Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

New Holland Construction Sponsoring Extreme Dream 2011 Contest

New Holland Construction is sponsoring the Extreme Dream 2011 contest, and the winning entry will be provided with a free L218 skid steer loader. Simply tell us about your biggest, best and/or most challenging landscape project, and three winners will be selected to receive a trip to the GIE+EXPO trade show in Louisville, Ky., where the grand prize winner will be announced in the New Holland Construction booth. Enter your project today at www.newholland.com.

Chagnon Joins Foley Sales Team

Kirk Chagnon has joined Foley, Inc. as a heavy machinery account manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Montclair University and spent the last 22 years at another construction equipment dealer. Chagnon will be responsible for select customer accounts throughout northern New Jersey.

PalFleet Announces New Facility

PalFleet Truck Equipment announced the opening of its new sales and installation facility in Trenton, N.J. The facility, which provides upfits for the General Motors chassis pool, will inventory the complete lineup of commercial truck offerings for Chevrolet and GMC truck dealers. Additionally, the facility will service Omaha Standard Palfinger distributors in the northeast market.


John Gingerich, owner of Creekside, operates a Case skid steer loader.

Case Honors Creekside Lawnscapes

Case Construction Equipment named Creekside Lawnscapes, Inc., Marilla, N.Y., as a winner of the Case Community Challenge. Sponsored by Case, the program recognizes construction contractors who support their local communities with significant community service projects.

Case honored Creekside for installing new underground power cable to provide upgraded electrical service throughout Camp Greene, which is used by the New York District Royal Rangers. Creekside received a $1,000 CNH parts and service gift card and qualified as a finalist for the grand prize. Case also donated $1,000 to the Rangers. Learn more about the challenge at www.casece.com/communitychallenge.

Toro Acquires Lawn Solutions

The Toro Co. announced that it has acquired Lawn Solutions Commercial Products, Inc. The acquisition, which includes a dedicated lineup of aerators, seeders, power rakes and brush cutters, adds key product categories to Toro’s portfolio to support growth across its core global businesses. Lawn Solutions, based in Louisville, Ky., was founded in 2006. Owner David Cook will continue to consult with Toro.

Finn Expands Dealer Base

Finn Corp. added several full-line dealers. Road Machinery LLC will cover much of the Southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, southern California and western Texas. Martin Implement Sales, Inc. serves 10 counties in northeastern Illinois, as well as the northwest Indiana counties of Lake and Porter. Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. will represent the Finn product lines in the upper Midwest, including Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

North Carolina School Wins Grand Prize

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Education & Research Foundation and Discovery Education announced that Deborah Icard’s fourth-grade class at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Statesville, N.C., won the grand prize from the TurfMutt “Landscapes Across America” contest for a creative classroom presentation on their local environment. The class will receive a $5,000 grant to implement an eco-friendly classroom program at their school, a $500 teacher award and trees to be planted in the U.S. in honor of each member of the class. Second-place winners included Wendy Palese, Elmwood Elementary School, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Christine Tang, Eastover Elementary School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Mary Beisert, West End Elementary School, Industry, Texas; and Ellen Raieta, Marshall Street Elementary School, Norristown, Pa. Learn more at http://turfmutt.discoveryeducation.com.

LebanonTurf Names Director of Marketing

LebanonTurf named Dave Dell director of marketing. Dell was previously vice president of sales and marketing for Wenger’s Feed Mill, Inc., and has held several key management positions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural systems from Pennsylvania State University.

Becker Launches Nematode Forum

Becker Underwood introduced a forum to help professionals connect to exchange knowledge, ideas and resources about the use of beneficial nematodes in insect pest management programs. This online community is an expansion of the Nematode News blog. Members of the forum can post questions for researchers, start discussions, upload videos and photos, and learn more about beneficial nematodes. Visit www.beckerunderwood.com for more information.


From left, Tim O’Brien, marketing manager; Doug and Kathi Nilsen; and Ion Warner, senior director of marketing.

Kobelco Announces Sweepstakes Winner

Kobelco Construction Machinery America announced the winner of the “Your Competitive Edge” sweepstakes. Doug Nilsen, owner of Nilsen Topsoil, Millstone Township, N.J., received a one-year lease on a new Kobelco 55SRx compact excavator, two tickets to a U2 360 Degree Tour concert and $2,000 spending cash. The sweepstakes promotion celebrated the launch of 13 new Kobelco excavator models in 2011. Nilsen was selected from 2,642 entrants.

Phelps Appointed to NHLA Board

Stihl, Inc. announced that Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for the company, has been named to the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance board of directors. A Navy veteran, Phelps joined Stihl in 2001 as event marketing specialist. The NHLA seeks to inform, encourage and support Hispanic professionals in the green industry and provide them a voice.


TrynEx moved into a new facility in Madison Heights, Mich.

TrynEx Moves to New Plant

TrynEx International has moved into a new, state-of-the-art plant in Madison Heights, Mich. The facility positions TrynEx for future expansion, and it allows the company to set up a lean manufacturing system through a partnership with the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center. The 130,000-square-foot facility includes flexible lean manufacturing lines, ergonomic tooling, pick-and-pack order fulfillment system and training center.