Ruppert Landscape Appoints Kang President & COO
Jessica Schwartz
STIHL Homeowner AK Line Earns AFTC Certification
The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) has added the STIHL AK 36V homeowner system of battery-powered equipment as AGZA Field Tested Certified (AFTC). This means STIHL has now achieved AFTC Certification for both homeowner/consumer and professional/commercial battery powered systems. STIHL made it clear to AGZA that the AK System is designed and manufactured for homeowners. That said, AGZA torture-tested the AK System with its network of commercial operators in a variety of settings. The tools were also tested among homeowners for feedback on performance, ergonomic satisfaction, and functionality. Many of AGZA’s commercial operators who currently use STIHL AP professional tools were impressed with the STHIL AK System overall. “AGZA’s independent relationship with STIHL Inc. goes back over a decade, placing heavy torturous hours on STIHL 36V, AP battery-powered commercial tools. Despite that history, we had to approach the AK System completely separate of the AP System,” said AGZA President Dan Mabe. “AGZA is pleased with the outcome and looks forward to sharing our findings and testing feedback with our alliance members and the public.” “We are pleased to receive this certification,” said Roger Phelps, corporate communications manager for STIHL Inc. “Our AK System offers our customers everything they’ve come to expect from STIHL tools. Our battery-powered outdoor power equipment provides high performance with zero-exhaust emissions, no fuel cost, low maintenance, lightweight maneuverability, and quiet operation.” STIHL is strongly committed to joining other AFTC tool platforms to support AGZA Residential, Service Pro and Green Zone® education and certification programs for lower-impact ...
Benefits & Challenges Of Transitioning To Battery Power
Sustainability Workshop With AGZA, NALP & Others Held In NJ It was a beautiful day to learn about battery power. Yesterday, Turf attended a sustainable land care certification workshop held in Chester, NJ, discussing topics such as soil, organics, native plants, changing client expectations, and the transition to battery powered equipment. “We’re trying to anticipate what the direction over the next decade will be,” commented attendee Chris Raimondi of Raimondi Horticultural Group. Deandra Hanke of Borst Landscape & Design said the event was “aligned with what we’re trying to move towards.. we have a growing client base but the are hard to manage…how to achieve where we want to be.” The event was held by the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA), National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), New Jersey Green Industry Council (NJGIC), New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), and New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA). Nearly 30 people from NJ landscape companies attended the event, which began with classroom topics on soil success from Brian Oleksak of County College of Morris as well as a presentation from Richard McCoy of McCoy Horticultural on making the transition from conventional landscaping to sustainable land care. (Click for McCoy’s Turf article on this topic.) AGZA Workshop Attendees also had the opportunity to become AGZA Certified Sustainable Electric Lawn Care Professionals. In addition to access to 15 interactive webinars teaching the fundamentals of electric-powered land care, Dan Mabe, founder of AGZA, gave a presentation in which he spoke frankly about ...
