MTD Products has announced the acquisition of CORE Outdoor Power (CORE), a Montana-based company that powers outdoor lawn care equipment with gasless motor technology that produces higher torque and increased efficiencies than traditional electric motors.

CORE Outdoor Power’s products have received accolades from leading industry media for having the performance and durability of gas engines and the ability to withstand the most demanding commercial applications, while producing zero emissions and very little noise.

CORE brought its motor technology to the outdoor power equipment sector about four years ago and while it has grown and gained traction in the marketplace, co-founder Lincoln Jore said the acquisition will give the company the resources it needs to reach landscapers everywhere.

“We didn’t have the resources to take it to the next level we wanted to see it get to, so we started to look for strategic partners in the industry and obviously MTD being one of the leaders in that industry, it was kind of a perfect marriage of our unique technology with the vast distribution and engineering and sales and manufacturing resources that MTD brings to the table,” he said.

CORE’s Conductor Optimized Rotary Energy motor produces high-torque rotary motion with zero emissions, little noise and torque levels equal to two-cycle gasoline powered engines, which MTD said puts it in a unique position for the portable outdoor power equipment market.

Prior to the purchase of CORE, MTD also acquired Precise Path Robotics, an Indianapolis-based company that has brought to market the world’s only commercially available autonomous greens mower, the RG3, designed specifically for golf course putting greens. Advanced robotic technology allows the RG3 to travel in straight lines and along curved perimeters without the need of an operator to guide it – enabling golf course superintendents to achieve consistent and excellent course conditions while reducing operating costs.

The basis of the guidance system was developed in 2004 by Doug Traster. He started a Carmel company called Indy Robot Racing to enter a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense when the department was seeking systems to steer driverless vehicles for the military.

Precise Path, which has 15 full-time employees, is expected to remain at its base in Indianapolis as an MTD engineering centre that handles research and development and low-volume manufacturing.

“MTD is committed to the professional market,” said Rob Moll, CEO, MTD Products. “Robotic and gasless technologies have the power to transform the world of outdoor power equipment and we look forward to bringing the benefit of these new innovations to our consumer and trade customers.”

Robert Muir, managing director of E P Barrus, MTD's partner in the UK said "These are really exciting acquisitions which I can see will have a profound impact on the market over the coming years."