Contractor Dean McDermott knows that his purchase of Rigby Taylor’s TinyLineMarker (TLM) robotic line marking machine will make a big difference to his current operation. “I also know the machine will also enable us to further expand by offering cost-effective line marking to a multitude of new customers – councils and contractors alike,” he says.

“Its purchase enables us to be more efficient with our current line marking let alone future expansion; it was a no-brainer,” he claims. 

Before establishing Parkway Ground Maintenance in 2000, Dean’s career as a self-employed operative gave him the opportunity to build a tremendous level of expertise in grounds and open space management. This experience has seen the company achieve accreditation to ISO 90001 and ISO 1400 as well as being a BALI award winner, among other awards and accreditations.  

Parkway has seen huge growth over the years, with a firmly established customer base and its reputation as an approved Rigby Taylor partner. And while continuing to expand, the Birmingham-based contractor has also invested a considerable amount in machinery and equipment, with the TLM being the latest purchase. 

Dean continues: “Not only is the application of TLM truly a one-man operation – and that includes unloading and loading for each job/site – but it is also very fast and very accurate.  

“In this business, it’s all about price per pitch and since the TLM can mark a full-size football pitch in just 20 minutes, with one operator, compared to (in Parkway’s case) around 2/2.5 hours manually with two operators, the savings in time and manpower are evident. Also, an eight-lane running track that used to take two of my guys a full day, at least, can now be completed by one person in only 2.5 hours.” 

He adds: “It’s a similar argument for the use of Rigby Taylor’s award-winning ready-mixed Impact paint. Impact may cost more per tub, but we get brighter and longer-lasting lines so, the cost is lower on a line-for-line basis.” 

With the ready-to-use Impact, which produces bright white lines that last longer than other paints, operators have no contact with the paint either, as a flow tube is simply inserted into the paint container.  

Impact is the ideal complement to TLM, which utilises the latest GPS technology with RTK receiver and antenna that connects with global satellites and mobile network connections. It takes the input of pitch line dimensions and multiple pitches via an App and re-positions them to best fit the site using Google Maps. Once stored, the lines are never lost, even if they disappear if a pitch is not used for any length of time.  

“As our line marking demands have grown, especially with the time needed for initial marking, it was difficult to balance such a growing workload while tying up expert line marking staff for hours on end. However, that problem has been solved with the TLM, allowing us to be more efficient.”  

Initially aimed at football pitches (any length/width), and rugby union and league pitches as well as multi-lane athletic tracks, tennis, lacrosse and American football pitches, TLM can also mark bespoke shapes, which is often required for some smaller locations and events such as school sports days. “That will surely prove another major benefit as we go forward with our robotic line marking service,” Dean adds.  

“The TLM has allowed us to have just one operator undertaking all line marking, as opposed to in recent years having to spare two or three members of staff,” Dean concludes. “This has allowed us to move forward with expansion and to take on more work for our other grounds maintenance services while at the same time continuing to provide our customers with the service they deserve.” 

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