Source: www.TurfMagazine.com
STEC to Distribute RotaDairon Products
STEC Equipment, Inc. is now the North American distributor of the RotaDairon turf line, offering the complete range of stone buriers, seeders and brush cutters. RotaDairon Emrex, Inc. will continue as general importer and warehousing for the different RotaDairon lines in the Americas, with STEC acting as distributor for all turf products.
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Otterbine Donates Aeration Systems
Otterbine Barebo, Inc. joined ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” program to donate two of its most energy-efficient aeration systems to the Urban family of Hamburg, Pa. Watkins Architect Firm contacted Otterbine for assistance with a distressed pond for the project. The company donated and installed an Air Flo 2 system and .5 hp AquaSeries Deluxe package.
Rain Safe SPS Now Available at all Horizon Sales Centers
Horizon Distributors’ Rain Safe Solar Power Supply is now available at all Horizon sales centers. Rain Safe SPS provides temporary, semipermanent or permanent remote solar power to irrigation controllers.
Gehl and De Lage Landen Announce Partnership
Gehl Co. and De Lage Landen Financial Services, Inc. announced that they have entered into a strategic partner program agreement to provide equipment finance services throughout the U.S. The agreement will provide retail financing and dealer rental fleet financing programs. De Lage Landen will offer tailored loan and lease financing directly to registered U.S. Gehl and Mustang brand dealers and to end-user customers seeking equipment finance solutions.
TruGreen Launches New Website for Commercial Customers
TruGreen has strengthened its outreach to commercial customers with a new website designed to provide businesses and other organizations with the latest information on lawn and landscape care. Visitors to the site, www.trugreencommercial.com, will find information on TruGreen’s services in landscape maintenance, tree and shrub care, insect and disease control, fertilization and weed control, seasonal color plantings, and irrigation evaluations, maintenance and renovation. In addition, businesses can easily access information about their local TruGreen branch through the site.
Peterson Cat Announces Updated Management Structure, Promotions
Peterson Cat introduced its updated management structure, which will complement the company’s purchase of Halton Co. Kevin Culligan, formerly a business development analyst in southern Oregon, will now serve as general manager of earthmoving sales.
Roy Walker, Rich Bolen and Randy Grime will continue in their current capacities as general manager of product support, general manager of the rental division and ag sales manager, respectively.
Duane Doyle Jr. was promoted to product support sales manager, having previously served as field service manager for Peterson Tractor Co.
Bill Bean, formerly manager of Peterson Cat’s Eugene and Redmond stores, will now serve as general manager of southern operations.
Previously a sales manager, Bryan Barnes will now act as a regional sales manager for the southern territory.
Use of Biological Products Growing Among Turf Professionals
Turf care professionals, landscape contractors and golf course superintendents are increasingly incorporating biological products into their turf fertility programs to improve plant health and appearance, as well as to complement their environmentally sustainable practices. Those were among the findings of a survey conducted on behalf of LebanonTurf to gauge the acceptance of biologicals as an emerging fertilization category. Survey respondents were asked to consider biologicals as products based on a wide range of living organisms, including microbes, bacteria, mycorrhizae, sea plant extracts and hormones, that are added to a fertilizer prill or delivered as standalone products.
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Ariens Plans to Consolidate Brands, Introduces New Logo
Ariens Co. has set a timeline to phase out the EverRide and Great Dane brands of commercial mowers. The change will take place at the end of the 2011 lawn and garden season in order to allow current distributors and dealers time to prepare their own transition plans. The company plans to focus on Gravely as its core professional brand. Ariens will provide technical service, parts and warranty programs for current EverRide and Great Dane products through the 2011 season.
The company will change its corporate logo in an effort to distinguish the Ariens Co. logo from the Ariens brand logo used to identify Ariens Sno-Thro products and Ariens lawn and garden products. The new script logo is based on an earlier logo from the 1960s in an effort to reinforce the longevity of the company history, which dates back to 1933.
Bird-B-Gone Launches Online Store
Bird-B-Gone, Inc. has officially launched an online store. The complete line of professional-grade bird deterrents can now be purchased through an easy-to-navigate shopping cart. The online store can be found at www.birdbgone.com/bird-control-store.
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Improved Educational Source for LCOs at FarmLinks
FarmLinks at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Ala., has partnered with Agrium Advanced Technologies, BASF Corp., Toro Co. and other companies in the industry to launch several new educational pilot programs, including one designed specifically for lawn care operators. These solutions-based programs provide an excellent balance of education, collaboration and recreation. Several sessions are planned for 2011, and interested professionals may call 877-292-3276 or e-mail info@farmlinks.org for details.
New Ditch Witch Mobile Website Launched
The Ditch Witch organization has launched a new mobile website that enables users to conveniently access detailed product information and interactive features. By accessing the Ditch Witch site, www.ditchwitch.com, from a mobile device, users will be taken to a site where they will find up-to-date information about the entire Ditch Witch product line, downhole tool selector, drilling fluid formulator, drill pipe reference tool and a function for locating the nearest Ditch Witch dealer.
News from John Deere
The John Deere Horicon Works, Horicon, Wis., announced production of the company’s 500,000th Gator utility vehicle, marking the milestone by building one of John Deere’s latest models, the XUV825i. The heritage of the Gator product began in 1987, when John Deere first built utility machines that preceded the Gator’s design and creation. In 1993, the company launched the Gator utility vehicle, and there are now 17 different models.
John Deere Power Systems announced that its PowerTech PVX 6.8L above 174 hp and PowerTech PSX 6.8L engines have been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and European Union as compliant with Interim Tier 4 and Stage III B regulations. These engines join the certified 9.0L engine models.
United Launches Mobile Website
United Rentals, Inc. announced a new mobile version of its website, www.unitedrentals.com. It uses a state-of-the-art smart phone interface that makes it easy for customers to search for equipment, request rental quotes and locate nearby branches via the GPS in their mobile phones.
Kioti Expands Dealer Network
Kioti Tractor announced the continued expansion of its dealer network with the appointment of four new dealerships across the U.S. These dealers are Novia Industries, Ocala, Fla.; JJ Farm Sales & Service LLC, Muskegon, Mich.; Gilchrist Tractor, Inc., Mena, Ariz.; and Z-4 Enterprises, Inc., Alcalde, N.M.
Terex Awarded Contract to Build Telehandlers
Terex Corp. was awarded an $18.9 million contract to build 200 Terex TX51-19MD Light Rough Terrain Forklifts for the U.S. Marine Corps through its Terex Government Programs unit in Stafford, Va. The initial delivery order is in the amount of $9 million for over 100 units.
Stihl Announces Election, Award
Fred J. Whyte, president of Stihl, Inc., was elected as chairman of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute during the association’s 58th annual meeting. Whyte’s term will be for one year.
Popular Mechanics honored Stihl with a 2010 Breakthrough Award for the Stihl HSA 65 hedge trimmer, the first product with 36-volt Stihl lithium ion battery technology. The trimmer was one of 10 products recognized with the award, which celebrates the “most brilliant innovators and products of the year.”
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Rosetta Announces Survey Contest Winner
Rosetta Hardscapes held a contest asking landscape contractors to give feedback on their experiences installing Rosetta products. Rosetta’s corporate office held a random drawing to select winner Bill Hajdu of Decorative Landscape Stone in Otterville, Ont. Decorative Landscape Stone distributes and installs Rosetta products manufactured by Brown’s Concrete Products, Ltd., Sudbury, Ont. Hajdu received a 40-inch flat-screen television.
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Felling Adds Larsen to Sales Force
Felling Trailers, Inc. announced the appointment of Daniel “Boone” Larsen to the position of inside/outside sales representative. Larsen joined the Felling team in June 2010. He has worked in the transportation industry for over 20 years and has an extensive background in sales and service.
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