Take me out

IOG SALTEX is the UK’s only outdoor event for the grounds care, sports amenities, landscaping and estate management sectors, with an unrivalled reputation for ideas and innovation. Launched as a grounds care show in 1938, it has grown in size and stature and now covers all aspects of the open space management industry.
    
IOG SALTEX 2010 will be held 7-9 September 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.
    
Over 450 of the industry’s leading suppliers will display everything from machinery to waste management, from playground equipment to work wear and safety equipment. IOG SALTEX offers you the opportunity to source thousands of products in one place and as it’s the home for the industry, many companies choose this event to launch new products and services. The topical free seminar programme, advice clinics and visitor features make IOG SALTEX an unmissable event.

New product launches
With the launch of additional products to boost the ‘low-cost, long-life equipment’ focus of RT Machinery, the company’s managing director Richard Taylor says this year’s IOG SALTEX open space management exhibition will: “deliver the right audience, as it has always done”.
    
He continues: “Our faith in IOG SALTEX has consistently been repaid since we started exhibiting at the show three years ago. I reckon that each year we get at least 20 new customers from the show and many who call to see us year after year once a trading relationship is established – plus a wide mix of enquiries from private estate managers through to directors and decision-makers from independent sports clubs. That’s why year-on-year we’ve increased our stand size by 50 per cent.
    
“This year’s event will be no different – we expect visitors from a broad spectrum of the industry and our expanded stand will enable us to demonstrate not only our ever-growing range of gang mowers and equipment like our new paddock sweeper, but the show will also allow visitors to hear how we rate after-sales support as importantly as we do cost-competitive, reliable products.
    
Since RT Machinery was established in 2001, the company ethos has been to link value with service rather than with price. As well as building the business around key product brands – for example, it is a leading dealer for Dennis, Etesia, Pellenc and Kioti – and gradually introducing own-brand equipment for which the plan is to create a network of like-minded dealers, Richard is adamant: “Being able to identify the correct product for the job, rather than for the considered budget, is one of the keys to our success and is of real value long term.”

Going off-road
An adrenalin-producing off-road 4x4 course is being staged by Polaris at this year’s show. Specially-constructed, tested and marshalled by Polaris staff, the IOG SALTEX-Polaris off-road course will be sited adjacent to the Windsor showground’s North entrance. The exciting feature will not only enable visitors to test their driving skills but also experience at first hand a number of Polaris 4x4s, including the new all-electric Ranger EV, the world’s first 4x4 electric utility vehicle.
    
Commenting on the development, Phil Everett, Polaris country manager, says: “Our decision to sponsor this major feature at IOG SALTEX – and to significantly increase our stand size – is part of this year’s focused investment in the UK market.
    
“With such a wide-ranging and influential audience, we never had second thoughts about effectively doubling the size of our presence at this year’s IOG SALTEX compared to last year, and we are confident that visitors will be impressed with the Polaris products they will see – and drive – at the show.”
    
A comprehensive selection of vehicles will be available for close inspection on the stand, including the Ranger EV side-by-side utility vehicle. This features On-Demand all-wheel drive with VersaTrac, independent rear suspension, high ground clearance and the longest suspension travel in its class.
    
The Ranger EV has the largest battery pack in the industry (11.5 kW) and the longest range of any electric midsize – the 30 HP electric motor produces a 35-45 mile range, a top speed of 25 mph and two hours of riding time between charges. It also has a 567kgs towing capacity and a 226.7kgs Lock and Ride cargo box.

Significant presence
Sanli UK’s significant presence at this year’s IOG SALTEX open space management show, which includes an expansive stand, is just one important facet of the multi-million pound investment being made this year by the company to establish its range of cost-competitive, high-quality outdoor power equipment in the UK and Ireland.
    
“Because the show attracts a wide variety of visitors – in particular local authority decision-makers as well as dealers and semi-professional users – it is the ideal public launch pad for our mowers, brushcutters, chainsaws, generators and hedge trimmers,” managing director Mark Osborne says.
     
“Importantly, visitors to the show will be able to see for themselves how the continuing global success of the Sanli brand is being built on innovation – and, be in no doubt, these are sturdy, built-for-purpose products that are available at relatively low cost.”
    
In addition to a comprehensive display of products on the company’s stand, Sanli’s programme of activities on its adjacent demonstration plot at the Windsor showground will add further weight to this argument, Mark believes.
    
“I’ve been a regular visitor to IOG SALTEX for many years and nothing compares with an outdoor event where equipment can be put through its paces allowing visitors to ‘feel’ and ‘test’ products in ‘real life’ scenarios.
    
“That’s why I had no hesitation in signing up for the show. Our commitment also includes sponsorship of visitor carrier bags and lanyards that will ensure Sanli UK is ‘seen’ by every one of the thousands of open space professionals who attend the event. Indeed, we’ve already signed a similar deal for the 2011 show.”
    
Aside from dealing with staff recruitment and the numerous management issues associated with a business start up, Mark is adamantly applying a simple but effective policy to take the company forward: “We have the room here to carry extensive stocks of products and spares to enable us to fully support our dealers – on a next-day delivery option, if required – as well as provide comprehensive sales and technical back-up, service support and training. These areas are vital in building and maintaining a successful and thriving dealer network.
    
“In addition, we’ll be listening to dealers’ views in respect of user demands and product developments, to ensure that we provide Sanli customers with what they want rather than what we think they need.”
    
That process has already started, concludes Mark, with the development by Sanli of rotary mowers with integral rear rollers and of diesel-engined machines designed specifically for the UK and Irish markets.

For more information
Web: www.iogsaltex.co.uk