Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
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SPECIAL FEATURE www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation July/August 2015 9 will save them time and money, while living up to the Ryan brand promise: long life and quality products. We have an exciting new product plan that we are executing based upon what we learn in speaking with our customers about their needs. — Steve Relaz, product manager, Ryan At Vermeer, we continue to expand our offerings to the land- scape and irrigation markets, and we've recently released several new models. New models include the CTX50 mini skid-steer, which boasts a rated lifting capacity of 600 pounds. This is a lot considering its small footprint. The CTX50 is the first Vermeer mini skid-steer to adopt vertical-lift geometry, and it is this ge- ometry that allows the load to be kept closer to the machine's center of gravity, so it can lift more. We also just recently launched the SC40TX 40-hp. stump cutter. The SC40TX is the first stump cutter that you actually ride to the stump on. Its stand-on design is an industry first, and the increased speed and maneuverability will allow you to get to the stump quicker and reposition easier than traditional walk-beside models. Another new product that should really pique the interest of landscape and irrigation professionals is the PTX44 ride-on plow. Riding on the unit provides excellent visibility, and the articulat- ing and oscillating frame allows for positive ground contact with all four wheels over a variety of terrain. Finally, we've responded to customer feedback resulting in several enhancements to our BC900XL 9-inch brush chipper. This chipper is a great size unit for landscapers who also get into tree care but maybe not full-tree takedowns. Improvements in- clude a centrifugal clutch to engage the cutter disc and an over- pressure switch to allow the feed rollers to reverse slightly to clear material that may get behind the feed rollers. — Jay Sunderman, strategic business unit manager, tree care/ rental & landscape, Vermeer Corporation Toro has introduced several new, innovative products to the professional landscape and lawn-care markets. First, Toro's new Horizon Technology, available on select Z Master Professional 6000 EFI models, helps operators maximize fuel efficiency and productivity. The onboard intelligence platform enhances com- munication between the mower and key systems on the machine to increase equipment performance. Primarily, the operator can easily match the performance mode to mowing conditions. Toro's Horizon Technology has three modes to handle essentially any condition: max mode for maxi- mum power in the most demanding conditions; economy mode, for most normal mowing conditions, to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and machine wear; and, finally, low mode to reduce deck packing and discharge clumping — ideal for mowing in wet conditions. Toro has also recently introduced the 8000 Series Direct Collect Z. This new product line shines in situations where a clean, mani- cured appearance is critical. The rear-discharge deck allows for trimming on both sides of the deck and can reach ground speeds of up to 7 mph. The large, powerful blower moves more air, allowing large volumes of clippings to be thrown into the 9.5-bushel hopper. A third new offering for professional landscape contractors is a new line of Toro 21-inch commercial heavy-duty mowers, built on a track record of proven performance with a host of new fea- tures to do even more. All five models are equipped with the lat- est commercial-grade components, as well as the Recycler cutting system and a wide, easy-empty bag to ensure optimal performance. These models feature premium engines and maintenance-free transmissions to help operators stay productive. — Chris Hannan, marketing manager, Toro BOB-CAT launched its first stand-on family of mowers, the QuickCat. The BOB-CAT QuickCat comes in three different deck sizes, including 48, 52 and 61 inches. Rugged and durable, the stand-on mower is setting a new standard in the stand-on mower market. BOB-CAT also launched a new zero-turn mower, the XRZ Pro, a professional-grade sit-down zero-turn mower. In addition, our new Boss Vac collection systems mount onto the BOB-CAT Predator Pro, ProCat or FastCat mower models, depending on bushel size. Two options are available — a more traditional bag- ging system or the DFS (Dump from the Seat) version. — Ron Scheffler, product manager, BOB-CAT 2015 is a relatively quiet year, as far as product introductions for Bobcat compact excavators. With the recent launch of the complete line of M-Series excavators, much of the focus here is working toward next-generation product. The Bobcat Depth Check, new for 2015, is a new accessory for select Bobcat excava- tors. This is a depth guidance system designed to help operators sustain a grade and achieve a minimum cover; and, with inclusion of laser components, it can guide the operator to sustain a slope when trenching. The Bobcat Depth Check system is uniquely in- tegrated into the machine's instrumentation panel, eliminating the need for additional display screens. — Tom Connor, excavator product specialist, Bobcat Company At Terex, we polled a variety of different customers that use com- petitive loader models and found many attributes that are extreme- ly important during the buying-decision process, because they con- tribute to higher productivity and a lower cost of ownership. With this customer input in mind, our loader lines offer attributes that match or exceed existing competitors — including reach, lift height, operating capacity and serviceability, to name a few. In addition to the features already mentioned, customers asked us to make the cab environment more comfortable and in- tuitive for the operator. Specific features included fingertip con- trols to operate the unit and attachments, pressurized cabs and roominess for the operator. Excellent visibility was also high on the list of customer wants. Owner/operators demand production, higher bucket capaci- ties and improved lifting capabilities because they are directly related to how much can get done in a day. We believe the trend will be slow to increase because of the additional costs related to the implementation of Tier 4 interim engines. The added cost may lead owners/operators to invest in smaller units that are not required to comply with Tier 4 until later this year.