from the 4th to the 6th of the month, has always been the show for the groundsman and others in the field of parks, open spaces, gardens, golf courses and the like.

Rightly Saltex is, and should be, the venue for manufacturers and supplies of machinery, tools and services to the industry to showcase their new products and innovations.

2012 will be no different there and I am sure that we will see many a new product on the stands at the show and the list in fact appears to be a rather long one that I was sent – in fact 49 pages of it which I don't think I will be picking though – and while we cannot guarantee the weather, and definitely not this year, I believe that a great and informative show can, once again be guaranteed.

While I don't want to, necessarily, appear to be picking and choosing I would just like to mention that Rock Croft, apparently, will be having the all-new Mesh Specs BX Unfogable Eye Protection on show at Saltex 2012. I was given an older version – I would think- last year for review and I have found this eye protection to the best I have ever encountered as there simply if no fogging.

Had it not been for Saltex some years back I would have never become aware of a great manufacturer of agri-board products (made from recycled agricultural plastic wrappers and such) and from who I purchased (yes, for a change it was not a product sample) the new accommodation for my hen and rooster (soon to be some more hens again). Oh, the company's name; Solway Recycling.

This year's IOG Saltex, being the year of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, will also have a display in conjunction with the Hall & Duck Trust of old lawn care machinery dating back to the first games in Britain in 1908.

I must say I have a manual Shanks mower from somewhere about that time still sitting in my shed hoping to one day give it some new wooden handles and a good going over.

OK, now roll on roll up (or what is that they say at the fairs) and get your tickets for IOG Saltex 2012. You still got time.

IOG SALTEX 2012 (www.iogsaltex.co.uk) will be held on September 4-6 at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.

© 2012