When Carel Fourie was made redundant in 2020, it served as a catalyst for change.
He had worked as a Golf course Greenkeeper for many years and already had a strong interest in line marking from his days playing and volunteering at his local sports clubs.
Rather than wait for the job market to recover after the COVID pandemic, Carel decided to use his redundancy money and personal savings to set up Elite Sports Turf Solutions in early 2021. “It was a bit of a gamble,” he says, “but I knew there was local demand for reliable, good-quality pitch line marking, and I believed I could make it work.”
Based in Melton Mowbray, Carel now works as a contractor covering a 20-mile radius. His clients include Asfordby FC, GNC FC, Leicester Nirvana FC, Market Harborough Rugby Club, Oakham Rugby Club, Royce Rangers FC, and several local schools where he provides initial pitch marking.
In the early days, Carel used the iGO Premier, a pedestrian line marker from Origin Amenity Solutions, which served its purpose. However, it did have some limitations, particularly for clubs wanting regular overmarking. “I always used to string the lines out manually, which took a lot of time,” he explains. “It just wasn’t efficient, and I knew I needed something faster and more consistent.”
That solution came in the form of a TinyLineMarker robot – the Sport model. Since making the switch, Carel has transformed his workflow and capacity. “The speed still amazes me,” he says. “I can be off the van and marking a full-size pitch in 20 minutes, with the added bonus that I know the lines will be bang on every time. You just can’t get that level of precision with stringing lines by hand.”
TinyLineMarker is marketed and distributed exclusively in the UK by Origin Amenity Solutions. The robot’s ease of use and portability have made day-to-day operations more manageable, too. “It's lightweight to move, easy to set up, and I don’t need to drag around reels of string anymore,” Carel adds. “I just load the plan, press go, and it gets on with the job while I get on with something else. It’s made the whole process so much more efficient.”
Today, Carel maintains over 100 pitches across his client base, and the robot is working an average of five days a week. He uses Duraline Extra Concentrate paint, which he finds gives him “white, clean, and crisp lines. The lines often remain visible for up to four weeks.”
For Carel, who prides himself on high standards, accuracy is non-negotiable. “The ethos of my business is attention to detail,” he says. “I expect total accuracy, and I get that with the robot. I can go down a line and know it’s as accurate as it possibly can be. That gives me real confidence in the quality of my work.”
Carel did his initial research into line marking robots through a mix of social media, learning from others. It was the robot demonstration from OAS that confirmed his decision. “I have used OAS while in greenkeeping and I’ve known Sales Manager Carl Chamberlain for more than 20 years. Carl and Glen Howard, the Line Marking Product Manager, spent time demonstrating and explaining the ins and outs of the robot. It was a no brainer.”
Carel explains, “I had an initial full day hands-on training from OAS to set up the robot and get me up and running, followed by an additional day to iron out any issues or queries I had.” He also has high praise for the support service. “The backup from the support team is hands down the best I’ve ever experienced,” Carel says. “In the 18 months of owning my robot, I have only had one significant problem, and even that was fixed within 24 hours. You ring the helpline, and someone picks up, usually with a solution available on the spot, or if not, you get a site visit. You can’t fault that.”
Looking back, Carel says starting the business was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “If I had known then what I know now, I would have done it 20 years ago. I have never looked back.”
And would he recommend the robot? “Absolutely,” he says. “It is quick, efficient, and delivers perfect results every time.”
