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Loftness Adds Lightweight Mulching Head For Compact Excavators
Jessica Schwartz
Steel Green Manufacturing Breaks Ground on New Facility
Steel Green Manufacturing broke ground in May on a new facility in Lebanon, IN. The company plans to relocate its offices and manufacturing operations to the new building in May of 2023. Steel Green will lease 30,000 square feet of the building, which more than doubles the size of its current facility. Merritt Contracting is the company completing the project. Advanced Turf Solutions will lease the remaining 10,000 square feet of the facility. Since its founding in 2018, Steel Green has grown to more than 30 employees. The company manufactures stand-on zero-turn spreader/sprayer machines, attachments, and parts. With an initial focus on lawn care professionals, Steel Green has expanded its customer base to include sports field managers and golf course superintendents as well. “This will be a much-needed move for us,” said Matt Smith, co-founder and sales manager of Steel Green Manufacturing. “We’re eager to increase production, serve more customers, and provide more jobs in our community.” The new facility will be located just down the road from its current facility. Steel Green Manufacturing is an employee-owned business in which all machines are Made in the USA. Steel Green’s SGXL zero-turn, stand on sprayer was profiled in the most recent issue of Turf. Click here for the digital version of Get Equipped: Spreaders, Sprayers & Seed.
STIHL Launches “Made In America” Campaign
STIHL Leads New Campaign With The Message “Made in America. Three Words Not Everyone Can Say.” STIHL Inc., is tapping into American’s sense of patriotism and unity in a new national multi-media advertising campaign to inspire consumers to purchase products Made in America. The campaign reinforces the company’s continued support of and investment in American manufacturing. It also reinforces an often-overlooked fact that a majority of STIHL products sold in the U.S. are actually made in America from U.S. and foreign materials. More than 75 models of STIHL equipment are currently made in America of U.S. and foreign materials at the Virginia Beach, VA facility with plans in place for additional category expansion. Products made at the facility include chain saws, trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, pole pruners, backpack and handheld blowers, sprayers, shredder/vacuums, and more. The STIHL Inc. facility also produces battery equipment. “Many of our customers may not be aware that several models from our ever-growing battery-powered line are manufactured in our U.S. facility,” said Ken Waldron, STIHL Inc. national marketing manager. And there are plans to expand “Battery Power. Made by STIHL.” manufacturing later this year. Since its inception in 1974, the STIHL Inc. Virginia Beach campus has grown from a single 20,000-square-foot rented warehouse to over one million square feet, spanning more than 150 acres. The Virginia Beach plant also manufactures many of the components and accessories used by other STIHL facilities around the world. In addition to supporting the U.S. market, STIHL Inc. exports its products ...
Rotary Mower Blades Now In Copperhead Six-Pack
Rotary’s professional-grade lawn mower blades are now available in the Copperhead Six-Pack, a box of six value-priced blades that’s ideal for landscape professionals. Tested for uniform hardness and heavy-duty performance, Rotary’s Copperhead blades exceed all OEM standards for operation and are ISO certified for quality, durability, and superior craftsmanship. Made exclusively in the USA with premium grade American steel, Rotary blades are precision-formed, strengthened, and sharpened to ensure longer wear and a cleaner, finer cut. A major supplier of outdoor power equipment parts, Rotary has introduced over 300 new items for 2021. Available for servicing dealers and distributors, the new catalog includes photos, descriptions, and cross reference numbers for most all brands along with many hard-to-find and discontinued parts. The entire catalog can be downloaded in a PDF format from the company’s site. Rotary serves customers in all 50 states and 75 countries around the globe. The family-owned company operates seven U.S. distribution centers plus a manufacturing division that produces lawn mower blades, edger blades, trimmer line and air filters at its world class facilities in Georgia and Arizona. Next day delivery is available to nearly 85% of Rotary’s customers in the continental U.S. with same day shipping for most orders received by 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Approximately 80% of Rotary’s complete line of parts are manufactured in the U.S.A.
Made In America
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Turf has refined its “Made In America” coverage to focus on what a handful of companies—both large and small—did over the past few months to help manage this uncertain time for their employees, their communities, the world, and their customers. These companies represent just a small fraction of the countless many who went above and beyond to ease burdens, feed families, protect healthcare workers, and keep people employed. No one will deny that many tough issues remain. But what’s more American than coming together in strength to meet new challenges and face the future? John Deere In China, during the early days of the outbreak, John Deere dealers and customers jumped into action to help build two new hospitals in less than two weeks. By March 10, just as COVID began truly accelerating in the U.S., Deere reps contacted local organizations to understand the virus’ impact in its communities. Ten days later, the Deere Foundation announced a two-for-one employee donation match to food banks and American Red Cross chapters. Deere also waived copays, coinsurance, and deductibles for employee COVID testing. And Deere Financial encouraged its lease customers to contact them regarding COVID-related financial hardships. In late March, Deere supported the local Iowa and Illinois hospital system (home to numerous Deere facilities) by donating protective eyewear to doctors and nurses. With PPE supplies running low, Doug Cropper, CEO of Genesis Health System, reached out to Deere and Karl Kane, manager, Deere Enterprise Facilities Engineering Services, ...
Turf Summer 2020 Issue
Editor’s Letter: Strange Times Indeed It’s downright surreal to be writing this as the world fights a virus unlike anything I’ve experienced in my lifetime. While working from home, tying my children to chairs for online learning, and seeking solace in my garden, it is all unbelievable—and quite scary. As Turf managing editor, covering COVID-19 is especially challenging due to its uncertainty and constantly changing nature. Do we go on buying mowers as usual or stock up on disinfectant? Is the curve flattening yet? How do you balance economic survival with bodily survival? What loans are available? Will it get worse in the fall? Masks aren’t necessary; then required. From the micro details of hand sanitizer to the macro picture of death toll and market forecasts, it’s hard to know what version of “normal” to live and work by today, and especially tomorrow. One thing is clear: we’re all a little freaked out financially. So Turf looked into going the franchise route—could a national name offer greater stability in these times? Or maybe you’re looking long term and want to maximize company value for potential buyers? These business articles kick off the issue and continue with real-world debt advice from fellow landscapers in “Off The Record.” With summer in full swing, humans aren’t the only ones fighting illness and stress—so are lawns, trees, and ornamentals. The experts at PBI-Gordon share their knowledge on summer lawn diseases and solutions; while three horticulturalists in different regions provide tips on combating plant heat ...
