Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

Tidewater Expands Honda Engine Territory

Tidewater Power Equipment, an outdoor power equipment distributor based in Virginia Beach, Va., recently acquired the assets of RCS Distributing of Jessup, Md. Tidewater will add the states of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey to its existing Honda Engine territory of Virginia and the panhandle of West Virginia. The company will incorporate the RCS assets into its facility in Virginia Beach.

TechniSoil and Dimex Announce Pact

TechniSoil North America LLC and Dimex LLC reached an agreement to cooperate in the manufacturing and distribution of liquid stabilizer products for aggregate pathways and interlocking concrete pavement joint applications. TechniSoil develops and manufactures polymers, including nanopolymer materials specific for aggregates. Dimex is celebrating its 20th year of manufacturing extruded profiles in the form of landscape edging, edge restraint systems and tree care products. Dimex will tap its well-established distributor and dealer networks for sales of co-branded TechniSoil/Dimex products throughout North America.

Fiberon Hires Horn and Aronson

Fiberon has hired Richard Horn and Seth Aronson as product specialists for the northern New Jersey and southern New England territories, respectively. Previously, Horn worked for Parksite Group, Inc. as a senior residential product specialist. Aronson has previous entrepreneurial experience as a self-employed carpenter, in addition to several years in construction management.

PHC Professionals Join LebanonTurf Following Acquisition

Several former Plant Health Care, Inc. sales, marketing and business professionals have joined LebanonTurf as part of its acquisition of PHC’s U.S. horticultural and turf division. Sales representatives Allen Ball, Kevin Spiller and Stephen Camp will reinforce LebanonTurf’s national coverage for bionutritional products. In addition, Cheryl Eberle will join LebanonTurf’s marketing team and Dr. Michael Kernan, research and development scientist, will add his experience to the company’s technical support group.

Growth Products Debuts Redesigned Website

Growth Products, Ltd. launched its redesigned website, www.growthproducts.com. With a new look and easy navigation, the site offers over 100 pages of searchable information. The website includes Grower Profiles that highlight real-life professionals and the issues they encounter, detailed information on the company’s products, industry research reports and proven solutions for improving plant and turf health.


From left, John Biesterfeld, Green Thumb CEO; David Croyle with his daughter, Kaylee; and John Franke, PACE territory manager.

Wright Honored, Awards Mower to Croyle

Wright Mfg., Frederick, Md., was recognized as Member Company of the Year by the Maryland World Class Consortium. The annual award is presented to the member company that has embraced lean manufacturing and exemplified excellence in lean implementation and transformation.

David Croyle, owner of DKC Services in Coconut Grove, Fla., won a new Wright Stander mower in an online sweepstakes. John Franke, territory manager for PACE, arranged for Croyle to take delivery of the mower at Green Thumb Lawn & Garden Center in Coral Springs, Fla.

Becker Launches Sustainability Website

Becker Underwood announced the launch of its new sustainability website at www.sustainbu.com. Developed with the help of Flying Hippo Web Technologies, Des Moines, Iowa, the site serves as not only a forum for sustainable news and projects that the company is working on, but as a general resource to the public. It offers news on various related fields globally, as well as tips on how to help their sustainability initiative.

Rain Bird Announces Call for Entries

Rain Bird’s 2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition is now accepting entries from amateur and experienced filmmakers who want to raise awareness of the need for effective, efficient and responsible water use. A judging panel of film and water experts will review films submitted via the competition’s website, www.iuowfilm.com. Finalists will win a trip to Los Angeles, where they will be guests at a formal screening event hosted by wildlife expert Jack Hanna. Following the screening, two winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes of $6,000 for the Jury Award and $3,000 for the Audience Choice Award. The deadline for submission is August 1.

Sellers Welcomes Butrum; GIE Registration Open

Robert Butrum has joined the sales team of Sellers Expositions, producers of GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America. Butrum has 20 years of marketing and sales experience and worked on-site at GIE+EXPO 2010.

Online registration is open for the 2011 GIE+EXPO, which will be held in Louisville, Ky., October 27-29. Attendees who register early have a number of opportunities to win prizes. Visit www.gie-expo.com for more information.

Stihl Hires Robinson, Kralovetz

Stihl, Inc. hired Les Robinson as social media specialist. He comes to Stihl from the Adayana Government Group and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Old Dominion University.

Casey Kralovetz was appointed to the position of product management support specialist. Previously, he was an owner and arborist at Deep Roots LLC. Kralovetz holds an associate degree in horticulture and arboriculture from Milwaukee Area Tech College and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Lakeland College.

Fortuna Joins Atlantic Water Gardens

Demi Fortuna has joined Atlantic Water Gardens as director of product information. Fortuna has 10 years of experience presenting complex topics via seminars and lectures. He also has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of water garden design and construction.


Engage Agro Hires Long

Engage Agro USA announced that Mark B. Long has joined the company as turf business manager. Long has more than 30 years of experience in the lawn and turf care industry, with companies including Scotts Co., New Frontier Lawn Care and Barefoot, Inc. Most recently, he was a partner in the strategic consulting firm Blue SkyGroup, LLC. He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

CETCO Hires Grubb

CETCO has added Dr. Dennis G. Grubb as director of environmental technology and sustainable geotechnics. In this role, he will expand CETCO’s capabilities to assist clients with leveraging opportunities related to the beneficial reuse of industrial byproduct and recycled materials.

Delgard Announces Specification Program

Delgard announced a new specification program on the CADdetails website at www.caddetails.com. Delgard’s specification program consists of its full product line of fences and gates. Users can view and download specifications, CAD drawings and brochures.

Exmark Employees Donate to Charities

Employees of Exmark Mfg., Beatrice, Neb., gave back to members of the community during the holiday season through a series of donations to local charities. Exmark employees raised nearly $10,000 for their local United Way branch. The Toro Giving Program matched the donation for a total contribution of over $17,000. Employees also donated money and food to the Community Food Pantry.

Floratine Launches Turf Nutrition Resource

Floratine Products Group launched a comprehensive new website, www.floratine.com, that provides turf managers with a wide range of resources to make identifying foliar and soil-based solutions easier and more efficient. In addition to technical sheets for Floratine’s complete product portfolio, the site also provides university research studies and a nutrient guide that defines key macronutrients and micronutrients and their effect on turfgrass health. The site also includes “Dr. Tom’s Corner,” which spotlights timely advice and trends from Dr. Tom Watschke, professor emeritus of turfgrass science at Pennsylvania State University.

News from Case

Case Construction Equipment launched the Case Community Challenge program. Each month during 2011, the program will recognize a contractor whose work on a charitable project makes a positive, lasting contribution to the local community. A winner will be chosen from among the semifinalists to receive one year’s free use of a new Case N Series loader/backhoe. Case will also donate $5,000 to the winner’s charitable organization. Visit www.casece.com/communitychallenge to learn more.

Case also launched the Triple Threat Rodeo Competition. The operators who win rodeo events at Case dealerships across North America will compete in a final event during the 2012 World of Concrete trade show to determine the champion. Information is available at www.caserodeoseries.com.

Wells Lamont Launches New Website

Wells Lamont has launched a new design of its website at www.wellslamont.com. The new site features a number of enhanced browsing capabilities, starting with a home page that allows customers to browse gloves by feature and job function. The revamped site also includes news, customer stories, store locator, dealer site and frequently asked questions.

Rittenhouse to Offer Stens Parts

Rittenhouse, St. Catharines, Ont., announced that it will now offer many aftermarket lawn mower and outdoor power equipment replacement parts from Stens. Rittenhouse will focus on consumables such as lawn mower blades and belts; air and oil filters; and replacement engine parts. There will also be more complex parts, such as hydro gears and clutches, available.

Finn Announces Dealer Expansion

Finn Corp. announced the addition of several full-line dealers. The dealership arrangements encompass Finn equipment sales, rentals, service and parts. Pap_ Machinery will cover Washington, Oregon, northern California and northwest Nevada; Security Equipment Co. will serve Maryland; and Garden State Bobcat Group will represent the product lines in New Jersey.