IOG Scotsturf is the chief event each year for groundscare, maintenance and landscaping in Scotland, with over 100 of the industry’s leading suppliers exhibiting at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre.
As an exhibitor at Scotsturf, STM knew this was the perfect opportunity to unveil the New Scag V-Ride zero-turn stand on mower for the first time in the UK.
Scag USA, air freighted the first V-Ride to STM especially for the show, which proved a great success, generating plenty of interest and positive comment over the two days.
On the back of the show, demonstrations of the V-Ride have already started, and STM are very excited about the machine’s future and their continued success with Scag machinery in 2010.
For more information or to find a demonstration near you, please call 01789 488450
To cover sales of the RoboFlail in specific areas of Scotland, STM have appointed Fraser C Robb of Drymen, Glasgow as dedicated dealers. They will be looking after areas from Dumfries, north to Argyll and Bute. STM have a long association with Fraser Robb and are very pleased to be able to offer them this opportunity to follow on from the successful roadshows carried out by Simon Tullett and Bob Deans in Scotland.
This is STMs first full season with the RoboFlail, which won the New Product and Innovation Award at Scotsturf 2008, and its success has backed up STM’s faith in the product. It was designed in conjunction with the STM Continental engineer Frank Hemmerich and an established manufacturer of tracked vehicles. These zero-turn remote controlled machines are in use over the whole of the UK and the Continent, and there is consistent positive feedback from customers and contractors. The versatility and safety of the unit make it an ideal choice. With increasing requirements to meet as regards Health and Safety standards, the RoboFlail is ideal for steep banks and difficult areas. The positive side of no hand-arm vibration problems and reduced operator fatigue are also in there as very strong plus points for considering this robot mower.
By being available with one of two types of deck – standard rotary and open-front rotary, STM have made the RoboFlail range even more unassailable. The machine operates on tracks and has fully effective zero-turn created by contra-rotating them. The operator can work up to 300 metres away but this is not recommended as you need to be able to see obstacles, and the machine has design features like a self-levelling tank that show the amount of design consideration that has been put in.
Simon Tullett took the machine on a roadshow in Scotland and that was a great success. The area for which Dundee City Council are responsible takes in estates such as Pentland, which is renowned for its steep banks. Not only that, but these areas are mowed on a fortnightly basis, and the previous method – using hover mowers – was beginning to cause concern on Health and Safety issues. The demo took place in their area, and that was enough to convince them. The order was placed, the machine delivered, training undertaken and off they went.
Jock Paterson of Dundee took time out to talk about the machine: "It’s been very successful so far. We’ve had the machine for a few months now and the operators are getting better with the procedure on the controls." He explained that theirs is a particularly hilly area and the introduction of the RoboFlail has saved them a lot of problems – plus the bonus that the operators aren’t so tired at the end of the shift!
STM distributor Balmers Garden Machinery's specialist hire division Balmers Hire Ltd, are featured in the March issue of Amenity Machinery & Equipment singing the praises of RoboFlail One as a valuable addition to their hire fleet.
Commenting in the article, David Balmer sees the machine’s climbing skill and its ability to overcome current and impending health and safety regulations being its main attraction to customers; with hire, and its inclusive service and maintenance elements, as a means of stretching tightening budgets. “It ticks all the right health and safety boxes,” he says. “Organisations such as local authorities and councils are strict in implementing the rules; remote operation means that there are no issues with hand and arm vibration levels and it already covers anticipated whole body vibration regulations.”
IOG National Chairman Alex R Millar presented Simon Tullett with the New Product and Innovation Award in the small / medium category for the RoboFlail One at the IOG Scotsturf Show, held at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh.
Bob Deans, area sales manager for Scotland, explained "All of us at STM are delighted to receive recognition for what we believe is one of the most significant and exciting products to enter the grounds maintenance and landscaping market this year, and we are expecting our first orders very shortly".
Following the successful launch at Saltex and Scotsturf, STM are not surprised at the high levels of interest and enquiries for the RoboFlail One mower, and expect the sales team to be extremely busy in the coming months and throughout 2009.
Commenting, Simon said “Thanks to all the IOG team at Scotsturf for doing a great job this year. We are extremely pleased with the quality of enquiries and leads received and have already booked our place for next year”.
STM unveiled the new remote controlled RoboFlail One at this year's Saltex and it proved to be one of the star attractions of the show. Designed, developed and manufactured by Niko in conjunction with our German dealer KommTek, RoboFlail One is definitely on the right tracks as far as the UK market is concerned.
This all new track machine is hydraulically driven, features total zero-turn - ideal for bank work and ensuring minimal turf damage. Its low centre of gravity and floating rubber tracks provide good stability and manoeuvrability at very steep angles, which enables RoboFlail One to work on banks of up to 50° angles in complete safety, in all weathers and with no risk to the operator or machine.
RoboFlail One has been designed to accept two different cutting systems, the ESM Verti flail Rough-Cut and rotary Fine-Cut decks. This enables RoboFlail One to cut in the worst conditions and also in parkland for a finer finish with the Fine-Cut rotary head.
A 25hp Kawasaki engine provides excellent power and performance, helping the unit to reach speeds of 10 kph [6 mph] and capable of cutting up to 5000 m2/h.
Tests have shown RoboFlail One's cutting capabilities, sturdy design and easy to use remote control [user can operate the machine at a distance of up to 300m] have made it ideal for areas such as roads and highways maintenance, military bases, parklands and estate work.
Since their introduction into the STM range, a lot of hard work in demos and road-shows has paid off with this first sale - a BOKI 2551 E - going to the Bereavement Services division of Newcastle City Council.
We spoke to Ken Scott, the division head, who said: "We had a couple of demos of the machine and it proved to us that it could be of real value working in conjunction with our two existing back-hoe units. The benefit with the BOKI is its ability to get into and work in tight areas in, around or over headstones."
He explained that the other units are ideal for most types of work, but struggle in certain difficult access areas.
Having 10 cemeteries under the division’s control, Ken is confident that the BOKI will prove to be an extremely valuable member of their fleet.
The BOKI 2551 E is a well-designed, purpose built machine, and STM with their North-East Dealer - Shorts of Whitburn, are proud to have been able to supply Newcastle City Council with their first machine in this country.
[Photograph: (L to R)
Ken Scott - Bereavement Services Officer - Newcastle City Council, Anthony Chambers - Shorts of Whitburn, Harry Sancu - Kiefer GMBH]
SCAG recognise STM achievements
"We at SCAG Power really appreciate the extra effort that everyone at Simon Tullett Machinery puts into selling our products."
[Photograph: Simon and Olivia Tullett receive their award from John Crowson and Jerry Bailey.]
In September 2007 Simon and Olivia Tullett went to the States to receive the 2007 International Sales Award. STM are particularly proud to have received it, and are equally proud to be able to add the expression: "yet again."
However, to explain the philosophy behind both the award and the choice, we asked Cheri Stange, Marketing Manager of SCAG, to contribute:
"Officially the 2007 International Sales Award was presented to Simon Tullet Machinery 'For Continuous, Superior Performance in the Sales and Support of SCAG Power Equipment Products'." However, she went on to say: "In the case of Simon Tullet Machinery there is so much additional meaning. Not only have they reached new Sales Milestones, but also we know that Simon and his crew work very hard behind the scenes to provide the support that is so important with a high-end product like ours. Simon will travel numerous countries (sometimes in just a few days) to visit dealers and demonstrate our products. His support at trade shows is outstanding, assembling very impressive displays of equipment and providing field demo products, so customers can try the equipment and feel the quality. We at SCAG Power really appreciate the extra effort that everyone at Simon Tullett Machinery puts into selling our products. Simon Tullett Machinery is 'Simply the Best'!"
Thanks, Cheri, but, to be fair, if their products weren’t the best in the first place, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
"The latest personnel changes at Scag Power Equipment will continue to guide the company . . . . . . and serve Scag Power Equipment and their distributors well into the future." Jerry Bailey
[Photograph: John Crowson the new President of SCAG.]
Even though SCAG POWER EQUIPMENT, as a company, is a long way away from us geographically, the business we have done between us over the years has brought about some very strong links, and so it was with great pleasure that we learned of the appointment of our good friend John Crowson as President of the company.
He succeeds Jerry Bailey, who has been with Metalcraft of Mayville and subsequently SCAG for thirty-four years. We wish him well in his retirement.
John Crowson is most definitely the "man for the job". With a background of 23 years in the outdoor power equipment market, backed up with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Southern Illinois University and a Masters Degree in Finance from the University of St. Thomas.
Since his appointment he has brought about certain personnel promotions, to reinforce the strength of the management team and to back his quoted mission for the company: "to continue to build on our strength in the market by providing products and service that are second to none. 'Simply the Best' is more than a motto to us, it is the way we strive to conduct our business and our customer relationships."
We wish John not just "All the best", but "Simply the Best" in his new position.
Wanna max your mower?
In response to interest in the States SCAG have introduced these chrome wheel trims for the ride-on mower range.
For those interested in the Custom Car world, we’ve traced the design to the American Race Engineering "Torq-Thrust" mags of the early 60s, which were a slightly different shape from the later Cragar design.
We confidently expect a range of chrome GMC superchargers, lakes pipes and Moon fuel tanks to follow . . . .
Cragar and Weld style chrome wheel covers are coming soon from SCAG. 8" and 12" covers will be available to fit most Freedom Z, Turf Tigers, Wildcats, Tiger Cubs, etc. They feature metal retaining tabs and an access hole for the valve stem. Even the SCAG logo in the centre is chrome! Stay tuned for more details...
