PRO Supplier

From robotics to hybrid mowers and digital apps, ground-breaking ideas to thought provoking debates, career enhancing advice to limitless opportunities; the recent SALTEX 2018 at the NEC was a landscape of possibility and prospect for the future of groundscare.  

Europe’s largest annual groundscare event featured 300 exhibitors, many of which embraced new technologies through the launch of their latest products and services showcased at the event. 

One visitor - Chris Wood, ECB pitch consultant, was certainly impressed with the machinery on show: “My job with the ECB is to gather as much information on all the new innovations and this is one tremendous outlet for that. I always think that we are one big family in this industry and SALTEX is the one occasion of the year where we can come together, network, and look at all the new machinery – it’s like a toyshop at Christmas.”

The vibrant show floor offered a fantastic opportunity to witness just how these latest technologies are having a positive impact in the groundscare industry - particularly in the all new Innovation Hub where visitors were free to attend live interviews with industry experts and trend setters at the forefront of new groundscare innovations.

This new Hub was also the ideal platform to showcase and celebrate the SALTEX 2018 Innovation Award. After making its successful debut at last year’s show, the SALTEX 2018 Innovation Award attracted even more entries from various exhibitors across the globe and included a wide variety of high-quality products, services and equipment. Judged by an independent panel of industry experts it was decided that the Toro Outcross 9060 from Reesink Turfcare, PrecisionPro from Sherriff Amenity and the ROBOCUT from McConnel were the stand out entries. Sherriff Amenity’s PrecisionPro was crowned as the winner.

Sherriff Amenity representatives however were not the only trophy winners at the show as Bridgewater & Taunton College saw off fierce competition to win the SALTEX College Cup and the winning students can now look forward to visiting the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in the run up to the Wimbledon tournament, to experience court preparation from Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture.

There were also an increased number of visitors looking to progress within the industry as Frank Newberry’s Job Clinic sessions were fully booked between 9am and 3pm on each day of this year’s show. The expert careers advisor offered some fantastic tips on: perfecting a CV and cover letter; how to succeed at job interviews; negotiating a package; proactive job searching and self-employment.

The many opportunities to gain expert advice prompted John Ryan, founder of Lawn Care Legends, to travel from Northern Ireland to SALTEX: “I found my visit extremely beneficial because there are a lot of industry people you can connect with that can help provide ideas on how to develop a business. It’s great to see people with such a passion for the industry and share it with others. For anyone who wants to know what’s going on in the industry, I would recommend that they visit SALTEX.” 

Free advice was available at every turn throughout the three large halls at the NEC. Visitors had the opportunity to gather one-to-one sports turf management advice from IOG regional pitch advisors at the Ask the Expert feature and Pathology and Soil Science LIVE provided an opportunity to share soil samples which were magnified, displayed on a large screen and assessed.

Learning LIVE 2018, SALTEX’s all-encompassing education programme, featured more than 50 free-to-attend seminars. Visitors gained CPD points for attendance and got to hear from expert speakers from the UK and abroad who focussed on vital issues that affect the industry.

James Pope, grounds manager at St Paul’s School in London, said he visited SALTEX to explore new concepts: “I’ve gained more ideas just from coming to this one show than I have all year. SALTEX is the right time of year and it’s the busiest and most vibrant show around - everyone is always in high spirits.”

Echoing James, was Ted Mitchell from the RFU, who was pleased to see just how the world’s longest standing groundscare exhibition has transformed over the years. 

“I’ve been attending SALTEX for many years and to see the event as it is today is incredible – it takes your breath away. It offers such a unique opportunity to meet the range of people at SALTEX in five or six hours that would, in any other circumstance, take me a huge amount of time over a number of months. SALTEX brings the industry together all in one place.”

SALTEX does indeed unite every corner of the industry – the manufacturers and suppliers, the visitors and speakers, the governing bodies and associations; who contributed to the conversations, the learnings, the ideas, the debates, and actively played their part in shaping the future of groundscare and creating opportunity for all.  

For more information visit www.iogsaltex.com

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Peter sellers replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Don't think you are paying attention, the original post was from Jason Taylor, I did not post the photo nor ask for any suggestions all I was doing was defending Jason's position in response to your unhelpful comments"
14 hours ago
Honey Badger replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Sorry Peter I have to go the distance. I own a tiller it will cut a foot, its bloody hard work and slow. I bet above is at least six passes. Large areas like that I'd hire a cannon. 3/4 passes it would cut to a foot and leave a fine tilth rather…"
15 hours ago
Distance replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Not how I describe it, it's what it is, a tiller. And and do me a favour 😆  nobody is criticising your work, I'm criticising the ineffectiveness of that tool. I can see it in the picture you have posted. You have posted asking for any suggestions.…"
15 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Sorry to be blunt but we have cultivated many acres with what you describe as a tiller over the last 40 years without the need to hire a rear tine rotovator, it's unfair to criticise someone elses work without knowing the circumstances and not what…"
17 hours ago
Distance replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Sorry to be blunt. But my bugbear is people referring to pathetic tillers as rotavators. "
17 hours ago
Distance replied to Jason Taylor's discussion Lawn / soil problem
"Sorry but a Stihl mh585 is a tiller not a rotavator. Something I would use at the allotment not on a professional job. Something like a Barretto 13hp you can hire for £100 a day is a proper rotavator and will go deeper and turn all those clumps to…"
17 hours ago
Distance is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
20 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Agrovista Amenity is enhancing its line marking capabilities with a major investment in robotic technology and key industry appointments. As part of this strategy, the company has secured an exclusive partnership with XDC Autonomous Solutions for…
21 hours ago
M Olsson posted a discussion
Hi people,Last year I bought several pieces of equipment including a TF 325 tiller. It's been built but never used, infact- I haven't even put oil or petrol in it, nor have I started it. It's been sitting in my shed since September last year. If…
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Dan Nate's discussion Charging Stihl tools from the van
"Thats exactly what I did for about 6 years... unplug it when not in use, and get them all charging when driving between jobs"
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Etesia UK recently welcomed dealers from across the UK and Ireland to an insightful and engaging dealer day at Primrose Hill Farm in Oxfordshire. Attendees gathered to explore Etesia’s latest product innovations, gain industry insights, and connect…
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Agrovista Amenity is pleased to announce its appointment as an approved distributor of Lanzarta, the newly authorised solution for controlling Hylobius abietis (large pine weevil) in Sitka spruce and other pine woodland.The recent Emergency…
yesterday
Dan Nate replied to Dan Nate's discussion Charging Stihl tools from the van
" Thanks gents - I was thinking an inverter from the cigarette ligher might work but then, as Nick says, I was also thinking it might be electrically dubious."
yesterday
Billybop replied to Dan Nate's discussion Charging Stihl tools from the van
"As Nick says, best just to buy more battery packs. The other option would be to take some kind of rechargeable mains voltage power bank to run a charger from. But that also could end up being more trouble than it's worth"
Tuesday
Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd replied to Dan Nate's discussion Charging Stihl tools from the van
"You need a pure sine wave inverter. We did fit 2 vans out with them, wired into the battery and with the correct fuses.
They would happily run a van battery flat if you're not careful despite a low voltage cut off and one inverter caught fire when…"
Monday
Adam Woods replied to Dan Nate's discussion Charging Stihl tools from the van
"Easy... an inverter, something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/376050861701?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mk...
Just make sure you dont power too many batteries while the van is stationary..."
Monday
More…

Lawn / soil problem

Hello all,my son has started a landscaping business. He's had a few jobs. The one we priced and is working on is a new build. The garden is pretty big, about 450m2.Our quote was to seed it, plant a hedge at the back and create a border around with…

Read more…
8 Replies · Reply by Distance 13 hours ago
Views: 202