Learning LIVE

MAIN STAGE SHOWCASE

Posted on October 25, 2023

MAIN STAGE SHOWCASE

SALTEX WILL HOST hundreds of brands showcasing products in halls 6, 7 and 8, over two days.

Now in its eighth decade, SALTEX, at Birmingham’s NEC on November 1 and 2, remains Europe’s largest free sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition. With hundreds of brands showcasing products in halls 6, 7 and 8, across two days, SALTEX is a must-attend event for everybody operating in, or supplying to, the grounds care sector.

The 2023 gathering provides a great opportunity to meet industry colleagues and make new connections – building networks, knowledge and learning about new innovations. The event is organised by the Grounds Management Association, the leading not-for-profit membership organisation representing grounds managers, grounds personnel, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports turf, pitches, landscape, and amenity facilities in the UK.

SALTEX is known for the quality, range and breadth of professional development opportunities it provides through its industry-leading, established Learning LIVE programme. This year, over 20 presenters will speak across three stages in two days. It is the largest free live learning event for the sector with many visitors citing it as a key reason to attend the show.

SALTEX PROVIDES A PLATFORM to build networks, knowledge and learning.

Sarah Cunningham, director of commercial and events at the GMA, says: “Learning LIVE is a well-respected, highly anticipated highlight at SALTEX, known to be a fantastic way to boost knowledge in a wide range of topics. Here we provide a snapshot of some of the headline speakers and sessions available. It’s exciting and there is so much more to come!”

This year, the main stage will continue as it always has done to highlight the latest hot topics and issues, bringing visitors into the big conversations of the moment. Day one of the show sees Lee Guerriero, pitch and technology specialist at UEFA, discuss UEFA’s 2024- 2027 pitch strategy and on day two Tony Hanson and his fellow panellists from the Environment Agency and Anglian Water will cover future water restrictions for golf greens and sports turf.

Lee Guerriero explains: “Attending events like SALTEX is important to maintain an understanding of the latest developments in a rapidly evolving industry. With challenges facing grounds keepers as a result of heavy fixture schedules, climate change and the need to work in a sustainable way, it is important that all stakeholders from grassroots sports to the elite game come to events such as SALTEX.

“The Learning LIVE sessions in particular allow for an exchange of best practice and an open dialogue across sports so that the quality of the pitches continues to improve as expectation levels and demands around pitch quality also continue to grow.” New for 2023 are themed stages and reflecting the need to place sustainability and environmental issues at the heart of the grounds maintenance sector’s thinking, the Eco Stage will do just that.

SALTEX is proud to introduce Dr Eric O’Donnell from SportsLabs to talk about recycling solutions for synthetic turf and a session from the Football Foundation on its pilot on the future of sustainable synthetic turf The Spotlight Stage brings to the fore the crowd-pullers into an ask the experts-style forum. Dr John Dempsey will bring his insights to the 2020- 2023 independent turfgrass research update and non-pesticidal disease management sessions, while Aled Lewis will highlight Welsh FA’s Pitch Improvement Funding Strategy.

Dr John Dempsey, independent turfgrass research, says: “The reason I like to present at events such as SALTEX is that I love sharing the results of not only my research but also the latest data available on relevant turfgrass subjects and it gives me the opportunity to meet many turfgrass professionals.

SALTEX TAKES PLACE at Brimingham’s NEC on November 1 and 2.

“Hopefully attendees will find the presentations of value and take away something that will be able to incorporate into their maintenance programs be it golf, football or playing fields.” Sarah continues: “We have curated what we believe to be a well-rounded, industry representative programme of CPD-accredited seminars, which we will be able to share in full with visitors in due course.”

Register now to boost your knowledge and guarantee entry to Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at www.saltex.org.uk

SALTEX IS KNOWN FOR THE QUALITY, range and breadth of professional development opportunities.

SHOW BUSINESS

Posted on August 1, 2023

SHOW BUSINESS

Events present a wealth of business ideas to help with your forward planning...

TAKE AN AWAY DAY to shows like SALTEX to boost your location business planning.

As hard as it is to tear yourself away from day-to-day operations, an away day to attend a focused trade event can help with vital forward planning. Taking a step back from those daily duties can clear your mind and give you a fresh perspective on honing that vital business plan for short, medium, as well as long term investment and development.

A timely bit of trade show pre-planning should enable you to set some visit objectives while still remembering to keep open to new ideas. Check out the exhibitor floor plan, print off a copy and mark your target contacts before you set off while planning your best routes around the venue.

Don’t forget to check out the odd seminar or two to take the weight off your feet and absorb ideas and inspiration on your key topics. Pre-registration is a must for a smooth arrival while planning travel times to avoid the rush hour travel – sometimes worth taking time out for a break and staying on longer.

You can put yourself in the fast lane by pre-booking some meetings with exhibitors – but don’t forget to check out their competitors to ensure you are partnering with the best value suppliers. So pack up those business cards, chose your most comfortable shoes, as we recommend three shows to add to your diary in the coming months.

 

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SALTEX EVENT

Posted on October 28, 2021

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SALTEX EVENT

Those associated with the holiday park industries will have the opportunity to see a wide range of innovative new products and services from prominent suppliers when SALTEX opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham on November 3 and 4.
SALTEX will be taking place for the 75th time this year and the show is set to be the most vibrant and celebrated event in its long history.
The show floor will be bursting with everything a visitor needs to increase their effciency and improve operations and will contain a plethora of exhibitors representing the likes of turf maintenance machinery, fertilizers, wetting agents, seeds, turf, aggregates and treatments, weed control, facilities management services, fencing and landscaping.

ECO VILLAGE

As well as a wide range of innovative products on display within the three large halls, visitors to SALTEX will have the chance to see an ‘electrifying’ showcase of products in a dedicated area on the show foor called the Eco Village. Featuring a programme of daily demonstrations in cutting- edge sustainable technology – the Eco Village allows visitors a unique opportunity to witness a multitude of products in action.
Expect to see a powerful line-up of new innovations from the likes of Avant UK (headline sponsor), Dennis Mowers, Campey Turf Care Systems, Overton UK, GroundWOW and Allet Mowers.
Since its launch at SALTEX 2017, the Innovation Awards have helped to highlight some of the most ground- breaking, innovative products and services within the groundscare industry. Visitors will get the chance to see every entry on the show floor and there will be a winner in each of a wide range of product categories - so keep an eye out for news on when and where the final ceremony will take place on the show floor.
There will also be a number of education opportunities through Learning LIVE - SALTEX’s all- encompassing, free-to-attend education programme. Learning LIVE will take place in large seminar theatres situated on the show floor and will feature a wide range of topics which could be particularly beneficial for those working in the landscaping sector.

LAWN CARE

Landscapers may well be interested in Lawn Care Legends LIVE, which will take place on the first day of the show and offer a fantastic networking opportunity.
In addition to the limitless opportunities available on the show floor, one lucky visitor will be presented with an incredible battery-powered compact loader from Avant UK worth approximately £30,000. Every person who registers will be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize – on loan for six months and the live draw will take place on the first day of the show.
Pre-registration to SALTEX 2021 is essential this year. Please register for free online at gmasaltex.co.uk/visitor-registration/ and print off your badge for entry to the show.