I don't think it's particularly controversial to assert that one of the major topics of discussion over recent years is the impact which battery powered machinery is having on the industry - and indeed how the proliferation of the equipment will change the face of the sector in the coming years.

Advancements in technology and personal choice amongst consumers have arguably led the way, thus far, in the success which the equipment has been finding in sales, but perhaps in the future it might well be legislation which increasingly dictates how traditional petrol machines fare against cordless.

There are obviously ever more stringent regulations regarding the engine emission levels which petrol machines must adhere to, but what caught my eye in the news coming out of North America this week, was that it could well be noise levels which begin to really hit petrol machines. I've seen several reports online coming out of news sources in both the United States and Canada, that say authorities at local levels are taking steps to ban the sale and use of petrol powered leaf blowers - specifically due to the concerns over noise.

One example is Washington D.C where according to a report from local ABC News channel WJLA, a council meeting was held this week, attended by members of the public, where a bill was debated which would "prohibit the sale and use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the District beginning in 2022." This ban would effectively force residents and businesses to change to using battery-powered leaf blowers. If this law came into effect, it would see those who break it fined up to $500.

And it's quite simple to search online and find more stories like this coming out of other cities in both the US and Canada. It's clearly a genuine concern to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in the states. So much so that they have unveiled a new leaf blower 'toolkit' to help landscapers and dealers contend with leaf blower restrictions. The toolkit offers advice as to how concerned stakeholders can "learn more about how they can promote and follow safe and courteous use of this vital equipment".

Part of the toolkit is a series of videos. See below as an example:

At the moment it does appear that it's specifically leaf blowers which are being singled out - but it must be a fair assumption that other groundscare tools, powered by petrol, which make a loud noise, are also potential legislation targets? And whilst of course these specific examples mentioned here are coming out of North America, it's undeniably a worldwide trend that outdoor powered machinery is expected to become more environmentally conscious.

Does this mean petrol machines are fighting a losing battle? Will there come a time when the vast majority of floorspace in dealerships in the UK is taken up with battery powered machinery? Will petrol-engined machines become demonised and regulated out of existence?

I suppose the answer you get to those questions, depends on which manufacturer you ask. Companies who produce both petrol and battery tools will tell you there will always be a place for both. Specialist cordless manufacturers will I suspect will have a very different opinion.

What do dealers think though? What are your customers telling you they want? Let us know in the comments below.

Honda (UK) is out to reclaim the crown for the world’s fastest lawn mower with Mean Mower V2 and has a target speed of 150mph in its sights.

The company have now released a new video which shows the machine in action for the first time.

Built by Team Dynamics, Honda’s British Touring Car Championship partner and the team behind the original Mean Mower that took the record for the world’s fastest lawn mower in 2014, the company says development has moved on to a whole new level. Now using CAD design, more bespoke parts, advanced materials, and 3D printing, it now packs almost double the power of the original, with the development team estimating it is capable of speeds in excess of 150mph.

Dave Hodgetts, Managing Director, Honda (UK), said, “The original Mean Mower was a great challenge for us and the result was an amazing machine. This time we have moved the game on considerably to build an incredible piece of real engineering, using advanced design and production techniques and calling upon some very clever thinking to bring the performance and power but still retain the look of the production mower. We’re in testing phase now and everything is looking good, with a top speed of more than 150mph very much in our sights.”

A key part of the brief was to retain the look of a lawn mower - in this case the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor -- which it does by carrying over its front cowl, grass box and body panels. The second essential element is the ability to still cut grass, which it also still does, thanks to slight revisions to the cutter deck to house the chain running to the rear tyres and the two batteries required to power electric motors which spin carbon fibre blades to mow.

The engine - a 999cc four-cylinder unit taken from Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade SP motorcycle - produces more than 190bhp at 13,000rpm. With a super-light frame and engine dry weight of just 69.1kg Team Dynamics engineers predict a power to weight ratio of 1000bhp/tonne.

The Fireblade DNA continues with the carry-over of several other parts including clutch, ECU, six-speed drive train and full colour LCD display. The programmable quick shift gear system promises precise and responsive shift through carbon paddles on the steering wheel - with the team estimating that this new machine could reach 90mph in first gear.

The majority of Mean Mower V2 has been bespoke designed and manufactured, with the chassis made from T45 steel rather than chromoly for durability and flexibility - vital given that it has no suspension. What to do if the airbox won’t fit under the cowl because the injectors are in the way? 3D print an airbox to fit, of course!

The all-important matter of braking is covered off by Kelgate - four-piston callipers to the front and six to the rear - vented to increase airflow and reduce weight. Goldspeed ten-inch ATV wheels anodised in gold match that of the Fireblade, with special-order Hoosier racing tyres giving the grip.

With all of this incredible refined raw power, Honda felt a professional racer is the only choice to tame Mean Mower V2. Enter Jess Hawkins, an experienced kart and car racer. At just 23, Jess is currently performing as a stunt driver in the touring Fast & Furious Live show.

The original Mean Mower was launched in 2013, aiming to highlight the breadth of Honda’s product offering, sporty credentials and reputation as one of the world’s most innovative companies. It went on to become the world’s fastest lawnmower when it hit an incredible 116.575mph, at the IDIADA Proving Ground, a record which has since been surpassed.

Kubota Corporation has announced that it will invest €55 million in a new R&D Centre in Europe. The new site will be located in Crépy-en-Valois, France and will be fully operational in 2020.

The company says they continue to make significant investments into their expansion throughout Europe and will now invest in a brand-new R&D Centre that will be the Competence Centre of Engineering for agricultural tractor markets, and the base for Kubota’s research activities for tractors in the Europe region.

In a statement the company said, "By establishing a best in class R&D Centre in Europe, embedding up to date engineering and validation tools, Kubota will develop cutting edge technology for our new models to meet the specific requirements of European farmers while keeping the Group’s DNA: reliability, ease of use and best cost of ownership."

As part of Kubota’s globalisation process, Kubota Corporation intends to boost its product development, in line with its aspirations to adapt to the specific needs of its host markets. The new centre plays a vital role in this process, so Kubota will further develop agricultural machinery that is customised to work efficiently and effectively for local crops, field conditions and work processes.

Kubota, already present in more than 110 countries worldwide, say they aim to continue growing internationally, and they believe this latest investment will accelerate this expansion and growth.

STIHL have anounced that their dealers can take advantage of two new promotions, in celebration of the TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship coming to the UK for the first time this October at the Echo Arena Liverpool.

The company is offering its dealer network the opportunity to experience what they describe as "the full VIP treatment" at the championships. Two dealerships in each region have a chance to win a pair of VIP hospitality tickets to see the 'original extreme sport' live, plus two nights accommodation in a 4* hotel in the heart of Liverpool and a VIP behind the scenes tour.

A second end-user focused promotion has also been launched to help dealers drive sales of a limited edition range of Stihl TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship Liverpool merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies, caps and bespoke Liverpool 2018 chainsaw bars.

TIMBERSPORTS® fans need to upload a picture of themselves wearing or using the newly purchased merchandise to be in with a chance of winning. The top prize up for grabs is two nights accommodation in a luxury apartment for eight people in the heart of Liverpool, tickets to the two-day World Championship event, a VIP tour and £1,000 spending money. In addition, two nights accommodation in a luxury apartment for four people, tickets to the two-day event, a VIP tour and £250 spending money is also available to win.

Taking place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th October, the Stihl TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship sees the best athletes from across the globe compete in a series of woodchopping challenges utilising axes and saws. The sport was founded in 1985, and includes six different disciplines – the Underhand Chop, the Stock Saw, the Standing Block Chop, the Single Buck, the Springboard and the Hot Saw. More than 8,000 spectators are expected to attend this year’s event in Liverpool.

Athletes from over 20 nations will be battling it out in Liverpool for the Individual and Team titles. In the team event on Friday 19th October, the national teams will compete against each other in a knockout system, where the disciplines of Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck and Standing Block Chop are completed by four athletes in a relay.

The world's top twelve athletes will then compete against one another in all six disciplines as part of the individual competition on Saturday 20th October. In each discipline, the competitor is awarded points according to their achieved time, with the athlete attaining the highest number of points declared the Individual World Champion.

For more information, visit www.stihl.co.uk/st-win

For the third month in a row UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) showed double digit percentage growth, compared with June a year earlier.

Stephen Howarth, Agricultural Economist at the AEA who released the figures said, "During the month, 1,187 machines were registered, 14% more than in the same month last year.

"This brings the total for the first half of the year to 6,530 units, nearly 400 (6%) more than in January to June 2017."

After 21 years of serving the business “extremely well” across a variety of roles, Reesink Turfcare’s business information manager Mike Stephenson is retiring.

After 21 years Reesink’s Mike Stephenson is retiring to spend more time on his hobbies of wildlife photography and by volunteering for wildlife charities

A well-rounded individual, Mike gained experience from every pocket of the industry over his expansive career. He explains, “After studying Agricultural Engineering at Rycotewood College, I started out as an apprentice at a tractor dealership in Yorkshire where I worked my way up to service manager.

“From there I worked in a range of engineering, sales and aftermarket positions for irrigation equipment and agricultural machinery companies, before joining Lely Turfcare [now Reesink Turfcare] as turf product manager in 1997.”

Throughout his time at Reesink Mike mastered many roles involving service, dealer support and training, all the way to aftermarket support, running business operations and project management. As a result, his skillset grew exponentially and he became an instrumental figure during many Reesink milestones.

Reesink Turfcare’s managing director, David Cole, says, “Over his 21 years with the business Mike has adeptly covered a variety of roles, starting out as turf product manager through to his current post of business information manager. His positive approach and attention to detail has served the business extremely well through many important projects.”

One such project was of course the company’s transition from Lely Turfcare to Reesink Turfcare, when Royal Reesink acquired the business in 2016. Mike deems this the biggest challenge he faced in his career. “My job during the changeover was to see the Lely business information system transition to Reesink. This should have been an 18-month project, but we had just four months to complete it - and we did! The key to success was having a hardworking and dedicated team around me."

David Cole sums it up, saying, “I was involved in Mike’s original recruitment back in 1997 and have always appreciated his drive and focus for the right outcomes - and his sense of humour, which is probably a secret of his longevity.

“Our business has benefited from his exemplary commitment and loyalty. I would like to thank Mike for his contribution over the years and wish him all the best for a well-earned, fulfilling and enjoyable retirement.”

During his retirement, Mike will continue to pursue his passion for the industry as an active member of IAgrE (The Institution of Agricultural Engineers). He also plans to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the countryside through his hobby of wildlife photography and by volunteering for wildlife charities.

The recent acquisition of German parts company Ratioparts by U.S based  Arrowhead Engineered Products (AEP), means that Stens will be able to offer UK dealers an increased range of OEM parts.

Hi Level in the UK, who have distributed Stens parts since 2017, were bought by AEP back in 2015. AEP is a supplier of aftermarket replacement parts for a wide variety of motorised vehicles. AEP has several distribution centres across the globe including Hi level in the UK. Within the AEP portfolio sits Stens, providing parts to the outdoor power equipment, industrial/rental, hardware, turf management and agricultural sectors.

This new acquisition of Ratioparts, the German brand who sell directly to independent power equipment dealers, means that Stenswill now have a wider range of products to offer UK dealers.

Hermann Gerardts, CEO of Ratioparts said, "This is a strategic decision that allows the company to join forces with AEP to better meet our customers’ needs across Europe and solidify our position as a global leader in aftermarket hard parts. In addition, this will allow the expansion of product range in agricultural, outdoor power equipment and powersports categories.” 

Arrowhead CEO Jim Wisnoski commented, “The combination of Arrowhead with the Ratioparts organisation and its subsidiaries creates a unique and powerful platform in support of our mission to always be our customers’ first choice for critical replacement parts. We are excited for the combination of our two organisations, and the shared focus of our combined employees to continue providing exceptional service to our worldwide customers.”

Simon RIchard Ltd, UK Sales Agents for the Reform specialist tractor, Muthing flail and Woods Batwing rotary cutter ranges say the recent Highland Show proved to be a productive event for their business.

Simon Richard said, “We enjoyed an excellent four days culminating in the appointment of three new dealers for our range.

"They were Kelso & Lothian Harvesters, Houndridge covering the Lothians Borders and Northumberland; A L Agri in Forfar who will service that area; and Inverness based Farm & Forestry Equipment Services, covering the Highlands."

Spread over three floors and occupying an area of 2500 sqm, STIGA have opened a new headquarters within the company’s premises in Castelfranco Veneto, northern Italy.

It took a network of exclusively local suppliers only 10 months to build the new headquarters. In line with the company’s values, over 80% of the materials used for the building are recyclable. The building is powered by a photovoltaic system and equipped with a pulsed-air heating system with internal recycling and a highly energy-efficient 1000 sqm glass facade.

STIGA say the planning phase began with an analysis of the area’s climate conditions, which led to the creation of an “environmental matrix envisaging seasonal strategies to be applied all year long". The construction saw the partial use of prefabricated components and all materials were sourced from local companies based within 30km from the new headquarters.

After the cornerstone was laid on 29 June 2017, the construction began on 21 August 2017 and ended after only 300 days on 21 June 2018, two months ahead of schedule.

A networking opportunity for landscapers and gardeners will be available at SALTEX 2018 - which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 31 October and 1 November.

Lawn Care Legends, a Facebook group which was created in July 2016, is a thriving online community with over 3,000 worldwide active members. It is primarily a group for all landscapers and gardeners to showcase their work and knowledge and ultimately support one another.

Lawn Care Legends meet-up

The majority of group members are based in the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia and Canada and the group sees, on average, 40-60 individual member posts and approximately 4,500 engagements every day from likes to comments.

“The kind of topics of conversation can be anything from recommendations on products, machines or brands, what people prefer to use - the pros and cons, or it could be to do with marketing your business or pricing a job. It is open to professionals and aspiring professionals and the group encourages the positive aspect of sharing information,” said group founder John Ryan.

John says that while he believes social media is an important aspect of the industry, the group is far more than just social sharing. “Social media is a way to feed on the passion for the industry but it is much more than just sharing pictures and talking about lawnmowers; it is a way of connecting with people who have the same interests as you, have the same passion as you, and ultimately face the same difficulties as you.

“One thing I have personally experienced and widely seen in this industry is mental health, and that has commonly derived from being a solo operator or a small business owner. The difficulties and the challenges we face can be overwhelming and if we don’t have somewhere to turn to for advice or for some encouragement, then it can be really tough going. Social media breaks down those barriers and can make you feel less alone. In between jobs, or in times of distress, group members can take out their phone, quickly hop on to Lawn Care Legends and instantly be in contact with people who specifically understand both the highs and the lows of being a small business owner.”

Lawn Care Legends LIVE will take place on the first day of SALTEX 2018 and John, who is hosting the event alongside other popular Landscaping ‘YouTubers’ Curtis Jones and Jason Groom, revealed his ambitions for the event.

“Ultimately we are trying to build on a positive movement that has driven many people to develop their skills and deliver a higher service to customers while at the same time gaining more passion and appreciation for their own businesses.

“The event is open to everybody - the solo operator, the small to medium business owner, anyone who is following what manufacturers are doing, or following what their peers and colleagues within the industry are doing. By bringing Lawn Care Legends LIVE to SALTEX, it creates a go-to event of the year that people, not just members of Lawn Care Legends, can look forward to in connecting with other likeminded individuals.”

Lawn Care Legends LIVE will be also be hosting an awards ceremony at the event.

“We are running a competition where entrants can submit up to ten pictures which show the quality of their work. It might be beautiful stripes on a lawn, a crisp edge between a flower bed and a lawn or it could be a topiary cutting - anything at all.

“The pictures can be posted in the Facebook group or through Twitter and Instagram and then in September a shortlist will be created. Everyone who makes it onto the shortlist will be in with a chance to win as the winners will be selected by a random generator. The winners will be then announced on the first day of SALTEX at the Lawn Care Legends LIVE event.”

The prizes will include:
• A shaft drive professional lawnmower
• A professionally built website worth approximately £1500
• Lawn Care Legends clothing

To enter the competition join the Lawn Care Legends Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/lawncarelegends or use the hashtag #LCLSALTEX18 on Instagram or Twitter.

Lawn Care Legends LIVE will take place on 31 October at 2:00pm in concourse suites 22 and 23 by the SALTEX entrance.

Due to the addition of Major new Dealerships, our Essex based company has an opening for a Skilled Technician within our Service Division.

We are a Distributor for Industrial Petrol & Diesel Engines, Transmissions & Parts to the Trade & Original Equipment Manufacturers.

The successful candidate will be an extremely self-driven, physically fit & energetic individual with a proactive and positive attitude. Applicants should possess a high level of previous experience with Petrol & Diesel engines, although full training will be given on our exact range of Engines & Transmissions; a degree of computer literacy & telephone manner will also be beneficial.

Our Engine Dealerships are: Briggs & Stratton, Hatz, Honda, Kohler, Kubota, Lombardini, Yanmar

Our Transmission Dealerships are: HydroGear, Peerless, Tuff Torq

As well as working out of our Great Dunmow base, the role will also include travelling in our company vehicles across the UK for Service/Warranty call-outs.

The position offers an attractive salary, private medical insurance & company pension scheme.

If you feel that this position is right for you, please email a CV and covering letter to tricia@uni-power.co.uk ; or send via post to Uni-power Ltd, Attn: Tricia Paveley, Unit 8 Flitch Industrial Estate, Great Dunmow, Essex CM6 1XJ

Tel: 01371 875331
www.uni-power.co.uk

As we approach the school holiday season, our minds switch from our weekly chores to relaxing in sunnier climes.

Husqvarna Automower® is the ideal solution to take care of your customers lawns over the summer holidays and beyond. Why not let them sit back and relax in the knowledge that their lawns will be beautifully maintained by Husqvarna Automower® whilst they are away.

If a staycation in the beautiful British countryside is the choice, then why not let Husqvarna Automower® give your customers more free time with their family and friends, doing the things they love.

Wherever your customers decide to holiday this Summer, we have a range of robotic lawn mowers ideally suited to both small and larger gardens.

NEW for 2018 is the Husqvarna X-Line range. Proudly manufactured here in the UK, they feature Automower® Connect which allows the product to be controlled from anywhere in the world via a Smartphone or Apple watch; whether it be a sunny beach in the Bahamas or by a lake in the Lake District. The App gives your customers complete control! Pairing with the mower can be managed from multiple smart phones which allows both dealer and customer to have access to the product. Ideal for keeping track of your customers products while they are away.

For added piece of mind the X-Line range also features GPS-assisted navigation with theft tracking which not only ensures even lawn coverage even in the most complex of areas but also the ability to see exactly where their mower is.

Automower® Connect is available as an accessory and can be retrofitted to all non X-Line models, excluding Automower® 105.

INCREASED REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES:

To add value and revenue to the Husqvarna Authorised dealer, Husqvarna Automower® range including the NEW X-Line range can be offered with a 3 year warranty. The product must be registered, installed and serviced annually by an Authorised Husqvarna dealer for the extended warranty to apply.

Product installation and servicing are very profitable methods of adding revenue to the product sale. The new Husqvarna lawn calculator allows garden working area as well as product suitability to be assessed from the dealership, this can reduce or eliminate the need for a site visit prior to installation.

For further information please visit: www.husqvarna.com/uk/roboticmowers or contact your Husqvarna Area Business Manager.

At Stens we pride ourselves on putting our customers first! We have built the Stens brand on the ethos of helping business run better and our customers are at the heart of everything we do.

We have recently spent some time talking in depth to our dealers and finding out what is key to their business and what we can do to strengthen the support we offer. With the feedback we have received we are making a few changes here at Stens, firstly we have given our trade application form a facelift and streamlined the process of completing it, so it now only takes 2 minutes to fill in and get your account with Stens started. Check it out here or look out for a copy of the new look application form in this month’s Service Dealer.

Our customers have been telling us we have a growing reputation for exceptional service. We pride ourselves on offering the very best. We are also expanding our stock holding every week to ensure we can meet the demands of our dealers and have an excellent relationship with our suppliers to bring stock in quickly. We already offer free delivery for all online orders to UK mainland businesses and have a cut off time of 4.30pm for placing your orders both online and telephone, later than most of our competitors. We have even been known to deliver on a next day service for orders placed after 5pm!

In addition to these fantastic benefits we offer a wide choice of parts, we have more than 3700 items in our range replacing over 24,630 OEM applications and a 1 year written parts and labour warranty on all our high-quality parts, offering 100% satisfaction guarantee.

As a brand, Stens always strives to listen to our customers’ needs and do our very best to meet every expectation, so we have also been busy doing a full review of our prices and we will be releasing a brand-new price list which will realign some of our prices to be even more competitive within the market.

Keep in touch with us for upcoming updates and to stay on top of our exciting offers and why not sign up for an account today? Or give our very helpful staff a call to discuss your needs. Contact Jordan or Mark on the details below.

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