The National Association of Landscape Professionals launched the new Landscape Industry Accredited Company designation is the mark of excellence at the company level. The new accreditation is similar to the Landscape Industry Certified designation for individuals in the industry.

When a company is recognized as a Landscape Industry Accredited Company, it differentiates itself from competition with added professionalism. Accreditations and certifications help in the bidding process, help attract top employees and help clients understand that the team is well educated and trained on best practices.

Landscape Industry Accredited Companies should be knowledgeable, safe, ethical and in compliance with federal, state and local codes, statutes, and licensing and insurance requirements. NALP’s requirements for being a Landscape Industry Accredited Company include:

• Employ at least 10 percent Landscape Industry Certified staff, including at least one person on staff who holds the designation Landscape Industry Certified staff manager

• Participate in a national safety program

• Conduct responsible and ethical business practices

• Complete the Pledge of Excellence

• Submit three customer reference verification forms

• Complete the application

The application process requires completion of the necessary documentation, a submitted Pledge of Excellence form and three Customer Reference Verification forms directly from customers sent to the NALP headquarters. Upon review of application materials, NALP will notify applicants of their status, which could take 30 to 60 days. Upon approval, Landscape Industry Accredited Companies will receive a certificate, rights to use the Seal of Approval and marketing materials to promote the accreditation.

The application can be downloaded here. All questions about the program can be directed to Shaine Anderson.

Morbark completed the acquisition of Rayco Manufacturing. This transaction represents the first addition since affiliates of the private equity firm Stellex Capital Management acquired Morbark in 2016. The purchase of Rayco represents a move toward the company’s strategic focus on broadening the range of tree care and industrial equipment, aftermarket parts and service offered to their customers.

Rayco was founded in 1978 in Wooster, Ohio, by John M. Bowling, who as the owner of a tree care service identified the unique needs of the tree and landscape industry. He began to build equipment to meet those needs. Today, the company is dedicated to the design and production of a line of environmental equipment. The current range of Rayco products includes stump cutters, crawler trucks, forestry mulchers, multi-tool carriers and attachments, brush chippers and the AT71 aerial trimmer.

“Our family is very proud of the legacy we have established and nurtured over the past 39 years,” said John Bowling, CEO of Rayco. “As a family-run and -owned business, we view today’s transaction as an opportunity to continue growing our business while joining an even larger family.”

The transaction is a positive, strategic fit for both companies. Rayco founder John Bowling plans to continue to work with the team and develop new products to improve the company’s existing product lines. He will continue to have an economic interest in the combined business and will be a member of Morbark’s board of directors.

Morbark will operate Rayco as a new division maintaining its brand identity. Rayco’s management team will also continue to manage their operations.

“Rayco has a well-deserved reputation for providing customers with equipment and service they demand and the value they deserve,” said Dave Herr, CEO of Morbark. “That product innovation and dedication will continue without interruption. We are excited by what we can bring to Rayco in the way of our experiences, our dealer network and products to complement current Rayco equipment owners.”

MOLINE, Ill. – Expanding its lineup of Worksite Pro attachments, John Deere introduced upgrades to its planetary auger models. The new PA15B and PA30B augers are designed for longer product life to better meet customer needs and application uses. These solutions are optimized to work with John Deere skid-steers, compact track loaders, compact excavators and compact four-wheel-drive loaders, along with most competitive models.

The B-Series augers offer new motor and planetary designs for improved toughness and longer attachment life. The hydraulic motors have a higher-rated operating pressure for better raw digging power. An upgraded integral motor and planetary gearbox housing bring the planetary gear set closer to the motor, decreasing motor stress. A five-gear gearbox with an updated input shaft and shaft seal allow for increased durability. For heavy-duty work in terrains such as rock and clay, the maximum torque rating on the PA30B has been increased from 4,166 feet-pounds to 4,500 feed-pounds.

The PA15B and PA30B models maintain the reverse rotation feature of their predecessors, which allows quick back-out, and sheds dirt from the auger when working in wet conditions. In addition, the universal, self-cleaning Quik-Tatch easy attachment system enables operators to switch from one type of attachment to another. Both models are compatible with a variety of auger bit styles and diameters, including the standard 4- 6-inch, 9- to 12-inch rock and frost, and 18- 36-inch tree and shrub.

To learn more, visit the company’s website or contact a John Deere dealer.

Continuing its upward trajectory, the 2017 GIE+EXPO, the Green Industry & Equipment Expo, Oct. 18-20 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, was another record-breaking event. The show topped the last three year’s records in both attendance and exhibitors. More than 24,000 people from around the world represented a 7 percent increase over 2016. And, with an indoor footprint equal to 47 White Houses, exhibit space grew 9 percent. In fact, GIE+EXPO was recently named the 10^th largest show in North America by Trade Show Executive magazine.

The annual industry event draws all segments of the outdoor power equipment and lawn & garden industry. GIE+EXPO is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

 

Attendance records

Over the last four years GIE+EXPO has averaged a 12 percent increase in total attendance. In 2017, Lawn and Landscape Pros registrants were up 12 percent over 2016 – making an average increase of 15 percent over last four years. Lawn and Garden Center registrations were up 27 percent, and distributor registrations were up 12 percent over 2016.

The show continues to draw new attendees as 34 percent of dealer/retailer registrants and 44 percent of lawn and landscape pros were first timers. Attending businesses realize the benefit of bringing their teams to see new products, test equipment and learn industry trends. Both dealer/retailer and lawn and landscape companies sent an average of at least two employees.

“The show is awesome. This is my first time, and I didn't expect it to be so big and to see so much new equipment,” said Scott Baechle of Top Turf Care LLC in Springfield, Missouri. “One of the reasons I came is to demo equipment. I can see it all in one spot, test how it performs and decide what I want to purchase.”

 

Exhibit records

There were over 1,005 exhibits indoors and out in GIE+EXPO and the co-located Hardscape North America, including 226 new exhibitors. The indoor show floor was 50,000 square feet larger than 2016. The Outdoor Demonstration Area covered 20 acres, and attendees had two full days to test equipment. HNA increased in size by more than 16 percent over 2016.

The popular New Products Showcase sold out, featuring more than 100 products that were introduced within the past year, and 25 exhibitors hosted press conferences where most introduced new products.

“GIE+EXPO is the best place in the industry to display products, demonstrate our machines and meet customers,” said Joe Conrad, President of Mean Green Mowers. “We increased our booth space this year in order to showcase our new products. We always unveil something new and always get some good industry press coverage in addition to meeting new customers.”

 

Dealer Day
Dealer Day, Wednesday, Oct. 18, provided focused education, basic and advanced tech training and facilitated one-on-one time so exhibitors and dealers/distributors could network and discuss pricing and products. Dealership consultant Bob Clements' People, Process, Profit Boot Camp drew an average of 160 attendees to each of its three sessions. 

The Dealer Keynote Luncheon, sponsored by Gravely and STIHL, drew over 400 participants to hear noted economist Alan Beaulieu discuss emerging economic trends and how to take advantage of them.

During a reception on the show floor Wednesday evening exhibitors held prize drawings and entertained dealers and retailers with music, food, beverages and games. Matthew Owen of Big Ridge Outdoor Equipment, Brevard, North Carolina, won the $5,000 STIHL giveaway.

 

Pro education
On Wednesday while retailers, distributors and dealers were busy at the Kentucky Exposition Center, lawn & landscape professionals were in downtown Louisville taking classes offered by the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). The sessions continued at the exposition center on Thursday and Friday. 

Attendance in the GIE+EXPO Workshops for lawn & landscape pros was up 18 percent over 2016. Topics ranged from hiring, retaining and motivating employees to estimating and increasing profits.

Networking
The entertainers in the free nightly concerts, sponsored by BOB-CAT Mowers, were Uncle Kracker with opener Runaway June on Wednesday night; Alaska & Madi and The Crashers on Thursday night; and V-Groove on Friday. All were held in the downtown entertainment complex, 4th Street Live! on the Mercedes-Benz Vans stage. 

Prize winners
In the first-ever $20,000 UTV Giveaway, Andy Popst of GTM Services, Largo, Florida, won $20,000 toward his choice of UTVs. Participating manufacturers included BOB-CAT Mowers, Cub Cadet, Hustler Turf, John Deere, Kubota, Odes UTVs and Yanmar.

In addition, many other exhibitors created buzz around their participation with giveaways and prize drawings. Some of the winners include:

• Worldlawn Power Equipment Venom 32' compact stand-on unit – Joshua Tate of Tate Lawn Care, Warwick, RI. 
• Gravely zero-turn mower – Danny LaChance of Pro Cut Lawn and Landscaping in Sabattus, ME.
• Mean Green Mowers, Nemesis Powerful Electric Zero Turn mower – Steve Lilly of Rain Barrel Gutter Works, Casselberry, FL.   
• Champion Lubricants $2,500 2-cycle full synthetic oil – Donald LaPoint of Tender Care Lawn Service, Sulphur, Louisianna.
• Mason-Lite fireplace – Ken Hill of Jones Stone Company, Nashville Tennessee.  

The highly competitive HNA Installer Championship concluded with CG Paving from Ft. Worth, Texas, emerging as the champion and winning a prize package valued at $10,000 and bragging rights for a full year.

Looking ahead
As a result of the show’s continued growth, a new format will be implemented in 2018, allowing contractors an extra day on the show floor. Show dates are Oct. 17-19. The indoor show floor will open exclusively for dealers, retailers and the media at noon on Wednesday. Then, beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing Thursday and Friday, the entire industry will be invited to visit the exhibits. The Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open Thursday and Friday.

“GIE+EXPO continues to grow in size as well as in its reputation as the industry’s gathering place,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. “We’ve heard the contractors asking for an additional day to visit exhibits and demo equipment. So, in 2018 we’re giving them access to the show floor on Wednesday."