TULSA – Green Group, a national turf care company, recently added turf care company Touch' N Grow to the Green Group platform and entered the Tulsa, Oklahoma market under the Green Group brand.

Touch' N Grow, a Raleigh turf care company, merged its business with Eastern Turf Maintenance, which joined Green Group last year. Touch' N Grow owner Bruce Ludlow said this was an opportunity to continue serving his Raleigh-area customers while partnering with another local brand.

"Everyone in this area knows and respects Eastern Turf Maintenance. They have been serving Triangle area customers for more than two decades. That, combined with the ability to come on board and be a part of the exciting things Green Group is doing in the industry, was too good to pass up," Ludlow said. Touch' N Grow will now service customers under the Eastern Turf Maintenance brand and, in most cases, still by Bruce himself. The companies follow the same lawn care practices, and the transition has been seamless.

Additionally, Green Group entered the Tulsa, Oklahoma market, opening its first location using the Green Group brand. Green Group Tulsa will be led by Green Group's regional director Benjamin Allen.

"We've got a lot growing with Green Group, and I am looking forward to being able to nurture that growth right here in Oklahoma," Allen said. He will continue working with the other brands in the Green Group family as well. Green Group Tulsa is currently serving customers in the greater Tulsa area.

"We want to show that there is more than one way to grow. We are expanding organically under leaders in the Green Group family and honoring the legacies of respected, well-established brands across the nation. That means creating unique partnership opportunities crafted around individual circumstances," said Keith Freeman, founder, and chief executive officer of Green Group. "In some cases, we are partnering with owners who are ready to retire; in other cases, they want to continue working and benefit from the synergies, support, and growth opportunities we have to offer at Green Group."

BERWYN, Pa. – Planalytics, Inc. has announced the formation of a new Professional Services Division to provide weather insights and demand analytics to support manufacturers, distributors and retail service providers involved in turf and landscape, heating and cooling and several other major weather-impacted categories where service performance is critical.

“We are forming this new division to better focus on the unique needs of our pro services customers,” said Planalytics founder and CEO, Frederic Fox. “Our ProServices division will build upon our proven record of delivering advanced weather dem and analytics and exceptional value return to manufacturers, retailers and service providers globally. Our focus with this service, as with everything we do, is to help our customers understand and manage the risks / opportunities associated with weather and how their customers respond to different weather drivers.”

For businesses that support turf and landscape professionals, the weather challenges are even more complicated.

“Manufacturers and distributors of products to prevent or eliminate pests have the added challenge of having enough products on hand to match practically any weed, insect or disease situation that may arise,” Fox said. “But with so much pressure on managing working capital, companies are constantly struggling with how much to produce, where and what to warehouse and when to replenish.”

To learn more about Planalytics Professional Services offerings, sign up for one of their upcoming webcasts – visit www.planalytics.com/events

LAKESIDE PARK, Ky. – Hilltip has introduced its HTrack™ online tracking software to the North American market. Compatible with all models of HillTip’s IceStriker™ and SprayStriker™ spreaders and de-icing sprayers, the software allows winter service professionals to track and manage all of their HillTip equipment via computer, tablet or smartphone. This technology helps minimize environmental impacts, track expenses and properly document that agreed-upon services were completed.

The HTrack system uses HillTip’s StrikeSmart controller, which is placed in the cab and connects to IceStriker and SprayStriker products. It offers two-way GPRS capability to transmit data to a custom online user interface, which can be accessed by an internet connected device. This feature allows route details of all equipment to be tracked remotely, such as speed, GPS location and material used.

Geofencing capabilities allow users to remotely create worksites for different client areas, as well as set application rates for each client’s site according to weather conditions. With this information entered into the system, the StrikeSmart controller alerts drivers which sites to treat during winter events, and it recognizes when the driver enters each worksite. Then, the spreaders and sprayers automatically adjust application rates according to the presets for each property.

The HTrack system also allows for complete remote control over an entire fleet of equipment. If weather conditions unexpectedly change, one can adjust application rates on hundreds of spreaders or sprayers in just a matter of seconds.

Other benefits of the HTrack system include assistance with route optimizations and resource allocations for increased operational efficiency and profitability. It can create reports of material used for each customer, and it provides detailed documentation of ice control activities at individual customer locations to be used as evidence if legal action should become necessary.

Headquartered in Pietarsaari, Finland, Hilltip is a manufacturer of road maintenance equipment in Europe. Opening its U.S.-based subsidiary, Hilltip Corp., in 2020, the company is now actively bringing advancements to the North American market. For more information, visit www.hilltipna.com.

CHICAGO — ECHO announced the launch of the company’s SRM-410X. With a 42.7 cc engine that generates 2.23 horsepower, this trimmer has the power and durability to last six to eight hours a day and is designed for heavy clearing, ideal for tall, heavy grasses, hilly terrain, ditches and weed abatement.

“The SRM-410X delivers category-leading power and maximum versatility to help professionals conquer heavy cutting on challenging terrain,” said Mark Taylor, product manager. “The high-power output, large capacity fuel tank, and Speed-Feed 450 head combine to give professionals the power they need to tackle the toughest clearing jobs.”

Key features of the SRM-410X include:

• Commercial-grade pleated air filtration system that protects the engine in harsh conditions and extends filter maintenance intervals
• Full wrap fuel tank stand for added protection
• 20-inch cutting swath
• Speed-Feed 450 trimmer head
• Blade capable: 2-in-1 shield, barrier bar, blade mount hardware, harness and harness ring  included to allow quick transition to a brushcutter blade
• Solid steel shaft allows for smooth acceleration
• Extra heavy-duty vibration reduction system reduces operator fatigue and increases comfort
• MSRP: $549.99
• Visit the SRM-410X product page here
• Downloadable product video available here

The SRM-410X comes with a warranty that includes a two-year commercial warranty and a five-year consumer warranty. For more information, visit www.ECHO-USA.com.