News
15 Jul 10-16:00
IMPORTANT NOTICE
We have taken the step to improve our telephone system to improve our service to you. This has required we change our telephone number to 01772 812484.
5 Dec 09-09:14
IMPORTANT NOTICE
We regret to inform you that the week numbers printed on our 2010 Year Planner recently sent out are incorrect. Week commencing Jan 4 2010 is week 1.
5 Dec 09-09:06
Glasgow's Hampden Park has become the first sports installation in the UK to benefit from Toro's brand new TS90 long-throw sprinkler system. 
The Scottish national stadium's previous irrigation system was in need of an upgrade and, says head groundsman Stephen Bache, Toro's innovative new sprinklers were the natural choice for keeping the pitch in optimum condition.
"At all the big football matches the managers ask for the pitch to be watered just before play," he explains. "But with our old system, it took too long for us to water to achieve this. We needed an upgrade and went to Toro because we have their machinery."
On hearing about the benefits of Toro's new TS90 long-throw sprinklers, which fire water from a 16 to 29m radius, Stephen was keen to become the first UK user. Since irrigation contractor LS Systems Ltd installed the system earlier this year, further features such as Toro's patented TruJectory adjustment from seven to 30 degrees, which fine-tunes nozzle spray-height and compensates for windy conditions, have not disappointed.
"This new system is fantastic," he enthuses. "It's so easy to use and it enables us to water different areas of the pitch without having to go back to the central controller. We're also saving a lot of time because of the system's simplicity - we can now water the whole playing surface in just six minutes."
With the 52,000-capacity stadium now a Total Solutions customer, Stephen has recently received a new consignment of Toro kit to help him gear up for landmark events like the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games. "We've just renewed our three-year machinery agreement and received some new machines," he adds. "The fleet as a whole is very good. I've always liked Toro - I wouldn't buy anything else."
10 Sep 09-15:44
OTTERBINE NEWS
SCOTTISH LOCH SPARKLES THIS SUMMER, THANKS TO OTTERBINE FOUNTAIN
Visitors to a Scottish loch will be able to enjoy cleaner, clearer water this summer, thanks to the installation of a new Otterbine aerating fountain.
Carlingwalk Loch in Castle Douglas now benefits from a 5hp Phoenix fountain featuring two-tiered spray pattern and night-time lights. The fountain was installed by LS Systems as part of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s development of Carlingwalk Outdoor Activity Centre and funded by the South West Environmental Action Trust (SWEAT).
Stuart Biggar from the council’s Leisure & Sport Service says the Otterbine was needed to prevent problem algae: “The loch is plagued by blue-green algae, which can pose a health risk, so as part of our risk assessment in developing the Outdoor Activity Centre we needed the fountain to resolve the problem and make the loch safe for children.”
With tests to confirm the fountain’s effectiveness imminent, Stuart says the visible improvement is already apparent. “It certainly looks like the Otterbine has helped as the water is much clearer than we would normally expect after the heat we’ve had. It’s also provided a focal point for the loch, so looks great in more ways than one.”
LS Systems project director Tim Griffiths adds: “Due to the shape of the loch, the council needed something that would prevent algae build-up, which tends to blow and drift to one corner and accumulate. The Phoenix was the ideal solution and it’s great to hear it’s already improved the loch’s water quality as well as provided an eye-catching display.”
Merging beauty with functionality, Otterbine’s aerating fountains, together with its submerged and floating aerators, prevent water-quality problems like algae, foul odours and even fish deaths by oxygenating the water. Ideal for water features in applications such as parks, commercial landscaping and hotels, the fountains are available in a choice of spray patterns with optional night-time lights.
10 Sep 09-15:24
Join us at BTME 2009 – 19th to 21st January 2010
LS Systems will once again be attending the international conference centre in Harrogate for the BTME Show and we hope that we’ll see you there. This year our stand is TBC in TBC.
We will have a team of Sales personnel on hand to help with all enquiries from Otterbine Sales to fully automated irrigation systems.
Visit us at Stand TBC
Click here to download the show pre-registration form
05 Jan-09-16:25
When Colchester United Football Club moved from its former home at Layer Road to the Weston Homes Community Stadium at the start of the 2008-2009 season, it selected a Toro TDC irrigation system to ensure the rapid establishment of its new pitch.Comprising 15 690 Series sprinklers managed by Toro’s TDC
controller, LS Systems installed the system on the newly constructed pitch at the 10,000-capacity stadium in summer 2008. But with the new football season fast approaching, the pressure to prep the pitch for play was on. “Because this was a new-build, we worked to a tight schedule to get the system up and running so the pitch would be established in time,” recalls LS Systems project manager Tim Griffiths. “The club needed simple but robust and reliable irrigation, and so the Toro
system was ideal.”
The League One club’s head groundsman, Dave Blacknall, agrees that the system delivered the rapid establishment required. “We went from seeding to play in just seven weeks, which is very impressive,” he comments. “Even though there was quite a bit of rain, we wouldn’t have achieved that without the irrigation. The grounds are now in excellent condition and we’re very happy with the system – it does exactly what it says on the tin.”
15 Dec-08-12:52
Glasgow's Alexandra Park may be famed for its magnificent Walter MacFarlane Saracen Fountain, but a newly installed Otterbine aerating fountain is in danger of outshining the 40ft cast-iron feat of 1900s industrial architecture, which was restored to its former glory in 2000 at a cost of £22,000.Though the David to the Saracen's Goliath, the 3hp Otterbine Phoenix fountain installed in the 104-acre park's duck pond features an attractive two-tiered spray pattern with night-time lights accessory that ensures it out-sparkles its rival when dusk falls.
Installed in summer 2008 by LS Systems to keep the pond clean, clear and free from weed and algae, the company's project director Tim Griffiths says that the volume of visitors to the park, which also boasts a nine-hole golf course, bowling green, playground and picnic area, posed a health and safety challenge during the two-phase installation.
Our team had to install 150m of steel-armoured wire cable from the nearest power supply in order to power the fountain, he explains. This involved open trench work during the height of summer when the park was full of members of the public, so we had to have our wits about us to ensure their safety. But the project was a success and the fountain looks particularly impressive when lit up at night.
01 Oct 08-12:30
- 90m3/hr
- 134 HM
- 3 phase
- 45 kW
- DN100
16 Sep 08-08:43
TDC SAVES TIME AND WATER
04 Jul 08-12:31
The LS Systems Open Day which took place on Thursday 3 July 2008 was a great success. Visitors were able to look around at our new warehousing facilities and trade counter and speak to a number of our key suppliers discussing new and existing horticultural products and services. The Hog Roast and Licenced Bar was also enjoyed by all who attended. Exhibitors on the day were:
- Grundfos UK, A wide range of quality pumps
- Hortimax, Environmental Computers
- Hortifeeds Direct, Plant Nutrition "Feeds with Thought"
- Lely Toro UK, Automatic Irrigation Systems
- Certis Europe, Agrochemicals
- BCP Certis, Biological Control Products
- Plantcare, Protective products for horticulture, amenity & landscaping
- Plantpak UK, Pots & Trays for professional horticulture
- Revaho UK, Irrigation products from Netafim & NaanDan
- Teku, Pots & Trays for professional horticulture
- Vitax, Innovative products specifically designed for sports turf applications
- William Sinclair Horticulture, Growing media
Case Studies
