Kersten

What Kersten does

Kersten (UK) Ltd, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Reading, Berkshire, is the UK's leading independent supplier of non-chemical weed control solutions and professional site maintenance equipment. The company distributes a portfolio of mechanical, thermal, and electric weed management products alongside sweeping, spreading, snow clearance, and grass cutting equipment to UK local authorities, professional groundcare contractors, and commercial property and estate managers. Core technology centres on integrated weed management (IWM) methodologies — combining mechanical weed brushing, hot water and hot air thermal weeding, and electric weeding — designed to help clients meet the UK's 2026 National Action Plan targets for pesticide reduction in urban environments.

The product portfolio includes the Kersten-branded UBS-Hydro II 13 pedestrian power unit and a modular attachment range, complemented by distributed European brands such as Lehner Polaro spreaders, Hoaf and Ripagreen thermal weeders, Eco Weedkiller hot water systems, Zasso electric weeders, Faulkner Brothers snow ploughs, Cerruti snow blowers, Matador wheelbarrows, and WeedGo brushcutter attachments. Kersten is the developer of the Lantra-Certified IWM training syllabus and the primary technical contributor to the Parks for London IWM Reference Guide, generating additional revenue from professional training and certification services.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly hardware-driven through quote-based equipment sales via an exclusive authorized UK dealer network, supplemented by a smaller professional services stream from Lantra-certified training. Distribution is indirect through dealers providing commercial quotes, fitment verification, and lifetime support, with direct expert consultation for enterprise clients and a stated 24-hour response time for inbound enquiries. Marketing is sales-led, leveraging industry events (GroundsFest, SALTEX, Groundswell, Amenity Forum Conference), blog and content marketing, social media, and a free Integrated Weed Management Assessment lead-generation tool.

Name

Kersten

Legal name

Kersten (UK) Ltd

Website

https://kerstenuk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kersten (UK) Ltd is an independent UK supplier of non-chemical weed control and professional site maintenance equipment, distributing own-brand and European partner products through a dealer network to local councils, groundcare contractors, and estate managers facing 2026 pesticide reduction mandates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Groundcare & Site Maintenance Equipment

NAICS

Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423820), Lawn and Garden Tractor and Home Lawn and Garden Equipment Manufacturing (333112)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Lawn & Garden Tractors & Home Lawn & Gardens Equip (3524)

akta.pro primary industry

Weed & Vegetation Control for Non-Turf Areas (Beds, Hardscapes, Fence Lines) (HSAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Non-chemical weed control
• Groundcare equipment
• Site maintenance equipment
• Integrated weed management
• Winter maintenance equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Equipment Sales: Sale of professional groundcare and site maintenance equipment including weed brushes, sweepers, snow ploughs, spreaders, hot water weeders, electric weeders, and related attachments. Equipment is sold through a UK dealer network with commercial quotes and lifetime support.
2. Training and Certification Services: Lantra-certified training programs for integrated weed management, upskilling the professional groundcare workforce.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kersten (UK) Ltd supplies professional groundcare and site maintenance equipment with a focus on non-chemical weed control, distributing its own Kersten-branded modular power units and attachment ranges alongside complementary European third-party brands (Lehner, Hoaf, Ripagreen, Eco Weedkiller, Zasso, Faulkner Brothers, Cerruti, Matador, WeedGo) through an authorized UK dealer network that provides commercial quotes, fitment verification, and lifetime support. The company complements hardware sales with a Lantra-Certified Integrated Weed Management training syllabus and authoring contribution to the IWM Reference Guide for London's land managers.

Product overview

Kersten UK is the UK's leading independent supplier of non-chemical weed control solutions and professional site maintenance equipment. Their offering is a distributed multi-brand portfolio of ground maintenance machinery, not a single unified software platform. The core product line centres on the Kersten-branded UBS-Hydro II 13 pedestrian power unit, which serves as the modular engine for a suite of interchangeable attachments including the Weedbrush series, sweeper series, and other implements. Complementary to the Kersten own-brand range, the company distributes and supports an ecosystem of European professional equipment brands — most notably the EWK PRO20 Dual hot water weeder, FS-3000 tractor-mounted watering arm, Lehner Polaro spreaders, Faulkner Brothers snow ploughs, Hoaf thermal weed management systems, Ripagreen hot air weeding lances, Cerruti snow blowers, Matador wheelbarrows, WeedGo brushcutter attachments, and Zasso electric weeders — all aimed at integrated weed management (IWM) and winter maintenance for amenity, councils, and groundscare professionals. The portfolio spans mechanical, thermal, and electric weed control, as well as sweeping, spreading, grass cutting, snow clearance, and path renovation across vehicle types from pedestrian machines to agricultural tractors, forklifts, and highway vehicles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kersten UBS-Hydro II 13 Power Unit Pedestrian two-wheel power unit acting as the core engine for a range of interchangeable attachments including weed brushes, sweepers and other ground maintenance tools, for professional groundcare buyers.
• EWK PRO20 Dual Hot Water Weeder Vehicle-mounted hot water weed control system powered by a HATZ engine for professional surface treatment and chemical-free weed control.
• FS-3000 Tractor-Mounted Watering Arm Front-mounted hydraulic watering arm with swivelling mechanism for tractor attachment, used for targeted watering of side plantings and amenity vegetation.
• Hycut Hybrid Remote Control Mower Hybrid remote-controlled mower designed for professional grass cutting in areas requiring operator safety, remote operation or hazardous-terrain access.
• Lehner Polaro XL 550L In-Body Mounted Spreader High-capacity 550L spreader for distributing salt, grit, fertiliser or seed, designed for mounting on vehicles or tractors for de-icing and amenity spreading tasks.
• Kersten Electric Weedkiller / Electro Lance Pedestrian electric weeder that uses electrical energy to kill weeds on contact, providing a chemical-free weed management solution for hard surfaces.
• UB-EASY-PAK-VB Hydraulic Vertical Weed Brush Hydraulic vertical weed brush attachment for loaders and tractors, designed for mechanical weed removal on hard surfaces as part of integrated weed management.
• Zasso Walk-Behind Electric Weeder Pedestrian-operated electric weeder for chemical-free weed control, offered as part of the Zasso-powered product range distributed by Kersten UK.
• Kersten Weedbrush Series Range of mechanical weed brush attachments that remove weeds from hard surfaces by physical agitation, compatible with pedestrian machines, ride-on mowers, compact tractors, agricultural tractors, forklifts and telehandler platforms.
• Kersten Sweeper Series Range of sweeper attachments for pedestrian, ride-on and tractor-mounted use, designed for outdoor surface cleaning, hard surface care and debris management.
• Hot Water Weed Removers Equipment that uses heated water to kill weeds, including vehicle-mounted and pedestrian-operated hot water weeding systems distributed as part of the Eco Weedkiller/EWK range.
• Hot Air Weed Removers (Ripagreen) Thermal weed control equipment using hot air to kill weeds without chemicals, including lances and kits under the Ripagreen brand distributed by Kersten UK.
• Hoaf Thermal Weed Management Systems Hoaf infrared thermal weed control technology products distributed by Kersten UK as part of its non-chemical weed management portfolio.
• Faulkner Brothers Snow Ploughs Snow plough attachments under the Faulkner Brothers brand, designed for 4x4 and highway vehicles (including up to 3.5 tonne pickups) for winter maintenance operations.
• Cerruti Snow Blower Attachments Snow blower attachments under the Cerruti brand, designed for compact tractors to clear snow from highways, footways and commercial estate surfaces.
• Lehner Polaro Pedestrian and Tractor-Mounted Spreaders Pedestrian and tractor-mounted Lehner Polaro spreaders for distributing salt, grit, fertiliser or seed, serving de-icing and amenity spreading applications.
• Gravel Path Renovator Series Equipment designed to restore and maintain gravel paths by removing weeds and replenishing surfaces for council and contractor use.
• Grass Harrow Series Tractor-mounted grass harrows for maintaining grassland and pasture areas as part of broader groundscare operations.
• Tractor Front Linkages and PTO Series Front linkage systems and power take-off (PTO) attachments enabling front-mounted implements on tractors for versatile ground maintenance.
• WeedGo Brushcutter Attachments WeedGo brushcutter attachments distributed by Kersten UK as part of its vegetation management equipment range.
• Matador Wheelbarrows and M-Trac Matador wheelbarrows and M-Trac products distributed by Kersten UK for professional grounds maintenance applications.
• Replacement Brushes and Consumables Replacement brush heads and consumable parts for the full range of Kersten and distributed brand equipment, sold as aftermarket spares.
• Free Integrated Weed Management Assessment Free Integrated Weed Management (IWM) assessment that helps customers develop an IWM strategy and acts as a lead-generation service channelling customers to Kersten's UK dealer network.
• Lantra-Certified IWM Training Programme Lantra-certified training programmes for integrated weed management, developed by Kersten UK to upskill the professional groundcare workforce against National Action Plan standards for pesticide-free weed management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hull City Council transforming over 100 streets with the 'Love Your Neighbourhood' scheme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LantracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLantra is the UK's leading sector skills council for land-based industries. Kersten UK developed the Lantra-Certified IWM syllabus, positioning the company as the architect behind the training standard for the professional groundcare workforce. This partnership helps shape industry qualifications and ensures compliance with the National Action Plan standards.
• Parks for LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParks for London is the representative body for parks and green space managers in London. Kersten UK serves as primary technical contributor to the IWM Reference Guide for London's land managers, helping define the national transition to Integrated Weed Management.
• Bracknell Town CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBracknell Town Council partnered with Kersten UK and Complete Weed Control to conduct a weed management trial demonstrating the impact of preventative brushing on reducing weeds. The trial is ongoing with results published June 2026.
• Complete Weed ControlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplete Weed Control partnered with Kersten UK and Bracknell Town Council for the weed management trial showing impact of preventative brushing.
• LehnercoreTechnology or IntegrationLehner Polaro Spreaders are represented by Kersten UK in the UK market. Products include pedestrian and tractor-mounted spreaders for professional grounds maintenance.
• HoafcoreTechnology or IntegrationHoaf Thermal Weed Management products are distributed by Kersten UK. Hoaf infrared weed control technology is part of their non-chemical weed management portfolio.
• RipagreencoreTechnology or IntegrationRipagreen Thermal Weeding Lances are distributed by Kersten UK. These thermal weeding products complement their mechanical weed management equipment.
• Eco WeedkillercoreTechnology or IntegrationEco Weedkiller Hot Water Weed Control products are distributed by Kersten UK. These hot water weed removal systems are key to their non-chemical weed control solutions.
• ZassocoreTechnology or IntegrationZasso electric weed control technology (including the ZAP Weeder) is distributed by Kersten UK, providing electric-based weed management options.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stihl: Global manufacturer of professional outdoor power tools including brushcutters and groundscare equipment. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying professional groundcare operators, though its portfolio is handheld rather than tractor-mounted.
• John Deere: Global agricultural and turf equipment manufacturer with extensive compact tractor and grounds maintenance product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose compact tractors and attachments compete for the same municipal and contractor fleet budgets Kersten targets.
• Husqvarna Group: Global outdoor power equipment manufacturer with professional robotic mowers, brushcutters, and groundscare products. Comparable to Kersten as a broad incumbent in professional grounds maintenance, though it does not specialise in the UK non-chemical weed control niche Kersten leads.
• Billy Goat Industries: US-headquartered manufacturer of professional outdoor property maintenance equipment including sweepers, vacuums, and brushcutters. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the professional groundscare and surface cleaning category Kersten serves.
• Kubota: Global manufacturer of compact tractors and grounds maintenance equipment widely used by UK councils and contractors. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the compact tractor and municipal groundscare segment where Kersten's attachments are fitted.

Direct peers

• McConnel: UK manufacturer of remote-controlled and tractor-mounted vegetation management equipment, including reach mowers and hedge cutters. Comparable to Kersten because it supplies councils, contractors, and highways operators with professional groundscare machinery distributed through UK and international dealer networks.
• Egholm: Danish manufacturer of compact professional utility machines for street sweeping, weed control, winter maintenance, and grass cutting. Directly comparable to Kersten because it targets the same municipal and contractor use cases with multi-application compact machines sold through European dealers.
• Spearhead Machinery: UK-based manufacturer of vegetation management equipment including flail mowers, mulchers, and tractor-mounted grounds maintenance attachments. Directly comparable to Kersten because it serves UK local authorities and contractors with tractor-mounted groundscare machinery via a dealer channel.
• Pellenc: French manufacturer of professional battery-powered and electric outdoor equipment including electric weeders, brushcutters, and groundscare tools. Directly comparable to Kersten because it sells non-chemical weed control and grounds maintenance machinery through European dealer networks to councils and contractors.

Regional players

• GreenMech: UK-based manufacturer of wood chippers and biomass processors serving arboriculture, grounds maintenance, and hire fleets. Comparable as a UK-headquartered professional grounds maintenance equipment manufacturer serving overlapping council, contractor, and hire-customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kerstenuk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVe6WOi-LAKZi0sY2kYb9lQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookbusiness.facebook.com/kerstenuk/?business_id=1799880060304939
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kersten-uk-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/kerstenuk
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/KerstenUK/pins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kersten