Viewpoint A
John Kmitta Hands-on Experience
t a recent media event presented by Husqvarna at its Charlotte, N.C., re- search and development (R&D) facility, I had the good fortune to experi- ence, hands-on, a wide range of outdoor power equipment. Chain saws, blowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, mowers, turf ren-
ovation equipment, and other tools of the trade were available to me and other mem- bers of the media to test run/drive. It was great to experience that first-hand feel for some of the latest products, and get an idea of what will be of interest to you, the reader, editorially with regard to our future equipment coverage. It was also good to get a brief taste — albeit a small sample — of what you and
your crews experience on a daily basis. I've always admired the work being done in the field — especially while I sit here in the air conditioning typing, reading articles, conducting interviews and posting things to the Internet. But donning chain saw chaps and a slew of other personal protective equipment in 100-degree heat gave me a whole new level of appreciation for those who are in the field every day — and the level of professionalism, effort and expertise required to do the job, and do it well. Although I can't go into specifics about the inner workings of Husqvarna's R&D
facility, it was great to see the efforts being made from a manufacturing standpoint to develop the cutting-edge technology that makes your jobs safer and more efficient. During the event,
Husqvarna leadership also provided in-depth overviews of the industry. According to John
Marchionda, vice president of marketing at Husq- varna, in 2010, the out- door power equipment industry realized growth in handheld consumer and commercial wheeled prod- ucts, and recovered a por-
tion of 2009 declines. In calendar year 2011, the outdoor power equipment industry has seen growth in most handheld categories and commercial wheeled products. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's May year-to-date figures showed that commer- cial push mower shipments are up 12.4 percent compared with 2009, commercial zero turn shipments are up 5.3 percent, and commercial wheeled shipments are up 5.9 per- cent.
These are obviously positive signs for the green industry overall, and, although I
can't discuss specific products, I can say that there are intriguing new technologies, equipment and supplies on the horizon that will be positive for the green industry as well.
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