Turfmech has launched a pedestrian greens sweeper designed for fast, effective collection and removal of hollow cores and scarified material from golf greens and other fine turf surfaces. Equipped with a hydraulically-tipped high-dump hopper, the machine is able to off-load collected material rapidly and cleanly into a trailer, pick-up or load box mounted on a turf maintenance vehicle.
Known as the SQRL, the greens sweeper was designed and developed at Turfmech's Hixon, Staffordshire manufacturing centre where it has now entering production with deliveries to customers due to commence this month.
The robust, walk-behind machine has a 600mm (24in) wide, fully-floating rotary brush collection head designed to follow turf contours closely for successful one-pass clean-up operations in virtually all conditions, wet or dry. Both the sweep height and the level of aggression can be adjusted to suit the type, depth and density of the material being collected.
Power to the SQRL's belt-driven collection brush and wheel drive transaxle comes from a 13hp Honda four stroke air-cooled petrol engine. The transaxle produces infinitely-variable forward and reverse speeds up to 4.5mph (7 km/h) and 2mph (3.5 km/h) respectively.
Key features of the SQRL are its compact dimensions (just 940mm wide), low weight (390kg) and exceptional manoeuvrability, enabling the machine to work and turn tightly without compacting or marking of fine turf surfaces. The machine and its collected load are supported by two wide-profile tyres on the front driven axle and by castoring dual wheels at the rear.
The SQRL's 0.35 cu m (12.4 cu ft) hopper can be hydraulically raised to give a maximum clearance of 1.2m (4ft) beneath the tipped hopper. For ease of use, the hopper's contents and level can be seen clearly from the operating position through a perspex window.
Ideal for greenkeepers, groundstaff and other turf professionals needing to clear-up hollow cores, scarified material and other light, loose surface debris quickly and cleanly with minimal effort or staff input, the SQRL is priced at £7,995.
