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Designed with a unique sit-stand function, the newest generation of Wright Sentar zero turning radius mowers weighs up to 300 pounds less than similar mowers, according to its manufacturer, Wright Manufacturing. A padded seat with mono spring suspension folds down for operation from a sitting position or folds up for stand-on operation. The seat is designed to allow operators to step off quickly, which causes the mower to stop. An operator-presence switch on the foot platform stops the blade and engine, while the control levers return to the neutral position when the user lets go. The Sentar’s low center of gravity is designed to enhance agility. Cutting height can be adjusted from the operator’s seat or standing platform with Wright Manufacturing’s exclusive adjustment control, and its operator balance control allows operators to shift weight instantly as terrain changes. The Wright Sentar is available in 48-, 52- and 62-inch deck widths with engines ranging from 19 to 25 hp. Contact Wright Manufacturing, 301-360-9810 (www.wrightmfg.com).
The University of Massachusetts Extension introduces it 2008 Garden Calendar, titled, “Plants for Shade.” Each month features a garden image, descriptions of shade-tolerant plants, gardening tips for Northeast growing conditions, phases of the moon and more. Contact UMass Extension, 413-545-0895 (www.umassgardencalendar.org).
Staff Files Pro human resource software from Atlas Business Solutions Inc. manages employee information and prepares human resource documentation such as handbooks, office policies, job descriptions, HR forms and checklists. The software is a way for employers to store, retrieve and safeguard employee information. It can also track compensation, benefits, evaluations, training, time off and more. Staff Files Pro includes pre-written HR letters, documents and templates in an easy-to-use format, the company says. Essential IRS forms, staff and employee reports and U.S. Department of Labor posters are also available. Contact Atlas Business Solutions Inc., 701-235-5226 (www.abs-usa.com).
A line of new high-horsepower tractors from John Deere includes three models engineered for large-scale scraper operations, the company says. The 9030 series scraper tractors range from 425 to 530 hp, and also feature 18-speed power shift transmissions and 350-gallon capacity fuel tanks. The machines are equipped with the company’s 6-cylinder, PowerTech Plus engines that are designed with four valves per cylinder, exhaust gas recirculation and a variable geometry turbo. This results in a cleaner-burning engine that can deliver up to a 38 percent torque rise and a 10 percent power boost, the company says. The engines also meet federal Tier III emissions standards. The cab and operator station now includes lower sound levels, improved visibility for all scraper motions and color-coded controls. A new hood design features a relocated exhaust. Contact John Deere, (www.johndeere.com).
Spal USA introduces its AP90 high-output series electric cooling fans, designed to improve airflow in high-static pressure applications such as off-road vehicles and diesel trucks. Designed to maximize output at high-static pressure, the fans are available in 11-, 12- and 16-inch sizes. The fans feature rigid, glass-filled nylon blades and fan motors that are sealed and individually balanced. Spal engineers and manufactures all parts. Contact Spal USA, 800-345-0327 (www.spalusa.com).
Trackstick II personal GPS trackers are tiny GPS location recorders that can continuously log location histories for extended periods of time. Marketed by Earth Products & Accessories, the Trackstick can record its own location, time, date, speed, heading and altitude at preset intervals. Traveled routes can be viewed directly in Google Earth. The device includes GPX photo stamping for personalized photos and maps. Contact Earth Products & Accessories, (www.earth
productsandmore.com).
DewCure, a moisture control product from Mitchell Products, inhibits moisture accumulations and promotes faster drying of turf, the company says. Designed to control dew, guttation and frost on turf with the goal of reducing disease development, the company says no other product on the market is designed to control dew specifically. Suited for application any time of year on warm- or cool-season grasses, DewCure yields the maximum benefit when applied to slow-growing turf, especially during the fall, winter and early spring, it adds. Contact Mitchell Products, 866-436-0500 (www.tricure.com).
49er Call Boxes and Wireless PA systems from 49er Communications work with most UHF and VHF radio frequencies, reducing the need to replace a current system, the company says. All of the company’s two-way radios include upgraded accessories such as rapid rate chargers, batteries with no memory effect, belt clips and antennas. Contact 49er Communications, (www.49ercom.com).
Soil Technologies Corp. announces that its Armorex Goose Repellent, a broad-spectrum repellent that uses pepper and garlic oils as the active ingredient, is now approved for golf course and horticultural use. A spray application with no re-entry interval, Armorex Goose Repellent can control geese and other nuisance animals in golf courses and other landscape settings. The mode of action is a dual-deterrent based on smell and taste. When geese approach the treated areas, they are repelled by the odor. If any animals continue into the treated area, one taste of any treated vegetation normally drives the animals away, the company says. Armorex contains hot pepper extract that causes mild irrigation to the geese, which deters them from returning. The product is 100 percent biodegradable, has a pleasant scent to humans and is available as a liquid concentrate that is diluted with water for easy application. Contact Soil Technologies Corp., 800-221-7645, ext. 105 (www.soiltechcorp.com).
The special edition of Kubota Tractor Corp.’s RTV900 utility vehicle sports silver paint and a variety of features usually offered only as options. Built as a commemorative vehicle for the company’s 35th anniversary, the RTV900 special edition is in limited production and will be available in the U.S. at most Kubota dealers while supplies last. Features include aluminum alloy wheels, a plastic canopy top, speedometer, head rests and custom-designed Kubota 35th anniversary decals. A spray-on bed liner helps dampen noise and protect the cargo bed from scratches, dents and corrosion, the company adds. The special edition model also comes with the company’s variable hydro-transmission and a 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled 21.6-hp diesel engine. Other amenities are wet disc brakes, a cargo bed with hydraulic lift and hydrostatic power steering. Contact Kubota Tractor Corp., 888-458-2682, ext. 900 (www.kubota.com).
Eagle One Golf Products introduces a new product line made of 100 percent recycled content material that looks likes real wood, the company says. GreenwoodR products include water cooler enclosures, trash and divot mix containers, benches and more. The products require little if any maintenance and feature a rough-sawn look associated with lumbers. All GreenwoodR products are constructed with recycled plastic framework. Contact Eagle One Golf Products, 800-448-4409 (www.eogp.com).
A special edition book detailing the history of Bobcat Co. celebrates the company’s 50th anniversary. “Bobcat: Fifty Years of Opportunity — 1958-2008” is published by Motorbooks International and authored by Marty Padgett. Eleven chapters and 264 pages include anecdotes, advertising history and interviews with key company individuals such as Cyril and Louis Keller, who invented the first loader. The book can be purchased at local Bobcat dealerships or online. Contact Bobcat Co., 866-823-7898 (www.bobcatstore.com).
Dosmatic U.S.A./International Inc. unveils its professional line of non-electrical, water-driven proportional injectors. The new SuperDos professional line features a redesigned and improved internal mixing chamber and a patented one-way chemical seal, the company says. Additional improvements include engineered polymers for added strength and chemical compatibility. An on/off feature comes standard, while an improved remote injection option also is available. Contact Dosmatic U.S.A./International Inc., 800-344-6767 (www.dosmatic.com).
ZeroPhos, a phosphate-free granular fertilizer from Grigg Bros. Foliar Fertilizers, is designed to give superintendents flexibility in states where phosphorus impact has been restricted or where restrictions are pending, the company says. ZeroPhos provides three-season feeding and is said to improve visual appearance while mitigating phosphate impact. The company took its 7-Iron fertilizer, removed the phosphates and reintroduced it as ZeroPhos. A pre-plant and soil-conditioning product, ZeroPhos is a multipurpose plant food and starter fertilizer that’s designed for effective use in spring, fall and summer. Ideal for environmentally sensitive areas, ZeroPhos contains micronutrients specially formulated with sucrates, or sugars, that are absorbed more quickly than those in traditional lawn fertilizers, the company adds. The product also contains all-natural signaling molecules that target beneficial fungi, which attach to growing roots and extend available nutrients. Contact Grigg Bros., 888-246-8873 (www.griggbros.com).
Northern Turf Equipment Manufacturing Inc. introduces its SS220 Ride On Spread-n-Spray, designed especially for golf course maintenance and lawn care providers. The SS220 offers synchronized spreading and spraying, combining both applications at once and reducing application time. Built for all sizes of landscapes, the vehicle spreads fertilizer from 4 feet to 32 feet from its 220-pound capacity hopper with easy dashboard adjustment. A 20-gallon spray unit allows three spray patterns: 16-foot, 8-foot and 4-foot with two spread speeds and six spray rates, enabling the use of all control products. Other features include a 3-foot turning radius, three forward speeds, reverse, differential locks and dual hydraulic front disc brakes mounted on a
tubular stainless steel chassis. The SS220 easily transports on a hitch-mounted carry platform. Contact Northern Turf Equipment Manufacturing Inc., 847 -540 -2335 (www.northernturfequipment.com).
A new 3-cylinder, 30-hp compact tractor from New Holland offers a foldable rollover protective structure for height restrictions for special work and a two-position extendable drawbar. The T1510 compact tractor, part of the company’s Lean and Mean series of economy tractors, comes in two-wheel drive or front-wheel drive axle. Other features include a fender-mounted cup holder and a 3-point hitch lifting capacity of 1,635 pounds. The T1510 can come equipped with a 3-range hydrostatic transmission or 9x3 gear transmission. The hydrostatic option lets users choose the range, and a single foot pedal allows speed and direction changes with no shifting or clutching. The 9x3 gear transmission provides three ranges for more gear choices. Hydraulic flow allows fast cycle times and enough flow to operate a loader, blade or other hydraulically powered implements. Multiple implements are available to expand the vehicle’s versatility. Contact New Holland, (www.newholland.com/na).
BoomPilot, an automatic boom section control from TeeJet Technologies for sprayers and spreader equipment, is designed to minimize chemical consumption. The BoomPilot records GPS location and the location of applied areas. When a section of a sprayer boom overlaps with an applied area, BoomPilot automatically switches that boom section off. When the boom re-enters the unapplied area, the boom section is turned on again. This automated action is ideal for point rows, curved rows and at the end of each pass, the company says. The automatic boom shut-off can control up to 15 boom sections independently. An add-on device to existing GPS guidance systems or receivers, the BoomPilot can be used in conjunction with most third-party rate controls, the company adds. Contact TeeJet Technologies, 630-665-5000 (www.teejet.com).
Aquatrols has unveiled its eXimo and BurstTurf soil treatments bolstered by the company’s Syntech technology and manufactured by Environmental Manufacturing Solutions. A patented synthetic acid, Syntech is non-corrosive, non-fuming, safe to plants and grass and 100 percent biodegradable. BurstTurf and eXimo can help repair soils by reducing bicarbonate levels and solubilizing normally insoluble mineral deposits in soils. Designed to improve root-zone environments through increased water and input efficiencies, the products open soil pores and improve flocculation, reduce sodium levels by releasing insoluble calcium quickly and integrate easily into monthly turf programs, the company says. eXimo and BurstTurf are available through select Aquatrols distributors. Contact Aquatrols, 800-257-7797 (www.aquatrols.com).
The new Faze CompetitionEL tachometer and gauge line from Sunpro features a bright white dial face set against blue electroluminescent backlighting for easy reading. The gauges incorporate vibration-proof air-core meter movement, ensuring quick response to system changes and accurate readings. Encased in high-impact plastic, Faze gauges are easy to install even where dash space is limited, the company says. The tachometer includes a 5-inch-diameter face, while gauges feature a 2-inch-diameter face and a 2-inch housing diameter. Gauges come standard with necessary sending units, EL power supply and accessories, a range of adapters and an instruction manual. Contact Sunpro, (www.sunpro.com).
Designed specifically for use on the golf course, 27 degree AIR sunglasses from Tag Heuer Eyewear feature heavy-duty titanium hinges, a single-frame design and 18 interchangeable shields. Dubbed 27 degrees because of the angle at which the arms fold along the hinges, the sunglasses are built without a bottom rim for uninterrupted downward vision. Made from shatter-resistant, ophthalmic-quality Makrolon polycarbonate, 27 degree AIR lenses come in three shapes and six varieties. The eyewear blocks light based on ambient light, allowing wear from morning to mid-day. The shades also include a contrast-enhancing, glare-reducing Polarized Brown Precision shield. Other features are five layers of anti-reflective coating and an oleophobic/hydrophobic lens treatment to help them remain clear during outdoor activity. Tag Heuer eyewear provides 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection. Contact Tag Heuer Eyewear, (www.tagheuer.com/eyewear).
The M-115, a long-throw sprinkler from Underhill, features a built-in natural turf sod cup. With a 115-foot throwing radius and an 8-inch pop-up height, the sprinkler is available as a valve-in-head or block model. The sod cup is 4 inches deep and holds a 9-inch-wide section of natural grass. The M-115 virtually disappears when not in use, the company says, adding that it decreases the chances of vandalism and damage from mowing equipment. Installable on either natural turf or synthetic fields, the M-115 has part-circle heads that adjust from 30 to 360 degrees and also can be switched into full-circle mode to enable syringing. The sprinkler is available with a green or tan artificial turf cup or with a standard plastic green or tan cover. Contact Underhill, (www.underhill.us).
The Segway x2 Golf from Segway Inc. features LeanSteer technology for an intuitive ride and a wireless InfoKey controller for security and convenience. The vehicle features a bag carrier, a scorecard holder and special low-pressure tires to enable the Segway x2 Golf to travel lightly on the course and cause less damage to the turf than a golf car, according to a 2007 independent turf study, the company says. The vehicle can easily travel the fairways for more than 18 holes of golf on one battery charge. Segway Smart Motion technology is embedded in the light electric transportation devices and provides intelligent motion control to enable the vehicle to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move, the company adds. Contact Segway Inc., 866-473-4929 (www.segway.com).
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