News from around the Green industry
Clark Wins GIE+EXPO’s Trucks of the Industry Giveaway
Jennifer Clark of Clark Landscape Group in Monroe, N.C., was the winner of the Trucks of the Industry Giveaway held during the 2007 Green Industry & Equipment Expo. Just by attending the show and visiting the exhibits of the participating truck manufacturers, she received $20,000 toward the purchase of a new work truck.
The giveaway was sponsored by Power Equipment Trade and Turf magazines, and featured eight major truck manufacturers: Dodge, Ford Commercial Truck, Isuzu Commercial Truck America, GM Fleet and Commercial, International Truck & Engine Corp., Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Sterling Truck Corp. and Toyota Trucks.
Parker Hannafin Presents Grasshopper Innovation Award
The Grasshopper Co. has received a Partnership Award for Excellence in Pioneering Innovation from Parker Hannafin Corp.
The company received the award in recognition for their collaborative design and test efforts in the codevelopment of a new hydrostatic drive system. The system, dubbed T2 by Grasshopper, is incorporated into a new AntiVibe Power Platform in certain 2008 models.
Dal Pozzo Joins Target Specialty
Chuck Dal Pozzo is the new account representative for Target Specialty Products, based in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. He will be working with golf course superintendents and landscape accounts in northern Los Angeles, as well as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Dal Pozzo, a licensed pest control adviser, has over 25 years’ experience in the turf and ornamental industry. Before joining Target, he worked for Monterey Agricultural Resources.
His professional affiliations include the California Association of Pest Control Advisers, the Sports Turf Managers Association and the Southern California Golf Course Superintendents Association.
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ZIPPER Mowers Names Evans National Sales Manager
ZIPPER Mowers has named Warren Evans national sales manager.
Evans brings more than 20 years of experience in the lawn mowing industry. Most recently, he held the position of national sales manager at Dixie Chopper for 15 years.
Ariens Conducts 1,000th Kaizen Event
As part of a focused commitment to lean manufacturing principles, Ariens Company employees conducted the 1,000th kaizen event aimed at reducing waste within the operation.
The milestone represents participation by 665 employees for total work hour of about 280,000 since 2001.
A kaizen event is a weeklong exercise that involves a group of employees evaluating a single process using lean tools to understand the current state of the process, eliminate non-value-added efforts and establish a new model for standard work. Currently, the company conducts multiple kaizen events every other week throughout the year.
Scag Donates to Disabled American Veterans
Scag Power Equipment recently presented the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) with a donation check for $130,000. Scag, in cooperation with its distributors and dealers, has committed to contribute $50 to DAV for each Scag Freedom Z mower retailed and registered through 2007. The donation presented represents Freedom Z mowers sold and registered through mid-September. The remaining 2007 donation will be made in early 2008.
DAV, a 1.3-million-member nonprofit organization, was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Scag, a division of Metalcraft of Mayville, Inc., manufactures commercial mowing equipment.
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Ventrac by Venture Names Award Winners
Venture Products, Inc. has announced the recipients of the company’s 2007 Dealer Awards.
This year’s winner of the Marvin Steiner Award is Bob Lawrence of Bob Lawrence Power Equipment in Asheville, N.C. Other 2007 Dealer Award winners: Growth Award, Charlottesville Power Equipment, Charlottesville, Va., and Brace Power Equipment, Carrollton, Ohio; Total Sales Award, North Carolina Turf Equipment, Wilmington, N.C., and O’Neils Farm Equipment, Binbrook, Ont., Canada; New Dealer Growth Award, Brace Power Equipment, Carrollton, Ohio; and International Growth Award, HC Peterson & CO, Denmark.
Hunter Expands Headquarters and Announces Promotions
Hunter Industries has expanded its campus in San Marcos, Calif., and has promoted 10 senior management employees to director level positions. Three of the newly appointed directors will run sales and marketing: Steve Abernethy was promoted to director of sales—North America; Barry Pedler was promoted to director of sales—international; and Jon Truttmann was promoted to director of marketing.
Marketing has been reorganized to encompass five distinct disciplines: brand management under Lance Elliot; product management under Gene Smith and Greg Hunter; promotions management under Phil Robisch; customer relations management under Mohammad Dairi; and project management under Judy Netteland. These six will report directly to Truttman in his new role.
Hunter is also building a new distribution center and sales and marketing headquarters. The new facility will include 95,000 square feet of warehouse and 44,000 square feet of offices, and the entire sales and marketing organization will be under one roof.
NDS Celebrates 30 Years of Putting Water in its Place
NDS, Inc. began producing plastic drainage products more than 30 years ago. Through the years, NDS has continued to innovate within the industry to expand its business across multiple categories. NDS is committed to helping reduce the environmental impact of stormwater, as well as conserving water through efficient landscape irrigation and water flow management.
Based in Woodland Hills, Calif., NDS offers the Flo-Well stormwater leaching system, Agrifim drip irrigation systems and Flo Control flow management products.
Corona Clipper and PLANET Join Forces
The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and Corona Clipper, Inc. have teamed up to create a training manual and DVD about pruning trees and shrubs. The techniques demonstrated will mirror skills required to receive PLANET’s nationally recognized Certified Landscape Technician designation.
Available in Spanish and English, the DVD focuses on shrubs and trees less than 15 feet tall, demonstrating specific pruning techniques with an emphasis on safety. The accompanying manual will include content-related questions, enabling companies to test an employee’s knowledge.
Dow AgroSciences Recognized
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Co., was recognized as a winner in one category and as a finalist in four others in the AGROW Awards competition, which honors corporate and individual excellence in the crop protection and production industry.
Winners, named October 16 at a dinner and presentation in Glasgow, Scotland, included Dow AgroSciences’ EcoZome as the 2007 Best Formulation Innovation.
Dow AgroSciences was nominated and named as a finalist for Best Stewardship Program for its product stewardship and risk mitigation for ProFume fumigant; Best New Crop Protection Product for aminopyralid-containing herbicides; Most Innovative Chemistry for spinetoram; and Best Public Program for its agricultural science outreach tours.
This is the first year the awards were presented. Entries were judged by a panel of 13 industry professionals from around the world.
Smith Joins Scotts Co.
Cameron Smith has joined The Scotts Co. as territory manager for northern California, Hawaii, northern Nevada and Utah. His primary responsibilities will include developing new end-user accounts as well as maintaining existing accounts.
Smith, based in Davis, Calif., has extensive experience in specialty chemical sales within the greenhouse, nursery, landscape and turf industries. His most recent position was as a territory sales manager for Chemtura Corp. in Davis. Prior to his tenure with Chemtura, Smith served as a territory sales manager for BioWorks, Inc. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and environmental science and management from the University of California-Davis.
Saint-Gobain Plants Honored for Safety
Twenty-two CertainTeed and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics manufacturing sites in the United States recently received awards for safety performance in 2006 from The Society of the Plastics Industry’s (SPI) Occupational Health and Environmental Issues Committee.
The Distinguished Safety Award recognized sites without an OSHA recordable injury or illness. These were Saint-Gobain plants in Beaverton, Mich.; Clearwater, Fla.; Mickleton, N.J.; Poestenkill, N.Y.; Seattle, Wash.; and Taunton and Worcester, Mass.
The SPI Achievement Award was earned by Saint-Gobain plants in Bridgewater, N.J.; Elk Grove, Ill.; Hoosick Falls, N.Y.; Garden Grove, Calif.; and Ravenna, Ohio, for operating without an injury or illness resulting in lost time or restricted work activity.
The Saint-Gobain facility in Bristol, R.I., and the CertainTeed facility in Social Circle, Ga., were honored with an Award of Merit for having a days-away-from-work, days of restricted activity or job transfer (DART) rate lower than the national average and a DART rate reduction of at least 20 percent.
Three Saint-Gobain plants (in Granville, N.Y.; Portage, Wis.; and Wayne, N.J.) and five CertainTeed facilities (in Buffalo, N.Y.; Jackson, Mich.; Lodi, Calif.; Waco, Texas; and Williamsport, Md.) received a Special Recognition Award for having safety performance better than the national average.
Weathermatic Acquires Ecologic
Weathermatic has acquired Ecologic, developer of the RainBrain line of rain and rain/freeze sensors.
Ecologic’s manufacturing operations will move into the Weathermatic production facility in Dallas, Texas. Ecologic founder Dave Klever will oversee the transition.
Weathermatic has manufactured landscape irrigation equipment since the 1940s and was the first company to introduce a rain sensor in the 1970s.
Klever has developed sensor products for the irrigation industry for more than 20 years. Prior to founding Ecologic, he designed rain sensors for Glen-Hilton Products.
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Scotts Co. Promotes Lewis
Ryan Lewis has been promoted to the position of product manager for water soluble fertilizers for The Scotts Co.
Based in Marysville, Ohio, Lewis is responsible for all water soluble fertilizer product lines. Lewis started with Scotts in June 2006 as an assistant marketing manager for the Professional Business Group.
Prior to his tenure with Scotts, Lewis served as an assistant product manager for Union Tools, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. He also served as a marketing assistant for Ohio State University’s Department of Athletics in Columbus. Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University.
Bayer Announces Marketing and Sales Changes
Bayer Environmental Science recently announced changes with marketing and sales in the Green Professional Products group.
Jason Kuhlemeier was named business manager for fipronil and classic insecticides. He is also the lawn care market lead. Previously, Kuhlemeier was marketing services/project manager.
Matt Bradley will assume the responsibilities of marketing services/project manager. Bradley’s previous position was in Florida as a golf field sales representative.
Joe Burke was named business manager for imidacloprid and the greenhouse/nursery market lead. Previously, Burke was the controlling manager for the Environmental Science business.
There are now four sales regions for Green Professional Products. Mike Ruizzo was named northeast sales manager. Previously, he was national accounts manager. Jim Fetter was named north central sales manager. Previously, he was manager of the Lawn and Landscape sales group. Brian Tepper remains western regional sales manager, and Eric Kalasz remains the southern regional sales manager.
Bryan Gooch was named national accounts manager. Previously, he was business manager for imidacloprid products.
Conwed Purchases Tie-Net Unit
Conwed Global Netting Solutions acquired the Tie-Net Unit of Tipper Tie, Inc., located in West Chicago, Ill. The purchase includes Tipper Tie’s knitted net products brands, Tie-Net and Net All.
Conwed is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.
John Deere Names Agency of Record
John Deere Construction & Forestry Division has tapped Fergus/Peters Group, based in Des Plaines, Ill., as its public relations and advertising agency of record for its construction business.
John Deere’s partnership with Fergus/Peters officially began Nov. 1. All public relations and media activity for their construction business will be coordinated through the new agency and managed by Craig Olson, the manager of marketing communications, events and promotions for the Construction and Forestry Division.
Eagle Point Adds Job Board
Eagle Point Software Corp. announced the addition of a job board to its newest business service, Eagle Point Exchange.
This service is an on-line business community dedicated to civil engineering, land surveying and landscape architecture firms. Initially, it includes access to resources that help owners manage workload, such as a job board and Contract Connections. The exchange will evolve to provide educational materials, business templates, and connections to others in the industry to help business owners manage their organizations effectively and efficiently.
TeeJet Alerts Users of Update
TeeJet Technologies sells and supports GPS receivers using the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the United States’ free DGPS correction system.
The WAAS signal is transmitted by geostationary satellites that are independent of the GPS satellite system. Two of these satellites (referred to as PRN 122 and PRN 134) were decommissioned in July 2007, and once they ceased broadcasting correction signals, PRN 135 and PRN 138 became the only active WAAS satellites available. Many GPS receivers that have been shipped over the past five years will need a configuration change in order to continue receiving the WAAS correction signal from the new satellites.
TeeJet will be exhibiting at a variety of trade shows, and GPS receivers can be brought to shows for free upgrades to any affected products. For more information visit www.teejet.com.
Scotts Co. Announces New Global Structure
The Scotts Co. has announced a new organizational structure for its Professional Business Group, which markets fertilizers, plant protection products and agriculture products. According to Claude Lopez, senior vice president, international, the realignment is intended to leverage the company’s worldwide presence.
Fred Bosch has been named vice president, global professional, and will be responsible for developing a long-term business plan for that division. He will also lead the International and North America Professional businesses.
Korbin Riley has been named vice president, Global Professional Grass Seed and Emerging Markets and is tasked with leveraging Scotts’ recent investment in grass seed operations on a more global basis. He will also focus on expanding the company’s Professional and Consumer businesses into emerging markets throughout the Asia/Pacific region, Latin America and other world regions. Fidel Quinones, director of the Latin America division, will now report to Riley.
Thomas Appoints Etholm President & CEO
Thomas Equipment, Inc. has hired Petter M. Etholm as president and chief executive officer, and he was appointed to the board of directors. He succeeds Michael Luther, who will remain with Thomas Equipment as chairman of the board.
Thomas Equipment is emerging from a period of financial difficulty and embarked on a restructuring program to regain its market position and financial strength.
Previously, Etholm was a consultant to the Thomas Equipment 2004 subsidiary. He was also president of Cardsmart Retail and executive vice president of Nutri/System, Inc. Earlier in his career, Etholm founded Norwegian Wood, Inc. and Elinex, LLC.
CGC & SPI Announce New President; Honor Distributors
Commercial Grounds Care, Inc. and Schiller-Pfeiffer, Inc. announced that Pat Cappucci is the new president of the affiliated companies. Cappucci brings a diversified background and experience to the companies, with service in a variety of functional areas ranging from ground level to senior management. Cappucci brings over 10 years of OPE experience to CGC & SPI and more than 25 years of driving growth for leading companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Marquette University and an MBA with honors from The Carlson School at the University of Minnesota.
CGC and SPI also honored their commercial distribution sales partners at their recent distributor meeting in Johnson Creek, Wis.
CGC award winners include Hayward Distributing, Distributor of the Year; Bobby Garner, Pat Davenport and Jeff Keuhn, Territory Managers of the Year; Mike Fairfax, Sales Manager of the Year; and Scott Ferrone, Rookie of the Year.
SPI award winners include Fierle Distribution Corp., Distributor of the Year (United States); Echo Canada, Distributor of the Year (Canada); Buddy Merz, Jeff Woods and Jeff Peek, Territory Managers of the Year; and Rick Favata, Sales Manager of the Year.
LidoChem Expands Into Southeast
LidoChem, Inc.’s Performance Nutrition Division has expanded into the southeast turf and ornamentals markets with its line of agricultural, turf and ornamental fertility and disease control products. To support this new stage of growth, LidoChem has announced the addition of Glen Thompson as southeast regional sales manager for the turf and ornamental markets. He will be responsible for managing product sales for golf courses and sports turf management, and expanding the company’s network of local dealers throughout the Southeast.
Thompson is a graduate of the Lake City Turf Management Program and has served as an assistant superintendent at various golf courses in the Carolinas. He spent several years selling fertilizer products for dealers in the Florida markets. Most recently he owned and operated a local fertilizer distribution company.
John Deere Clarifies Position on Biodiesel Use
Due to the variety of standards that exist in the diesel engine industry and in response to questions from various markets, John Deere Power Systems has officially clarified its position on the use of biodiesel in its diesel engines.
While 5 percent blends (B5) are preferred, biodiesel concentrations up to a 20 percent blend (B20) in petroleum diesel fuel can be used in John Deere engines through Tier 3/Stage III A models, including all non-emissions-certified engines. Biodiesel blends up to B20 can be used only if the biodiesel (100 percent biodiesel or B100) meets ASTM D6751, EN 14214 or equivalent specification. Biodiesel users are strongly encouraged to purchase biodiesel blends from a BQ-9000 Certified Marketer and to source from a BQ-9000 Accredited Producer, as certified by the National Biodiesel Board.
Arysta Acquires GBM
Arysta LifeScience Corp. has completed the acquisition of Grupo Bioquímico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. (GBM), a Mexican manufacturer and marketer of inputs for the fruit and vegetable market. The purchase includes GBM and its subsidiaries, affiliated real estate and employee service companies, as well as its formulation and manufacturing facilities in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico.
TapSet Signs Distribution Agreement With Rex
TapSet Corp. has signed a distribution agreement with Rex Commercial Tool & Fasteners, authorizing the sister company of Senco Products, Inc. to sell TapSet branded products through its existing channels. The TapSet line of chemical anchors will be sold through the sales organizations of both Senco and Rex.
TapSet is a plastic injection molding company headquartered in Calumet, Mich.
Komatsu Announces Completion of Parts Depots
Komatsu America Corp. announced the completion of eight regional parts depots throughout the United States and Canada.
Komatsu will work closely with distributors to monitor and improve local parts stocking and availability of “on-the-shelf inventory” at distributor locations. The company has also improved the customer service, technical assistance and response teams as well as increased the inventory levels and parts availability at their Master Parts Distribution Center in Ripley, Tenn.
HMI Announces Wildfire Preparedness Program
Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. is now offering a tool for evaluating a property’s wildfire preparedness. HMI’s Wildfire Preparedness Assessment consists of an on-site evaluation of a property using HMI’s proprietary PDA-based software, which collects specific information regarding the property’s compliance with established defensible space criteria. Based on the data collected by a trained assessor, HMI will produce a graphical report detailing any non-compliant conditions as well as provide specific remedial requirements for each property.
Platinum Equity Acquires Tecumseh
Platinum Equity has acquired Tecumseh Power Co., which provides powertrain solutions to the outdoor power equipment industry. The acquisition includes facilities in Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.
In conjunction with the acquisition, Platinum Equity announced that Rudi Strobl has been appointed as president and CEO of the business. Strobl is an experienced senior executive who previously served as president and CEO of Strategic Distribution, Inc., a Platinum Equity company engaged in outsourcing of MRO supplies, as well as deputy CEO of DyStar, a Platinum Equity company that manufacturers textile dyes.
German Company Begins Distribution Of Subsite Equipment
The Charles Machine Works, Inc. has announced the addition of Schmetz Messtechnik of Menden, Germany, as an official dealer of Subsite electronic locating equipment, which is used to locate and identify underground utilities at construction jobsites. Established in 1982, Schmetz Messtechnik is a distributor of a wide variety of electronic measurement products, including densimeters, flow meters, leak indicators and ultrasonic wall-thickness gauges.
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