Contractor Cutting Edge GM, led by Director Josh Blackburn, has strengthened its turf maintenance fleet with a new Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD8.
The Stockton-on-Tees-based company, which employs a team of eight, delivers specialist aeration and turf maintenance across rugby and football pitches, cricket outfields, large private lawns, schools, and sports clubs. The new XD8 replaces a reconditioned model Josh purchased from Wiedenmann in 2021 — originally built in 2008 — which delivered over 17 years of reliable service.
“I’d used a Terra Spike before when I worked for another company, and Mike actually sold my uncle his first Terra Spike over 30 years ago,” said Josh. “My uncle is still part of this business, so there’s a real sense of continuity. We’ve always had great experiences with Wiedenmann, and the support from Mike James, Wiedenmann UK’s National Sales Manager, and Andy Kerr, Wiedenmann UK’s Lead Demonstrator, really sets them apart. You don’t just buy a machine and that’s it — you get genuine back-up and advice, which makes all the difference.”
Operating across Teesside and North Yorkshire, Cutting Edge GM has built its reputation on reliability and repeat work, carrying out regular decompaction programmes for schools, football and rugby clubs, and organisations supported by FA and RFU funding grants. Their focus on quality and long-term customer relationships keeps the team busy year-round, with a packed schedule of maintenance work.
“The XD8 season runs from August to May, or until the ground gets too hard,” Josh explained. “Right now, we’re flat out — we can comfortably cover four pitches a day. More people are asking for deep spiking once they understand how the machine’s 5–10° heave helps relieve compaction. Once clients see the benefits, they often book two or three treatments a year. They’ll say, ‘Can we book another one in?’ — and that’s exactly what you want. You’ve invested in the best machine, and you get it back through the performance and results it delivers.” ““A Wiedenmann might not be the cheapest, but I consider it by far the best,” he added. “If a machine can be built to such a high quality to give you over 15 years of service, what more can you ask for? I’d say it was a good bet for any contractor, especially the XD8.”
