Crawfords Group launches Voltworx to showcase the future of sustainable technology

Crawfords Group has successfully launched Voltworx, a new exhibition designed to throw the spotlight on electrification, technology and sustainability across amenity, ground care and fleet sectors.

Held at Plumpton College on 28th July, the inaugural Voltworx event showcased a broad range of products and solutions from across the Crawfords portfolio, highlighting how the business is expanding beyond its traditional agricultural roots into industries including utilities, groundscare, construction, commercial vehicles and renewable energy.

The event showcased trade stands from leading industry brands and event partners, including Kress, Fendt, MAXUS, Isuzu, Manitou, Can-Am, Komatsu, Paragon Finance, Direct Enviro Services and GreenBulb Energy.

Speaking at the event, Crawfords directors explained that Voltworx was born from an internal discussion about how best to present the company's growing range of sustainability-focused products and services.

"We realised we had all these EV and sustainability solutions across different parts of the business," Wes Crawford - Group Managing Director said. "The idea was to bring everything together in one place and show people just how broad our portfolio has become. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important across every industry, and this was an opportunity to demonstrate the diversity of solutions we can offer."

The event attracted visitors from a wide variety of sectors, including local authorities, utilities, education providers and groundscare professionals, reflecting the growing interest in sustainable technologies and decarbonisation.

Overcoming barriers to adoption

One of the key themes emerging from conversations throughout the day was the challenge many organisations face when considering the transition to electric equipment and vehicles.

According to Wes, the biggest hurdle is often the upfront investment required for new technology.

"Because much of this equipment is still relatively new to the market, it comes with a premium price tag," he explained. "The challenge is getting people to look beyond the initial purchase cost and consider the total cost of ownership over the life of the product."

They pointed to electric machinery and vehicles as examples where the long-term benefits, including lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance requirements and improved reliability, can outweigh the higher initial investment.

"It's a mindset shift," Wes said. "People naturally compare the purchase price with what they're currently using, but when you look over five or eight years, the savings and operational benefits become much clearer."

Practising what they preach

Crawfords has experienced many of the same challenges first-hand through its own transition to electric vehicles.

The company recently began converting its sales fleet to EVs as part of efforts to reduce emissions and lower its carbon footprint across a business that operates around 100 vehicles.

"Getting buy-in was probably the biggest challenge," admitted Alan Haines – Crawfords Business Director. "Historically, we've sold diesel vehicles and driven diesel vehicles ourselves, so there was naturally some uncertainty around charging and range anxiety."

However, those concerns quickly disappeared.

"Within weeks, most of those worries were gone. The reality is that modern EVs are capable of delivering the mileage people need. Often the barriers are more about perception than reality."

While electric technology is not yet suitable for every application, particularly heavier commercial vehicles where battery range remains a limiting factor, Crawfords believes adoption will continue to grow as technology develops.

Education and knowledge sharing

Another major objective of Voltworx was education. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about technologies ranging from robotic groundscare equipment and electrified machinery to renewable energy solutions such as solar installations.

Wes noted that many conversations throughout the day centred on helping visitors understand options they may not have previously considered.

"Knowledge is a huge part of this journey," Alan said. "People know they need to think about sustainability and electrification, but they're trying to understand what it actually means for their organisation and whether it makes business sense."

One example discussed during the event was the option for businesses to lease roof space for solar energy generation rather than funding a solar installation themselves.

"For many people, that was a completely new concept," Alan explained. "It's another example of how sharing knowledge can help organisations make informed decisions."

Expert insight from sport, transport and renewable energy

Alongside the machinery and vehicle displays, the keynote programme brought together specialists with direct experience of sustainability, transport decarbonisation and renewable energy.

Tom Harris, Sustainability Manager at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, discussed sustainability from the perspective of a major professional sporting organisation, offering insight into the environmental considerations associated with operating complex venues, facilities and grounds.

Mark Smith, Transport Decarbonisation Consultant at Energy Saving Trust, provided guidance on the transition to lower-emission transport and the practical considerations organisations should assess when reviewing their fleets.

Oliver Tucker, Director of Green Bulb Energy, explored the wider infrastructure required to support electrification, including renewable generation, battery storage and electric-vehicle charging.

The keynote programme helped connect the machinery on display with the operational planning, energy supply, infrastructure and organisational changes required to make electrification successful. Focused breakout sessions explored a range of practical technologies and operational considerations. Paul Larsen and Kress examined turf quality and performance using Kress robotic mowers, while Ed Dennett discussed where electric tractors could support low-emission grounds maintenance in public-sector and professional turf environments. Will Clarke of Direct Enviro Services presented the role of VM-AI in vegetation and green-space management, and Darren Newman explored how MAXUS electric commercial vehicles could help organisations future-proof their fleets.

Wes Crawford of Crawfords Group said: “VoltWorx26 was created to move the conversation around electrification from ambition to practical action. By bringing such a broad range of machinery and vehicles together, visitors could see that electric technology is now being developed for serious professional applications across amenity and fleet operations.

“The Fendt electric tractor, Manitou telehandler, Isuzu D-Max EV, MAXUS commercial vehicles, Komatsu excavator and Kress robotic mowing technology each demonstrated a different part of the transition. Just as importantly, our speakers helped organisations consider the infrastructure, planning and cultural changes needed to introduce these technologies successfully.

Partnership with Plumpton College

The choice of Plumpton College as host venue reflected an existing partnership between the two organisations.

Crawfords currently supplies machinery to support the college's educational programmes through a combination of equipment purchases and loan agreements, giving students hands-on experience with modern industry technology while helping to prepare the next generation of skilled operators and engineers.

Speaking at the event, Jeremy Kerswell, Principal of Plumpton College, highlighted the strength of the relationship and the role both organisations play in supporting innovation and industry development.

"Plumpton College have been working really closely with Crawfords for a number of years now. They provide a huge amount of insight, expertise and some of the latest technology and equipment for the benefit of our agriculture engineering students and other courses here at Plumpton.”

"At Plumpton, we recognise our role is as much about working with industry to support them as they go through those all-important changes and evolutions as a business. That's why we like to use those relationships to co-create events, knowledge exchange opportunities and conferences.”

"That's really where the idea came from to hold Voltworx, our inaugural event in partnership with Crawfords. It's all about bringing speakers and organisations together to learn and share knowledge around some of the latest innovations and technologies, whether that's robotics, artificial intelligence or electrification.”

"We've brought together a really diverse audience from groundcare, maintenance, EV fleets, estates management and sports turf. The aim is for people to learn from one another, network and leave with practical ideas they can take back into their own businesses."

Wes described Plumpton as an ideal venue partner because of its forward-thinking approach and willingness to embrace emerging technologies across agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, land management and engineering.

"Plumpton is always looking ahead to what's next," Wes said. "Whether it's agriculture, groundcare or engineering, they're constantly exploring future technologies and industry developments. That outlook makes them a natural partner for an event like Voltworx."

The partnership also provides Crawfords with access to the college's facilities for events, training sessions and conferences, creating opportunities for businesses, educators and technology providers to come together and share knowledge.

Powered by Kress, supported by Pitchcare

Voltworx was powered by Kress, whose growing range of battery-powered and autonomous equipment reflects the rapid evolution of sustainable technology across the groundcare and landscaping sectors. The brand's presence at the event helped demonstrate how electric and robotic solutions are becoming increasingly viable for professional users seeking to reduce emissions, lower operating costs and improve efficiency.

As the event's exclusive media partner, Pitchcare was on site throughout the day, speaking with exhibitors, industry experts and visitors about the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to electric and sustainable technologies.

Pitchcare Editor Kerry Haywood commented: "We jumped at the opportunity to partner with Voltworx because the event aligns perfectly with where our industry is heading. The shift toward electric, robotic and sustainable groundcare isn't just a trend, it's a transformation.”

“Voltworx creates a space for meaningful, practical discussion and Pitchcare is proud to help drive that conversation forward. It's exciting to be part of this inaugural event."

The partnership reflects Pitchcare's commitment to supporting innovation across the groundcare sector and providing a platform for the conversations that will shape the future of the industry. By bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, educators and end users, Voltworx delivered valuable insight into the technologies that are set to play an increasingly important role in the years ahead.

Looking ahead

The success of the first Voltworx exhibition has already sparked discussions about future events and next year’s date will be announced soon.

"This was very much a toe in the water," Wes concluded. "We've been pleasantly surprised by the diversity of people who attended and the level of interest from different industries."

With sustainability, electrification and renewable energy continuing to shape the future of business, Crawfords believes Voltworx has an important role to play in helping customers navigate the transition.

"The technology is moving quickly and so are customer expectations," they added. "Events like this give people the opportunity to ask questions, learn from experts and make better-informed decisions about the future."

The overwhelming message from Voltworx was clear: the transition to sustainable technologies is already underway, and businesses across every sector are eager to understand how they can be part of it.