Equipment Trends 2012

Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) magazine’s sister publication Landscape and Irrigation (L&I) recently asked a wide range of equipment manufacturers and suppliers to share their insights about the equipment market, and how the trends they are seeing will impact the equipment decisions made by your commercial customers. The observations of the respondents are as follows:

L&I: What trends are you seeing with regard to equipment for the professional landscape and lawn care markets?

Companies are looking to get more production from smaller machines, especially with Tier 4 regulations making larger engines more expensive. Fuel efficiency is also on their minds, and that has people looking more at the overall production capability of a machine as opposed to just how much horsepower it has.

— Jason Morey, small equipment sales manager, Bandit Industries

I believe that energy technology continues to improve drastically each year in all related markets. So the natural progression for the professional OPE market will tend to follow the technology curve, which means you will see more and more professionals using less gas-powered product and more alternatively powered equipment.

— Lincoln Jore, president of CORE Outdoor Power

 The industry trend has been to address the need for productivity through product speed and reliability. We also focus on identifying smart, intuitive solutions to problems like difficult terrain and hills.

— Allen L. Baird, product marketing manager, Cub Cadet

Landscape and lawn care professionals and business owners continue to demand quality equipment that meets the extreme workloads that landscape and lawn care can put it under. More efficient designs with less cost of maintenance still drive the development of new products. With new technologies and materials being developed every day, I think continued growth can be expected industrywide.

— Kurt Kainz, marketing manager & direct sales, Echo Bear Cat

Creative engineering and advancements in material science are ongoing. Manufacturers understand that professional landscapers are looking for lightweight, durable, high-performance products at a reasonable price.

— Joe Fahey, vice president, product planning, Echo Incorporated

The trend away from getting the lowest price for equipment will continue, as operators look for longevity, comfort and multi-use productivity for better return on investment and healthier bottom lines.

Sustainable lawn care practices will also continue to trend for the remainder of the year and in years to come. Reducing fuel consumption to control costs and limit impact on the environment from emissions are of primary concern.

— Stan Guyer, president, The Grasshopper Company

More LSC are purchasing larger-deck zero-turns.
Increased interest in larger engine sizes.
Sales: Early demand and also a late-spring surge.
Consolidating vendors and machines to one source.

— Bill Engler, director sales LSC and industrial, Ariens Company (Gravely)

 Overall, professional users are placing more and more value on comfort and durability in the products that they use.

— Jeff Dewosky, vice president of dealer sales for Husqvarna

Today’s turf and landscape professionals value options and are looking for equipment that will not only meet their specific needs on the job, but also provide a financial solution — either cost savings through fuel consumption or through purchasing incentives.

— Christine Chapman, assistant product manager, Kubota

Lawn care professionals continue to want high-quality products and prefer to purchase from independent local dealers who provide exceptional service after the sale. We see a trend of lawn care professionals wanting to do more with what they already have.

— Darren Stoltenberg, field sales manager, PK Products

I see manufacturing companies becoming more diverse and expanding into the landscape and agriculture industries.

— Paul Hollis, executive vice president, Redexim North America

The key trends in terms of design and manufacturing are in reduced emissions, vibration and noise and increased fuel efficiency, as well as improving overall ergonomics and power-to-weight ratios, particularly important for professional users using the equipment all day. Also of importance are features that make operation easier, more convenient and time efficient.

— Marv Mathwig, product manager for power tools, Stihl Inc.

Contractors are always looking for ways to cut expenses and increase profits. Today, a large expense is fuel, so contractors have to find ways to cut those costs or pass them along to their customers. Mowers that utilize electronic fuel injection (EFI) and other fuel-saving technologies will help reduce those operating costs.

— Chris Hannan, marketing manager at Toro

Productivity is key when it comes to new equipment designs. Today’s landscapers, winter maintenance contractors and lawn maintenance professionals are smart, and they’re demanding equipment that can save time and work accurately. Plus, reliability is a more important factor than ever, since breakdowns can be very costly. Basically, it all comes down to making more money — the most productive equipment on the market will help maximize profits, while other products may waste money through inefficiency and maintenance.

— James Truan, vice president of sales and marketing for TrynEx International

Equipment-wise, what is trending is simpler, cheaper and more productive. The feedback we are receiving from our customers is that they want efficient, easy-to-use equipment at a cost-effective price.

— Jon Kuyers, global product manager, underground, Vermeer Corporation

We continue to hear companies talk about alternative fuels, but we believe an alternative fuel delivery method (Electronic Fuel Injection – EFI) is a much more reasonable conversation. EFI engines offer at least a 25-percent fuel savings along with being much more environmentally friendly. Remember carbureted engines in cars? Remember smog in the ‘70s and ‘80s? What changed? EFI was introduced into car engines, and the improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions were substantial. This same technology is available for mowers today.

— Tim Cromley, marketing manager, Walker Manufacturing Company

 

Equipment Trends 2011: User Survey

While equipment manufacturers and suppliers weighed in on trends that are shaping the industry, equipment users provided Landscape and Irrigation magazine with feedback about their equipment decisions in 2012 and going forward. The results are as follows:

What equipment do you plan to purchase during the next 6 months? (check all that apply)

Blowers…..49%
String trimmers…..46%
Work trucks…..37%
Hedge trimmers…..32%
Spray equipment (or other chemical application equipment)…..32%
Commercial walk-behind mowers…..28%
Commercial zero-turn mowers…..25%
Edgers…..21%
Chain saws…..18%
Turf aerators…..14%
Snow and ice management equipment…..12%
Stand-on mowers…..12%
Utility vehicles…..11%
Trenchers…..9%
Propane-powered mowers…..7%
Loaders…..7%
Excavators…..7%

During 2012, how have you approached your equipment needs? (check all that apply)

Purchased new equipment this year to fill specific needs…..55%
Used only the equipment from our existing fleet…..36%
Rented equipment this year to fill specific needs…..28%
Purchased used equipment this year to fill specific needs…..12%

During the next six months, which of the following would you be most likely to do should a specific need arise?

Purchase new equipment…..38%
Purchase replacement parts for existing equipment…..38%
Rent equipment…..17%
Purchase used equipment…..7%

When purchasing new equipment, which of the following factors is most important to you?

Serviceability/support…..34%
Product specifications and features…..31%
Brand…..21%
Price…..14%