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PRODUCT NEWS |
The CK27 series of compact tractors is the newest addition to Kioti Tractor’s product portfolio for 2008. The tractors improve maneuverability in tight spots without enough room for a large tractor. The CK27 series comes with such standard features as a telescopic three-point hitch, a joystick loader control, foldable roll-over protective system, tilt steering, wet disc brakes, hydraulic steering and rear PTO. The tractors come standard with ag tires but are available with industrial or turf tires as options. Other options include a single- or dual-remote hydraulic valve, rear and front weights, sunshade and a mid PTO. The CK27 with a manual-synchro shuttle transmission offers eight forward and eight reverse speeds, while the CK27 HST features hydrostatic transmission. Contact Kioti Tractor, a division of Daedong Industrial Co. Ltd., 877-465-4684 (www.kioti.com).
Offering a chemical-free solution to trapping wasps and hornets, the Fatal Funnel wasp and hornet trap can help customers rid decks, patios, sheds and any other outdoor area of these pests by using the product in combination with a 2-liter plastic bottle and a recipe for an attractant. A specially engineered funnel that provides entry into the side of the 2-liter bottle, Fatal Funnel ventilates a fruit juice-based attractant, which lures the wasps and hornets into the bottle. Once dead, the pests can be removed without a messy cleanup, the company says, then the process starts again with a clean 2-liter bottle. The recipe for the attractant solution comes with the Fatal Funnel. Contact Fatal Funnel, 480-794-1194 (www.fatal-funnel.com).
Kubota Tractor Corp.’s new Infinity Deck comes as standard equipment on the company’s 2008 T-Series lawn tractors. Named for its counter-rotating figure-eight grass flow, the Infinity Deck allows operators to quickly and easily change cutting modes between side-discharge, mulching and grass catching, all without tools or blade changes. Contact Kubota Tractor Corp., 888-458-2682, ext. 900 (www.kubota.com).
Precision Laboratories Inc. has released its Transport Ultra, an ultra low-use rate ammonium sulfate replacement product that combines nonionic surfactant, water conditioning agents and ammonium ions in a premix formulation. Designed to improve early weed control and reduce product handling, Transport Ultra is said to enhance the performance of weak acid herbicides such as dicamba, phenoxies and glyphosate by sequestering hard water ions and protonating the herbicide for faster uptake and translocation. It also won’t plug nozzles and prevents the need to handle heavy bags of ammonium sulfate, the company says. Contact Precision Laboratories Inc., 800-323-6280 (www.precisionlab.com/transportultra).
Aptiv announces its line of bio-friendly bug traps under the Earth-Safe brand name. Various bug trap kits are available to combat moths, spiders, fruit flies and other bugs. The traps are largely adhesive-based and include earth-friendly light attractants that can be placed in corners or under appliances and other units to trap the pests. Contact Aptiv, 971-327-7129 (www.aptivinc.com).
Based on the same platform of its RXV fleet golf car, the all-new Freedom RXV personal golf car from E-Z-Go is available in electric and gas models with interior and exterior features designed for a safe and environmentally sound golf car. Its dual-braking system eliminates the manual parking brake on the electric-powered vehicle and will brake automatically on steep grades for enhanced control and safety. Energy-transfer bumpers on the front, rear and sides are rated to withstand collisions of up to 5 miles per hour, absorbing the force of impacts to protect the engine, suspension and other components. A 48-volt alternating-current motor makes the electric Freedom car 30 percent more energy- efficient than other models, the company says. Other features include a 13-hp engine for the gas model and an A-arm suspension with coil-over-spring shock for a smooth, comfortable ride. Contact E-Z-Go, (www.ezgo.com).
New this fall is Pickseed’s Mustang 4, a tall fescue that provides excellent turf quality from the Southeast and the transition zone to the Southwest and California, the company says. With excellent fall and winter color, Mustang 4 provides early spring green-up to extend the growing season. It is said to provide superior resistance to brown patch and summer density, requiring fewer inputs. Slower to wilt under drought stress so water inputs can be reduced, Mustang 4 features fine leaf texture, enabling it to be blended with other turf species. Contact Pickseed, (www.pickseed.com).
Husqvarna’s new LE475 wheeled edger (pictured) provides clean lines where grass meets the sidewalk, driveway and other areas. With two 7-inch front and two 8-inch rear retreadable tires, the machine operates on four wheels, giving it an ergonomic advantage over handheld edgers because the weight of the unit rests on the tires and not on the arms of the user, Husqvarna says. The cutter head adjusts to multiple positions inside of a 90-degree rotation for edging, beveling flower beds and moderate trimming and brushcutting projects. The standard 9-inch steel blade’s 4-inch working depth delivers a precise cut. A 4.75 torque power Briggs & Stratton engine powers the device, providing enough torque to edge through compact soils and grasses, the company adds. Husqvarna also announces its CT-20 cultivator for maintaining garden rows and landscape features. The 25-pound device features foldable handlebars for easy storage, and forward-rotating tines adjust to three operating depths up to 8 inches deep. Contact Husqvarna, (www.masteryourgreatoutdoors.com).
Cub Cadet Commercial introduces the Select Cut System, an adaptable mowing deck that gives commercial cutters the ability to deliver a clean cut regardless of terrain, grass type or weather condition. The patent-pending Select Cut System incorporates a sloped front skirt with an adjustable leading edge, a first in the industry, the company says. The front skirt controls the position of the grass as it approaches the cutting blade. Unlike standard industry decks, the sloped front skirt increases space between the deck and the cutting blade, allowing grass to rebound after the deck passes over the lawn and before hitting the cutting blade, resulting in a cleaner cut. Other features include a removable inner baffle to regulate the flow of air and cut grass through the deck, anti-scalp wheels to help reduce the chance of scalping or defacing turf, a smart jet deck washout system and blade cutting edge increase of 50 percent. The Select Cut System is available for the company’s zero-turn mower, the Tank. Contact Cub Cadet Commercial, (www.cubcadetcommercial.com).
Ammos 22-0-0, available from Growth Products, combines the benefits of slow-release nitrogen with the quick green-up provided by ammoniacal nitrogen and urea nitrogen. A clear liquid fertilizer solution, Ammos contains 4 percent sulfur in a neutral to slightly basic pH of 7.5-8. Its ammonium sulfate decomposes quickly when applied to soils, supplying sulfur immediately for turf uptake, while its elemental sulfur provides long-term sulfur release. Ideal for regions with alkaline soils, Ammos mixes and applies easily, is compatible with most other fertilizers and pesticides, and is derived 100 percent from American raw materials, the company says. Contact Growth Products Ltd., 800-648-7626 (www.growthproducts.com).
Club Car introduces a new custom utility vehicle equipped with an electric hose reel to make syringing easier, faster and less labor intensive. The electric hose reel, powered by the vehicle’s battery, is mounted on the driver’s side of a Club Car Carryall Turf 2 to allow for quick connection to a water source. After syringing, the hose can be easily rolled back onto the reel. The vehicle was designed by the company’s Custom Solutions design and engineering group, which works with superintendents, owners and operators to engineer vehicles to serve specific purposes on the golf course and around the facility. Contact Club Car, (www.clubcar.com).
FastSigns International Inc. offers a variety of signage options for superintendents to update their facility’s sign and graphics program. The company offers wide format banners, site signs, window and vehicle graphics, magnetics, trade show displays, decals, labels and floor graphics for interior and exterior use. Contact FastSigns International Inc., 800-827-7446 (www.fastsigns.com/innovation).
The BridgeGuard Lock-N mats from Linear Rubber are made with extra-thick 5/8-inch genuine rubber to cover new or existing planking, concrete or blacktop bridge surfaces. Engineered to eliminate repairs and maintenance and to provide a new face to damaged areas, the mats come in widths up to 6 feet and in 16-foot-long sections that interlock for easy installation. Custom trimming is available at no extra charge. The diamond-cut surface provides excellent traction in dry or wet conditions when pulling, walking or riding. The nonporous rubber surface also resists spike marks, won’t absorb moisture and won’t crumble, peel or crack under extreme heat or cold, the company says. Also available are BridgeGuard50 runners in rolls up to 100 feet long. Contact Linear Rubber, 800-558-4040 (www.rubbermats.com).
John Deere Golf’s new 5.50 firmware is now available for all Aurora series irrigation field controllers. Designed to provide superintendents with a variety of technologically advanced irrigation features, the new firmware is fully compatible with Aurora Professional Software and eAurora Online Management Systems. Improvements include radio communications reception and more programming capabilities. Users also can use program link starts between controllers without any central control software, which allows linking of program starts between field controllers in a peer-to-peer controller network. The firmware also provides shorter watering windows and improved pump usage. Six new dual-tone multifrequency programming commands for handheld maintenance radios and two new remote sensor outputs are additional improvements. With an expanded 32-independent-program capability added to the Aurora ALT and AUT series field controllers, superintendents now have the flexibility to customize irrigation across the course, allowing specific irrigation to greens, tees and fairways. Contact John Deere Golf, 800-537-8233 (www.johndeere.com).
True-Surface by Turfline recently launched a redesigned Web site to offer more product information and more user-friendly features than its predecessor. Customers can now use the site to download literature and parts break-downs, view product video, e-mail staff members and locate local distributors. Contact True-Surface by Turfline, 800-443-8506 (www.true-surface.com).
Two new plant growth regulators from Advan LLC have recently been introduced to the turfgrass market — Groom PGR for managing turf growth (pictured) and Tide Paclo 2SC ornamental PGR for managing growth of turfgrass and trees. Groom, which contains the same active ingredient as Primo, manages the growth of warm- and cool-season grasses. Groom is engineered to increase turf density, color and turf quality on golf courses, sod farms, sports fields and commercial lawns. Tide Paclo is a systemic PGR that slows vegetative growth by inhibiting gibberellin biosynthesis in grass and trees. The product slows the vertical growth of turf within three to 10 days, allowing crews to reduce mowing frequency for a six- to eight-week period, the company says. After using Tide Paclo, turf gradually becomes greener and denser for up to 12 weeks, it adds. On trees, Tide Paclo reduces above-ground vegetative growth when applied to the soil near the base of the tree either by soil injection or with a soil drench. Contact Advan LLC, 800-250-5024 (www.advanllc.com).
The Weed Raker from Jenlis Inc. is designed especially for managing aquatic vegetation in ponds and lakes. While the traditional lake rake features short teeth and a short handle, the Weed Raker has a wide head and long teeth for removing the roots of aquatic vegetation and organic debris that accumulates on the bottom, fueling the regrowth of new plants. The rake offers a 37-inch head, 8-inch teeth, an 11-foot-long handle and a 46-foot-long rope. The hollow rake head can be filled with rock for deeper substrate penetration. Contact Jenlis Inc., 877-356-6455 (www.weedrazers.com).
The Pelz, a wide-brimmed hat from Imperial Headwear, is designed to offer advanced sun protection. Made from a lightweight, breathable fabric called SPEC 50 Nylon, the Pelz offers an ultraviolet protection factor of more than 50, the highest rating available, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials. An exclusive moisture control system draws perspiration away to keep heads cool, and a CoolMax sweatband whisks away moisture and dries out quickly, the company says. A dark undervisor maximizes visibility and prevents glare while providing maximum shade for the face. Adjustable, packable and washable, the Pelz also floats. Contact Imperial Headwear, 800-950-1916 (www.imperialheadwear.com).
The Reading Landscape Body from Reading Truck Body Inc. provides landscapers with several standard features such as hoist assembly, recessed tail lights and marker lights, easy-to-open heavy-duty tailgate, full width upper rear doors, cab guard, heavy-duty floor, corrosion-resistant steel side wall construction and baked-on powder coat finish. Options, designed to supply more usability and function, include the REV-PAC storage compartment, under boxes, pull-down access step, tie-down rings and deck overlay. Contact Reading Truck Body Inc., 800-458-2226 (www.readingbody.com).
Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power announces a new low-speed operation option available on Vanguard Big Block V-twin engines. The addition of the low-speed option to commercial power equipment results in a 10 percent increase in fuel efficiency, the company says. Other benefits include a decrease in vibration and noise levels. Engine speed is also reduced from the standard 3,600 rpm to 3,200 rpm. The system acts like an overdrive gear in a car — power remains in reserve for situations that require full-throttle application. As fuel efficiency increases, vibration decreases by approximately 20 percent and noise levels decrease by about 40 percent. Contact Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power,
(www.commercialpower.com).
Eagle One Golf Products introduces its line of Closest to the Pin special event recorders. Made from durable, long-lasting laminated plastic, the special event recorders come with or without measuring tapes and can accommodate a club logo for a nominal charge, the company says. Names can be recorded on a special dry erase board using a standard golf pencil or grease pencil. Old information can be wiped away using mild soap and water or window cleaner. A variety of colors is available. Contact Eagle One Golf Products, 800-448-4409 (www.eogp.com).
The BugBarrier Tree Band, created by Envirometrics Systems Inc., provides a pesticide-free technique to stop the egg-laden females of both cankerworm and winter moth species. The BugBarrier Tree Band consists of a dense, flexible, fiber barrier and an adhesive film that the company says is effective, clean and easy to install and remove. The fiber is wrapped around the tree trunk to fill bark crevices, and the film is installed over the fiber with the adhesive facing the tree. The adhesive increases the band’s effectiveness by keeping the sticky surface free of debris that can form a bridge for pests. The device also eliminates visible insect carcasses and is effective against spring cankerworm, gypsy moth, forest tent caterpillar and other pests. Contact Envirometrics Systems Inc., (www.treebands.com).
The Toro Co.’s Groundmaster 4000-D and 4100-D can now be configured with air-conditioning and heat through Canadian manufacturer Jodale Perry. The manufacturer now installs the AC system in the cab during its manufacturing process, increasing the quality and performance of the all-season cab. The AC system’s low-profile design integrates with the headliner of the cab for increased clearance under trees and storage areas. Contact The Toro Co., 800-803-8676 (www.toro.com).