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/517431
INDUSTRY NEWS Kawasaki Engines announces consolidation plans The Engines Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., recently announced that it will be consolidating all aspects of its management and product development processes in a single facility in Grand Rapids, Mich. The company is launching a significant renovation of its existing facilities to accommodate the move of the research and development (R&D) engineering group, along with related functions, from Maryville, Mo., to Grand Rapids. Maryville, the site of the engine production facility for Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., has been home to the R&D division since 1995. The move to Grand Rapids "will create a more cohesive and dynamic unit that will allow daily face-to-face interaction between the company's R&D group, sales, marketing, product management, operational functions, and most importantly our customers," said Rodger Howe, vice president of the Engines Division. Howe continued, "This consolidation of all these key resources will greatly enhance our abilities to both anticipate and respond to changes in the marketplace because we'll be able to interact with and benefit from the proximity to each element of the company's internal and development operations." The renovated facility will be designed and constructed to optimize the various functions. It will include an R&D center that, according to Howe, will be "absolutely state of the art." The building is expected to be ready for total occupancy by the divisions sometime in early to the middle of 2016. In other Kawasaki Engines Division news, Timothy J. Malinowski was recently promoted to the position of director, national OEM sales & product development. Since joining Kawasaki in 1998, Malinowski has held several sales positions, including most recently as senior sales manager-OEM sales. 12 JUNE 2015 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com John Deere has been named to the Forbes magazine list of America's Best Employers. Deere was 38th among 500 companies included in the recently announced ranking based on independent research of American employees working for large U.S. organizations or U.S. divisions of international firms. Forbes reports survey participants were asked if they would recommend their employer or any other employers in their industry to a potential employee. The demographic mix of respondents in the sample is representative of the overall U.S. workforce. "It is especially gratifying that this honor comes directly from employees of Deere and others who know about Deere," said Sam Allen, Deere's chairman and chief executive officer. "Our employees take on the challenge each day to help ensure the world has enough food, fiber, shelter and infrastructure. This presents opportunities in the workplace to help people lead better lives all across the world." Google, Costco, Marathon Petroleum, The Container Store and L.L. Bean made up the top-five companies overall in the Forbes list. The research also divided the companies into 25 industries. Deere was third in the Engineering and Manufacturing category. John Deere included among America's best employers Honda Power Equipment announced April 23 that it has shipped 40 million power products to domestic dealers and distributors since it began sales of outdoor power equipment in the United States in 1973. In relation, Honda Power Equipment executives helped celebrate the actual 40-millionth power product sold to a customer at Weingartz in Utica, Mich. Weingartz, a family-owned-and-operated business, has been a North American leader in sales and service of outdoor power equipment since 1945 and a Honda Power Equipment dealer since 1978. Beginning U.S. operations with only engines, tillers, generators and outboard engines for sale, Honda Power Equipment has evolved into one of the leading global power products suppliers. Honda currently provides more than 60 models of power products in six major product families, 30 basic models of general-purpose engines, and the industry's widest variety of four-stroke outboard engines. "We have reached this significant milestone in our U.S. history by keeping a keen focus upon the needs of consumers," said Scott Conner, senior vice president, Honda Power Equipment. "Honda remains committed to delivering the most innovative, reliable, and ultimately, helpful products to our customers, dealers and distributors." Honda Power Equipment sets major milestone