Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association
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- Overcoming Lawn Care and Debris Management Challenges in 2018
- Husqvarna Will Acquire Atlas Copco’s Light Compaction and Concrete Equipment Business
- Honda Generator Recall
- Kohler Gasoline Engines Recalled
- Surefit Blades from MTD Being Recalled
- Research Solutions Appoints Roy W. Olivier (ARI) to its Board of Directors
- Generac to Acquire Selmec Equipos Industriales, S.A. de C.V.
- Valley Industries Acquires Comet USA
- Court Throws out Exmark Judgment
- Thoughts for the Day
- The Outdoor Power Equipment Industry Helps Others Give Back
- Generac to Produce Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment
- Wordlawn Power – a Beatrice Manufacturer is Making use of its Space after Moving to a New Building
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Rub Shoulders with Cream of Swedish Society including Husqvarna Executive
- OPEI Welcomes New Board Members, Announces Grand Opening Plans for New Headquarters
Overcoming Lawn Care and Debris Management Challenges in 2018
A Q&A with Steve LePera, Classen and Little Wonder Director of Marketing
Whether landscape contractors are just starting out or rounding their 30th year in business, they all face the same industry challenges. What does 2018 have in store, and how can contractors stay profitable?
What are the biggest challenges facing landscape contractors in 2018?
We’ve experienced unusual weather patterns in the past several years, including temperature extremes, droughts, floods, wildfires and destructive hurricanes. These events have a huge impact on landscapes and, as a result, what it takes to maintain and repair those landscapes is more time consuming and challenging. What may have been a profitable process for contractors last year could start to push some bottom lines into the red.
In addition, it’s becoming harder and harder to find qualified people who want to operate and maintain landscaping and debris management equipment at reasonable costs. This means contractors may look to increase prices or daily production rates for their maintenance services, which never makes customers happy.
How can they overcome those challenges and stay profitable?
Another option contractors have, rather than raising prices and rates, is to invest in more efficient equipment that can either reduce crew sizes or simply allow employees to do more in less time. For example, using a walk-behind blower rather than a backpack blower gives operators as much as 87 percent more air volume to push leaves and debris further and farther. Some walk-behind models even deliver 38 percent more air movement than others in the same class thanks to reverse angle blades and aerodynamic inlets. So contractors will want to do their homework when it comes to finding the most efficient equipment.
Contractors will also want to look for equipment that is easy to train people to use and will operate with minimal downtime. This is where high-quality components are important. Contractors may need to pay a little more upfront for better quality equipment, but they will save over the life of the unit thanks to less maintenance and fewer repairs as well as the associated labor costs.
Contractors can also benefit their bottom lines by offering value-added services, such as aerating and overseeding, year-round chemical treatments, irrigation installation and maintenance or design-build services. Nowadays, contractors can learn the bulk of what they need to know about performing these services online. Many manufacturers, including Classen Turf Care, have how-to videos and best practices articles on their websites. There are also some great online forums out there where they can get tips from other contractors in the business.
How Does the Manufacturer Play a Role?
Any time there are big challenges in the industry there also are opportunities for major innovations. Most manufacturers listen to customer feedback and make appropriate adjustments to equipment designs or launch new products, all in the name of keeping contractors productive and profitable. This year will be no exception. With profitability on the line, lawn care companies will look to manufacturers to help them shave time off their projects while maintaining high-quality results. For example, a stand-on aerator operates as much as three times faster than walk-behind models and can deliver the optimal core quantity, depth and pattern needed for proper water retention, air circulation and nutrient absorption in the grass root system.
Equipment versatility will also help contractors get more bang for their buck. Sod cutters, for example, typically come in an 18-inch width, which means if a contractor needs to cut a 24-inch-wide path, they will need to either rent or purchase another unit or manually cut the sod, which is more time consuming and, in the case of renting or buying another unit, more costly. Choosing a sod cutter with interchangeable blades that can cut 12- to 24-inch paths can help contractors accommodate different widths on the job.
Manufacturers are also looking for ways to enhance operator comfort to prevent strains and injuries, which helps grow employee retention. This includes vibration-dampening platforms and handles, controls that are easy to use and placed within arm’s reach, as well as self-propelled units. Equipment dependability also plays into employee satisfaction. Having to frequently stop to unclog a round chute on a truck loader, for example, can take as long as 40 minutes to clean out. This reduces productivity and can be frustrating for operators. Choosing a unit with a square chute, however, ensures continuous air and material movement through the system. So contractors can collect wet and dry leaves with virtually no risk of clogging.
As seasons turn, contractors face new challenges. Whether it’s expanding into new services or finding more efficient equipment to overcome the challenges, evolving their businesses is key to staying profitable.
About Little Wonder
Little Wonder is an industry leader in debris management, grounds maintenance and asphalt and paving site preparation equipment. Since 1922, professionals have relied upon the performance and long-lasting durability of Little Wonder equipment. From the production of the world’s first hedge trimmer to the revolutionary aerodynamic design of the walk-behind blower, Little Wonder has been changing the product landscape of power equipment for nearly 100 years. Get proven results. Get Little Wonder.
Little Wonder equipment is available through power equipment and rental dealerships nationwide. To learn more about Little Wonder equipment and to locate a retailer or rental dealer in your area, visit www.littlewonder.com. Additional information is available on YouTube. Little Wonder is a registered trademark of Schiller Grounds Care, Inc.
About Schiller Grounds Care, Inc.
Schiller Grounds Care creates and brings to market a broad variety of landscaping, gardening and turf care equipment for residential and commercial use under the brand names BOB-CAT®, Classen®, Little Wonder®, Mantis®, Ryan® and Steiner®. To learn more about Schiller Grounds Care and its brands of power equipment, visit www.schillergc.com.
Husqvarna Will Acquire Atlas Copco’s Light Compaction and Concrete Equipment Business
“Atlas Copco’s light compaction & concrete equipment business fits well into Husqvarna Construction’s strategy for expanding deeper into the market segment of concrete surfaces” said Kai Wärn, president and CEO of Husqvarna Group.
The products include complete ranges for concrete and compaction, such as plate compactors, tandem rollers and concrete vibrators.
“This step will further reinforce our leadership position in this segment and complement the recent acquisitions. Strategically, the build-up of this area also supports our overall ambition of growing the Construction Division’s share in the Husqvarna Group.”
“Atlas Copco’s light compaction and concrete product lines are logical expansions of our current product range within concrete surfaces & floors. It will allow us to support our customers’ business through the entire concrete floor creation process,” said Henric Andersson, president of Husqvarna Construction.
Atlas Copco light compaction & concrete equipment is a part of Atlas Copco Power Technique with annual sales of approximately $68.3 million in 2016. The acquisition includes product lines, operations and R&D in Bulgaria, and specific sales and service resources that will reinforce Husqvarna Construction’s existing organization. The roughly 200 employees are predominantly located in Bulgaria but also in all key markets.
Andrew Walker, president of Power Technique said, “Our commitment to the construction industry remains as strong as ever; moving forward we will have a more streamlined product portfolio through which we can more deeply focus our resources to add further innovation and productivity for customers. We believe that Husqvarna Construction will be a good home that can develop the concrete and compaction business further.”
“This presents us with a good growth opportunity since light construction equipment really is Husqvarna Construction’s core competence,” said Andersson.
Further details will be announced closer to the finalization, which is expected during the first quarter of 2018. The acquisition is subject to approval from competition authorities business from Atlas Copco.
Honda Generators are Being Recalled- The Carburetor can Leak Gasoline, Posing Fire and Burn Hazards
American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, Calif., is recalling about 34,000 Honda portable generators.
The carburetor can leak gasoline, posing fire and burn hazards. The company has received 38 reports of fuel leakage from the generators. No fires or injuries have been reported. This recall involves Honda portable gasoline generators with model numbers EB2800i and EG2800i with a red front cover and a black metal frame.
The EB2800i has a silver-colored control panel and the EG2800i has a black-colored control panel. “HONDA” and the generator model number are printed on the control panel.
The serial number is located on a lower black metal frame towards the rear of the generator. The following model numbers, serial numbers and production date ranges are included in this recall:
| Model Number | Serial Number Range | Product Date Range |
| EB2800i | EAAA -1000037 thru 1015421 | < 2016/07/31 -2017/09/19 |
| EG2800i | EABA -2000047 thru 2020152 | < 2016/07/29 -2017/09/20 |
The generators, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at authorized Honda Power Equipment dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from September 2016, through November 2017, for about $1,150.
What to do
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled generators and contact a local authorized Honda Power Equipment service dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. If you have sold these generators, please make your customers aware of the recall.
Kohler Recalling Gasoline Engines
DETAILS: Kohler gasoline engine models SH265, CH245, CH255, CH270, CH395, CH440, and ECH440. The engines are used in a variety of outdoor power equipment including log splitters, generators, wood chippers, stump grinders, pressure washers, water pumps and snowbrushes and were also sold separately. Model numbers, spec numbers, serial numbers, and build dates are printed on a silver label attached to the lower-right side of the engine. They were sold at authorized Kohler and original equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers and at www.HomeDepot.com and other websites in December 2017.
WHY: The engines have a faulty fuel cap, which can allow over-pressurization in the fuel tank, posing a risk of a fuel leak and fire hazard.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 24,000.
FOR MORE: Call Kohler Engines at 877-333-3948 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, send email to EngineFieldService@kohler.com or visit www.kohlerengines.com and click on “Contact” for more information.
Generac to Acquire Selmec Equipos Industriales, S.A. de C.V.
Generac Holdings Inc. (NYSE:GNRC), a leading global designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, announced the signing of a purchase agreement to acquire the shares of Selmec Equipos Industriales, S.A. de C.V. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries from Enesa Energia, S.A. de C.V. and Enesa, S.A. de C.V. The agreement includes the power generator product and after-sale support services of the business.
Selmec, founded in 1941 and headquartered in Mexico City, is a designer and manufacturer of industrial generators from 10 kW to 2,750 kW. With approximately 300 employees and 100,000 sq.ft. of production capacity, Selmec offers a market leading service platform and specialized engineering capabilities, together with robust integration, project management and remote monitoring services.
“Selmec’s deep experience in standby energy solutions, specifically telecom, data center and other mission critical applications, where power is essential for operational continuity, makes this a great fit for our Latin America strategy,” said Ricardo Navarro, Generac’s Senior Vice President – Latin America. “Acquiring Selmec will allow us to dynamically scale our existing Ottomotores business, leveraging both distribution and operational footprints of the combined businesses to offer the Latin American market a broader portfolio of products and solutions.”
“This is a very exciting development for Selmec to partner with a global leader in power generation technology to offer an expanded portfolio of products and solutions. This transaction will allow Selmec to continue to innovate, leveraging Generac’s technical capabilities and expertise especially in gaseous powered generation,” said Gabriel Hajj, Selmec’s CEO and Principal at Enesa. “We are pleased to join the Generac family, and we look forward to our continued success as we work together to provide greater value to our customers.”
The transaction is expected to close in three to six months following pending receipt of required regulatory approval.
About Generac (NYSE:GNRC):
Since 1959, Generac has been a leading designer and manufacturer of a wide range of power generation equipment and other engine powered products. As a leader in power equipment serving residential, light commercial, and industrial markets, Generac’s power products are available globally through a broad network of independent dealers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers and equipment rental companies, as well as sold direct to certain end user customers.
About Grupo Enesa (Enesa Energia, S.A. de C.V. and Enesa, S.A. de C.V.)
Grupo Enesa is a private equity fund that invests and manages companies in the energy and health sectors in Mexico and Latin America. Its leadership team is integrated by a group of professionals who have extensive experience in finance and management operations, as well as a broad knowledge of the industries and markets in which the fund participates. The fund operates under a long-term strategy, focused on building solid, high potential organizations.
About Selmec (Selmec Equipos Industriales, S.A. de C.V.):
With more than 75 years in the distributed energy market, Selmec designs and manufactures diesel generators from 10kW to 2,750kW and natural gas and LP gas generators from 30kW to 400kW. Selmec products are complemented with experience in integral solutions for engineering, procurement, implementation, operation and maintenance of power generation and management projects.
Research Solutions Appoints Roy W. Olivier to its Board of Directors
Research Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: RSSS), a pioneer in providing cloud-based solutions for scientific research, has appointed Roy W. Olivier to its board of directors. He replaces Jan Peterson, who is retiring.
Mr. Olivier currently serves as president and CEO of ARI Network Services, a provider of an award-winning suite of SaaS tools and marketing services.
“Roy has shown the ability to transform and create significant value at various software and technology organizations over his career,” said John Regazzi, chairman of Research Solutions. “Under his leadership at ARI, he navigated their transformation from a legacy catalog business into a lead generation and e-Commerce leader. During this time, the company grew sales from $15 million to $52 million, and since 2011 delivered a near 700% return to shareholders, culminating in a sale for approximately $140 million. His valuable skillset will be a welcomed complement to our board as we further transform into a powerful research intelligence SaaS solution for science and technology.”
Before joining ARI in 2006, Mr. Olivier was a consultant to start-up and small- and medium-sized businesses. Prior to that, he served as VP of sales and marketing for ProQuest Media Solutions, a business he founded in 1993 and sold to ProQuest in 2000. He previously held various executive and managerial positions with other companies in the telecommunications and computer industries, including Multicom Publishing, Tandy Corporation, BusinessLand and PacTel.
Olivier commented: “Thanks to a tremendous leadership team and group of visionaries, I am joining Research Solutions at a critical point in its strategic evolution. I look forward to utilizing my experience guiding other dynamic technology organizations through change as the company further executes its vision to build a more profitable, fast-growing Platforms business.”
About Research Solutions
Research Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: RSSS) is a pioneer in cloud-based research intelligence and retrieval solutions for R&D-driven organizations. More than 70 percent of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world rely on services delivered by Research Solutions’ wholly owned subsidiary Reprints Desk. The company’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Platform provides customers with on-demand access to, and augmented data from, tens of millions of scientific, medical, and technical (STM) documents, helping them to accelerate acquisition at the point of discovery, save time and money, and remain copyright-compliant. For more information, visit www.researchsolutions.com.
Stanley Black & Decker has Taken the Whole Meadowfield Building
A power tools company has agreed a factory deal to bolster its presence in the region. Stanley Black & Decker has signed a new lease for the 220,000 sq ft Meadowfield building at DurhamGate, on the outskirts of Spennymoor.
The agreement at the site, once home to excavator parts maker Berco UK, means Stanley Black & Decker has extended its presence in the area, having relocated its European product development centre, UK spares and returns operations and factory shop from its original DurhamGate plant.
The Meadowfield building has been owned and managed by developer Arlington Real Estate since 2005, and Allan Cook, managing director, said he is delighted to see the power tools firm commit its future.
He said: “Stanley Black & Decker is an iconic global brand and has been an important employer in the area since the 1960s.
“It has developed tools and equipment used the world over by professionals and DIY enthusiasts, which is a legacy that has continued following its initial move across DurhamGate.
“By taking the entire Meadowfield building, the company has signalled its ongoing commitment to the area.”
Stanley Black & Decker employs more than 100 staff on the site and Nick Atkinson, director at HTA Real Estate, which acted on behalf of Arlington in the deal, said the move is a significant one.
“We are delighted that Stanley Black & Decker is consolidating its long association with the area by taking the additional space.
“This building attracted a steady stream of interest from a number of international manufacturing companies.”
Berco left the building in 2016 after succumbing to falling orders.
At the time, The Northern Echo revealed the move had affected 18 workers, with the business’ factory in North-East Italy benefiting from the changes.
The company had used the Spennymoor site to put the finishing touches to undercarriages used on track-mounted excavators.
Valley Industries Acquires Comet USA
PAYNESVILLE, Minn. – Valley Industries has acquired Comet USA, a Minnesota-based company located in Burnsville that distributes a wide range of industrial high-pressure plunger pumps and accessories. For more than 20 years Comet USA has provided products and services to industries such as sewer jetting, hydro excavation, hydro demolition, high pressure cleaning, water jet cutting, and other industrial applications in the North American market. The purchase will diversify the Valley Industries product lineup and will complement their current Comet Diaphragm Pump Division.
“In the last 6 years Valley and Comet USA shared the same infrastructure and management. This acquisition will maintain that, but will allow us to further align our core business functions”, said Jeff Savage, Valley Industries’ general manager.
Under Valley Industries, Comet USA will now be known as Comet Industrial Pump Division. This is the second acquisition for Valley Industries in the last year. In early 2017, Valley Industries purchased A1 Mist Sprayers, a company based in Nebraska that specializes in mist sprayers for a wide range of agricultural industries.
Thoughts of the Day
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
–Michael Jordan
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. –Amelia Earhart Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.
–Babe Ruth
We become what we think about.
–Earl Nightingale
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.
–Mark Twain
Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.
–Vince Lombardi
I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.
–Stephen Covey
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.
–Pablo Picasso
You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
–Christopher Columbus
Generac to Produce Commercial Lawn and Garden Equipment
The company, known primarily for its portable and standby generators, launched its Generac Pro at The Rental Show in New Orleans. In addition to existing products like portable generators and pressure washers, the line includes the addition of brush mowers, graders, wood splitters, graders, chippers and stump grinders.
Derik Gatzke, Generac vice president of sales for retail, said that as oil and gas markets have fluctuated in recent years, Generac has sought ways to create a stronger relationship with rental customers who buy products to serve that market.
“It all kind of came back to this professional lawn and garden space,” Gatzke said of conversations with those customers.
Generac’s commercial and industrial business accounted for 38.6 percent of revenue in 2016, down from 44.6 percent in 2014. Beyond generators, the segment also sells temporary lighting and heating equipment.
The new line uses the company’s G-Force engines, which were originally designed for generator applications and used on XC series portable generators.
“The many retailers, contractors and rental companies we’ve spoken with in developing the Generac Pro line have told us they want a high-quality, high-value alternative to Honda-powered products,” Gatzke said. “We believe powering the Generac Pro line with Generac G-Force engines meets that need.”
Gatzke said Generac Pro will be going into a “space that we know, but with new products” and the company feels like now is the right time to go after it. It will primarily be distributed through rental channels, but could also go to market through contractor and industrial suppliers or possibly Home Depot’s professional offerings.
The majority of the Generac Pro line will be manufactured in the company’s Jefferson facility. The plan is to launch the line in the summer, but Gatzke said there are already roadmaps for additional products to launch in summer 2019.
The development of the line has taken around 36 months with a particular emphasis over the last year, Gatzke said.
“It’s not something you can do in three to five months,” he said.
Wordlawn Power – a Beatrice Manufacturer is Making use of its Space after Moving to a New Building
Worldlawn Power Equipment relocated from a location in the Gage County Industrial Park to a larger building on Highway 77, that was last used by Husqvarna in Beatrice, NE.
The 274,000-square-foot facility was essentially unused for six years before Worldlawn purchased the building.
The move was commemorated with an open house and ribbon cutting in June, and national sales manager Nathan Antons said the company is quickly growing into its new home.
“We’re growing fast enough that we’ll be utilizing this space,” Antons said. “We’re over half utilization right now, probably moving to ¾ utilization of the entire place by next fall. We anticipated some growth, but it’s exceeding our expectations.”
The larger facility allows for diversification, expansion, warehousing and solidifying the company’s long-term goals. Around 25 people worked at the previous location in the industrial park. Today, Worldlawn employs around 45 workers, with more positions to come.
“Everything is going very well out here at the new facility,” he said. “We’re in the process of hiring more employees. We’ve hired several internal office employees and now we’re also hiring a fair amount of assembly factory workers, also. Overall production, we are exceeding our expectations from the previous year.”
Antons said one of the company’s biggest challenges to date has been filling all the needed positions as the company grows in an employment climate with a low unemployment rate.
“That’s our biggest shortcoming right now, is our turnover rate is very high,” he said. “We have raised our starting wage twice within the last, probably, four months, just to try and get more people in here.”
Worldlawn Power Equipment was established in California in 2004 and has been in Beatrice since 2011, when the company purchased Encore Manufacturing. The company manufactures outdoor power equipment, including professional and commercial lawnmowers, residential lawnmowers and snow throwers. The company sells products under both the Worldlawn and Encore brand names, with each brand having its own unique products.
“Our Encore brand is actually starting to increase,” Antons said. “There’s a lot of longevity there going back to 1988 and a lot of brand recognition, so we’re really emphasizing growing that brand again. There are some crossovers, but we do keep some segregation, so each brand has its own identity. We’re always developing new products with multiple different items coming out each year.”
The company’s growth has led to international success, with the brands having a presence in Australia, Begium, Guam and areas of Central and South America. Antons, who has been with the company for around three years and worked in the turf and lawn industry since 1995, said one trend the company has been keeping an eye on is interest in electric mowers.
Worldlawn does not currently produce an electric model, but he said implementing the technology in the future is something the company may someday pursue.
“We see a lot of new technologies,” he said. “Obviously, electric items are coming to market. That is something that’s fairly aggressively grown. It started, went away and now is slowly getting a resurgence again, with the nature of the business.
“Everybody’s keeping their eye on it as far as is it a viable new product line or is it a viable market. That’s an analysis that needs to be tracked and followed. The biggest thing is battery technology is starting to get to a place where it’s cost effective.”
Surefit Blades from MTD Being Recalled
MTD Products of Cleveland, Ohio, is recalling about 975 SureFit blade spindle shaft/assemblies sold in the U.S. and Canada.
The blade spindle shaft can break during lawn mowing and the broken blade pieces can become projectiles. This poses a risk of an impact injury to bystanders or damage to property.
The company has received one report of blade spindle shaft breaking. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
This recall involves the SureFit blade spindle shaft/assembly with model numbers 504-00341 and 504-00346.
Court Throws out Exmark Judgment
A federal appeals court has thrown out a more-than $24 million jury verdict in a patent infringement case that favored a Beatrice manufacturer.
Exmark Manufacturing, which makes lawnmowers, had alleged in a 2010 lawsuit that that Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group and Schiller Grounds Care Inc. were manufacturing mowers that infringed on a patent for multiblade mowers equipped with baffles between blades that allow the mower to be converted from a mulching to a side-discharge mower.
After a 2015 trial in U.S. District Court, a jury decided that Briggs & Stratton had willfully infringed on Exmark’s patent and awarded the Beatrice company nearly $24.3 million, an amount the court doubled because of the willful infringement involved.
A three-judge appeals court panel, however, ruled last week that the District Court judge in the case erred when he dismissed a Briggs & Stratton claim that the Exmark patent in question was not valid.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel also threw out the damages award because it said an expert employed by Exmark did not provide an adequate explanation as to how she came up with a 5 percent royalty rate figure on which the jury relied in calculating damages.
Both issues were remanded back to the District Court for reconsideration, including a potential new trial.
A spokesman for Briggs & Stratton declined to comment on the ruling. Officials from Exmark could not be reached for comment.
The Outdoor Power Equipment Industry Helps Others Give Back
Digging out after a winter snow storm can be a lot of hard work. But thanks to many people who use their snow throwers to clear not only their own driveway, but also their neighbors’, the job is made easier.
Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), says he hears stories every winter about neighbors using snow throwers to help each other after storms. “We know of a 77-year-old man in New York named Pat Papa, for example, who uses his Ariens snow thrower to dig out his own driveway, then he clears seven other driveways on his street just because that’s what good neighbors do!”
Kiser said this spirit of giving back and helping out is part of what knits together communities across the country. “Outdoor power equipment is often the thread that connects neighbors and communities,” explained Kiser.
The spirit of giving remains strong throughout the year. The impact of outdoor power equipment to do good can be seen in the aftermath of the blizzards of winter, the tornadoes of spring, the wildfires of summer or the hurricanes of fall.
Nonprofit organizations like Team Rubicon, AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams, Baptist Disaster Relief Teams, and other organizations train and organize entire chainsaw crews to deploy in the aftermath of disasters, knowing the good that fast-moving saws can do. They use their chainsaws to clear roadways of trees and trim debris into manageable pieces – ultimately helping crews get power lines back up and running quickly.
“These do-gooders – from organized groups to individuals like Sister Margaret Ann who started clearing debris herself in Miami after Hurricane Irma – play a vital role in recovery,” said Kiser. “They make it possible for their devastated communities to get back to normal faster.”
After one of the most active hurricane seasons on record, the steady hum of generators is also part of the post-disaster landscape. When the grid is knocked out by strong storms, generators stay on, powering the heating and cooling infrastructure, as well as communication systems, that communities need. Smaller units power air conditioning or heating systems, appliances, lights, phones and even laptops. Larger backup generators keep emergency response operations and hospitals up and running. And as residents and public safety officers respond to flooding after a major storm, engine-powered water pumps help dry out homes and businesses.
“The reality is that outdoor power equipment powers good in so many ways,” noted Kiser. Amid all the stories of neighborly acts with snow blowers and lawn mowers, larger community efforts also emerge. For example, the non-profit Greencare and Snowcare for Troops programs arrange for landscapers to mow lawns and clear driveways for deployed and injured military service members and their families.
In response to Hurricane Harvey, which devastated parts of Texas, generator manufacturers Briggs & Stratton, Generac, and Kohler ramped up production and deployed inventory, technicians, and spare parts as close as possible to the disaster zone.
“It takes an industry with heart to power good, and we’d like to hear more examples of how people are using the equipment our industry makes in positive ways,” said Kiser. If you have an example of “powering good” – ways outdoor power equipment like lawn mowers, chainsaws, generators, and snow throwers are helping people – share it using #PoweringGood on Facebook or Twitter.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Rub Shoulders with Cream of Swedish Society including Husqvarna Executive
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty in late January, as they sat down to dinner with the cream of Swedish society.
Joined by Swedish politicians, businessmen and a television host, they dined on familiar Scottish smoked salmon and guinea fowl as they enjoyed the company of new-found friends.
In rooms of the ambassador’s residence adorned with portraits of the Queen and Queen Mother, guests mingled briefly over drinks before moving through to dinner. Other guests at the dinner included: His Excellency Mr Urban Ahlin, speaker of the Parliament; Her Excellency Mrs Margot Wallström, the Foreign Minister; Magdalena Andersson, Finance Minister; and Ulf Kristersson, Leader of the Opposition. The chairman of H&M Stefan Persson also attended, along with Fredrik Lundberg, chairman of Industrivärden, the investment company behind firms including Ericsson, Volvo Group, and Skanska.
The Duke and Duchess began the evening with a short meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven and his wife Ulla, telling them about their visit to the host country thus far.
The Royal couple, who were joined again by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, dined with Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander and film star Stellan Skarsgård for a formal evening hosted by the British Ambassador.
In rooms of the ambassador’s residence adorned with portraits of the Queen and Queen Mother, guests mingled briefly over drinks before moving through to dinner. Other guests at the dinner included: His Excellency Mr Urban Ahlin, speaker of the Parliament; Her Excellency Mrs Margot Wallström, the Foreign Minister; Magdalena Andersson, Finance Minister; and Ulf Kristersson, Leader of the Opposition. The chairman of H&M Stefan Persson also attended, along with Fredrik Lundberg, chairman of Industrivärden, the investment company behind firms including Ericsson, Volvo Group, and Skanska.
The group was completed by Tom Johnstone, CBE, chairman of the Swedish-British Chamber of Commerce and Husqvarna Group, and Peter Wolodarski, a journalist and television host.
OPEI Names Welcomes Board Members, Announces Grand Opening Plans for New Headquarters
The board of directors for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recently met in Miami, Fla. to discuss the association’s strategic initiatives for 2018 and beyond. The board also elected two new members.
“Growth and engagement are the watchwords of OPEI this year,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. “We discussed the blockbuster growth of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s signature trade show, as well as the many opportunities and challenges facing our members. We are also very excited about the opening of our new headquarters building in May.”
At the meeting, the board elected two new members: Mark Wagner, president, Club Car LLC, and Joseph C. Wright, president and CEO, Excel Industries.
The final plans for OPEI’s new headquarters building at 1605 King Street in Alexandria, Va. also were finalized, with the grand opening and ribbon cutting set for May 7 from noon to 2 p.m. The event is open to OPEI members, trade press, and guests who will tour the new facilities. Both OPEI’s Handheld Products and Engines and Fuels committees will be meeting that week in the new conference center.
The new OPEI headquarters includes a state-of-the-art conference center that can seat 50 people for in-person and virtual meetings. This new headquarters office will enable OPEI members around the country and overseas to participate more fully in association business and activities.
The OPEI board of directors is chaired by Daniel T. Ariens, chairman and CEO, Ariens Company. The vice chair is Tom Cromwell, group president – power, Kohler Company. The secretary/treasurer is Bjoern Fischer, president, Stihl Incorporated. The immediate past chair is Tim Merrett, vice president, global platform – turf & utility – Deere & Company.
Rounding out the board are:
Ed Cohen – vice president – government and industry relations – American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Tim Dorsey – president – Echo Incorporated
Tom Duncan – president and CEO – Positec
Peter Hampton – president – Active Exhaust Corporation
Jean Hlay – president and chief operating officer – MTD Products, Inc.
Jeff Hohler – president, consumer brands division – Husqvarna Professional Products
Rick Olson – president and CEO – The Toro Company
Lee Sowell – president – outdoor products – Techtronic Industries Power Equipment
Todd Teske – chairman, president and CEO – Briggs & Stratton Corporation
Mark Wagner- president – Club Car, LLC
Joe Wright – president and CEO – Excel Industries
The next board meeting will be in conjunction with the OPEI annual meeting held June 16-18, 2018, in Bonita Springs, Fla.
