London, UK, September 09, 2024
Westminster Abbey converts to Kress
"You were losing a person for a whole day every week just for mowing. Now when we come in in the mornings, I have the mower starting at about 3am in summer – and when we get in, it’s basically done." Danny Britten, Head Groundsman
In the middle of busy London lies an oasis of tranquillity and one of the most prestigious heritage sites in the world. If you want to stand where British history has happened, a tour of this gothic masterpiece is mandatory. Home of royal coronations, from William the Conqueror to King Charles III, Westminster Abbey is also the burial place of 30 kings and queens, as well as prominent figures of British history and culture, like Charles Dickens, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.
Upon your arrival you will notice a Kress RTKⁿ mower manicuring the front garden to perfection. Another one is busy taking care of the inner courtyard garden. At Westminster Abbey, quietness is necessary to evoke a so-longed-for sense of peace in the midst of chaotic London. A traditional lawn mower would go up to 105 dB, disrupting the sacred tranquillity of the abbey. A Kress robot mower operates as quietly as 60 dB, going unnoticed between the whispering of the amused crowd of visitors.
"You were losing a person for a whole day every week just for mowing. Now when we come in in the mornings, I have the mower starting at about 3am in summer – and when we get in, it’s basically done." Danny Britten, Head Groundsman
Danny Britten, the Head Groundsman of Westminster, is stunned by the quietness of the robot saying he no longer has to worry about the impact of traditional mowers on the visitors, both in terms of noise and smell caused by exhaust fumes. Britten says that ‘The health issues of this industry are a big concern for me. I know of so many people working in the industry after a number of years who are struggling to hear.’ He has seen in Kress the possibility to work efficiently without having to compromise on health. That’s why Britten is looking forward to introducing Kress Commercial tools into their routine very soon.
The introduction of the Kress RTKⁿ is a game changer for the team, as they no longer have to mow early in the morning before the Abbey opens: now they let the Kress mower do its job at night, so when the team arrives in the morning they can concentrate on other important tasks: ‘Essentially you were losing a person for a whole day every week just for mowing. Now for the first time in 20 years, we have actually had time to go out and do edging. Those pots are new – we did them because we have the time now.’ Going unmanned frees up the staff to focus on what really matters.
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