Perfect repeatability makes Foley the go to grinders for GTT UK

At GTT UK, consistency is crucial when it comes to grinding, and to get perfection every time the company uses Foley Company grinders.

GTT UK owner Matt Thompsett had extensive experience as a mechanic in greenkeeping workshops before he started his professional turf and arboricultural machinery service and repair business four years ago. Having begun with other grinders that he felt were time-consuming to set up, always involved some guesswork, and were never completely accurate, he researched the market and found Foley's UK distributor, ProSport UK.

From there, he found his perfect solution, which was to combine the Foley 633 Accu-Pro Reel Grinder and 672 Bedknife Grinder. Matt explains: "For me, the main thing is the whole repeatability of the package and knowing that everything is going to be exactly the same. It doesn't matter if you're working on three or seven units they're all going to match.

"With the 633 reel grinder, you can leave it, and it will work on its own while you're doing something else. It is perfect for me because my commercial customers need their machines and they need them out working, so they want quick turn arounds, and they often want them back as quickly as you possibly can.

"And that's the main thing I found with the Foley 633: you quickly get used to it, so it’s fast to set up. You just set it, tell the computer what you want it to do, and it does it. You know when it's finished because the blue light on the top comes on, and that's it; I know that's a perfect grind, and you set it away again."

Relief grinding has been an important aspect of getting Matt the perfect finish. Although he wasn't initially familiar with the process, the 633’s automated system made it easy to do, and he has received positive customer feedback since introducing it.

"I've been doing a lot of research into the proper specifications of how cylinder mowers work, how they are supposed to be set up, and also what manufacturer's state, and that's where I've come across relief grinding," Matt explains. "You're taking the cylinder back to exactly how it came out of the factory, and they seem to stay on cut a lot longer, which is one of the main benefits of relief grinding.

"Customers have commented their units stay on cut longer, and the general sharpness is better. They're also saying it's not as tricky on the setup, which I think is more to do with the 633 and 672 grinding everything perfectly straight."

For Matt, getting that perfectly straight grind on the 672 bedknife grinder comes from being able to set it at his own true zero. From there, it's simply setting his angles, doing a scratch test and knowing that every blade will come out the same.

The ability to produce uniform, factory-precise grinds has not only accelerated turnaround times but also enhanced customer satisfaction through longer-lasting, sharper cuts. This commitment to excellence and continuous improvement underscores GTT UK's dedication to providing top-tier service to clients, and Foley’s ability to provide the tools to do it.