LAPV's Aidan Turnbull takes a close look at a few of the top companies and their products appearing at this year's IOG SALTEX show - the largest grounds-care event in Europe - held at the Windsor Racecourse, Berkshire.

IOG SALTEX is aimed at everyone involved in open space management from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to local authority and leisure facility managers.

The show itself focuses on fine turf and sports, turf maintenance equipment, children's play and safety surfacing, commercial vehicles, leisure and facilities management and software as well as security equipment. More information? Visit: www.iogsaltex.co.uk or call 020 8232 1600. So - who's there and what are they showing?

AUSA UK [Stand Z12] will exhibit the AUSA DV50 general-purpose light carrier. The 500kg payload DV50 twoseater has been purpose developed for use in arduous conditions, and combines simplicity and ease of operation with high levels of safety and comfort. Also onsite will be the DVH250, a multifunctional vehicle with a host of special features, comprising pressure washer, electric generator, 12m crane with basket, PTO's and plenty of storage for tools.Website: www.ausa.co.uk

CAMPEY TURF CARE SYSTEMS [Stand DAB16] will display a full line-up of equipment designed to speed up and simplify major grounds maintenance tasks while ensuring high quality and playability. Making its debut at the Show will be the Raycam Speeddresser 24, a bulk drop-spreader with a 2.4m (7ft 10in) spreading width, powered by tractors of 60hp or above. It joins the Speeddresser 18, which has a 1.8m working width and requires a 30-40hp tractor.

Also being shown for the first time at Saltex will be the Raycam Core Harvester, a tractor-towed unit that simplifies clearance after aeration work.

Cores are gathered by guides at the side of the unit and collected via a floating head. An integral conveyor places the material into a 580-litre capacity, hitipping hopper. Other attractions include the Raycam True Level greens rollers and the Dakota Turf Tenders.

CHARTERHOUSE TURF MACHINERY [Stand W15] will show a range of Verti-Drain machines. Verti-Drains work by driving solid or hollow tines down to a maximum depth of 16in (400mm), introducing air into the soil and rejuvenating turf. A unique parallelogram configuration provides a 'heave' effect, breaking up compacted ground. Besides the established tractormounted units, Charterhouse will unveil a new Hydrostatic Ride-on machine.

Also available will be active brushcutters and chainsaws. Ranging from 26-55cc and including handheld machines and a backpack version, they are designed to give particularly low vibration.

CLAYMORE GRASS MACHINERY [Stand A52] is exhibiting a comprehensive lineup of quality power equipment from Yanmar, Masport, and Simplicity. Over the last twelve months, Claymore Grass Machinery has introduced numerous new machines into their range of quality outdoor power equipment designed for the professional operator. Masport will be exhibiting its commercial rotary mowers plus the Olympic professional cylinder mowers fitted with Honda engines.

Claymore Grass Machinery markets the Yanmar range of compact tractors and mowers. These will be in pride of place at the show. The Ge22/28 out front rotaries are highly manoeuvrable mowers, powered by Yanmar 22hp/28hp engines and incorporate hydrostatic drive with a forward speed of up to 14km/hour.

DENNIS [Stand F14] makes the Dennis 'FT' machines, walk-behind units which give a precision finish on fine turf areas, such as golf greens and tees, bowling greens, soccer pitches, cricket fields, tennis courts and ornamental lawns. 'FT' and 'G' series machines accept purpose-built quick-change 'cassette' attachments for essential tasks like verti-cutting, scarifying, aerating and brushing, making them a tremendous cost-effective investment.

Brand new at Saltex will be the G660, a 26in (66cm) model boasting all the high work-rate features of its larger stablemates. A number of new cassette options for the entire range will also be on display.

Many local authorities and contractors use these multi-tasking machines, which prove highly efficient under Best Value regimes. Glasgow City Council recently bought 34 more units to add to its existing fleet of 13, making the city one of the biggest users of Dennis equipment.

ETESIA [Stand A36] will be unveiling its latest attachment - the MCF124 quick-fit out-front deck for the Hydro 124D ride-on rotary mower.

Designed as a finishing mower, this offset 65cm deck features a springloaded mechanism which, when an obstacle is touched, automatically retracts the deck, thus ensuring precise mowing around trees, fence posts, furniture, rubbish bins and other obstacles.

Etesia's high output Hydro 124D is said to offer cost-effective efficiency when cutting and collecting on large areas of grass. The ride-on's low decibel rating is useful on noise-sensitive sites, such as campsites, hotels, schools and hospitals.

HIRE SUPPLY COMPANY [Stand Q22 and demo plot: DAC12] will be taking its Hire Education Initiative to Saltex to highlight the considerable advantages of hiring over buying. The company launched the initiative at last year's exhibition to help end-users in the landscaping and groundscare sectors save time and money ' especially those who often require specialist equipment for short periods.

“Many professionals within the landscaping and groundscare sectors still see hiring as a last resort, so we decided to highlight the overwhelming benefits of hiring over buying and encourage more people to hire,” commented Gary McWilliam Managing Director of the Hire Supply Company

“Our Hire Education initiative is proving very successful because it encourages companies to view hiring as a convenient and cost effective alternative to buying, as well as acting as an effective back-up for busy periods and emergency situations.”

INDESPENSION [Stand D22] is one of the largest trailer manufacturers and suppliers for the UK's local authorities. A company spokesman told LAPV: “One of the most demanding applications for trailers is their use in groundcare. Individual trailers will often be required to carry out a variety of roles. Starting off with moving machinery and tools to site, they will then be used to remove hedge clippings or grass clippings to be composted.

“With 40 years experience in designing and building trailers, Indespension understand the specific requirements for trailers used by local authorities.”

For carrying materials the range starts off with the SE750. A budget priced trailer it has a gross weight of 750Kg and with optional mesh sides can carry ma wide a variety of materials. The range goes right up to trailers with gross weights of 3,500Kg which can carry all but the heaviest equipment used in groundcare. Where trailers are required only for moving machinery, there is a range of plant trailers designed specifically for that purpose.

MERCEDES-BENZ [Stand No. UO3] will be showing the new, UKdesigned and built Unimog with full agricultural specification. It has a range of additional built-in safety factors for off-road operations, along with a pick-up hitch, rear linkage and options for front and rear Power Take-Off.

The top-of-the-range Unimog U500 is fitted with a PM12523 SLC crane with three hydraulic boom extensions capable of lifting 940kg at 10.35m. There is also a front-mounted, hydraulically-operated Bushey Hall winch capable of pulling 15,000 lbs.

In partnership with Schmidt Mulag, the Unimog U400 will be equipped with a Mulag MHU 800 boom ' with a reach of nearly nine metres ' and a Mulag UMK1200 Universal Mowing Head.

There will also be a front-mounted Mulag MRM barrier mower, enabling fast, accurate and safe mowing for highways vegetation maintenance.

The Mercedes-Benz Unimog range of the U300, U400 and U500 has been developed to provide a total solution for carrying and operating a wide range of implements, on and off roads. On roads and tracks the Unimog is fast and effective, operating as a versatile and comfortable commercial vehicle. It has full road-going speeds of up to 56mph, but is also compact enough to get through narrow accesses and at the same time carry men, their equipment and materials ' removing the need for back-up vehicles.

SCHMIDT's new Schmidt HotJet street, pavement and walkways washer [Stand No. UO3] is instrumental in giving Exeter's historic city centre a £1.7 million up-grade. The HotJet will be operating throughout the city, but its prime objective is to keep the new, highly polished, attractive granite paving slabs in the centre looking like new ' and free of stains and chewing gum.

“Business and tourism are thriving in Exeter, the regional capital of the south west,” says Mike Trim, the city's Cleansing Manager told LAPV. “Keeping the revamped city centre clean and attractive is an essential part of attracting people to visit, live and work in the city.”

The investment in the Schmidt HotJet far outweighs that of hiring a specialist team to remove gum, “and trials have proved that it does the job quickly and effectively,” he says.

“This is a long term scheme and eventually every area of the city will be cleaned by the HotJet. The operatives like it and the Councillors want it in their Wards, every time they see it and the work that it does. It has proved to be a very popular member of the cleansing team.”

RANSOMES JACOBSEN [Stand V15] will be showing a range of equipment from the Ransomes brand - including the debut of the Ransomes Spider, a new remotely operated mower for steep banks and slopes. It features a radio frequency remote control handset with a range of up to 50 metres and can tackle slopes with up to a 40° incline.

Fail-safe measures are built-in to the mower, which has a 800mm cutting width and is powered by a 4-stroke, two cylinder Kawasaki petrol engine. Also on display will be the ZT220D zero turn mower with new side discharge deck and the restyled LPG version of the Parkway triple mower with a smoother, rounder and more aesthetically pleasing profile. The stalwart for the preparation of fine turf at football stadia, the Mastiff, has also been upgraded with a new transmission, engine & OPC.

For the golf sector, there's the UK debut of two new machines from Jacobsen, the AR-3 and the TR-3. Both use the same chassis with the AR-3 featuring 69cm (27”) rotary mulching decks which can be used in either mulching or rear discharge mode by simply moving a deflector. The TR-3 has the proven Tri-King cylinders. The new LF-3407 light fairway mower will also be on show and from the Ryan brand, there's the GA24 pedestrian aerator with a new OPC.

Following the successful launch of the Iseki TXG23 compact tractor last year, this year sees the introduction of smaller SXG19, powered by a 19hp diesel engine and with 4 wheel drive and hydrostatic transmission. There'll be over 70 turf maintenance machines on display, proving once again that Ransomes Jacobsen is the one-stop shop for turf professionals. More info? Visit: www.ransomesjacobsen.com

SGM HIRE [Stand: U02] is one of the UK's leading specialist ground care machinery hire company, providing flexible hire options to over 200 local authorities, golf clubs, private contractors and facilities management companies throughout the UK. It will be exhibiting at Saltex.

Andrew Kirk, General Manager, SGM Hire, told LAPV: “SGM Hire has increased revenue by 40% within the last 12 months, which has resulted in the opening of further service outlets. The company now has a strong presence throughout the UK with service outlets in Inverness, Aberdeen, Perth, Inverkeithing, Washington, Skelmersdale, Rotherham, Solihull, Buckinghamshire, London, Kent, and Hampshire.”

He explains: “The option to combine paying for brand new equipment over its lifetime of use is proving very attractive to our customer base. We are looking forward to receiving as many good- quality enquiries at Saltex 2004 as we did last year.”

TERRA-VAC [Stand DAU4] manufactures a range of industrial suction machines and sweepers. On show will be the Mobile Suction Unit - a highly-portable machine for towing behind a pickup or trailer, its versatile 'wanderhose' clears debris which is then shredded by the powerful fans.

Also on display will be the Terra-Vac Colt 10 and the Terra-Vac Commercial 40. Providing unbeatable convenience and flexibility, the Colt can be easily towed behind a lawn mover or ATV with minimum disruption to pedestrians. With both scoop and wanderhose facilities, it is powerful enough to remove and shred all types of waste.

For larger areas such as parks and golf courses, the Commercial 40 is ideal. Operator contact with potentially hazardous material is completely eliminated by the scoop and wanderhose, then steel fans chop and blast the waste into the hopper, which is available with sizes from 4.0 to 10.0 cu.m. More info? Visit: www.terra-vac.com