Twenty for 2020 New Product Award Winners

Landscape Business recently announced its selections for the “Twenty for 2020” New Product Awards. The Landscape Business Twenty for 2020 New Product Awards recognize products for the commercial landscape, lawn care, tree care and irrigation markets. All qualifying product nominations were introduced to the market between June 2, 2019 and June 1, 2020. Products were judged by EPG Media and Specialty Information editorial staff based on innovation, marketability and application within the industry.

The Landscape Business Twenty for 2020 New Product Award winners, in alphabetical order, are as follows:

Belgard Tandem Modular Block

Belgard’s Tandem Modular Block is the latest block addition to the Tandem family, which creates a new installation method for Belgard’s Tandem Wall System. This system’s flexibility allows interconnection of structural units by using their tenon and mortise features. This creates the ability to build stronger walls by adding units in the back, and is perfect for outdoor kitchen elements such as grill islands, seat walls and fire features. Features and benefits include: 

• Three different veneer face styles – Ashlar Tandem, Lamina Tandem and Melville Tandem

• Design flexibility

• Better stability during installation

• Limited job site space solution

• Ability to connect multiple blocks together to reinforce to make a higher wall without geogrid

• Easily construct reinforced corners by connecting multiple blocks

• One all-purpose plastic connector that works for a range of applications, including retaining walls, double faced walls, setback walls, corners, curved walls and columns

• Retaining and freestanding block wall systems

Bobcat R-Series loaders

Designed to tackle both everyday work and the toughest challenges, the Bobcat R-Series loaders have been redesigned inside and outside to be the most powerful, durable loaders built by Bobcat. With a total focus on quality, the R-Series loaders offer uncompromising reliability and durability, enhanced performance, and an unmatched operator experience. The first R-Series loaders include the T76 compact track loader and the S76 skid-steer loader. R-Series loaders have a one-piece sealed and pressurized cab design for a new level of operator comfort and improved service access. Other features include redesigned lift arms, improved cooling system, clear-side enclosure option, mesh-free windows, inline engine design and durable direct-drive system, 5-Link torsion suspension undercarriage, and cast-steel Bob-Tach attachment mounting system. 

Cub Cadet PRO X Series 

The Cub Cadet PRO X Series stand-on mowers are the first stand-on mowers in Cub Cadet’s professional lineup. A fully fabricated 10-gauge deck shell – with 7-gauge top and bottom reinforcements – gives the PRO X Series a strong backbone. And with a maintenance-free design, the spindles, bearings, hubs, casters, rims, linkages, levers and other pivot points do not need greasing. A large, fully adjustable suspension platform allows the operator to adjust tension in a matter of seconds without a tool. The suspension system was designed and tested against competitive units to provide best-in-class impact absorption. A fully adjustable hip pad with ample side supports offers comfort and stability when mowing uneven terrain. The PRO X Series is built to perform with professional high-lift Marbain blades, which offer a blade tip speed of up to 18,500 fpm and 1.5-inch blade overlap, and a premium Kawasaki engine with up to 25.5 hp.

Ditch Witch SK3000

Landscape operators looking to gain a 360-degree view of the jobsite, without compromising power, can now turn to the Ditch Witch SK3000. The Ditch Witch SK3000 full-size stand-on skid-steer is built with the power to complete a wide range of projects typically reserved for traditional skid-steers, but with the convenience of a stand-on machine.

As the largest and most powerful unit in the Ditch Witch SK fleet, the SK3000 features an operating capacity of 3,100 pounds – 50 percent more than its closest competitor. The unit delivers 5,500 pounds of breakout force to help operators lift and move heavy loads while directing up to 51 horsepower to the attachment – more than any other machine in its class.

The SK3000 offers superior comfort, including an ergonomic operator station for enhanced functionality. With optional automatic ride control, the machine provides a smooth ride with outstanding maneuverability – even when transporting heavy loads across rough terrain.

Ferris Voyager FS5250

The Voyager FS5250 provides enhanced productivity to chemical applicators that consistently service large properties. Spray boom coverage of 12 feet, 80 gallons of liquid capacity, 250 pounds of granular capacity, and a low center of gravity combine to get the job done faster, allowing applicators time for more accounts and greater revenue.

The Voyager brings pivoting front axle technology to the chemical application industry. This ensures that all four wheels hold their contact with terrain for a smoother ride while maintaining more consistent ground to nozzle distance in uneven terrain. Paired with a low center of gravity, the Voyager provides industry-leading performance on sloping terrain. 

The boom design features a center fixed section and two outward folding sections that can be released from the operator platform. Once released, the folding sections feature bi-directional breakaway to prevent boom damage. Six air-inducted nozzles spray coarser droplets to minimize drift.

Hunter Industries X2

Advancing the legacy set by the popular X-Core controller, the Hunter Industries X2 brings irrigation management into the next generation. X2 provides the option to add WiFi for seamless remote management and advanced water-saving features with Hunter’s Hydrawise software. With X2, users can keep the familiar dial-based programming style offered by X-Core or upgrade to Hydrawise smart control with a simple, plug-in WAND module. Thanks to a helpful setup wizard, programming with a smartphone device or desktop computer is familiar, fast and easy. Hydrawise maximizes water savings by automatically adjusting irrigation schedules based on highly accurate local online weather data. X2 ensures healthy, green landscapes to make site management more convenient and profitable in routine installations. Professionals can quickly set irrigation schedules and manage an unlimited number of controllers with real-time controller status updates.

Husqvarna Automower 535 AWD 

With superior terrain performance, Automower 535 AWD is built for professional use and can handle slopes up to 35 degrees and mow up to 0.9 acres. Automower 535 AWD models have a cutting height of 1.2-2.8 inches and feature technology that optimizes the control of each individual wheel in order to enable superior operation in the most demanding terrain. 

Automower AWD provides enhanced safety by keeping landscapers off dangerous and tricky slopes, while maintaining the more complex properties around the clock. Automower also produces no direct emissions, delivers the same consistent results 24/7, and can work in rain or shine. Equipped with Husqvarna’s Cloud-based Fleet Services management system, Automower can be integrated into a full fleet solution that allows operators to monitor and control an unlimited number of robotic units at no extra fee. Automower includes GPS-assisted navigation, remote object detection, control via smartphone app and a rubber bumper design for extra protection. 

Hustler Turf Super 88

The Super 88 meets the growing need of commercial contractors who require the efficiency of a stand-on mower. It features the cut quality of a 54-inch deck and productivity of an 88-inch cut, allowing operators to mow faster and with a smaller crew. The Super 88 features two engine options: A Vanguard 36-hp. carbureted engine and a Vanguard 37-hp. EFI engine with Oil Guard system. It also has a 14-gallon total fuel capacity. Multiple accessory kits are also available for the Super 88. The heavy-duty, 88 inch, 11-gauge welded steel deck features a 54-inch center deck and two pivoting wings. This combination provides a professional cut quality while reducing the risk of scalping uneven terrain.

The Vanguard premium Big Block engine not only provides the consistent power needed for maximum productivity, it will also save time and money on maintenance with the optional Oil Guard system – allowing up to 500 hours between oil changes.

John Deere Z955R EFI

The 29-hp. EFI engine on the John Deere Z955R EFI model provides professional landscapers with a solution that reduces fuel use and boosts fuel savings. The Z955R EFI supports the growing demand for higher horsepower, EFI machines along with the comfort features found in John Deere’s R-spec models. The Z955R EFI model is offered with two seat choices, both of which feature the comfort-boosting ComfortGlide suspension. With ComfortGlide, the seat can travel up to two inches fore and aft, absorbing bumps for a significant enhancement to ride comfort. Additionally, the standard Comfort & Convenience package features padded, ergonomically angled control levers; and electronic controls, which allow the operator to raise and lower the deck or disengage mower blades at the push of a button. The Brake-N-Go machine starting system allows the operator to simply set the parking brake and turn the key to start mowing.

Kubota SCL1000

Kubota Tractor Corporation enters the stand-on track loader market with its highly anticipated SCL1000. The stand-on track loader is well positioned with wide tracks, narrow body and a Rated Operating Capacity of 1,000 pounds, and meets the demands of landscape contractors and rental yards alike. The SCL1000 features a 9.8-inch track that comes standard on the overall narrow, 36-inch machine. The integrated track design is engineered for durability with the undercarriage welded to the mainframe of the body. Kubota’s SCL1000 boasts a powerful 24.8-hp. turbocharged Kubota diesel engine with quiet operation, high-altitude performance and no diesel particulate filter requirement. The loader arms reach high and far with a hinge pin height of 84.7 inches and a reach of 25.9 inches at a 45-degree dump angle. The SCL1000 has a best-in-class travel speed of 5.1 miles per hour.

Lastec WZ1000

Featuring a 120-inch cutting width, five 25-inch flex decks, and zero-turn maneuverability, the Lastec WZ1000 commercial zero-turn mower cuts with the accuracy of five small push mowers at the speed and production of a zero-turn wide-area mower. Built in the USA, the WZ1000 provides up to 8.73 acres/hour coverage to fit the wide-area production needs of commercial landscapers, lawn care professionals, sports fields and golf courses. The WZ1000 includes five independently flexing decks with up to 24 degrees of total up/down motion for superior cut quality in even the most challenging contours and valleys. As the world’s biggest zero-turn mower, the WZ1000 features quick-lift electric decks for easy transport or storage and tool-free deck height adjustment for quick on-site height changes. According to Lastec, its patented belt-driven decks require minimal maintenance and provide unmatched fuel efficiency compared to hydraulically driven rotary mowers.

Mean Green Mowers EVO-74

The Evo is the flagship commercial electric mower of the Evolution series by Mean Green Mowers. With up to 8 hours of continuous mowing time, an expansive 74-inch deck, speeds up to 13 mph, 20-degree slope capability, and horsepower comparable to a 37-hp. diesel mower, the EVO is sure to please any large-area mowing operators. Designed with maximum power in mind, Mean Green has combined time-tested planetary gearing and the latest electric hub motor technology, resulting in its leading-edge Impulse Drive System (IDS). Mean Green’s patent-pending deck lift system, SmartDeck, can be operated with the push of a button or foot pedal with Mean Green’s Interactive Touch Screen Display. The durable Interactive Touch Screen Display with pass code is function tested in all environments to ensure long-term reliability, and displays full functionality of the machine including battery consumption, state of charge, and deck lift system. 

Michelin X Tweel SSL 2 AT and HST

The Michelin X Tweel SSL 2 is an airless tire solution for skid-steers. The Tweel SSL 2 is designed with a mechanically interlocked 8-bolt hub to meet the vigorous demands placed on skid-steer tires in a variety of applications. It requires no air, thereby eliminating the risk of a flat tire, allowing users to stay in operation with limited downtime to maximize profitability. The tire delivers the advantages of easy mounting, damage resistance, exceptional operator comfort, reduced operator fatigue, improved productivity and longer wear life than standard pneumatic tires. Available in the United States and Canada, the SSL 2 AT is designed for off-road applications where the machine is used 80 percent of the time off-road. The HST is built for work done on hard surfaces such as asphalt and pavement. The outer core tread can be retreaded multiple times for an effective overall cost of ownership.

Oregon LMA120VX

The Oregon 120V Professional Series 21-inch self-propelled lawn mower features a 4.4-hp. engine, developing 7.0 foot-pounds of torque, allowing it to contend with comparable 180cc gas-powered competitors. With Torque Boost technology that increases power when the mower senses heavier loads, the LMA120VX still maintains its low-noise profile, hitting a maximum bystander noise level of 61 dB(A) at full power. With a 2-year commercial warranty, the mower is engineered for real commercial use in any weather with the 120V Professional Series’ standard IP56 rating, a 14-gauge high-lift steel deck and a 2-speed heavy-duty transmission that makes it one of the fastest in its class. The large-capacity 2.5-bushel rear bagging design offers mulching capabilities and cutting heights from 1 inch to 4.5 inches in half-inch increments.

Rain Bird IQ4 Central Control Platform

Contractors, maintenance crews and property managers are facing more challenges than ever before. Rain Bird’s IQ4 Central Control Platform software can help them tackle those challenges by providing full remote irrigation system access and advanced water management features from any web-based device. 

IQ4’s redesigned user interface makes it possible to remotely manage and monitor Rain Bird’s ESP-LX Series controllers quickly and spend less time checking settings. IQ4-Cloud can manage small, single-controller sites as well as large, multi-controller sites. 

IQ4-Cloud provides a web-based service that allows users to log in and control their irrigation systems from any internet-connected smartphone or tablet touchscreen. Features include automatic, weather-based adjustments and water usage reporting to help contractors and property managers track and save water usage. 

Ryan Jr. Sod Cutter – Hydro

The Ryan Jr. Sod Cutter – Hydro provides additional productivity, precision, and control to handle tough turf renovation jobs on golf courses, backyards, parks and professional turf fields.

It features an exclusive Ryan-designed hydraulic cooling system and Hydro-Gear BDU transmission that delivers durability and reliability for a productive effort every time. Independent of the cutting blade, the variable-speed hydrostatic transmission has both forward and reverse drive for added versatility. 

Plus, the Jr. Sod Cutter – Hydro goes easy on the operator’s arms by offering a vibration reduction of 75 percent thanks to the Ultra-Low Vibration Technology. It comes in both 18- and 24-inch models to fit the size of the job. 

Stihl BGA 200

Part of the Stihl AP Series of battery products, the BGA 200 boasts long runtimes and a blowing force of 21 Newtons (N). Designed with the professional landscaper in mind, the BGA 200 is packed with features including:

• Power select: Operators can select from four different power levels.

• Boost mode: The highest of the four power levels, generates air velocity up to 188 mph, air volume of 553 CFM, and a blowing force up to 21 N with the squeeze of the trigger.

• Variable-speed throttle: Provides precise control of blowing force. 

• Innovative blower tube that can easily adjust the length to accommodate different operating situations and operator physiques.

• Low noise: Allows operation in noise-sensitive or restricted locations.

• Low weight: Only 6.8 pounds. Designed to be used with Stihl AR 3000 backpack battery, weight is shifted from the unit to the back, greatly reducing hand and arm fatigue.

Toro Z Master 7500-G

Toro’s Z-Master 7500-G allows operators to adapt to changing terrain on the fly automatically by choosing the right operating mode for the conditions with Toro’s Horizon technology. The Horizon onboard intelligence platform enhances the performance of the machine in various mowing conditions, and protects the mower by monitoring engine oil temperature and pressure. Operators will save fuel costs while maintaining top-level performance.

The massive mowing deck can fold its wings up to 75 inches, allowing it to fit on most standard trailers. The wings flex up to 20 degrees and down to 15 degrees, which hug the ground as you mow, providing a pro-quality cut on uneven terrain. And when the engine isn’t on, users can still lift and fold the deck and run fans for cooling with the 40-amp charging system. 

This unit is built to last with a protective engine hood, bullnose bumper, 250-pound Warner clutch and a 7-gauge deck.

Walker B27i

This higher-horsepower version of the Model B adds a Kohler 26.5-hp. EFI engine and includes a redesigned unitized chassis and front body. The clamshell body makes drivetrain component access easier, and the Ogura electric clutch with Soft Start adds convenience and durability for the operator.

An oversized Donaldson 5-inch air filter is fitted with a turbine-style pre-cleaner and restriction gauge to reduce maintenance intervals while providing a robust filtration system. The rear axle design improves rough-condition handling, coupled with Walker’s Comfort Seat and optional 20-inch drive tires, making the B27i a comfortable machine that is powerful, efficient and ready for larger decks and difficult conditions.

With numerous deck sizes and styles, optional LED lights, suspension seat, big tire kit, and utility dump bed, the Model B is customizable to meet the needs of the most demanding customers.

Worldlawn Python

The Worldlawn Python is a 72-inch commercial ride-on mower, made to handle the most daunting tasks. This rugged unit is available in a side or rear discharge and powered by a choice of industry workhorses. The FX1000V Kawasaki, MX825E EFI Yamaha or the EFI Briggs and Stratton 37-hp. Big Block drive Hydro-Gear ZT-5400 transmissions. For operator comfort, it comes standard with a suspension seat and an isolated foot platform. The deck on the Python is fully articulating and raised or lowered using a quick-response electric actuator. For extra versatility, this unit has 1-¼ receiver mounts manufactured into the frame on both the front and rear.