How to choose a line-marking machine and paint

Pitchcare

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13th Nov 2026

Choose the machine and paint as a working combination. Start with the surface, the line widths you need, how often you mark and the time available for setting out, refilling and cleaning. A school maintaining one pitch has a different purchasing decision from a contractor moving between several sites. Compare the line-marking machines by the work they need to do before comparing purchase prices.

Compare four machine options

Features to compare in Pitchcare's line-marking range
Machine	System and verified specification	What to consider
Grassline Ultima	Transfer-wheel marker with a 20-litre tank and interchangeable marking wheels.	A straightforward option for manually following a set-out line. Select the required wheel width when ordering; allow time to clean the wheel and tank after use.
Grassline Titan	Battery-powered spray marker with a 30-litre tank, twin spray heads and 50, 75 or 100 mm line-width settings.	Compare spray output and the single- or twin-head arrangement for your required finish. Concentrate must be mixed with water in a separate suitable container before filling.
Supaturf TXE 606 Pro	Battery-powered spray marker with a 25-litre main tank, 2.5-litre flushing tank and return-to-tank system.	The flushing arrangement is useful when moving between jobs. Confirm the paint against the TXE manual rather than assuming any sports paint is suitable.
PaintMaster Pro RLM01	Robotic line marker using mapped layouts and satellite positioning.	Arrange a demonstration on your own site. Check positioning around trees and structures, operator supervision, transport, the supplied battery package and approved paint before comparing labour savings.

Tank capacity alone does not tell you how many pitches a machine will mark. Line length, width, paint formulation, dilution, nozzle output and travelling speed all affect consumption. Compare a repeat marking job with the same dimensions and finish, rather than treating a manufacturer's maximum coverage figure as a guarantee for your site.

Match paint to the machine, nozzle and surface

Paint compatibility checks before purchase
Combination	Compatibility	Buying decision
Grassline Titan and Grassline Ultra	Manufacturer pairing	Grassline offers Ultra with its Titan. Follow Ultra's dilution instructions and the Titan's preparation procedure.
Grassline Ultima and Grassline Ultra	Application method supported	Ultra is specified for transfer-wheel application. Select the machine's wheel width for the line required.
Grassline Ready-Mark with a cone nozzle	Not suitable	Do not use this combination. Check an alternative paint or the machine's approved nozzle arrangement.
TXE 353/606 with a different paint brand	Confirmation required	Vitax recommends Supaturf marking liquids. Obtain approval for a substitute before purchase.
PaintMaster Pro with a chosen paint	Exact formulation check required	Confirm the paint and operating settings with the supplier; “spray compatible” alone is insufficient.

Grassline Ultra: the manufacturer specifies Grassline Ultra concentrate for transfer-wheel or spray application. Its published directions distinguish initial marking, at one part paint to two parts water, from over-marking, at one part paint to up to six parts water. These are Ultra-specific directions, not settings for every paint.
Grassline Ready-Mark: Ready-Mark paint is listed by its manufacturer for transfer-wheel or spray application, but not for cone nozzles. Check the fitted nozzle before selecting it. A general “spray paint” description is not enough to establish compatibility.
Supaturf TXE machines: Vitax's TXE 353/606 manual recommends Supaturf marking liquids, explaining that particle size matters to the pump and spray components. Obtain confirmation before substituting a different brand; a paint's suitability for another spray marker does not establish suitability for a TXE.
Robotic markers: the PaintMaster Pro manual specifies water-based, turf-safe paint and additional formulation requirements. Confirm the exact paint, dilution and nozzle with the machine supplier. Do not transfer a pedestrian marker's paint settings to a robot without checking them.
Other surfaces: check the paint's stated surface use and permanence. Natural turf, synthetic surfaces and hard surfaces have different requirements. Do not select a paint solely because the machine can physically spray it.

Browse line-marking paints once these requirements are clear. For a replacement paint, provide the machine model, nozzle type, surface and current paint when asking for advice.

Compare the cost of the complete job

Include paint, setting-out time, marking time, refills, cleaning, transport and routine replacement parts. Ready-to-use paint removes the dilution stage; concentrate needs accurate measuring and mixing. Neither format automatically gives the lowest cost per finished pitch.

For a practical comparison, record the amount of paint used on a measured length at the required line width. For concentrate, record the concentrate used as well as the mixed volume. Repeat under comparable conditions and check the dried result. This gives a more useful purchasing benchmark than comparing the price of a litre of concentrate with a litre of ready-to-use paint.

Check the details before ordering

Confirm the line width required by your sport and competition, the wheel or nozzle supplied, and whether the quoted machine includes the charger, flushing equipment and any necessary attachments. For a robot, request a quote that identifies the battery, positioning equipment, training, support and any ongoing connectivity or software costs.

Plan cleaning into each marking session. Grassline instructs Titan users to prepare diluted concentrate outside the tank; the integral system then keeps the prepared mixture circulating. Follow the machine's cleaning instructions and the paint label, and investigate a changed spray pattern before increasing pressure or changing dilution. Keep the operating manual with the equipment so different operators use the same agreed procedure.

Compare transfer-wheel markers and spray markers, or contact Pitchcare's technical sales team on 01902 440250 with your site requirements.