Rain Bird Irrigation Training, Vectorworks CEO, NRMCA Campaign: The Latest Industry News

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Want to keep up with the latest news in the design/build industry? Check back for quick updates of recent happenings in the green industry every month with updates on Thursdays.

Colorado residents now permitted to collect rainwater

In May, Governor Hickenlooper of Colorado signed into law a bill that will allow residents to use rain barrels to collect rainwater. The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) says that landscape professionals should be prepared to receive requests to incorporate the barrels into customer’s irrigation plans. The law defines “rain barrel” as “a storage container with a sealable lid that is located above ground outside of a residential home and use for collecting precipitation from a downspout of a rooftop.” The law prevents an association, such as an HOA, from prohibiting rain barrel use. The law goes into effect August 10, but contractors and designers can incorporate and put rain barrels in place to hook up later.

NRMCA Has Launched Campaign About Concrete Construction Benefits

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association revealed the “Build with Strength” campaign at the 2016 NRMCA Annual Convention in San Diego April 10-12. The campaign’s goal is to better educate the design/build industry about the benefits of concrete construction. The program is based off of research by the NRMCA to understand the motivations behind the use of certain construction materials. The research showed a majority of the design/build community was favorable to concrete construction.

CASE Dealer Network will Now Carry Tutela Transmission Fluid

CASE Construction Equipment announced that Tutela Powershift HD all-makes powershift transmission fluid is now available through its dealer network to allow the dealers to better service mixed-fleet customers. Tutela Powershift HD is recommended for use in heavy-duty powershift transmissions and final drives of today’s construction and mining equipment, according to CASE.

HydroPoint Acquires Idaho-based Baseline

HydroPoint Data Systems, the maker of WeatherTRAK smart irrigation technology, announced that it has acquired smart irrigation provider, Baseline, Inc. based in Boise, Idaho. Following record revenue growth for both companies in 2015 and 2016 YTD, HydroPoint’s acquisition of Baseline brings an array of smart water management technologies to the HydroPoint 360 Smart Water Management platform. Baseline will continue to operate as an independent company, and HydroPoint will invest in both the Boise operations and the Baseline product line.

Village Nurseries Launches YouTube Video Series

Village Nurseries has launched a 10-episode series of videos on its YouTube channel that showcase low water use plants and shrubs that allow landscape professionals to design dramatic environments. Other videos that will be released bi-weekly through September include topics such as cactus and succulents, Flower Carpet roses, dry lush, vines and evergreen, shrubs for sun and Sunset Western Garden Collection.

Altoz CEO Winner of Entrepreneur Award

Dennis Brazier, Altoz’s CEO & Founder, was named one of the winners of the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 Upper Midwest Award. This year marks the award’s 30th anniversary since its founding in 1986. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall National Award winner, will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in November 19, 2016.

JCB Growth Continues with Largest Shipment to Savannah

In early 2015, JCB received what was then the company’s largest single vessel shipment of 341 construction and agricultural machines to the Georgia Ports Authority from its manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. That record was broken when JCB’s UK facility shipped over 400 machines worth more than $35 million to the Georgia Ports Authority. The vessel “Tugela” brought the 400-plus JCB machines directly from the United Kingdom on May 28. JCB manufactures its full line of 18 model skid steers and compact track loaders, along with the 3CX backhoe at its Savannah headquarters for export across the globe.

KIOTI Tractor Garners Gold Level Status

KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA, Inc. recently received the Gold Level Status Award from the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA). Fifty-five manufactures in four categories were included in the 2016 Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey conducted by EDA. KIOTI exceeded the national average among tractor manufacturers in all 12 categories ranked by more than 2,300 participating dealers.

2016 Victory Garden Blitz Breaks Records

CASE Construction Equipment and CNH Industrial donated a skid steer to the 8th Annual Victory Garden Blitz, located in the Greater Milwaukee area. Held in May, this year’s event marked the record-breaking installation of 555 gardens – achieving a grand total of more than 3,000 gardens for communities throughout Milwaukee since the project started in 2009. CASE/CNH Industrial is one of many partners of the Victory Garden Blitz. In addition to financial sponsorship of the Initiative, the manufacturer donated the use of an SV300 skid steer for the event, which helped move more than 550 yards of soil. The gardens are made possible with a $160 donation or sponsorship. Each garden is 4-feet by 8-feet and includes a full installation as well as new soil from local composters.

Porous Pave Adds Rubber to Its Permeable Paving Material

The standard size of the recycled rubber chips has been changed in Porous Pave’s surfacing material. The chips are smaller, from 1/4-3/8 inch to 1/8-1/4 inch, creating a smoother paved surface. Porous Pave XL has a 50-50 rubber chip and aggregate mix and is poured 1 to 2 inches think over a compacted base allowing it to drain and filter rain and runoff.

Rain Bird Releases 2016 Irrigation Training Schedule

Rain Bird Training Services has released its schedule of irrigation training events for Summer 2016 with events that give irrigation professionals the chance to improve their knowledge bases, receive Irrigation Association (IA) continuing education credits (CEUs) and even prepare for IA certification exams.

JCB Produced Its 200,000th Loadall Telehandler

JCB recently celebrated the production of its 200,000th Loadall telescopic handler. Launched in 1977 as the JCB 520, the first Loadall was a two-wheel drive machine with a 21-foot lift height and a maximum lift capacity of 2.48 tons. Over the past 40 years, the JCB Loadall range has expanded to working heights of up to 65.6 feet and maximum lift capacities exceeding 6.61 tons. JCB has updated the machine regularly through the years, introducing four-wheel drive, placing the engine to the side of the chassis to allow a lower boom-mounting position and offering multi-mode steering with equal-size wheels to improve maneuverability.

CSTK JCB Opens News Kansas City Location

JCB equipment dealer CSTK JCB has opened a new, dedicated JCB sales, service and rental facility in Kansas City, KS. The new JCB facility is directly across the street from CSTK’s existing Thermo King dealership.

Vectorworks Announces New CEO, Other Promotions

Dr. Biplab Sarkar has been appointed to CEO of Vectorworks after being an employee for more than 16 years and chief technology officer for eight of those years. Sarkar succeeds Sean Flaherty as CEO following a four-month selection process. Along with the appointment of new positions at Vectorworks, the Nemetschek Group Supervisory Board has appointed Sean Flaherty to the full-time position of chief strategy officer. Darick DeHart is now vice president of product management and Steve Johnson is now vice president of product development.

Ivy Munion ASIC Past President Has Passed Away

Ivy Munion, American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) past president, had been fighting cancer for the last several years and passed away on May 23, 2016. Munion was the first female president of ASIC and the co-owner, then sole owner of ISC Group, a consulting firm in California. ASIC released a statement saying, “ASIC will always be grateful for her contributions to the industry as an untiring advocate for responsible water use in the landscape and for her profession.”

Atlantic Irrigation Now Distributes the IrriGreen Genius System

Atlantic Irrigation, an East Coast products distributor with 32 locations, has announced they will now be distributing the IrriGreen Genius Irrigation System. IrriGreen says the system has digital control technology and nozzle design from high-tech, commercial inkjet printers. The water spray patterns can match any lawn shape and work to eliminate overlapping sprays and therefore water waste, the company says.

TBEI Lake Crystal Facility Welcomes New General Manager

Truck Bodies & Equipment International, Inc. has hired Stephen Hueser as the new General Manager of the TBEI Lake Crystal facility. Hueser will be in charge of all operations at the facility, which produces the Crysteel, J-Craft and Ox SuperDump brands of products.

OPEI Encourages Greater Attention at the Fuel Pump

Gasoline containing greater than ten percent ethanol (E10) can damage or destroy outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers, chain saws, generators, utility vehicles and other small engine equipment, according to most engine manufacturers. A recent survey by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) found that two-thirds (64 percent) of American adults age 18+ who own outdoor power equipment say they either are not sure (42 percent) or do not pay any attention (22 percent) to what type of fuel they are using. Yet, the poll shows 66 percent of Americans will use the least expensive grade of gasoline whenever possible.

Paul Wade Joins Takeuchi as Regional Sales Manager

Takeuchi-US recently hired Paul Wade as Midwest regional business manager. In his new role, Wade will be responsible in his territory for managing dealer relationships, developing new and existing markets, assisting with inventories and directing sales planning and program promotions. Residing in Naperville, Illinois, Wade has nearly 20 years of experience in the sales and marketing fields.

U.S. General Services Administration Adopts SITES for Capital Construction Program

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced it has adopted the SITES rating system for its capital construction program. Owned and managed by Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI), SITES is the most comprehensive program for sustainable land development and management and is used by landscape architects, engineers, architects, developers and policymakers to align land development with innovative sustainable design.

Ditch Witch Showcases New Equipment Customer Event

At the 2016 Orange Iron Experience Customer Event welcomed more than 300 customers and dealers from across the world to its headquarters in Perry, Oklahoma on March 29 and 30. The Orange Iron Experience allowed customers to tour the expansive 30-acre site, demo the newest equipment and meet the people who design, engineer and build the equipment they rely on every day. The two-day event included a special ceremony introducing customers to the latest Ditch Witch equipment, a welcome presentation by President Dennis Wierzbicki, a tour of the full manufacturing factory and campus, and an afternoon of hands-on equipment demonstrations. The Perry campus is also home to Charles Machine Works and Subsite Electronics.

Roofing Industry on ‘Environmental Fast Track,’ Reports BCC Research

Today’s roofing industry is seeing intensified interest in products that are made from recycled materials and promote energy efficiency and sustainability. BCC Research reveals in its new report that the industry is on the “environmental fast track” with roofing manufacturers, distributors and contractors offering more environmentally friendly products and services. The North American residential roofing materials market is expected to grow from nearly $6.5 billion in 2015 to $7.8 billion by 2020, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8%.