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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/65550
INDUSTRY NEWS GIE+EXPO makes many announcements The Professional Landcare Network ONLINE REGISTRATION is now open for the 2012 Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) — which will be held in conjunction with Hardscape North America (HNA) on Wednesday, Oct. 24, through Friday, Oct. 26, at Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). And according to show organizers, outstanding prizes are available for those who register early at www.gie-expo.com. Two lucky registrants will win the two grand prizes — $1,800 travel packages to the show. Each package includes a $500 gift card for expenses, a luxury hotel suite for three nights in The Galt House or Seelbach Hilton Hotel, $100 in gift cards for local restaurants, $50 for souvenirs at the Visitor Information Center, and VIP seating at the free concerts that are scheduled to take place in downtown Louisville at Fourth Street Live. Legendary rock band Kansas, which has been topping the charts since the early 1970s with mega hits such as "Dust in the Wind," "Carry on Wayward Son," and "All I Wanted," will perform Wednesday at 9 p.m. The Eli Young Band, which recently won the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards' Song of the Year for "Crazy Girl," will take the stage on Thursday night at 9. If you register for GIE+EXPO before May 31, you will be entered to win tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup races June 30 in Ft. Mitchell, Ky. The Sprint Cup features racing heavyweights like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Plus, GIE+EXPO's Refer-a-Friend program will award an Apple iPad to one lucky winner. To enter, register online and then send an online invitation to a friend. When that person registers, you will be eligible for the iPad drawing. Instructions will be included in your registration confirmation e-mail, and the winner will be announced at the show. GIE+EXPO is adopting a new format this year. Wednesday will be Dealer Day, which is open exclusively to dealers, distributors, retailers and media. On Thursday and Friday, the indoor exhibits and the 19-acre Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open to all registrants. Educational opportunities for all industry segments will begin on Wednesday. New certification classes for technicians will be held Wednesday at 9-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Bob Clements International will conduct classes for dealership owners and managers Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m. 10 (PLANET) and Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) will begin their Green Industry Conference (GIC) at the Louisville Marriott Downtown on Wednesday and continue it at the KEC on Thursday and Friday. The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) will open its annual School of Grounds Management at The Galt House on Wednesday and continue it through Saturday at the KEC. GIE+EXPO Workshops for lawn and landscape professionals are being expanded this year to eight sessions on Thursday and Friday at the KEC. Go to GIE+EXPO's website to register and learn more about online registration giveaways, show updates and events. An early-bird registration fee of $10 is being offered until Sept. 9. After that, pre-registration will be $25. The onsite registration fee will be $50. GIE+EXPO — the ninth largest trade show in America — is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), PLANET and PGMS. HNA is sponsored by ICPI and endorsed by the Brick Industry Association and National Concrete Masonry Association. In addition to the GIE+EXPO website, information about the show can be obtained on Facebook and by contacting Sellers Expositions at (800) 558-8767, (812) 949-9200 or info@gie-expo.com. When potential attendees and exhibitors "Like" GIE+EXPO on Facebook, they will be entered to win $1,000. Briggs & Stratton announces strategic actions,cost reductions ON APRIL 26, Briggs & Stratton Corporation announced several additional actions being taken to execute the company's strategy. Beginning in fiscal 2013, the company will no longer pursue placement of lawn and garden products at national mass retailers. The Engines segment will continue to support lawn and garden equipment OEMs that provide lawn and garden equipment to those retailers. The Products segment will continue to focus on innovative, higher-margin products that are sold through the company's network of Simplicity, Snapper and Ferris dealers and regional retailers. Briggs & Stratton will also continue to sell pressure washers, as well as portable and standby generators through the U.S. mass retail channel. Briggs & Stratton also announced that production of horizontal-shaft engines currently made in the Auburn, Ala., plant will move to the company's existing production facility in Chongqing, China, or be sourced from third parties in Southeast Asia. In 2007, Briggs & Stratton moved smaller horizontal-shaft engines to the Chongqing, China, plant, where those types of engines can be made more competitively. Briggs & Stratton will continue to manufacture portable generators in Auburn through calendar 2012 and is evaluating alternatives with respect to manufacturing, assembling, or sourcing cost-effective portable generators beyond 2012. The Auburn plant will continue to produce V-Twin engines used in riding mowers and other outdoor power applications. In addition to focusing its Products business on the Kansas dealer channel and moving certain production out of the Auburn facility, Briggs & Stratton also announced that it intends to reduce its salaried headcount by approximately 10 percent during fiscal 2012. "While we appear poised for an improved lawn and garden market here in the U.S., our longer-term projections of the lawn and garden market in the U.S. and in Europe do not return to the peaks that we saw in 2004 and 2005 for the foreseeable future," said Todd Teske, chairman, president & CEO, Briggs & Stratton. "We previously announced capacity reductions in our manufacturing facilities and have announced today that certain portions of our current business will not be strategic for us in the future. As a result, we are taking the difficult, but necessary actions, to reduce our salaried support staff as well. While it is very difficult to take these actions, it is necessary to reach our strategic goals and position Briggs & Stratton for success in the future." Briggs & Stratton anticipates approximately 250 Eli Young Band regular employees will be affected by the Auburn facility consolidation. The 10-percent reduction of the company's salaried workforce will affect approximately 210 employees globally. The company anticipates it will be adding approximately 12 to 15 full-time employees at its Menomonee Falls, Wis., facility after construction is completed. The consolidation of the brand parts distribution center from its McDonough, Ga., facility will result in the loss of approximately four full-time employees and 65 temporary employees. OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com