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Sports facilities with grass to care for will
need the new software being devised by Greenfactory
Productions Ltd, the first fledgling company to take
up residence in the newly-designated technology
business incubator at Sheffield Science Park.
With a SMART award already under their belts to
develop their leading-edge grass technology idea,
computer scientist Dr Derek Marriott and turf
specialist John Coleman have put their heads together
to design a grass care program for greenkeepers.
After four months "hot desking" in the SCEPTRE
center at the Science Park, GreenFactory Productions
has now moved into its first office in the Cooper
Building and is now on course to market its
innovation.
"It is not just collating data, it will help
greenkeepers to carry out the day-to day management
of their grass," said Dr Marriott. "It will cut out
the mistakes made by miscalculation of the amounts of
chemicals needed to keep the grass in peak condition.
With premier football pitches costing around
£500,000, and golf courses costing millions, few
greenkeepers can afford to guess at what is needed to
keep the turf in peak condition around the year.
Getting their maths wrong on how much chemicals to
use on the grass can prove very expensive for their
club."
The software package, currently on test, will be
available to football, rugby, tennis, cricket, hockey
and golf clubs and local authority parks departments.
It is already creating interest from sports clubs
abroad.
GreenFactory has appointed a distributor and with
around 60 % of greenkeepers using a computer in their
office and 96% of them with home access, introducing
them to the software on CDRom should not prove
difficult.
Further development of the program will see it
linked to the greenkeepers purchase of appropriate
materials and a website is planned so that future
upgrades of the software can be purchased
on-line.
John Coleman nods resignedly when faced with the
public¹s perception of a greenkeeper - a man riding a
motor mower - and points out how complex green care
is.
"Our program will eliminate the risks
greenkeepers take in calculating how much weed
killer, fertilizer, or pest control chemicals are
needed. It is a very precise science in a
multi-million pound business."
Acting Chief Executive of the Science Park Peter
Wood commented, "The Science Park¹s new change of
direction into an incubator for new high technology
businesses is the perfect environment for
Greenfactory Productions.
"As Venturesphere clients they are also being
mentored through the start-up process and will
receive help and advice along the way to see that the
business grows. Their¹s is a unique product and it¹s
good to know that such ideas are emanating from
Sheffield companies."
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