<font color=red>ON THE ROAD:</font> Husqvarna Strengthens Asia Presence with Komatsu Zenoah Purchase

Husqvarna’s purchase of Japanese outdoor power products company Komatsu Zenoah will strengthen the company’s position in Asia, says David Zerfoss, president for Husqvarna Professional Outdoor Products.

Komatsu Zenoah has annual sales of $170 million and its product range includes brush cutters, chainsaws, trimmers and blowers. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first part of 2007. Husqvarna purchased the company for an undisclosed sum.

Zerfoss, speaking during a press conference at the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo in Louisville, Ky., says 2006 was a particularly busy year for Husqvarna, citing the company’s other acquisition, that of Dixon Industries, and the finalization of the spin-off from parent company Electrolux.

Husqvarna this year also introduced a just-in-time inventory system, which allows dealers to order what they need year-round. It replaces the traditional pre-season booking programs in which dealers are sometimes saddles with inventory they don’t need. Zerfoss says Husqvarna has culled down reams of documents into a simplified, one-page laminated sheet that contains all the products dealers can order.

Husqvarna is introducing more than 30 products for 2007.