A HIXON firm supplies the lawnmowers which cut the grass at Old Trafford and Lord’s, it has been revealed.
Turfmech produces the machines at its base on New Road, where they employ 32 staff, before selling them to groundskeeping chiefs at the iconic sporting stadiums.
Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy said: "These are the Rolls Royces of lawnmowers. Not only do Manchester United and the England cricket team play on grass cut by them, they also tend Commonwealth War Graves across the globe.”
The prestige recognition is the latest in a string of positive developments for Turfmech, which became the largest firm of its type in Britain in June when it acquired a range of petrol-engined cylinder mowers from machinery giant Bosch.
The deal meant the firm gained access to drawings, plant and equipment, tooling and intellectual property necessary for the manufacture of two entire ranges of Bosch’s petrol and electric lawn mowers.
Although the brand names have been retained by the German firm, the deal allowed Turfmech to create an extra 20 jobs and embark on a European expansion plan.
They will be marketed in the New Year in B&Q under their Qualcast brand.
Managing director, Austin Jarrett, said: “For the future, we see opportunities also in markets such as cricket, with the development of a more affordable cylinder mower capable of producing topclass wickets for clubs with limited budgets."
The firms success has been driven by the fact it produces the steel components for its machines on site at its Steel Service Centre (SSC).
Founded by managing director, Austin Jarrett it has now grown to become a national supplier of high quality steel parts at short notice. It is soon to add branches in Derby and Sunderland.
Mr Lefroy added: “Turfmec and SSC are great British manufacturing success stories. They produce quality products with high service standards; they are growing and taking on staff; and they are exporting across the globe."
