VGR Equipment hired a new engineer on 1 November. This reinforcement should accelerate the development of a new line of soil improvement machines. The machines must combine multiple work cycles and use water switch technology. According to director Ruud de Deugd, this is in line with practical demands. “We clearly hear what people need. We take that into account in the design,” he says.
The new direction is based on the company's own field research and years of experience with the TopChanger. By frequently using the device itself, VGR can see where additional tools are needed. The company is therefore working on a broader range of machines. “Working with our machines should be easy. We put all our practical experience into the design,” says De Deugd.
Bunkerbuddy
An existing example of this is the Bunkerbuddy. This compact conveyor belt transforms a small sand spreader into a fully-fledged filling unit. The system was developed because filling the TopChanger sometimes proved cumbersome in practice. Greenkeepers often used multiple tractors or heavy machinery to transport sand, with the risk of rutting. “We wanted to ensure that two people could do the job without heavy machinery on the course,” says De Deugd.
The Bunkerbuddy makes it possible to transport sand directly from a small sand spreader to the TopChanger via a conveyor belt. Many courses already have such a compact sand spreader, which lowers the threshold for adoption. De Deugd: 'Everyone has a small spreader like this. By adding a conveyor belt, you can work more efficiently.' The Bunkerbuddy is also used more widely. Courses also use it to fill bunkers or drainage channels. “You can use it for anything you need to fill with sand or similar material,” he says. 'Without immediately needing a large sand spreader.'
Efficiency
VGR supplies the Bunkerbuddy for various brands, including Rink, Toro ProPass and Dakota. The machine is already regularly sold abroad, but according to De Deugd, awareness in the Netherlands is still low. 'Efficiency is important for every course. If you can use one less machine and speed up a work cycle, you notice it immediately,“ he says. With the arrival of the new engineer, VGR wants to further expand the development of new machines in the coming years. 'I come up with ideas, but translating them into technology is really teamwork,” says De Deugd.
article by Wijnand Meijboom - NWST Fieldmanager
