Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, Outdoor Power Equipment provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/147382
lower fuel consumption, therefore producing less carbon dioxide/hydrocarbons, and improving fuel efficiency compared to traditional engines. — Kelly Weeks, associate product manager,Tanaka Power Equipment One of the trends we are seeing is the shift in the marketplace for commercial zero-turn mowers to larger all-enclosed hydraulic transaxles instead of the traditional pump and wheel motor drive systems. This eliminates the need for hydraulic hoses, and can perform at peak levels while helping reduce the weight and maintenance of the machine. — Blaine Fields, national sales manager, Country Clipper Mowers • Versatility. The growth of the compact tool carrier market has been driven by the need for increased versatility on jobsites. Customers see value in equipment that can perform a variety of tasks, therefore allowing them to save time and generate additional income. • Tier 4 emission compliance. We, as a manufacturer, do our due diligence in keeping cost as low as possible to help offset the rising cost of engines associated with Tier 4 emission compliance. • Design. The new RT30 was specifically designed to lower initial investment costs, lower cost of ownership, and improve or protect a higher ROI. — Matt Collins, product manager, compact & HD equipment, Ditch Witch Products geared toward enhancing contractor productivity at improving price points — steerable aerators and seeders, incorporation of heavy-duty integrated transaxles versus separate components, products that are designed to be universally easier to use to allow more operators to be productive faster. Products that have improved fuel efficiency, and are more environmentally friendly. — Pat Cappucci, president & COO of Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. One of the biggest industry trends this year is that battery-powered products are becoming more common in the professional landscaping market, especially for some niche applications. We continue to focus on fuel efficiency in gasoline-powered products, as well as improving overall ergonomics, including reducing vibration and powerto-weight ratios in all product segments. Fuel efficiency goes hand-in-hand with low exhaust emissions, because the engine is burning fuel more cleanly and more efficiently with less waste, which ultimately means that landscape contractors can reduce their operating costs. Gasoline is a significant cost to any professional landscaper.We encourage these pros to consider fuel economy when making their purchasing decisions. — Steve Meriam, director of sales, Stihl Inc. A trend that never goes out of style is saving money, so to help customers reduce their fuel costs, many manufacturers are offering machines with Electronic Fuel Injection. Machines that use Electronic Fuel Injection, like our Z925 EFI, can reduce fuel consumption up to 25 percent. Also, efficiency is always in style. Customers continually look for product features, like our Mulch On Demand mowing decks, that will save them time and effort in job cleanup. — Steve Wilhelmi, tactical marketing manager, John Deere Commercial Mowing Manufacturers are making machine operation easier so that a broader crosssection of individuals are able to easily and, more importantly, safely operate heavy equipment.There's also an acute focus on reducing owner and operator costs. One example is how our Tier 4i and Tier 4 Final skid-steers don't need after treatment or DPFs — there's no DPF to service or Ad Blue tank to fill. We're seeing a greater demand for fuel efficiency and reduced service downtime. Landscape and lawn care contractors, like most professionals, are really noticing how details like fuel consumption and maintenance costs can affect their bottom lines over time. I think this is due to the fact that many had to scale back quite a bit during the worst of the recent economic downturn, and they're still applying what they learned then to their operations today for greater profitability. — Chris Giorgianni, JCB vice president of product OP E [Editor's note: Responses were presented in the order in which they were received.] Equipment Trends 2013: User Survey While equipment manufacturers and suppliers weighed in on trends that are shaping the industry, equipment users provided Landscape and Irrigation with feedback about their equipment decisions in 2013 and going forward. The results are as follows: What equipment do you plan to purchase during the next 6 months? (check all that apply) 54% Work trucks String trimmers 52% Blowers 46% Hedge trimmers 42% Commercial zero-turn mowers 34% Edgers 28% Commercial walk-behind mowers 20% Spray equipment (or other chemical application equipment) 18% Stand-on mowers 18% Chain saws 16% Turf aerators 14% Snow and ice management equipment 12% Utility vehicles 12% Excavators 8% Chippers/shredders 6% Loaders 6% Propane-powered mowers 6% Trenchers 6% Backhoes 4% Vacuums 4% During 2013, how have you approached your equipment needs? (check all that apply) Purchased new equipment this year to fill specific needs 51% Used only the equipment from our existing fleet 35% Rented equipment this year to fill specific needs 33% Purchased used equipment this year to fill specific needs 12% During the next six months, which of the following would you be most likely to do should a specific need arise? Purchase new equipment 39% Purchase replacement parts for existing equipment 36% Rent equipment 19% Purchase used equipment 6% When purchasing new equipment, which of the following factors is most important to you? Serviceability/support 31% Brand 26% Product specifications and features 26% Price 17% OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT AUGUST 2013 23