Another Equip Expo is officially in the books, and no surprise, it was an energizing few days. Industry leaders came out in force to share the latest and greatest from top manufacturers, talk trends and discuss different solutions for challenges facing today's pro.
Let's break down some of the highlights we saw at this year's event.
Reimagining the standard green industry tools
As labor continues to be a pain point for the green industry, some manufacturers are rethinking the tools of the trade to find better solutions for today’s workforce.
The A-60 Autonomous Mowing Robot from RC Mowers.
“Landscapers tell us that the No. 1 challenge they face is labor, and it's not the cost of labor, it's labor availability,” said Tim Kubista, vice president sales and marketing for RC Mowers. “So how does this product solve that problem? Well, we're removing the human from the mower. So, instead of a mowing crew of three people and three mowers showing up to do a job, one person shows up. The one person deploys three mowers. And while they're mowing, they're string trimming, picking up garbage, blowing grass off sidewalks, and the mower is doing the heavy lifting on the repetitive work.”
According to Kubista, anyone who can run a zero-turn mower can run this. Essentially, you first mow a perimeter of the new area you want to mow, then on the inside of that perimeter you identify keep-outs (flowers, ponds, etc.). From there, your mowing plan is created, and the autonomous mover can get to work, freeing up a crew member to take on other tasks.
With its accompanying app, operators can control the machine, stop the mower, pause the mower and check on fuel levels.
“Our customers are telling us that they're getting about a 30 percent return on their investment, because if you buy three of them,” said Kubista. “You can generate the same amount of revenue with one person as with three.”
Developing autonomous solutions is growing in popularity.
This momentum is a cause for excitement says Billy Otteman, vice president of brand and customer for Scythe Robotics, provides the commercial landscaping industry with powerful commercial-grade, all-electric autonomous equipment solutions for.
“I'm really excited for a few reasons,” says Otteman. “One, just to increase the productivity of the industry, increase the output, increase the visibility, and change the perception of the industry as well. We have technology tools and cutting-edge solutions in this space that attract a different type of person who maybe never considered the landscape industry as a career path before – that's exciting. And then just the opportunity to level up business operations across the board, really create new, more efficient, more productive, more professional businesses across the board with these types of tools.”
Launched three years ago, Scythe Robotics provides the commercial landscaping industry with powerful commercial-grade, all-electric autonomous equipment solutions for maintaining outdoor environments.
Since then, the industry has shifted its stance on robotics.
“Three years ago, when we launched the brand, it was like, robots aren't real. And now the conversation is, how fast can I get robots?” says Otteman.
The company deployed 92 of the M.52, the company’s 52-inch fully autonomous commercial mowers, this season. Which, compared to last year’s 25, was a great leap forward.
“We were focused on Texas, Florida and Colorado, but the machine was proving so reliable in the field, we decided to cast that net wider and start fulfilling some of our earliest reservations, folks that have been on our wait list for years, and get machines out the door,” says Otteman. “We had all of those mowers, almost 100 mowers, across 13 different states this year, which is really exciting.”
Earlier this year, Scythe Robotics rolled out the latest generation of the M.52, which included enhanced features such as a 25 percent increase in battery capacity, a completely redesigned control panel and field-tested durability.
There’s currently a waitlist for the robotic mower, but with its recently expanded production facility, the company is taking steps to meet increased demand.
Shining a spotlight on stand-on mowers
Introducing the Pro-Stance Ultra from Gravely.
“The stand-on industry is growing, but what the Gravely portfolio was missing was essentially the high-end commercial grade equivalent to our Pro-Turn 500 and 600 models,” says Patrick McQuillan, marketing director for the Gravely brand. “Now we're able to fill that void with the Pro-Stance Ultra so whether you want an entry level stand on with our Z stands, or you want the machine that's going to go eight hours a day, six or seven days a week, now we can fill that void.”
The Pro-Stance Ultra features 15-inch caster wheels to make curb hopping easier and a 16-gallon fuel tank to reduce fill-up breaks on the job.
Another important callout is this model’s focus on operator comfort.
There has been a shift toward stand-on mowers in recent years as they allow the body to absorb shocks more naturally and it makes entry on and exit off the equipment faster. With the Pro-Stance Ultra, Gravely zeroed in on this fact and built a machine ideal for continual operator use.
“With this model, even the hand placement of the controls, the angle, was considered to be ergonomically ideal,” says McQuillan. “Then even the operator platform has a suspension in it, so it will give and bounce as you go along. The pad that the operator leans up again is shaped and contoured to be most ergonomically efficient, but it also, with a pop of a button, can fold down and give you full access to all of the internal components, whether it's oil, maintenance service that the machine might need.”
A focus on battery power
Battery-powered equipment is constantly evolving. As the landscape changes to favor lower emissions and less noise, many manufacturers are working with customers to develop practical solutions that don't sacrifice productivity.
These four manufacturers stood out for making electric work for those running the equipment and the environment.
Echo: Backpack blowers with more power to get the job done
A closer look at the batteries on the DPB-7700T.
“We developed two units, two different price points, two different performance levels, really geared towards that commercial landscaper,” says Jason Wilk, senior product manager for Echo. “We have three battery ports, which allows you to maximize your run time. Also, from a durability standpoint, we incorporate some roll cage technology, it protects those expensive batteries from any damage.”
We know what you’re going to say, three batteries? Talk to me about weight. While the added batteries will be adding to the overall total, the Echo team has worked to make sure each blower is ergonomically designed to support continual use.
“A lot of it comes down to the quality and type in the padding of the shoulder straps, lumbar support and the level of adjustability with those straps,” says Wilk. “If I put 35 pounds on your back, if it's hanging off the lower part of your back, or, you know, up towards your shoulders, the amount of weight is going to actually feel different, even though the weight is still the same. So, we put a lot of adjustability to get that really lined up, kind of the middle portion of the upper part of your back, and it's just about kind of comfort and adjustability when it comes to your straps and pump our support.”
The 5900T is weather resistant, rated up to an IPX 4, whereas the 7700T, which is a step up in performance, is one level higher at IPX 5.
Differentiating the two models, the DPB-5900T backpack blower offers 795 CFM at up to 195 mph airflow, while the DPB-7700T backpack blower offers 850 CFM at up to 220 mph.
Stihl: Battery-powered blower with user comfort in mind
The new Stihl BGA 250 is a lightweight blower that delivers a maximum velocity of 190 mph and 26 Newtons of force, making it a formidable tool in the AP Battery System for clearing wet leaves and debris.
Boasting nearly twice the power of the BGA 86 and comparable power to the BR 430, this lightweight blower delivers a maximum velocity of 190 mph and 26 Newtons of force, making it a formidable tool in the AP Battery System for clearing wet leaves and debris.
This powerful handheld blower also comes with a cruise control option for effortless operation by both left and right-handed users.
Now let’s talk a bit about how it looks because as you might have noticed, it doesn’t look like other handheld blowers.
“It doesn’t look like a lot of other blowers on the market,” says Paul Beblowski, senior manager of the consumer portfolio at Stihl. “The reason for that is, when you're holding the blower, it actually sits by your side, and you can still hit the ground. When you're holding straight blowers, you actually have to extend your wrist. And what we're concerned about is with a lot of power all going into your wrist and shoulder, that it may cause some fatigue. So we've changed the design to be able to accommodate for that.”
Honda: Transforming a legacy into a green solution
Honda has made a name for itself for its gas-powered lawn mowers. Then, in 2023, Honda ceased production of its award-winning HRX, HRN and HRC gas-powered lawn mowers due to multiple factors.
Now at Equip Expo, Honda is launching its battery-powered Honda lawn mower lineup, serving to redefine Honda in the green industry.
The Honda ZTR models offer full mower suspension with a mechanical suspension seat, front suspension with caster isolation and independent rear suspension with dual trailing arms.
“People know the Honda name,” Colin Miller, experiential marketing manager with Honda Power Sports & Products. “So, getting that same quality just now with a battery powered option is a huge plus for us, and if customers have really taken to it.”
The all-new Honda battery-powered ZTR is aimed at boosting worksite performance in the commercial landscape market to help improve the efficiency of lawn care for landscape maintenance companies, while offering an eco-conscious solution with zero emissions and reduced cutting noise that can enhance the flexibility of maintenance fleets.
The Honda ZTR is designed with the human operator in mind, providing enhanced operator comfort.
“You’re getting that same cut quality that you would from our push pullers,” says Miller. “Because we have the cut quality down, we want to focus on the person using it, right? With ours, control arms move with the user, so that, depending on if you're short, you're tall, everything like that, it's not pushing into you, it's not way far away. So it really provides a better level of control and comfort for that user."
Additionally, the Honda ZTR models offer full mower suspension with a mechanical suspension seat, front suspension with caster isolation and independent rear suspension with dual trailing arms. The result? Reduced vibration and a smooth ride that results in less fatigue for the driver.
DeWalt: Introducing a new suite of 60-volt products
DeWalt showcased products from its upcoming line of electric handheld products, specifically built for commercial landscapers and arborists. These products are designed to deliver the power and runtime needed for the most demanding jobs without the noise and maintenance of gas.
“What we've heard from a lot of customers over the years is that battery is nice, it makes a lot of sense, but I don't get the power that I get and the productivity that I get with my gas products,’ says Aaron Griffith, director of professional dealer sales with Stanley Black & Decker, parent company of DeWalt. “We were able to design that now to give you that that performance you need throughout the day.”
Among the products are five string trimmers and brush cutters, including the 60V MAX 17.5 in. String Timmer with D-Ring Handle; two pole saws, including the 60V MAX Fixed Pole Saw and the 60V MAX 12-inch Compact Top Handle Chainsaw.
Want more Equip Expo coverage? Check out this article on the top trends we saw from this year's show.
