MTD Products says it has recently acquired two companies that will help keep it on the cutting edge of innovation, in turn helping landscape contractors, golf course superintendents and professional groundskeepers to better maintain their lawns and landscapes.
MTD is a worldwide leader in outdoor power equipment with facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Founded more than 80 years ago and headquartered in Valley City, OH, MTD's well-known brands include Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Columbia, Yard Machines, Remington and Arnold.
MTD recently acquired CORE Outdoor Power, a Montana-based company that powers lawn equipment with gasless motor technology that produces higher torque and increased efficiencies.
Prior to the purchase of CORE, MTD also acquired Precise Path Robotics, an Indianapolis-based company that has brought to market an autonomous greens mower, the RG3, designed specifically for golf course putting greens. Advanced robotic technology allows the RG3 to travel in straight lines and along curved perimeters without the need of an operator to guide it—enabling golf course superintendents to achieve consistent course conditions while reducing operating costs.
"MTD is committed to the professional market," says Rob Moll, CEO, MTD Products. "Robotic and gasless technologies have the power to transform the world of outdoor power equipment and we look forward to bringing the benefit of these new innovations to our consumer and trade customers."
Addressing two huge contractor challenges
These recent MTD acquisitions do speak to a couple of age-old challenges faced by landscape contractors: fuel costs and labor. For the typical maintenance-heavy landscape contractor, fuel costs can run 4-6% of sales. Labor can run 30-40%, depending on how efficient the crews are. When you factor in how unpredictable and unreliable fuel costs and labor can be, it’s easy to see why they—along with the weather—are often the biggest sources of frustration for contractors. Finding ways to produce more work with less labor and fuel is a priority for any profit-minded landscape contractor.