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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/224682
FEATURE STORY By Steve Noe GIE+EXPO 2013 Show Recap T he 2013 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) took place Wednesday, Oct. 23, through Friday, Oct. 25, at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center. Oct. 23 was Dealer Day, and the final two days of the show were open to everyone. With a 6-percent registration increase, more than 18,000 people turned out for the threeday show. Following is a rundown of several of the show's top stories, which are arranged in alphabetical order by company/brand or organization name. For more GIE+EXPO 2013 coverage, including additional photos with the following stories, view the online version of the article at www.outdoorpowerequipment.com. Altoz makes successful debut Three years in the making,Altoz, Inc. unveiled four lines of zero-turn mowers (XC Z, XC S, XP Z and XP S) and a total of 18 different models to dealers and lawn care professionals at GIE+EXPO. The event started off with a bang when the Altoz team welcomed dealers from all over the world to its exhibit space on Wednesday. It was there that dealers were able to see this line of mowers in person for the first time, and the response was filled with excitement that produced a wave of momentum throughout the show. Thursday brought even more traffic to the Altoz booths. Lawn care professionals were able to learn about the mowers with product specialists from Altoz, and take the newest mowers in the market for a test ride at the Altoz outdoor booth. Lawn care professionals echoed much of the same sentiment that was shared by dealers — a mower that had a presence and a look that was too impressive to ignore. To top it off, the outdoor booth let the industry and its lawn care professionals know that high-end performance was also a hallmark of Altoz mowers. In addition to welcoming waves of grounds care professionals to its exhibit space on Thursday, Altoz leaders were able to meet with many members of the industry media. Founders Dennis and Terri Brazier, along with product specialist Mark Reese, were able to discuss their passion for designing the product and their vision for the future in a private setting. With Friday serving as the final day of GIE+EXPO, the positive feedback from those attending continued. As the show began to wrap up, there were a few key takeaways shared by dealers and attendees. First, Altoz has delivered an extremely high-quality design and engineering effort. Second, the Altoz mower lines kept operator comfort front of mind, making them set to tackle the toughest and largest jobs. The third and most prominent response from those in attendance was that the racecar-inspired design creates the perfect blend of great style and industry-leading speed. This is just the beginning of what to expect from Altoz. GIE+EXPO was an ideal setting to launch the Altoz brand and its product offerings. As the brand continues to grow and expand its product lines, dealer network, and consumer base, the industry interest and excitement looks poised to climb as well. For more information, visit www.altoz.com. Ariens Path-Pro single-stage snowthrower Ariens Company showcases new products, technologies The Ariens Company debuted numerous products and technologies under its Ariens and Gravely brands at GIE+EXPO. They included the following: • Auto-Turn steering technology: This zero-turning technology is exclusively available for Ariens Sno-Thro snow blowers. It enables operators to turn effortlessly without adjusting speed or engaging triggers or levers, making snow removal easier, faster and more comfortable. • Ariens Path-Pro single-stage snowthrower: The new Path-Pro (21-inch clearing width) is the smallest snowthrower built by Ariens, but is designed to be durable enough for heavyweight use by professional snow removal crews and comes with an entry price of $399. • Ariens and Gravely Hydro Brush 36: With a 36-inch clearing width, this all-season machine is capable of moving snow, sand, dirt and gravel from sidewalks, driveways and decorative surfaces like patio brick or cobblestone. It can also be used to dethatch or remove gravel from lawns. It boasts a hydrostatic transmission engineered in partnership with Hydro-Gear. Designed with a thermal management system to prevent overheating,the Hydro-Gear RT-210 transmission allows for infinite speed control, smooth operation and minimal maintenance. Speed can be adjusted while the power brush is still moving, eliminating jumping or lurching with speed changes. The hydro drive system's synthetic oil will not break down like conventional oils and does not require adjustments, meaning it is maintenance free. • Gravely Pro-Turn Series with highhorsepower option: Gravely announced the addition of a 35-hp. Kawasaki FX1000V engine option to its Pro-Turn Series of zero-turn mowers. This option will be available on the Pro-Turn 460 and 472 models. • Gravely Pro-Stance 36: With patentpending features, including integrated transmissions, a dial height-of-cut and foot pedal deck lift, the new 36-inch-wide Pro-Stance is small enough to fit within gates and tight spaces, yet doesn't sacrifice productivity and superior results. • Gravely Commercial 21: A 21-inch commercial walk-behind mower powered by the Kawasaki FJ180V KAI 179-cc OHV engine. • Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) versions of the Ariens Razor and Gravely XD3 21inch walk-behind mowers: The BBC option allows the engines of both mowers to run while the blade is stopped, making it easy to start and safe to operate. This feature allows operators to easily move obstacles or empty grass bags while working. • Ariens and Gravely All PurposeVacuum (APV) for effectively picking up leaves, litter and other debris. A zipperless bag design simplifies emptying debris, and the Rite-Hite Handlebar adjustment allows for height customization and easy storage. • Ariens and Gravely 22-ton log splitter: With a 22-ton splitting force, the log splitter easily cuts through most types of wood and can accommodate a variety of jobs. Powered OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT DECEMBER 2013 19