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By Geoff Hatton in {CATEGORY} on 11 Aug 2010

Sprig harvesting, Fraise (Shave) mowing, Weed control, Sod stripping, Levelling fields , Verticutting, Poa Annua control, Thatch removal, Goal area levelling, Drainage improvement, Mulching. The Koro can do it all, have you checked out this amazing machine before?

With the development and marketing of the KORO Fieldtopmaker, newly designed operating systems are created. These new systems are designed to: save costs, improve quality and protect the environment.

The machine may be used in cold as well as warm season turf fields, on all existing turf sport facilities, such as: sports fields, golf courses, grass tennis courts, bowling greens. However, also on race tracks, natural terrains and by turf grass producers for harvest and maintenance work.

As the development never stops, the use and application possibilities of the Fieldtopmaker extend all the time, and the machine's cost-effectiveness increases. Besides the recreational facilities, the Fieldtopmaker is the designated machine to also get and keep the professional field sports facilities in perfect order within a relatively short period of regeneration.

At important sports events, such as the Olympics, the World Championship Soccer, most English Champions league fields and the Wimbledon grass courts, this machine has proved itself, and its application is still growing worldwide.

Operating Procedure:
The quality of the sports fields and golf courses is mostly determined by the quality and quantity of the turf, the existence of weeds and thatch and the lay of the land. Using the Fieldtopmaker, these agricultural problems may be dealt with efficaciously, so an optimal field quality is created. Time plays a very important part in all of this. Thanks to the Fieldtopmaker's method of operation, a new, strong and playable turf is created within only 8 weeks after seeding or overseeding. By aerating the field intensively before seeding, by means of the Recyclingdresser, Vertidrain or Cultivator, you will establish a strong rooting of the newly overseeded and the remaining turf grass.

The Fieldtopmaker is a very shallow operating cultivator, its operating depth may be adjusted continuously variable from + 5 cm to - 5 cm, enabling agricultural applications, such as: removing poa annua, thatch build-up, shaving all turf, harvesting grasses, cutting grass, etc. Therefore, very accurately operating, high quality cutter blades are required. Thanks to the various quick change cultivator rotors, there are also extensive cultivator uses.

For a perfect depth adjustment and a high cultivator quality, the rollers are of major importance. The position of these rollers are decisive for a smooth and level finish. For cultivating on golf courses, you can install an extra roller immediately behind the rotor in order to perfectly follow the contours. This roller may also be put out of use, when a front or rear roller must be used for levelling operation. Thanks to the separate front and rear roller, you may adjust the machine to every desired use. The fine adjustment is done safely and easily at the rear of the machine. The adjustment can also be done while operating the machine on the field. You may then directly observe the result of the adjustment.

The machine may be fitted with the following options:

* The Cutting Rotor: There are fixed and modular rotors available. The agricultural results of the Fieldtopmaker operation are fully determined by the quality and the form of the cutter blades. Therefore, high-quality blades are required. The blades have a pre-formed cutting face resulting in a perfect cut, fuel saving and high capacity. The continuously variable operating range is from +5 cm mowing up to - 5 cm for e.g. fully shaving the turf. The blades provide a 100% smooth surface finish. For a good result, a millimetre accuracy is required.

E.g. poa annua may be cut because of a higher growth tip, whereas the underlying growth tips of the turf grass are spared. If the cutter blades do not operate accurately, we may also see a difference in the path of every cutter blade with regard to the regrowth. On one path the poa annua may be removed and the turf grass remains, whereas at the neighbouring path the blade also removes the growth tips of the turf grass, and subsequently discharges more spoils. The same applies to harvesting sprigs in the warm season grass industry, where the amount of processed soil must be kept as low as possible

Note: Blades that do not operate 100% accurate, cannot bring good results under no circumstances, and discharge unnecessary high amounts of spoils.

Koro's main goal is that the Koro machine deliver high-quality work, therefore, all blades are calibrated and fitted with the Koro logo.

* The verticut Rotor: The cultivator rotors have a modular make up, so various options are possible. Cultivator intervals of 20, 34, 40, 48 and 68 mm are available. Other intervals on request. The cultivator blades are fixed, optional 1.5 and 3 mm thick and provided with a wearproof metal hem. There are 2 blades for each trench, so a perfect cutting finish is achieved. Our available 40 mm fixed spiral rotor uses 1 blade per trench.

For quick changing the rotors, we supply a quick change kit. For quick changing the cultivator blades we supply a dowel pin/bolt lock plate which will save you a lot of work, but which provides a strong attachment to the blade nonetheless.

For cultivating very fine top layers, such as greens tees, etc. we supply a integrated brush collecting system, which picks up 98% of the spoils, also under wet circumstances.

* The Multirotor: The multirotor is a modular rotor, which enables you to shave and cultivate with the same rotor. Without removing the cultivator or cutting blades, you may carry out the work you want. You may also cultivate and shave simultaneously. If you want to change between cultivating and cutting, it is simpler and faster to change the rotors. So, you may choose: 2 separate rotors of a multirotor.

* The Belt Unit: The belt unit for discharging cultivator or cutting spoils is fitted on the machine in a standard fashion, but can also be supplied in a quick change system. The conveyor belt guarantees an optimal capacity and a clean top layer thanks to perfect material guidance to the dumper. A discharge limit cover is available. The side belt can also be supplied in fully horizontal folding version on the machine. For discharge on bigger dumpers, the side belt can easily be extended hydraulically or mechanically. The conveyor belt can be fitted with a guard to prevent damage by dumpers driving by.

For wet circumstances and stony terrain, there is an anti-stick wear plate at the inside of the soil collector. It will protect the collector against rubble damage and acts as a silencer. Soil will not stick to this plate as it does to metal, so you will obtain a ongoing soil flow. The machine can also be fitted with a spiral rear roller to prevent sticking under wet circumstances, as well as to provide more traction.

* The Screen Unit: The sieve unit is to limit the discharge of sand/soil through the cultivation or cutting spoils. This option is not really suited for poa annua removal, as its seeds will be returned to the field. For cultivating, levelling of training fields, harvesting of sprigs or levelling of warm season grasses, sieving is a costs saving option. The sieves are available in various mesh sizes.

The sieve unit can be turned on and off swiftly, so you can continue operation without sieve unit any time. When using the sieve unit, the spiral roller is applied for the benefit of a steady depth adjustment.

* The overseeder: The Fieldtopmaker may also be fitted with a overseeder. Seeding in the cultivator trenches has the advantage, that the seeded grass has less competition of the existing grass and will root deeper. Furthermore, it will prevent poa annua and weeds to take root in the trenches. Also, you will have one less operating cycle. An ideal method to regenerate grass of permanently used fields such as greens, fairways, sports fields and parks and keep them in prime condition.

For the warm season grasses this combination can be used to cut short or cultivate and to seed cold season grasses. Wide spread seeding is also possible, in combination with the cultivator rotor as well as with the cutter rotor.

* The collector box unit: The quick change collector box is designed to enable one person to carry out the work with the hydraulic high dump as well as low dump version. It may also be used on places, where there is insufficient room for a dumper alongside the machine or when that set-up is undesirable.

In combination with the cultivating rotor with integrated brush system, you get a clean finish, also on fine top layer constructions as greens and tees.



Summery of the uses in cold season as well as warm season grass fields:
* Removal of poa-annua; because of the difference in growth point height, the poa annua can be cut whereas the existing turf grass can regrow. Thanks to the precise adjustment, weeds, thatch build-up, a contaminated top layer and a full turf may be shaved. The water drainage is improved. After using the Recycling Dresser, Vertidrain or cultivator and (over) seeding, these fields will be playable after approx. 6 to 8 weeks with new grass. Also sods can be installed or sprigs and plugs can be planted.

The major advantage of this system is, that the soil hydrology, soil life and stability are not being disturbed.

* Emergency turf repairs can be carried out swiftly, as the machine may be set to a 5 cm depth.
* Various levelling work during and after the competition season, for instance: on training fields, even out tussocks and islets.
* Sand may be sifted out.
* Smoothes elevations in goal areas for the annual regeneration.
* Levelling baseball and softball fields: particularly the elevations on the borders between grass and gravel. This may also be done by means of the cultivator rotor. The cultivator rotor removes gravel/ soil from the elevations, so after rolling the foundation is lowered.
* The artificial grass fields, the so-called "Desso GrassMaster Fields", may also be cultivated in case of excessive thatch build-up and organic material, without really damaging the synthetic fibre. After aeration, fertilization and overseeding the renovation work is completed.
* The KORO - Topdrain System may be renewed by cultivation.
* For complete regeneration, the turf may be pulverized; by cultivating at minimal depth, the soil displacement is minimal and the capacity is high.
* Shaving/cultivating for natural growth. E.g. heath can be shortened and/or cut.
* In warm season grass fields, the Fieldtopmaker may be used in autumn on golf courses for short mowing and clearing away for instance Bermuda fields. In the same pass you may seed cold season grass with the mountedseeder.
* You may cultivate to a 5 cm depth and simultaneously discharge the spoils in a dumper, or collect the spoils in a high-discharge container.
* The machine may be used for the ideal combination of cultivating and overseeding in the trenches.

Turf grass producers can use the machine, possibly fitted with the sieve unit, for a number of jobs
* Harvesting sprigs, where a considerable increase of the harvest may be achieved.
* The use of rollers etc. to level the field after harvesting is superfluous.
* Thanks to a very smooth finish while harvesting sprigs or plugs, the following turf will be of uniform quality.
* As the subsoil is not cultivated and is more or less covered by the sifted out material, dehydration is prevented.
* Levelling of harvested fields.
* Even out of irregularities caused by wind and shifting sands.
* Hauling or pulverizing and spreading of unharvested turf, failed turf and ribs.
* Cleaning out borders in order to prevent contamination with unwanted grasses.
* The machine is easy to clean, so the mixing of different grass varieties may be prevented.
*
Furthermore, the machine can be adjusted in an well-organized and precise manner.

www.sustainableturf.com.au
Phone NSW - 02 46512229 S.A. - 08 82854800

Read more articles in {CATEGORY}, by Geoff Hatton or from August 2010.