Kershaw County Parks & Recreation in Camden, South Carolina, faced the ongoing challenge of efficiently and accurately maintaining the lines on their numerous sports fields. Looking for a solution to reduce labor costs, improve line precision, and enhance field aesthetics, they turned to Turftank and its innovative autonomous sports line marking robot.
THE CHALLENGE
Inefficient and Labor-Intensive Field Marking
Kershaw County, located in Camden, South Carolina, is home to a large soccer complex that hosts various sporting events throughout the year. For Shane Duncan, Director of Kershaw County Parks and Recreation, and his team, preparing the fields for each season was a time-consuming and resource-intensive task.
Before investing in the Turf Tank robot, marking fields required multiple staff members, 6 to 8 hours of labor, and three to four boxes of paint per field. The process was not only physically demanding but also costly, leading the team to search for a more efficient solution.
THE SOLUTION
Turf Tank’s Autonomous Line Marking Technology
After thorough research, Kershaw County decided to invest in the Turf Tank robot in November last year. The results have been transformational.
By minimizing the need for manual labor and reducing paint consumption, the Turf Tank robot has significantly increased efficiency. Its water-based spray system ensures even and precise application, reducing waste and aligning with the county’s sustainability goals.
To set it [muliple soccer complex] up for a new season, you don’t have any marks or anything, it’d take us 6-8 hours a good full day just to get fields right, get them squared away, ready to go – paint them.
With this robot [Turf Tank One] I can do it all by myself. Get a field made from scratch in an hour or less.
Jacob Neal,
Maintenance Crew
The Results: Precision, Cost Savings, and Community Engagement
The Turf Tank has delivered measurable benefits:
✅ 99% Accuracy – The robot consistently delivers straight, professional-quality lines.
✅ Reduced Paint Consumption – Compared to traditional aerosol paint, the Turf Tank’s system is more efficient and cost-effective.
✅ Time Savings – Field marking that once took an entire workday can now be completed in under an hour.
When I took my research to the higher ups here and let them see savings and the time that we would get back off of this machine there was no questions and they told me to move forward.
Shane Duncan,
Director
Beyond efficiency, the Turf Tank robot has also become a conversation starter in the community. Customized with the county’s logo, the robot has turned heads—whether it’s kids chasing after it or drivers slowing down to watch it in action.
Overcoming Challenges: Making the Investment Happen
As a county organization, securing approval for new equipment required careful planning. However, once Shane Duncan presented the data on time and cost savings, the decision-makers quickly saw the value. Within weeks of purchase, the Turf Tank was fully operational.
Recommendation: A Must-Have for Parks & Recreation Departments
With the Turf Tank’s proven impact, Shane Duncan strongly encourages other parks and recreation departments to consider the investment.
I would certainly recommend this to just about any parks and rec department or city, whatever you are.
Shane Duncan,
Director
Kershaw County’s experience highlights the power of automation in sports field maintenance—turning a once tedious task into a seamless, efficient, and cost-saving process.
