The City of Ruffec (Charente) owns a sport complex shared by several occupants : Stade Ruffecois (football), Ruffec Athletic Club (rugby) and Collège Val de Charente. These 3 organisations share the 3 pitches and 2 annexes that constitute the sports complex.
The maintenance of these 38,000m² of pitch is a real challenge for the town, given the demands of users, the high occupancy rate of the pitches, the need to save money for the town and the nuisance caused by traditional mowing, particularly in terms of noise pollution.
How do you meet these multiple challenges? With a robotic mower, of course!
As a local dealer, Vertu 42 is fully aware of the needs and constraints and, after studying the case, came up with a tailor-made solution to meet every challenge, all with a single robot: the BM-2050.
First challenge: having the entire sport complex covered
38,000m² of lawn on two levels can make some robots break out in a cold sweat. But with its 5 cutting heads, 103cm mowing width, and powerful motor capable of working on slopes of up to 40%, the BM-2050 has nothing to fear. And thanks to Wisenav®, its mowing capacity covers up to 75,000m².
With the transportation paths between the pitches and the mowing areas optimally configured by the technician, the challenge was easily met, confirming that a single robot can cover the entire complex. This helps reduce installation and maintenance costs. A single robot, a single charging station = less demanding maintenance for city workers.
Second challenge: juggling pitch occupation
With two sports clubs playing at regional level and a secondary school, the calendar is packed and many time slots are unavailable for mowing.
This is where the expertise of the technicians comes into play: thanks to their in-depth knowledge of the robot and their relationship at local level with the town hall, it was possible to draw up an overall work schedule. All while taking into account another constraint: safety.
As the safety of the students is obviously non-negotiable, the technician has configured the robot and its transit paths so that it navigates via precise points when it goes from one site to another. In this way, the robot can work in complete safety, without the risk of encountering the users of the pitches.
Third challenge: meet the demands of users… and neighbours!
The mowing height and frequency are not the same for each user: if the football club wants a 40mm mowing height, the rugby club prefers a 45mm cutting height. With adjustable heights from 20mm to 100mm, each area is mowed to meet the requirements of its users. And thanks to mulching and frequent mowing, users will benefit in the long term from better quality, more resilient lawns, and reducing injuries linked to pitch deterioration.
As for neighbours, just like users, they too will benefit from the installation of the robot. And how do they benefit? By reducing noise pollution!
Everyone has experienced the noise pollution associated with the use of traditional mowers:
- for the players, difficulty concentrating and hearing the coaches’ instructions.
- for residents, it can be difficult to enjoy the peace and quiet in the garden or by opening the windows in the living room. Not to mention the rest that toddlers need, which can be disrupted by the roar of a traditional machine.
With the robot, it’s all over! Thanks to its vibration-absorbing design and 5 electric motors running at 3,000 rpm, mowing is continuous and jolt-free. The BM-2050 operates at a noise level equivalent to a normal conversation, which is much lower than that of a petrol lawnmower. And you can say goodbye to petrol fumes, which is also a pleasant experience.
Fourth challenge: Saving money
The municipality has done the maths: between purchase, maintenance and labour, using a Belrobotics robot saves them €110,000 over 5 years. Enough to allow the council to invest in other projects.
But the savings don’t stop there, they are also long-term for the city’s workers. By limiting the number of accidents linked to the use of heavy, combustion-powered machinery, as well as musculoskeletal disorders (which can have a negative impact on quality of life), the city’s employees stand to gain:
- time, so they can focus on tasks with higher added value
- quality of life
Conclusion: An innovative and sustainable solution for Ruffec
The installation of the BM-2050 robotic mower at the Ruffec sports complex is a perfect example of how innovation can provide an effective response to the challenges faced by local authorities. Thanks to optimised management, this technological choice not only ensures quality mowing tailored to the needs of users, but also reduces noise pollution, optimises pitch use and generates substantial savings over the long term.
This project, carried out by local reseller Vertu 42, demonstrates that well-thought-out and well-integrated automated solutions offer significant benefits for local authorities, users and residents alike. A fine example of modernisation serving sport, comfort and the environment!