Rolawn's unique ProFresh® system to extend turf shelf-life
Rolawn’s ProFresh System is a unique patented and trademarked system which, when used in conjunction with our specially developed turf growing regime, significantly extends the shelf life of turf.
Key Benefits
Gives Rolawn turf* up to three times its normal shelf life, achieved at a cost within commercially viable constraints.
Extends the window of opportunity for stockists to sell turf in optimum condition, giving customers greater access to fresh turf.
Less deterioration of the turf whilst en route to customers.
Improved distribution efficiencies, by combining deliveries together and delivering less frequently, reducing CO2 emissions.
"The Rolawn ProFresh system has significantly extended the shelf life of the turf we sell and we’ve seen less deterioration, which means we can supply our customers with turf that’s fresher, greener and in the very best condition possible."
"Since Rolawn introduced ProFresh we have noticed a much-improved shelf life which has helped to drive our sales up."
Dan Kirby Buyer - British Garden Centres
"The Rolawn Profresh system has significantly extended the shelf life of the turf we sell and we’ve seen less deterioration, which means we can supply our customers with turf that’s fresher, greener and in the very best condition possible."
Colin Hunter Adrian White Building Supplies
"Since Rolawn introduced Profresh we have noticed a much-improved shelf life which has helped to drive our sales up."
The challenge of turf perishability
It takes many years of planning, cultivating and nurturing to produce a crop of high quality turf. However, the key challenge is to ensure timely delivery to the customer, given that turf is a highly perishable product and can deteriorate very rapidly once harvested.
When turf is harvested the grass plants are still actively growing, which generates significant amounts of heat and respiration gases within the pallet of turf. The soil on the back of each roll of turf acts as an insulator and prevents heat escaping.
Air temperature, the time of year and the time between harvesting and laying can also impact on the rate of deterioration. In extreme cases the temperature within the centre of a pallet of turf can reach nearly 70 oC within a matter of hours, thus killing the turf.
This process is known as sod heating and causes excess waste, deterioration in quality and even product failure, if the turf is not laid within the required time period after harvesting.
How the ProFresh® System extends the shelf life of turf
How to extend the shelf life of turf in a commercially viable manner has been the holy grail of the turf industry for years. Straightforward refrigeration can be used. However, this is expensive and does not effectively reduce the heat throughout the pallet.
Calling on our technical expertise gained by being at the forefront of our industry, since 2001 we have collaborated with several leading universities, both in the UK and abroad and have received significant research and development grant funding.
Using the ProFresh system, after harvesting, turf is placed in an air-tight vessel, from which air is slowly drawn out. The lower pressure has a cooling effect on the turf and also removes harmful respiration gases.
When air is let back into the pressurised vessel, it is filtered to provide optimum respiration gas conditions. This air is then drawn into the middle of each pallet of turf, due to the vacuum which has been created.
A pallet of turf is a very solid, dense mass. In the same way as heat cannot escape when it is generated, once the core of the pallet is cooled down and the gases modified, the internal conditions of the pallet will remain that way for some period of time.
Harvesting methods have also been refined to optimise the benefits provided by the ProFresh® system.
Independently tested by the Sports Turf Research Institute
Independent tests carried out by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the UK’s leading independent authority in turfgrass research agronomy, concluded that the Rolawn ProFresh® system significantly extends the shelf life of Rolawn turf, meaning that it stays greener and fresher for longer, even in warm conditions.
Intellectual Property
Rolawn protects its intellectual property. We own trademarks and a protected logo on the ProFresh® system.
Elements of the machinery also have registered design rights. Furthermore, there are a number of patents pending and registered on various aspects of the system.
The ProFresh system is also fully patented in a number of international markets.
Future Developments
This cutting-edge technology also assists with packaging of full pallets and individual turf rolls; providing greater traceability and quality control, and enabling us to include sell-by dates, barcodes and branding on our turf.
The ProFresh system highlights Rolawn’s commitment to innovation, and demonstrates why Rolawn is the grower of Britain’s finest turf and the recognised benchmark of quality and service.
It takes many years of planning, cultivating and nurturing to produce a crop of high quality turf. However, the key challenge is to ensure timely delivery to the customer, given that turf is a highly perishable product and can deteriorate very rapidly once harvested.
When turf is harvested the grass plants are still actively growing, which generates significant amounts of heat and respiration gases within the pallet of turf. The soil on the back of each roll of turf acts as an insulator and prevents heat escaping.
Air temperature, the time of year and the time between harvesting and laying can also impact on the rate of deterioration. In extreme cases the temperature within the centre of a pallet of turf can reach nearly 70 oC within a matter of hours, thus killing the turf.
This process is known as sod heating and causes excess waste, deterioration in quality and even product failure, if the turf is not laid within the required time period after harvesting.
How the ProFresh® System extends the shelf life of turf
How to extend the shelf life of turf in a commercially viable manner has been the holy grail of the turf industry for years. Straightforward refrigeration can be used. However, this is expensive and does not effectively reduce the heat throughout the pallet.
Calling on our technical expertise gained by being at the forefront of our industry, since 2001 we have collaborated with several leading universities, both in the UK and abroad and have received significant research and development grant funding.
Using the ProFresh system, after harvesting, turf is placed in an air-tight vessel, from which air is slowly drawn out. The lower pressure has a cooling effect on the turf and also removes harmful respiration gases.
When air is let back into the pressurised vessel, it is filtered to provide optimum respiration gas conditions. This air is then drawn into the middle of each pallet of turf, due to the vacuum which has been created.
A pallet of turf is a very solid, dense mass. In the same way as heat cannot escape when it is generated, once the core of the pallet is cooled down and the gases modified, the internal conditions of the pallet will remain that way for some period of time.
Harvesting methods have also been refined to optimise the benefits provided by the ProFresh® system.
Independently tested by the Sports Turf Research Institute
Independent tests carried out by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), the UK’s leading independent authority in turfgrass research agronomy, concluded that the Rolawn ProFresh® system significantly extends the shelf life of Rolawn turf, meaning that it stays greener and fresher for longer, even in warm conditions.
Intellectual Property
Rolawn protects its intellectual property. We own trademarks and a protected logo on the ProFresh® system.
Elements of the machinery also have registered design rights. Furthermore, there are a number of patents pending and registered on various aspects of the system.
The ProFresh system is also fully patented in a number of international markets.
Future Developments
This cutting-edge technology also assists with packaging of full pallets and individual turf rolls; providing greater traceability and quality control, and enabling us to include sell-by dates, barcodes and branding on our turf.
The ProFresh system highlights Rolawn’s commitment to innovation, and demonstrates why Rolawn is the grower of Britain’s finest turf and the recognised benchmark of quality and service.
Important update: Temporary 6.5% surcharge effective 7 April
At Rolawn, we are committed to maintaining the high standards of quality and service our customers expect, so we want to be open with our customers about a change that will affect pricing from Tuesday 7th April.
This decision has been taken in response to disruption to energy supplies, which has led to significant increases in wholesale prices, affecting not only fuel and fertiliser but also costs throughout our wider supply chain. As a business that relies heavily on fuel for both transport and operations, these sustained cost pressures have become increasingly difficult to absorb.
While we have worked hard to mitigate the impact, the scale and pace of recent price increases have now exceeded what we can sustain internally, and we therefore need to recover a proportion of these externally driven increases.
From Tuesday 7th April, a temporary 6.5% surcharge will apply to all products.
We know that any increase in price is frustrating, particularly at a time when many businesses and households are already feeling under pressure. That is why we want to be clear that this is not a decision we have made lightly, and not one we wanted to make. It has been introduced solely to help offset unavoidable cost inflation and allow us to continue delivering the quality, reliability and service standards associated with Rolawn.
We will continue to monitor market conditions closely and will review this surcharge as soon as circumstances allow, providing reasonable notice of any changes. We recognise that any price increase is unwelcome, but this step is necessary to ensure the continuity and reliability of our operations during a period of ongoing uncertainty.
We remain committed to providing the quality, reliability and service standards you expect from Rolawn, and we truly appreciate your understanding and continued support.
If you have any questions, please contact our customer support team who will be happy to help.
Rolawn protects its intellectual property. We own trademarks and a protected logo on the ProFresh® system.