LOOK EAST
Just how does doing business in Poland differ to the UK? Dennis has been selling equipment there since 2002 and here Managing Director Ian Howard shares the company’s experiences.
Contrary to what many people may believe grounds standards in Poland and other Eastern European countries are extremely high and this means that it’s a lucrative market for groundcare equipment manufacturers like Dennis.
Polish groundsmen certainly appreciate the quality of the company’s machines, which are proving popular with Poland’s football stadia, where pitch quality is a prime consideration.
Since the fall of the Berlin wall and the emancipation of former soviet countries, Poland’s sports turf is just one of many things that have developed in leaps and bounds.
“I first visited Poland in 1978 as a student and spent a week at Krakow University,” says Ian. “Back then standards were very low – in everything. But the people were enthusiastic, dynamic, friendly and, above all, hard working,” he recalls.
“Now the ‘shackles’ are off, development has been extremely rapid. And, as far as sports go, football has become very popular.”
Private money has been injected into the game as individual businessmen’s personal wealth has grown and this investment has led to improved grounds and facilities.
Polish pitches are on a par with those in the UK. The country’s construction companies are well up on the latest technology. Ian first met Polish construction company Zielona Architektura, which specialises in sports facilities, at Saltex in 2002. The company is the sole importer of Dennis mowers in Poland and has set up its own distribution channels in the country. It is bang up to date with its construction skills and technology, having also recently carried out work in Portugal, Spain and Italy, and is a great fan of Dennis machines.
“They use many sand-based construction systems as well as the very latest construction equipment, spending more than €1 million on capital equipment in 2006,” says Ian.
The Polish certainly have the money to spend on their pitches: “They’re not shy of investing in the best when it comes to the pitches themselves or the equipment they use to maintain and renovate them,” he adds.
Zielona constructed the pitches at clubs including Amica in Wronki, Polonia in Warsaw, Korona in Kieke, and Pogon in Szezecin. All have Dennis machines.
“The company structures many of its packages to include provision of equipment for on-going maintenance once the pitch has been handed over. They have found this works well as it reassures the club that they have the best equipment for the job,” explains Ian.
Poland’s weather, however, is very different to that in the UK, as Ian discovered for himself in January 2006. Temperatures as low as minus 25OC and 300mm of snow is not unusual in the low lying areas of the country and this can make pitch maintenance and management difficult.
Average temperatures throughout December and January are below freezing, but summer temperatures often reach 30OC. “Yet the groundsmen are producing consistent playing surfaces that also look good,” says Ian.
Aesthetics are important in Poland. Games are regularly televised and, like British groundsmen, the pressure is on to produce a quality sward for the players, the camera and spectators.
The Dennis Premier Diesel 36” (91cm) and G860 with six-blade cassette, verticutters, scarifiers, brushes and sorrel rollers are proving popular. Both are exactly the same spec as those used by British clubs.
Polish Premier League Champions Wista, based in Krakow, and Warsaw-based runners up Legia are just two top clubs in the country that have Dennis mowers. Several others, including KSP Polonia and the Orzel Stadium in Warsaw, also now have Dennis machines.
“The Polish nation appreciates quality products and Dennis machinery is ideal,” says Zeilona’s Marek Wypychowski. “Television coverage means that presentation is extremely important, and Dennis equipment is helping Polish groundsmen meet high standards.”
Zielona is also spreading the message of quality pitches and precision equipment in other parts of Europe. Last year the company built three training pitches for the mighty Benfica in Lisbon. It has links with several other specialist partners, including Fibresand, Koro, Springs Undersoil Heating, Queens Grass (Holland) and Drop Service Irrigation.
The pro-active Polish business is also establishing a sports turf nursery covering some 50 hectares (125 acres) in the heart of its home country.
Dennis is likewise expanding into other overseas markets. Mowers are already being exported all over Europe to countries including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Austria. They are currently discussing a joint venture in Moscow, as Russia’s interest in quality sports turf grows.
“Like Poland, Russia is undergoing dramatic and fast-paced change. Dennis wants to be part of that and many Russian clubs and private individuals aspire to pitch quality seen in the UK.
“Our latest visit proved to be very successful and we are looking to formalise an importer in early 2007,” says Ian.
In Poland Dennis’ turnover has more then doubled in the past year and Ian Howard reports that 2006 saw continued growth in all countries, building on the mowing machinery manufacturer’s remarkable record of growth over the last six years. “What is particularly pleasing is the number of repeat orders we receive – turf professionals recognise the quality of the equipment, and 2007 sees us with a bigger order book than ever before.”
Photo: A Dennis machine at Amica Football Club in Wronki, Poland Pitch construction by Zielona Architektura at Wis?a stadium, Krakow, Poland
Contrary to what many people may believe grounds standards in Poland and other Eastern European countries are extremely high and this means that it’s a lucrative market for groundcare equipment manufacturers like Dennis.
Polish groundsmen certainly appreciate the quality of the company’s machines, which are proving popular with Poland’s football stadia, where pitch quality is a prime consideration.
Since the fall of the Berlin wall and the emancipation of former soviet countries, Poland’s sports turf is just one of many things that have developed in leaps and bounds.
“I first visited Poland in 1978 as a student and spent a week at Krakow University,” says Ian. “Back then standards were very low – in everything. But the people were enthusiastic, dynamic, friendly and, above all, hard working,” he recalls.
“Now the ‘shackles’ are off, development has been extremely rapid. And, as far as sports go, football has become very popular.”
Private money has been injected into the game as individual businessmen’s personal wealth has grown and this investment has led to improved grounds and facilities.
Polish pitches are on a par with those in the UK. The country’s construction companies are well up on the latest technology. Ian first met Polish construction company Zielona Architektura, which specialises in sports facilities, at Saltex in 2002. The company is the sole importer of Dennis mowers in Poland and has set up its own distribution channels in the country. It is bang up to date with its construction skills and technology, having also recently carried out work in Portugal, Spain and Italy, and is a great fan of Dennis machines.
“They use many sand-based construction systems as well as the very latest construction equipment, spending more than €1 million on capital equipment in 2006,” says Ian.
The Polish certainly have the money to spend on their pitches: “They’re not shy of investing in the best when it comes to the pitches themselves or the equipment they use to maintain and renovate them,” he adds.
Zielona constructed the pitches at clubs including Amica in Wronki, Polonia in Warsaw, Korona in Kieke, and Pogon in Szezecin. All have Dennis machines.
“The company structures many of its packages to include provision of equipment for on-going maintenance once the pitch has been handed over. They have found this works well as it reassures the club that they have the best equipment for the job,” explains Ian.
Poland’s weather, however, is very different to that in the UK, as Ian discovered for himself in January 2006. Temperatures as low as minus 25OC and 300mm of snow is not unusual in the low lying areas of the country and this can make pitch maintenance and management difficult.
Average temperatures throughout December and January are below freezing, but summer temperatures often reach 30OC. “Yet the groundsmen are producing consistent playing surfaces that also look good,” says Ian.
Aesthetics are important in Poland. Games are regularly televised and, like British groundsmen, the pressure is on to produce a quality sward for the players, the camera and spectators.
The Dennis Premier Diesel 36” (91cm) and G860 with six-blade cassette, verticutters, scarifiers, brushes and sorrel rollers are proving popular. Both are exactly the same spec as those used by British clubs.
Polish Premier League Champions Wista, based in Krakow, and Warsaw-based runners up Legia are just two top clubs in the country that have Dennis mowers. Several others, including KSP Polonia and the Orzel Stadium in Warsaw, also now have Dennis machines.
“The Polish nation appreciates quality products and Dennis machinery is ideal,” says Zeilona’s Marek Wypychowski. “Television coverage means that presentation is extremely important, and Dennis equipment is helping Polish groundsmen meet high standards.”
Zielona is also spreading the message of quality pitches and precision equipment in other parts of Europe. Last year the company built three training pitches for the mighty Benfica in Lisbon. It has links with several other specialist partners, including Fibresand, Koro, Springs Undersoil Heating, Queens Grass (Holland) and Drop Service Irrigation.
The pro-active Polish business is also establishing a sports turf nursery covering some 50 hectares (125 acres) in the heart of its home country.
Dennis is likewise expanding into other overseas markets. Mowers are already being exported all over Europe to countries including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Austria. They are currently discussing a joint venture in Moscow, as Russia’s interest in quality sports turf grows.
“Like Poland, Russia is undergoing dramatic and fast-paced change. Dennis wants to be part of that and many Russian clubs and private individuals aspire to pitch quality seen in the UK.
“Our latest visit proved to be very successful and we are looking to formalise an importer in early 2007,” says Ian.
In Poland Dennis’ turnover has more then doubled in the past year and Ian Howard reports that 2006 saw continued growth in all countries, building on the mowing machinery manufacturer’s remarkable record of growth over the last six years. “What is particularly pleasing is the number of repeat orders we receive – turf professionals recognise the quality of the equipment, and 2007 sees us with a bigger order book than ever before.”
Photo: A Dennis machine at Amica Football Club in Wronki, Poland Pitch construction by Zielona Architektura at Wis?a stadium, Krakow, Poland