Spartan Mowers Releases 2025 Product Lineup
Jessica Schwartz
ECHO Expands Illinois Headquarters: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. ECHO Expands Lake Zurich Headquarters ECHO Inc. recently expanded its Lake Zurich, Illinois headquarters, adding 51,000 square feet that will house two additional business divisions, according to The Chicago Tribune. The business has an existing staff of 860 people but are not sure of how many new employees the expansion to bring. They are officially unveiling the expanded space during a grand opening Sept. 15. The added square footage increases the size of ECHO’s corporate offices in Lake Zurich to 585,000 square feet. The added room will include the company’s industrial generator division, which recently launched in North America, and also ECHO’s robotic division The expansion reflects Yamabiko Corporation’s confidence in the continued growth of ECHO, which is Yamabiko’s largest subsidiary, said ECHO President Tim Dorsey. Mean Green Welcomes New Dealer in New York Mean Green Mowers has announced their newest service dealer serving the southeast New York area. Arroway Tractor is located on 140 Bedford Rd., Katonah NY 10536. Judy Guido Plans Shark Tank Event for LANDSCAPES 2017 The National Association of Landscape Professionals is partnering with industry expert Judy Guido to present Shark Tank, The LANDSCAPES 2017 Edition! on October 19, from 9:45 a.m.–11:15 a.m. as one of the Power Sessions at GIE+EXPO in Louisville. The Shark Tank-style Power Session will bring together Judith Guido, Chairwoman of Guido & Associates; ...
Private Equity Firm Invests in Two of the Nation’s Largest Landscape Contractors: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Private Equity Firm Invests in Two of the Nation’s Largest Landscape Contractors Central Valley Fund (CVF) announced it has invested $7.2M in growth capital financing in two of the region’s largest landscape contractors. The transaction includes equity investments in Coast Landscape Management, based in Napa, California, and Signature Landscapes, based in Reno/Tahoe, Nevada. The two companies will be merged into a single entity during the 4th quarter of 2017. IA Reduces Number of Exams Required for Landscape Certification The Irrigation Association’s Certification Board is reducing the number of required exams for the landscape track of the certified irrigation designer program. The revised general landscape/turf exam will launch at the 2017 Irrigation Show and Education Conference Nov. 6-10, in Orlando, Florida. The revised program will require candidates to take only two exams: a general landscape/turf exam and one specialty exam. Scotts Nets Another $87 Million from Scotts LawnService Sale ScottsMiracle-Gro said it has received an $87 million dividend payment from TruGreen associated with its minority interest in the lawn service company. In 2016, ScottsMiracle-Gro contributed its Scotts LawnService business into a joint venture with TruGreen in exchange for a 30 percent interest in the combined business. To date, ScottsMiracle-Gro has received nearly $290 million in cash as a result of its ownership stake. Ariens Names Larry Weyers Group President Ariens Company has named ...
You Have a Wealth of Mower Choices
There’s never been a better time to purchase mowers — that is if you like variety. Twenty eight mower suppliers exhibited at the 2016 GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Kentucky. Most manufacturers displayed multiple models. Commercial-grade ZTRs (riders and stand-ons) dominated both the show floor and the outside demo area. In terms of the riders, these included both mid-mount and versatile front-mount models. But if you were looking for even a rugged little 21-inch trim mower, the GIE+EXPO wouldn’t have disappointed you. If the sheer number and variety of mowers being displayed weren’t enough to excite you, perhaps the many different available engine and fuel options did. Again, there was a wealth of choices. On display were large rugged commercial zeroturning radius mowers powered by Kawasaki, Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Kubota and Yamaha engines. Each of these manufacturers offered power plants in a range of horsepower ratings. Yamaha, the latest manufacturer to enter the ZTR market, debuted its engines on select Gravely commercial zeros for the 2017 season. Engine choices for small walk-behind mowers at the event included Honda, Briggs & Stratton and Subaru. Contractors attending the GIE+EXPO saw machines powered by gasoline, propane and diesel fuel, along with the promise of more battery-powered commercial cutters by Greenworks, joining industry pioneer Mean Green in that space. And manufacturers that displayed another crop of new models or models with exciting new features at the GIE+EXPO included: Altoz, Ariens and Gravely, Bad Boy Mowers, Cub Cadet, Dixie Chopper, Worldlawn, Exmark, Ferris, John Deere, Mean ...
Ariens to Sell Stens and JThomas, Lawsuit Challenges Lawn Care Ban: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Ariens to Sell Aftermarket Parts Business to Arrowhead Engineered Products Ariens Company has announced a definitive agreement to sell its aftermarket parts business to Arrowhead Engineered Products Inc. of Blaine, Minnesota. Stens and JThomas Parts are privately-held and terms of the agreement will not be disclosed. The sale is expected to be complete by the end of 2016. The company will also invest in a robust e-commerce platform for its niche outdoor supply brands Gempler’s, AW Direct and Ben Meadows. Ariens Company acquired Stens in 1995 and JThomas in 2008. Virginia Legislators Honor STIHL Board Chairman Fred Whyte The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates recently honored STIHL Inc., Board Chairman Fred Whyte with a joint resolution outlining his successful tenure with the company. State Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-8th) presented the joint resolution at a luncheon in Virginia Beach. The resolution highlighted Whyte’s career, from his start as one of the company’s first 50 employees to his community leadership across southeast Virginia as a member of the boards for Old Dominion University and the Children’s Health Foundation of Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. Whyte currently serves as the sole director and chairman of the STIHL Inc. Board of Directors, following his retirement as president in December 2015. Governor Responds to Georgia Drought with Level 2 Watering Restrictions More than 20 weeks ...
