 |
|
New high-visibility capabilities have been added to Bilsom’s AM/FM radio earmuff. Bright green earcups and a reflective headband on the earmuffs are designed to be clearly visible day or night. The company says its radio supplies superior sound, and its lightweight design and headband provide comfort for all-day wear. A flexible antenna enables quality reception and is designed for environments indoors and out. Another new feature to the radio is the AUX input jack, which allows the earmuff to connect to MP3 players and other portable audio devices. Each earmuff comes equipped with a 3.5-mm connection cable and two AA batteries. The earmuffs also include Bilsom’s patented Air Flow Control technology, which gives optimal attenuation across all frequencies when the radio is in the off position. It delivers a noise reduction rating of 25 dB. Contact Bilsom, part of the Bacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group, 800-430-5490 (www.hearingportal.com).
The new C-Series walk greensmower line from John Deere Golf & Turf One Source features true 18-inch, 22-inch and 26-inch cutting widths on the 180C, 220C and 260C models. An improved rear drum and drive system on the machines’ dual-traction drive provides straighter tracking on greens, the company says. Bedknife-to-reel adjustment knobs allow easier infinite precision adjustments. All models come with a standard operator-presence system that meets ANSI B71.4-2004 requirements. A Greens Tender conditioner that counter-rotates to stand up the grass prior to cutting and promotes vertical grass growth for excellent ball roll is an available option. All models feature a gas engine meeting 2007 CARB standards. Contact John Deere Golf & Turf One Source, 800-537-8233 (www.johndeere.com).
New Deep Drip Watering Stakes from Green King LLC effectively deliver water and nutrients to the roots of trees and shrubs, the company says. Designed to conserve and eliminate water waste, the watering stakes direct 100 percent of the water used underground without loss to evaporation or runoff. Able to work independently or in conjunction with an automatic ¼-inch drip line, the stakes are placed into the ground and a drip line is inserted. The stakes also can be used without an irrigation system by laying a hose next to the inserted stake. The need to dig a deep, narrow hole is eliminated by pounding the stakes into the ground. When used on a slope, Deep Drip guards against the cost of water runoff and protects the slope against erosion. Contact Green King LLC, 480-510-0700 (www.deepdrip.com).
A 10-page brochure for Tacmina PZ Series electronic metering pumps from Neptune Chemical Pump Co. Inc. is now available. The full-color brochure outlines the line’s control options, including a wide range of sizes and pressures from 1 to 1,300 milliliters per minute at pressures up to 220 psi. Users can use the literature to select the ideal pump for their applications based on capacity, pressure and viscosity tables. Contact Neptune Chemical Pump Co. Inc., 888-363-7863 (www.neptune1.com).
A new Web site from Caterpillar’s Customer Safety Services is dedicated to promoting the safety and health of anyone in, on or around Caterpillar products, the company says. Accessible at http://safety.cat.com, the site provides information that reinforces safety messages from the company’s official operation and maintenance manual plus on-demand videos on walkaround inspections and operating tips. Other features include manual excerpts, multimedia pieces and toolbox talks on a variety of safety topics. Contact Customer Safety Services, (http://safety.cat.com).
A turbo diesel gauge set from Sunpro allows diesel pickup owners to monitor their trucks’ critical systems, the company says. The gauge pack includes three Sport ST performance meters — exhaust gas temperature, transmission fluid temperature and boost — encompassed in a universal triple-gauge pod. The set lets users identify small problems before they become big problems, the company says. The exhaust gas temperature gauge measures exhaust gases as they exit the engine and identifies air/fuel ratios. It also can serve as a guide to lower fuel consumption. The transmission fluid temperature gauge gives early indication of an overheating transmission, often in advance of the vehicle’s dashboard. The boost gauge measures pressure created by the truck’s turbocharger or supercharger. It also measures pressure at the intake manifold. Contact Sunpro, a brand of SPX Service Solutions, (www.sunpro.com).
The Sportcrete bunker system from Sportcrete Ltd. has been introduced to the United States for the first time via Sportcrete Americas. The Sportcrete system uses a base of two-inch-thick crushed granite, which is sprayed with a silicon solution to coat the rock and harden it like concrete. The process also keeps the rock intact and porous, which helps it promote drainage to bunkers while reducing surface runoff and erosion of the sand, the company says. The system is said to remain effective in all types of weather. Contact Sportcrete Americas, 800-713-0281 (www.sportcrete.com).
Underhill’s Pellet Pro is a wetting agent applicator gun for golf courses. The device accepts surfactant cartridges and features a high-flow nozzle with a vertical water curtain for even application throughout the entire spray pattern, the company says. Able to deliver 35 gallons per minute, the Pellet Pro can apply wetting agents over large turf areas and features a rotation within the chamber to evenly dissolve all surfactants. Its Cyclone nozzle is made with brass fittings, stainless steel and glass-filled materials. Nozzle and flow control valves can be removed and used independently. Contact Underhill, 866-863-3744 (www.underhill.us).
A free pest management guide to help superintendents select effective solutions for their pest management challenges is available from BASF Turf & Ornamentals. The guide includes information on fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. Charts in each section feature information on the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee, Weed Science Society of America and the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee mode of action classifications for each product listed. Charts also include a side-by-side overview of primary target pests, chemical group, active ingredients, trade names and restricted entry interval and use sites for each product. Contact BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals, (www.betterturf.com and www.betterplants.com).
The new Solo pressure sprayer model 430-2G can handle medium to large jobs in a variety of applications, the company says. A newly designed high-performance piston pump pressurizes the tank with up to 50 percent more efficiency than competitive units, according to the company. The 430-2G sprayer comes equipped with an easy-to-fill funnel top, an easy-to-clean secondary opening and a shutoff valve with lock-on/lock-off capabilities to minimize user fatigue. The 2-gallon unit also features an HDPE tank with UV inhibitors designed to resist corrosion, while a pressure relief valve releases excess pressure. Standard features include a 28-inch unbreakable wand for extended reach, an adjustable shoulder strap, a built-in wand retainer for portability and storage, and a four-nozzle assortment for multiple spraying tasks — flat-fan, jet stream, conical spray and adjustable. Contact Solo Inc., (www.solousa.com).
TrunkPump goes international as it expands its network of distributors for its three-point hitch model to Europe and Russia as well as North America, it announces. Other areas are expected to come on board soon, the company says. The original TrunkPump was designed to fit Ventrac and Steiner compact tractors for golf course applications, and the newly released three-point hitch model has universal applications. Contact TrunkPump, (www.trunkpump.com).
Underhill’s new Nastek turf stress detection glasses can help superintendents spot disease and turf problems before they become visible to the naked eye, the company says. Designed with technology developed by NASA scientists, the Nastek lenses work by blocking out the green spectrum reflected from chlorophyll in healthy vegetation, which instead appears gray or black. Stress conditions, disease, drought, pests or poor nutrition are revealed with glowing colors and can be detected two to 10 days before they’re visible to the human eye. The glasses are said to detect fusarium patch, pythium blight, yellow patch, brown patch, anthracnose and Poa grass invasions. The Nastek glasses are available in the company’s deluxe kit, which also includes a wrap-around frame with snap-in detection lens, a soft case and a micro-filter cleaning cloth. Contact Underhill, 866-863-3744 (www.underhill.us).
The new RTV1100 from Kubota Tractor Corp. comes with the premium grand cab, which the company says makes it the first available utility vehicle engineered for all-weather protection and comfort with standard air conditioning, heater and defroster. Equipped with a 3-cylinder, 24.8-hp Kubota diesel engine, the RTV1100 features 50.3 foot-pounds of torque for durability and drive. Other standard features include a variable hydrostatic transmission, power steering, sturdy front guard, four-wheel wet-disc brakes, hydraulic bed-lift system and more than 1,100 pounds of cargo-load capacity in its 16-cubic-foot bed. The RTV1100 also meets OSHA 1928.53 and SAE J2194 rollover protection standards. The vehicle comes with such safety and convenience amenities as retractable seatbelts, an under-seat storage area, padded headrests, premium cloth seating, standard speakers and pre-wiring for an optional AM/FM/CD player. Contact Kubota Tractor Corp., 888-458-2682, ext. 900 (www.kubota.com).
The new Bobcat T320 compact track loader is designed to offer increased productivity and greater attachment performance with its 92-hp diesel engine. The T320 features a rated operating capacity of 3,200 pounds, making it the company’s largest of its kind. The machine is designed to accommodate high-flow attachments such as the Brushcat rotary cutter, stump grinder, chipper and more, the company says. A track system provides extra traction, low ground disturbance and reduced ground pressure — the unit’s 18-inch-wide rubber tracks produce 4.2 psi of ground pressure. A lift height of 10 feet, 9 inches and a low-profile lift arm are added features. The T320’s hydraulic system produces 21.2 gpm, or operators can choose the 37 gpm high-flow option. A standard Bob-Tach attachment mounting system or the optional Power Bob-Tach system can facilitate more than 40 approved attachments. Contact Bobcat, (www.bobcat.com).
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, TRIMS Software International Inc. introduces Version 7 of its Grounds Management Software, designed to work with Windows Vista. The software uses the Pervasive PSQL v9 database engine to deliver multi-user client/server performance and data integrity in workgroup environments with no network server, the company says. Contact TRIMS Software International Inc., (www.trims.com).
The Toro Co. has published a 44-page, four-color brochure detailing its complete line of landscape contractor equipment. The new literature includes specifications on all its professional-grade commercial mowers, large product photos with core feature highlights and a bilingual format that delivers English text when viewed from one direction and Spanish when flipped and viewed from another, the company says. For a copy of the 2007 Landscape Contractor Equipment brochure, contact The Toro Co., 800-348-2424 (www.toro.com).
The newest MagSystem from Jacobsen, a Textron company, offers a stronger, more consistent hold on the blade and improved alignment of the MagKnife, the company says. Blade changes can be made quickly, and magnet removal also is a featured improvement. With no screws, reel maintenance is reduced, and when turf groomers are attached, they don’t need to be removed for maintenance. Tri-valent coating provides superior protection against rust, and newly added dowel pins are designed to supply a secure, even alignment. Contact Jacobsen, 888-922-8873 (www.jacobsen.com).
To help superintendents and golf professionals plan their next charity golf tournament, the TournaKit Pro software package combines four special event-planning elements in a single desktop software program, says its manufacturer, TournaKit Pro. The package, which comes with no recurring fees, incorporates golf tournament planning, online registrations, auction software and donor management in a single program. It processes online golf registrations directly into contact and event databases. Contact TournaKit Pro, 781-246-3700 (www.tournakit.com).
CoverSports USA has published a new 28-page catalog featuring its full line of products, including wind and privacy screens, digitally printed banners, fence-top protection, temporary outdoor fencing, tarps and winter turf blankets. The catalog highlights the assortment of colors, sizes, storage options and other features available with the products, in addition to the company’s new color and logo customization capabilities. Contact CoverSports USA, 800-445-6680 (www.coversports.com).
iMETOS weather stations, made by Pessl Instruments, offer a real time Internet-based decision support system with data from the golf course. The systems contain 10 sensors, two thermometers (one for air temperature above the turf and one for soil temperature below the turf), a rain gauge to measure rainfall and irrigation water, two leaf wetness sensors, a solarimeter to record solar radiation and day length and a soil moisture probe. The device can measure wind speed, direction, degree day calculations, evapotranspiration value and disease models (Pythium blight, brown patch, snow mold, anthracnose and dollar spot). Potential applications include pest and disease management, fertilizer application management, irrigation management, microclimate disease forecasting, drift control and record-keeping traceability. Contact Pessl Instruments, (www.metos.at).
Two effective and humane fogging products to repel birds are available from Nixalite of America. Migrate and Fog Force are made from methyl anthranilate, a naturally occurring compound with a reduced risk to the environment, the company says. Both bird repellents are food-grade and are regulated by the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Fog Force is designed for indoor or outdoor use to repel any nuisance birds such as Canada geese, pigeons, starlings, blackbirds, cowbirds, gulls, mallards and others. It delivers a dry haze made of fine aerosol particles, which stay suspended in the air and don’t settle on the ground, the company says. When birds become exposed to the substance, it irritates their eyes and mucous membranes without causing permanent damage. Migrate is developed to repel geese or ducks on turf areas such as golf courses. A micro-encapsulated product that can be mixed with water to spray on turf, the product doesn’t cause harm to the birds or household pets. Fog Force is available in select states. Contact Nixalite, 800-624-1189 (www.nixalite.com/fogforce.aspx).
Broyhill unveils its GreensKeeper brush gas-powered trailer, which it says can execute fast topdressing incorporation, turf grain management and heavy topdressing incorporation after core aeration. Soft, pliable bristles are effective without causing damage to grass, while the device’s rapid brush rotation contacts grass from all directions and causes turf to stand up, the company adds. Powered by a 3.75-hp Briggs gas engine, the unit requires no hydraulics and contains an electric lift cylinder that raises and lowers the brush pan. Towable behind most vehicles, the trailer also includes wheels in front of the brushes, which eliminates tire tracks on brushed greens. Contact Broyhill, 800-228-1003, ext. 34 (www.broyhill.com).
Jacklin Seed by Simplot offers several varieties of bentgrass which it says yield superior color, strength and disease resistance. T1 is a variety known for its deep, dark green shade; L-93, developed for stress resistance, is ideal for high-traffic areas; and Alpha is an aggressive interseeding variety to keep greens in shape, according to the company. Contact Jacklin Seed by Simplot, 800-688-7333 (www.jacklin.com).
RECENT issues
 |
 |
September |
August |