Harrogate, England: Jacobsen, the renowned manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment, has introduced the highly anticipated GA600 aerator and the HR800 wide-area rotary mower at this year’s BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME).
The GA600 aerator is a versatile unit and is the first in a range of brand-new aeration equipment from Jacobsen.
The deep tine aerator can work up to 3.4 km/h at a working depth of 30 centimetres and a width of 1.8 metres. If used with the available AerStrike 4 Tine attachment system, productivity is further enhanced, allowing deep and conventional aeration in a single pass.
Unique spacing on the AerStrike system creates tight 7.5 centimetre patterns and eliminates the need for a turf guard.
The patented PerfectStrike tine arm motion provides perfect entry and exit of tines, achieving a truly straight hole. The geometry of the crankshaft and the tine arms allow for vertical entry of the tines into the ground.
Coupled with cluster tine heads keeping tines at a distance to reduce tearing of the turf, the GA600 produces unrivalled hole quality. The truly versatile unit makes it perfect for use on greens, fairways and sports fields.
“We are delighted to have introduced the first unit in our new line of aeration equipment at BTME,” said Lee Kristensen, Product Manager at Jacobsen, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
He added: “A lot of research and development has gone into creating the GA600, and this is evident in the unique feature of being able to achieve deep and shallow tine aeration in one pass. We are confident that the new aeration range will be well received by the industry.”
The new aeration line has been designed to improve hole quality, boost productivity and enhance aeration performance over undulated surfaces; the short roller to tine distance ensures superior contour following. The GA600 allows turfgrass professionals to do the job once, and to do it correctly when time is of the essence.
The 16-foot HR800, meanwhile, is powered by a reliable 74.3 hp Kubota engine, and sets a new efficiency and power-to-weight ratio standard. That efficiency, combined with a massive cutting capacity of more than 20 acres per hour, makes the HR800 the ideal mower for customers who want to spend less time, labour and fuel maintaining large areas of grass.

“The HR800 has a 30% greater power-to-weight-ratio than its direct competitor, which allows the machine to utilise power incredibly efficiently,” said Richard Comely, Director of International Product for Jacobsen.
“By utilising a compact chassis design and high-strength, high-performance steel, there is simply less mass to move around, thus requiring less fuel, hydraulic capacity and power.”
The HR800 is the second mower in a new series of wide-area rotary mowers from Jacobsen. In 2016, Jacobsen introduced the HR700, the first and only 14-foot-wide rotary mower. The series is built on a common narrow platform that easily navigates through gates and onto transport trailers.
The HR800’s Tilt Sensor Technology (TST) automatically monitors and adjusts mower decks to prevent rollovers when working on slopes.
“The whole HR series is centred around the operator experience, and nothing is more important than operator safety,” said Comely. “Any company or organisation that is concerned with the safety of its operators will appreciate the HR Series’ Tilt Sensor Technology.”
The operator extends to the HR800’s optional cab, which was designed to integrate seamlessly into the traction unit. The cabin provides reduced noise and vibration and features air conditioning, a heater, a fan, ventilation windows, an industry-first heated windshield and an air suspension seat.
New SureStrength decks constructed with high-strength, high-performance steel deliver greater durability in a lighter, more robust design. Q AMP variable rate steering provides optimal response to operator input to mow effortlessly around obstacles. In addition, a new AdaptiCut system automatically adjusts mow speed to ensure consistent cut performance.
Individual hydraulic deck motors with self-lubricating integral bearings deliver cutting power to each blade and do not require daily maintenance. The HR800 boasts nearly half the daily grease points of its direct competitor.
The HR800 weighs nearly 900 kilograms less than its competitors, and can mow more than 20 acres per hour, making it well-suited for golf courses, sports fields, parks and green spaces, schools, sports fields, airports and commercial grounds.