SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/356087
Our mission statement as a 21st century company is quite specific: We provide innovative quality products and solutions to make garden, park and forest care, as well as construction easier for professionals and consumers around the world. But I feel certain that elements of that mission — especially the references to innovation, quality and a commitment to making life easier for customers — have been important to the hundreds of thousands of Husqvarna employees who came before us. Today's Husqvarna zero-turn mowers, professional chain saws, drill systems and dozens of other product lines may not bear a literal resemblance to the muskets and kitchen equipment of our past. But the precision of our products and the passion of our 14,000-plus employees in over 40 countries have remained consistent all these years. Perhaps what has been passed down is the "Gnosjo spirit," which our early workers were said to have — a blending of industriousness, inventiveness and resolve. Often, as the head of Husqvarna's North American operations, I am asked what has made our company so successful in the highly competitive outdoor power equipment marketplace. That is a simple question, and — despite the complexities of the modern marketplace — demands a simple answer. Perhaps I should borrow a line from one of my Husqvarna for- bearers, who wrote the following 25 years ago: "Thanks to our very capable, well trained personnel, our good products and our excellent reputation, we are well equipped to meet new challenges." So true, 325 years into our history. ■ Alan Shaw is Head of Americas for Husqvarna, Charlotte, N.C. 38 SportsTurf | August 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com Anniversary Series Special What does the future hold for Husqvarna? A clue can be found from our 325-year past. Husqvarna has prospered, evolved, and grown due to our commitment to engi- neering excellence, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for developing innovative, high-quality solutions. That begins with staying close to customers, whose input, insights and changing needs have fed our steady stream of new products and enhancements that not only promote ease of use but also showcase our focus on sustainability. In 2014, we have unveiled a number of groundbreaking solu- tions that address our customers' demands for high-quality solutions. A few of the latest Husqvarna technological break- throughs include: • AutoTune, a technological and environmental advancement in professional chain saws that minimizes exhaust emissions and optimizes engine performance; it eliminates the need for carburetor adjustments. • X-Torq, a technology that delivers lower fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emission levels in accordance with the most stringent environmental regulations; it is used predominantly in handheld products. • Additions to our growing line of battery-powered products; these lightweight products are quiet and free from direct emis- sions. • Continued enhancements to our line of self-operating robotic mowers, which save time and effort for homeowners and facil- ity managers; they produce no direct emissions during use and consume very little energy. • Additions to our line of industry-leading all-wheel-drive mow- ers, designed for uneven terrain and tough mowing conditions. Looking ahead, Husqvarna will focus on continuing to grow our independent dealer sales and retail channel, while also focusing on high-growth geographic markets, especially in Latin America. And with housing starts and existing-home sales on the rise once again, Husqvarna will continue to leverage our leadership position as the world's largest provider of outdoor power equip- ment. Here's to the next 325 years! Sidebar provided by Husqvarna. Husqvarna's logo has evolved throughout the years, yet still harkens back to the motif of the company's original logo (left). All photos and graphics provided by Husqvarna. Husqvarna has prospered, evolved, and grown due to its commitment to engineer- ing excellence, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for developing innova- tive, high-quality solutions. Husqvarna: Looking Ahead