Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Rutgers Turfgrass & Plant Breeders Honored

Two Rutgers University plant breeders were honored for lifetime achievement in their areas of expertise. Turf specialist William Meyer , who has produced nearly 300 new varieties of grass, was honored by the New Jersey Turfgrass Association. Elwin Orton received his award from the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association and is a key figure in the breeding of modern hollies and the creator of two entirely new series of disease-resistant dogwoods.

Fire Belly Joins SafeLawns Mission

Fire Belly Organics has joined the SafeLawns movement as a presenting sponsor of the film “A Chemical Reaction,” and as a supporter of SafeLawns.org. Fire Belly is a New Hampshire-based distributor of highly concentrated organic liquid fertilizers and soil amendments.

From left, Leif Ringstad, Lynn Pesson, Jack Ball, Glenda Pesson, Steve Purdy, Robert Smith and Suzanne Smith.

Maruyama Hosts Trips

Maruyama U.S., Inc. hosted a trip for members of the company’s distributor panel and a new Maruyama dealer to visit its manufacturing and business headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Panel members included Jack Ball , sales manager, Tru-Power, Inc.; Steve Purdy , president, Oscar Wilson Engines & Parts; and Robert Smith , vice president, Smiths South-Central Sales Co. The dealer was Lynn Pesson Jr. , president, Southland Engine Co., Inc.

Maruyama co-sponsored a dealer incentive trip to the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort on Costa Rica’s North Pacific Riviera. Tru-Power, based in Corona, Calif., organized the event for its Maruyama dealer base located in southern California, Arizona and Nevada.

Top Ditch Witch Dealers Announced

Charles Machine Works, Inc. , manufacturer of Ditch Witch products, honored 10 dealerships as members of the 2009 Crescent Club. Criteria include measurable goals for all segments of the dealership, such as sales and marketing, financial performance, personnel training, and superior parts and service departments. Members of the 2009 club are Ditch Witch of West Texas, Inc., Amarillo, Texas; Ditch Witch France, Ablis, France; Ditch Witch of Minnesota, Inc., Shakopee, Minn.; Ditch Witch Sales of Mississippi, Pearl, Miss.; Ditch Witch of South Dakota, Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.; Ditch Witch of Virginia, Glen Allen, Va.; Ditch Witch of North Dakota, Mandan, N.D.; Ditch Witch of Oklahoma, Edmond, Okla.; Ditch Witch of Michigan, Howell, Mich.; and Ditch Witch of Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York, Columbus, Ohio.

Redexim Celebrates Anniversary, Enters Agreement with Blec Global

Redexim Charterhouse, Inc. announced the 30th anniversary of its parent company, Redexim BV , and of its Verti-Drain deep-tine aerator. In recognition of the milestone, Redexim Charterhouse has changed its name to Redexim North America.

The company also announced a joint marketing and manufacturing venture between Redexim BV and Blec Global Ltd. As part of the agreement, Redexim BV has acquired the rights to manufacture and market a range of machines, including the Sandmaster and other specialty products.

Emmons Receives IPPS Award

Mike Emmons , senior manager of Prides Corner Farms in Lebanon, Conn., received the Award of Merit from the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagators’ Society. It is the highest honor the region can bestow upon a member, and one member is chosen each year for significant contributions to the field of plant propagation and production. Emmons has been an IPPS member since 1982 and has been active in the Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association.

Brands Join to Form Paladin Construction Group

Paladin Brands announced the joining of its Paladin Light Construction and Paladin Heavy Construction companies to form Paladin Construction Group . The new company provides customers with eight brands of couplers and attachments: Bradco, JRB, Sweepster, C&P, CustomWorks, FFC, Harley and McMillen. Manufacturing and warehousing facilities are located in Dexter, Mich.; Akron, Ohio; Delhi, Iowa; and Ooltewah, Tenn. The company has implemented a long-term support program named Back 2 Work With Paladin, designed to help contractors benefit from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.

Egger Joins Foley

Hans J. Egger has joined Foley, Inc. , Piscataway, N.J., as project manager for the power systems engineering team. Previously, he worked for Fleetsource, LLC. Egger holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland.

Kioti Hires Baer, Promotes Tractors on YouTube

Kioti Tractor appointed Brent Baer to the position of territory manager in Ontario. Baer has over 20 years’ experience in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and sales and marketing. Previously, he worked for Echo Power Equipment.

Kioti has begun utilizing YouTube to showcase its line of 22 to 90 hp tractors in action. Short videos have been uploaded to www.youtube.com in response to increasing requests by both customers and dealers to see Kioti tractors equipped with various implements successfully completing a variety of work.

CNH Contributes to Haiti Disaster Relief

Case New Holland is supporting relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake by providing Case, New Holland and Kobelco construction equipment and companywide monetary donations. In addition to making a company donation, CNH committed to matching employee cash donations.

News from Toro

Toro partnered with the Rose Bowl to help prepare the game field for the 2010 Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship games. A longtime partner of the Rose Bowl, Toro is the exclusive provider of turf maintenance equipment and precision irrigation systems.

In response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti, Toro donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund to aid in the relief efforts. Additionally, the company committed to matching all employee contributions to the Red Cross through March 1, 2010.

GIE+EXPO News

Online registration is now open for the 2010 GIE+EXPO , which will be held in Louisville, Ky., October 28-30. Go to www.gie-expo.com for updates on events planned for the trade show.

Hardscape North America will move to Louisville in 2010 to coincide with GIE. HNA is sponsored by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and is an event for those who manufacture, specify and install segmental pavement systems, segmental retaining walls, water features, outdoor kitchens and landscape environments.

Wick Announces Plans to Emerge from Bankruptcy

The Wick Buildings division of Wick Building Systems, Inc. plans to emerge from bankruptcy under the new ownership of its original founder, John F. Wick . Wick Building Systems filed for Chapter 11 in late November after four years of declining market conditions and performance in its housing units. John Wick made an offer to purchase the assets and intellectual property of Wick Buildings, including the operations and production campus in Mazomanie, Wis.

Branson Discontinues Discussions with Montana

Young Nam , president of Branson Machinery , Rome, Ga., announced that the company will discontinue its discussions with Montana Tractors on a joint venture between the two entities because of a lack of economic support under the current business environment in the U.S. Kukje Machinery , parent company of Branson, confirmed that it will keep Branson Tractor as a main sales force in the North American market and strengthen its customer services by appointing a new team of management. Nam named Glen Ezell as vice president of sales and marketing.

From left, Fernando Duran, American Abatement; Kyle Smith, ASCO Texana Machinery; and Ion Warner, Case senior director of marketing.

Case Awards New Skid Steers

Case Construction Equipment has awarded new Case 430 skid steer loaders to the three winners of its Rockin’ Block Party sweepstakes: American Abatement , San Antonio, Texas; WWF Construction , Winnipeg, Man.; and R-Crow Construction , Terrell, Texas. Case also announced winners of its Rockin’ Block Party skid steer story contest. Grand prize winners, who received a $1,000 CNH Capital card, were Douglas Bullerman , Adrian, Minn.; Doug Eastwood , Medina, Ohio; Roger Betland , Dayton, Minn.; and William Jackson , DeMotte, Ind. Another 20 winners were drawn for first through fifth place and received prizes including jackets, T-shirts and hats. A complete list of story winners is available at www.CaseRocks.com.

Komatsu News

Komatsu America Corp. has begun shipping wheel loaders manufactured at its Newberry Manufacturing Operation in Newberry, S.C. Production of wheel loaders began there late in 2009. The facility has nearly 150 employees and has been in operation since 2001.

Komatsu donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts following the earthquake in Haiti. The company also pledged to match dollar-for-dollar all contributions made by its employees to the Red Cross.

CEAttachments Announces New Web Site

CEAttachments, Inc. has launched its new Web site at www.ceattachments.com. Features include a search function to locate products by name, part number or keywords; a news section with the latest product announcements; and a resource library with a gallery of product photos, spec sheets, literature and a collection of videos showing attachments in action. It also offers a “how-to-buy” function, contact information and a mailing list to receive the company’s newsletter and other communications.

Sentry Delivers Lampposts to Yankee Stadium

Sentry Electric delivered a series of custom-designed, historically styled lampposts for the newly constructed Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. The set of lampposts included poles and luminaires. Signage bearing the stadium name was hung from custom metal accessories. Fixtures were installed around the outside of the stadium and along the property’s walkways as part of a landscape design project involving contractors throughout the New York area.

Kasper Danuser

Danuser Celebrates 100 Years

Danuser marks its 100th anniversary in 2010. The company was founded by Kasper Danuser and has been owned and operated by the family for four generations. Visit www.danuser.com for more information on Danuser’s 100-year history and its special anniversary drawings.

News from Terex

Terex Corp. plans to exhibit more than 50 machines at the Bauma 2010 equipment exposition in Munich, Germany, April 19-25. Visitors to the Terex stand will see new product launches, significant equipment improvements and live demonstrations from the company’s various segments.

The Terex Aerial Work Platforms segment has exited the generator business as part of an overall strategic plan to focus on its core aerial equipment business. As a result, Terex AWP has sold the Terex generator product line to Cummins Power Generation .

Turface Launches Web Site, Awards Grant

Turface Athletics has launched a new Web site specific to its products at www.turface.com. The site includes a product section that details each of its products for infields and turf, presents solutions to common field maintenance problems and helps determine the appropriate products for various applications.

Turface awarded the Terry Mellor Continuing Education Grant, sponsored by SAFE, to Eddie Atherton , grounds manager for the city of Owensboro, Ky. In partnership with SAFE, Turface awarded a $1,000 grant to help fund a portion of the attendance to the annual STMA conference and exhibition.

JCB Donates Equipment, Signs Agreement

JCB donated equipment worth $150,000 to help the disaster relief effort in Haiti following a devastating earthquake. Two 3CX backhoe loaders were made available to the U.S. government and its aid agencies.

JCB and Volvo Construction Equipment have entered into a framework agreement under which they will cooperate on the engineering and manufacturing of skid steer loader and compact tracked loader products for distribution under their respective brands and through their respective global dealer networks. It is expected that the first mono boom Volvo-branded machines will be in production at JCB’s facility in Savannah, Ga., by the end of 2010. Volvo will then transition skid steers over time from its facility in Brazil.

WAC Raises Money for Relief Efforts

WAC Lighting has raised over $30,000 to provide relief for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. WAC Lighting is based in Garden City, N.Y.

Ariens Acquires Kee Brand

Ariens Co. has acquired the intellectual assets of the Kee Mower brand of products. The company plans to sell Kee Mowers under the Gravely brand. Ariens will produce the Kee products at its manufacturing facility in Opp, Ala. The company did not acquire any product inventory as part of the sale and will not be able to fill any outstanding orders that may exist.

Morbark and Strongco Form Alliance

Morbark announced the signing of a dealership agreement with Strongco Limited Partnership . Strongco, an industrial equipment distribution provider, has been in business for over 50 years and has locations in Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie, Alb.

RMC Releases Guidelines

The RMC Research & Education Foundation released the Sustainable Concrete Plant Guidelines, which were developed by West Main Consultants and William C. Twitty Jr., with guidance from Lionel Lemay, senior vice president of sustainable construction with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. The guidelines document and supporting materials are available for download at www.rmc-foundation.org

Hitachi Excavators to Use EGR Technology

Hitachi excavators will feature engines with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and exhaust filters consisting of a diesel oxidation catalyst/diesel particulate filter to meet the 2011 Interim Tier IV/Stage III B emissions regulations mandated by the EPA and EU for diesel engines from 174 to 750 hp. This approach is an evolution of the clean-burning and fuel-efficient Tier III/Stage III A Isuzu engine platform currently used in the excavators.

Cory Hanlon

Palfinger Hires Hanlon

Palfinger North America named Cory Hanlon as its new sales manager for Palfinger Crayler truck-mounted forklifts for the Midwest. Hanlon comes to Palfinger with more than 10 years’ experience in the area of truck-mounted forklifts and other material handling equipment.

Green for Life Award Winners Announced

The winners of the inaugural Green for Life Award were announced at Congress , Canada’s largest international horticultural lawn and garden trade show and conference. The winners were Appleby Landscaping , Milton, Ont., contractor category; Lemkey Landscape Design Ltd. , Winnipeg, Man., design category; and Clintar Landscape Management , Mount Hope, Ont., lawn care category.

Cummins Announces Agreement with Chrysler

Cummins, Inc. announced a multiyear extension of its current agreement with Chrysler Group LLC . Cummins will supply 6.7-liter turbodiesel engines for Ram heavy-duty pickups and chassis cab trucks while continuing to grow its partnership with Chrysler, which began 21 years ago.