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/739479
PRODUCTS 32 NOVEMBER 2016 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com P R O D U C T N E W S Husqvarna Group increasing and expanding robotics manufacturing To strengthen the ability to serve the growing robotic mower market, Husqvarna Group recently announced that it will increase the capacity for its Newton Aycliffe factory in England. At the same time, Husqvarna Group will expand and build up capacity at its existing site in Vrbno, Czech Republic. Husqvarna Group is a pioneer in robotic grass-cutting technology and, through the success of its range of products, has a leadership position in robotics, which so far has been built around the European market. "We expect the overall robotics market to continue to be a fast- growing segment in the coming years," said Kai Wärn, president and CEO for the Husqvarna Group. "Our aim is to maintain our leadership position by providing the most reliable and efficient products, giving the end users a great result — where the robotic lawn mower does all the work. Beyond the current success with Husqvarna and Gardena, we plan to introduce robotic mowers also for the McCulloch brand for the 2017 season." Additional investments are planned for the Newton Aycliffe factory in order to increase robotic manufacturing capacity. In parallel, Husqvarna Group will expand and build manufacturing capability and capacity of robotics at the existing Husqvarna Group site in Vrbno to be a complement for the 2018 season. "Due to the strategic importance of this product, we see the need to manufacture robotic mowers in more than one site to meet the growing market and limit the risk with only one factory," Wärn added. "In order to leverage the many years of knowledge and experience, the Newton Aycliffe factory will take on a lead manufacturing engineering role for robotics in the Group." Cub Cadet introduces PRO Z Series commercial zero-turn mowers Cub Cadet is announcing a renewed commitment to the professional market. Led by the completely redesigned PRO Z Series, Cub Cadet is launching its strongest commercial zero-turn mower lineup designed around the professional who relies on the delivery of strength and performance day in and day out. In developing the PRO Z Series, Cub Cadet went back to the drawing board. This meant questioning everything from the front-end construction to the placement of user controls to the cutting deck. Cub Cadet enlisted 100 landscapers who put the new products through rigorous real-world testing during the heat of the season. After 16 weeks and thousands of hours of professional validation testing, their feedback was incorporated into the final product design. Every element of the PRO Z Series had to apply for its job by showcasing the strength and functionality needed for daily use by professionals. Each element on the machines was reviewed, analyzed, and tested before making it into the PRO Z lineup. Reaction from professional landscapers ranged from "more beefy than most mowers" to "stripes fantastically" and "it will 'wow' you." The consistent themes from professionals who tested the new product line were the positive impressions about the power, comfort, quality of cut and maneuverability — especially on slopes. Not only did the PRO Z provide an easy ride, it helped prevent "scalping" of the lawn on uneven terrain. The lineup consists of the PRO Z 100, PRO Z 500, PRO Z 700 and PRO Z 900 Series designed to meet the specific needs of different-sized landscape crews. Cub Cadet's most reliable line of PRO Z commercial zero-turn mowers provides more strength, performance and comfort than ever. ■ Strength: From frame to front yoke, the PRO Z Series is designed to stand up to the demands of everyday professional use. The industry's only triple 7-gauge deck features 3 layers of 7-gauge steel, plus 1/4-inch leading edge and 5/16-inch side reinforcements. The full-length, laser- cut steel frame, the 5/16-inch steel rear bumper and the cutting deck are protected with e-coating — a precise, multi-stage process that provides automotive-grade corrosion defense. ■ Performance: High-torque Parker transmissions are paired with high-horsepower commercial-grade Kawasaki engines to provide optimal and consistent blade tip speed. The PRO Z Series powers through the thickest grass in a single pass at maximum speeds. Productivity-enhancing features optimize rear weight distribution, including pre-drilled mounting points for attachments and smart fuel pod placement. The steering wheel zero-turn option with 4-wheel control increases hillside stability and maximizes job efficiency. ■ Comfort: Operators will experience a smooth ride all day long with the enhanced comfort features of the PRO Z Series. High-back suspension seats with lumbar support and padded armrests come standard. The PRO Z 700 and 900 Series absorb impact on rough terrain with a pivoting front axle dampening system, a vibration isolating foot pan and 4 seat isolators. The PRO Z 900's exclusive air-ride seat has customizable seat firmness and additional controls for the ideal fit. New Kinetic log splitter saves time and effort Oregon, a Portland, Ore.-based global manufacturer of forestry, lawn & garden tools and accessories, recently announced the release of its new Kinetic log splitter, allowing operators to split wood faster (up to 6 times faster than traditional hydraulic splitters) — saving time and effort. The new design eliminates hydraulics by using 2 precision- balanced 70-pound flywheels spinning at 325 rpm to create and store kinetic energy. A pinion Cub Cadet is announcing a renewed commitment to the professional market. Led by the completely redesigned PRO Z Series, Cub Cadet is launching its strongest commercial zero-turn mower lineup designed around the professional who relies on the delivery of strength and performance day in and day out. Cadet went back to the drawing board. This meant questioning everything from the front-end construction to Cadet went back to the drawing board. & garden tools and accessories, recently announced the release of its new Kinetic log splitter, allowing operators to split wood faster (up to 6 times faster than traditional hydraulic splitters) — saving time and effort. and store kinetic energy. A pinion