Coneqtec Acquires Terramite Assets
Terraquip Construction Products, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Coneqtec Corp., Inc., announced that it has acquired the assets and the rights to manufacture and distribute the product lines of the Terramite Co., Inc. Terramite was formed in 1965 and sells its products domestically and internationally. Coneqtec is headquartered in Wichita, Kan., and has facilities in Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia and England.
SavATree Establishes New Division
SavATree announced the launch of its Natural Resource Consulting Division. The new business division is designed to provide specialty services to private, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. SavATree services include landscape management planning, site evaluation, tree inventory, formal tree risk assessment, tree appraisal, legal and expert witness, project management and tree preservation. Patrick Parker, SavATree’s plant health care program director, will head the division. He is an ISA/Massachusetts Certified Arborist, Connecticut and Rhode Island Certified Arborist and New Jersey Certified Tree Expert with a background in plant biology, insect/disease management and product technology.
ASTM Requests Papers for 2009 Symposium
ASTM International is seeking paper submissions for the 30th Symposium on Pesticide Formulations and Delivery Systems: Regulations and Innovation, scheduled for October 20-22, 2009. Participants can submit preliminary abstracts by May 22 and will be notified of acceptance by June 26. Dr. P.V. Shah of the EPA will be the keynote speaker, and the event will feature presentations on biopesticides, drift reduction and development of multiactive formulations as well as industry commentary. Visit www.astm.org for more information.
Second Half of FY 2009 Cap Reached
The Department of Homeland Security announced that the 33,000 cap for the second half of fiscal year 2009 was reached January 7, 2009, meaning that many companies may not get the H-2B workers they need without congressional action. The Professional Landcare Network continues to lobby Congress for an immediate H-2B fix. Representatives and senators can be contacted through the congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121, and letters can be sent through PLANET’s Web site, www.landcarenetwork.org.
DHS and the Department of Labor issued final rules related to H-2B program administration that went into effect January 18, 2009. The rules make changes to program administration and enforcement, but do not impact the 66,000 cap. DHS delegated additional enforcement authority to DOL. The rules also prohibit recruiters or employers from collecting application or recruitment fees from H-2B workers, establish an attestation process and change the role of the State Workforce Agencies. To view the complete text of the rules, visit www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/H2BFinalRule.pdf for DOL and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-30094.htm for DHS.
CST Signs National Agreement With TPC Network
CS Trading LLC, based in Liberty, S.C., has established a national account with the TPC Network. CS Trading distributes Sisis turf equipment and 3PointPower products.
Horizon Offers Water Rebate Resources
To help landscape contractors provide water-saving solutions to their customers, Horizon Distributors has created a section on its Web site dedicated to water district rebates. The section is categorized by city and includes information on rebates currently available for installing smart irrigation products. For details, visit www.horizononline.com/waterrebates.
Huggett to Serve on UW CALS Board of Visitors
Paul Huggett, Paul’s Turf & Tree Nursery, Marshall, Wis., was named to the University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Science board of visitors. Huggett, who is president of the Wisconsin Nursery Association and a member of the Wisconsin Sod Producers Association, will represent the green industry on the board.
Mid-Am Held in Chicago
The Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show was held at McCormick Place West in Chicago, Ill., and attracted 8,795 horticulture industry professionals. The three-day event featured exhibits from 432 industry companies, filling 90,550 square feet of space. Of the total registration, 5,837 were buyers, 2,079 were exhibitors and 879 were students. The Student Career Center featured 37 industry companies.
The best product winners of the Innovation Showcase were named during the show. The showcase highlighted new plants, products and equipment. First place in the hard goods category went to VAST Enterprises, represented by Illinois Brick Co., for its VAST Composite Pavers; first place in the plant material category was awarded to Midwest Groundcovers for a buddleia variety; and first place in the equipment category went to C&S Turf Care for its Turf Tracker Power Pod. Jim Nau, Ball Horticultural Co., West Chicago, Ill., was honored for 10 consecutive years of service to Mid-Am as a speaker.
Fertilizer Production Underway at Converted Organics Facility
Converted Organics, Inc. announced that it produced its first batch of organic granular fertilizer at its new Woodbridge, N.J., manufacturing facility and is poised to fill orders from customers for the 2009 growing season. Converted Organics began using its proprietary High Temperature Liquid Composting process at the Woodbridge facility in the summer of 2008 to manufacture organic liquid fertilizer and soil amendment products. It also has a manufacturing facility in Gonzales, Calif.
Honda Announces Three-Year Warranties
Honda Power Equipment announced three-year warranty coverage for its outdoor power equipment products that feature selected Honda GX Series engines. It does not include products equipped with engines less than 97cc or GXV160 engines. Honda will also offer a three-year warranty on many of its GX Series engines. Full details can be found at www.honda-engines.com.
Hendry & Associates Forms Relationship With Atlantic Water Gardens
Hendry & Associates announced its appointment as the manufacturer’s representative of Atlantic Water Gardens. Hendry & Associates is an independent manufacturer’s representative firm serving the green industry in the Midwest and Southeast. Atlantic is based in Ohio and manufactures pond equipment.
John Deere Redesigns Equipment Site, Wins IA Award
John Deere has redesigned its MachineFinder Web site at www.MachineFinder.com. The site now features an enhanced search and browsing system, built-in shipping integration, ability to save searches, Google Maps, detailed gallery views, user profiles, comprehensive equipment information and more.
John Deere Green Tech won an Irrigation Association 2008 New Product Award, which honors innovative products and services in four categories: specialty, golf, agriculture and turf and landscape. John Deere Green Tech took top honors in the specialty category with the MHG (Micro Hydroelectric Generator), a system that produces electricity from water flowing through pipes.
Exmark Awards Extreme Cup to LEPCO
Exmark has selected Lawn Equipment Parts Co., Marietta, Pa., as the winner of its 2008 Extreme Cup, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding manager or parts department of an Exmark distributor. LEPCO supplies aftermarket parts to more than 800 dealers, including Exmark dealers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia. Doug Ulmer led the parts department until his retirement in December 2008, and Glen Burkholder is now the parts and service manager.
Kawasaki Selects Stens for Canadian Distribution
The Engines & Power Products Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., has chosen Stens, LLC, Jasper, Ind., as its distributor to a network of more than 500 independent dealers in Canada. Stens, a subsidiary of Ariens Co., currently supplies parts and accessories to more than 50,000 customers through its worldwide distribution network. It will use distribution centers in Brantford, Ont., and Calgary, Alb., to provide direct support to the Canadian dealer network.
Terex AWP Acquires West Coast Refurbishment Center
Terex Aerial Work Platforms has acquired assets of a refurbishment facility owned by United Rentals in Modesto, Calif. The facility will provide refurbishment services for Genie aerial equipment, and eventually Terex equipment as well. The center has been in business for 10 years. Terex will employ its 32 team members, with John McPhedran, branch manager, reporting directly to Siva Balakrishnan, Terex AWP vice president and general manager of global services.
Gehl Celebrates 150th Anniversary
Gehl Co. marks its 150th anniversary in 2009. The company was founded in 1859 in a blacksmith shop in West Bend, Wis., where it is still headquartered today. It has been led by three generations of Gehl family members, with William Gehl the current CEO and board chairman. To commemorate the milestone, the company published an illustrated book that details its history and is available at www.gehl.com.
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| The Gehl Co. sales team in 1921. |
Redexim Charterhouse Opens Factory Direct Store
Redexim Charterhouse, Inc. announced the opening of a new factory direct store, Redexim Turf Products, in Fenton, Mo. The factory store will offer sales of the entire Redexim Charterhouse product line, as well as parts and service. Nate Patrick will act as sales manager for the store and manage accounts in Kansas City and areas further west, including western Missouri and Kansas. Derek Smith will cover the St. Louis market, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois.
CGC and SPI Merge
Commercial Grounds Care, Inc., Johnson Creek, Wis., and Schiller-Pfeiffer, Inc., Southampton, Pa., have merged to create Schiller Grounds Care, Inc.. The new entity will continue to manufacture and distribute the BOB-CAT, Bunton, Classen, Little Wonder, Mantis, Ryan and Steiner brands through three manufacturing facilities in Norfolk, Neb., Southampton and Johnson Creek. The Southampton facility will also serve as the corporate office.
GIS Dynamics Offers Online Service
GIS Dynamics, West Chester, Ohio, has created an online service that enables lawn and landscape companies to attain accurate property measurements and building footprints from any Internet-connected computer. Go iLawn software allows users to log on and enter the address of the property to produce a high-resolution aerial view of the building with boundary lines clearly marked. A measurement tool is provided, as well as additional views.
PacLease Adds 13 New Locations
PACCAR Leasing Co. has continued its expansion with the addition of 13 new locations throughout the United States and Canada. The new locations are Worldwide PacLease, London, Ky., and Princeton and Huntington, W.Va.; Rush PacLease, Charlotte, N.C., and Waco, Texas; Kenworth Northwest PacLease, Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska; Southland PacLease, Gray, La.; Peterbilt of Ontario PacLease, Cardinal, Whitby and Brampton, Ont.; Peterbilt Atlantic PacLease, Kentville, Nova Scotia; and Great West PacLease, Red Deer, Alb.
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