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PRODUCT NEWS |
Turfco Manufacturing introduces its new Walking TriWave overseeder that can seed while the operator makes turns. Combining all the features of Turfco’s TriWave 60-inch overseeder in a walking version, the Walking TriWave features the company’s patented WaveBlade technology in addition to new optional greens blades, new transport speed and patent-pending technology to keep seed rate consistent regardless of ground speed. All kinds of seed can be handled with the overseeder, from bentgrass to a creeping red fescue. The new transport speed allows users to travel quickly between locations on a course and also locks out the blade drives. A patent-pending drive for the seedbox functions like a ground drive, keeping the seed rate the same while matching the forward speed. One button engages the blades, drops them down and opens the seedbox simultaneously. Two 18-inch-wide patented floating seed heads optimize 1½-inch blade spacing for maximum germination. Contact Turfco Manufacturing, 800-679-8201 (www.turfco.com).
It came to GCM’s attention post-press time that Applied and Experimental Microbiology cannot make claims about its product Inoculaid, which appeared on Page 142 of the March 2009 issue, due to lacking FIFRA approval from the EPA. The company also cannot support the claim of disease or nematode suppression.
King Innovation’s DryConn black series of waterproof connectors are corrosion-proof, UL 486D-listed, UL 1838-compliant and are rated 600V. Designed for outdoor wire splices, each connector is pre-filled with dielectric silicone sealant that the company says never hardens. Ideal for tightly sealing and waterproofing splices exposed to condensation, water, vapors or dust, the connectors are available in multiple sizes, quantities and color choices of black/white, black/grey and black/blue. DryConn also offers a one-step installation that saves time and money and eliminates the need for multistep products and pre-twisting of wires, the company says. Contact King Innovation, (www.kinginnovation.com).
National Golf Products announces a new portable and accurate ball flight monitor for low-cost rental on driving ranges, available through its Radar Rental Program. A patented distance management system featuring Doppler technology, the Radar is easy to set up, provides immediate feedback on shots ranging from 10 to 400 yards, records ball velocity and carry distance and can be used on a practice range or with a hitting net. The device runs on one 9V alkaline or lithium ion battery and is suitable for both left- and right-handed golfers. Constructed of plastic in a sturdy rubber boot with a stand, the unit weighs 11 ounces and measures 6 inches tall, 4 inches wide and 1 inch deep. Contact National Golf Products, 888-647-8873 (www.thegolfmat.net).
PrimeraTurf, a purchasing cooperative for independently owned companies that offer products in the turf, horticulture and landscape industries, is launching its new PrimeraOne campaign for its herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators. The company is shifting its business to independent distributor members so customers can access a wide range of PrimeraOne products. Contact PrimeraTurf, (www.primeraone.com).
A new Web-based service from Profile Products LLC lets design professionals, agencies and contractors access engineering and agronomic assistance for erosion and sediment control. The Profile Soil Solutions Software combines hydraulically applied and rolled erosion control products, sediment retention fiber rolls and prescriptive agronomic formulations to develop agronomically sound erosion and sediment control solutions. The software additionally provides complete design documentation such as product specs, installation guidelines, CAD drawings and other technical information. Accessible at www.profileps3.com, the new software provides 24-hour service, diagnostics, explanations and guidance in creating sustainable erosion and sediment control. Contact Profile Products LLC, 800-508-8681 (www.profileproducts.com).
Club Car announced recently that GPS Industries, international developer of global positioning systems and Wi-Fi multimedia solutions, has joined the Club Car Solutions Network. An alliance of companies that helps Club Car support its customers by providing products and service that complement Club Car’s business, the partnership makes GPSI the preferred provider of GPS systems for the Augusta, Ga.-based golf car manufacturer. The two companies will also collaborate on technology solutions to bring the benefits of GPS and Wi-Fi to Club Car customers around the globe. GPSI played a chief role in developing Club Car’s new Guardian SVC, a GPS-based course management system. Contact Club Car, (www.clubcar.com).
Two new models of Kioti Tractor’s line of hydrostatic drive tractors — the DK50SE HST and DK35SE HST Cab — are new to the golf market. The DKSE series now offers six models in the 35-49 hp range. Both new models are equipped with all the components and standard features of other Kioti products, and both are available with a standard roll-over protective structure or a fully enclosed cab. With a Tier IV, four-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine, the 49-hp DK50SE HST tractor supplies a rear power take-off with optional mid-PTO that allows users to implement a multitude of attachments. A Category I three-point hitch further enhances the machine’s versatility, the company says. The cab-equipped model makes the tractor functional year-round regardless of weather conditions. Standard features include high-visibility glass, power steering, front and rear working lights, wet-disc brakes, a rear differential lock, one lever joystick loader control, electronically engaged four-wheel drive, electronically engaged PTO with auto and manual positions and an oil cooler. Contact Kioti, 877-465-4684 (www.kioti.com).
Kawasaki announces its newest string trimmer, the KTF27A, which the company says cuts fuel consumption up to 25 percent compared to the TJ027D engine used on previous models. Also able to reduce exhaust emissions to meet the most stringent EPA and CARB requirements, the trimmer features a newly designed guard and a new gear-reduction drive head to increase cutter head torque for faster trimming. A new 26.3-cc TJ027E Kawasaki two-cycle engine incorporates advanced air/fuel technology and is built with a stratified two-barrel carburetor design that buffers in fresh air between the outgoing exhaust and incoming air and fuel. The unit also features a new heavy-duty flexible cable drive shaft. Contact Kawasaki Engines and Power Products, 800-433-5640 (www.kawpowr.com).
Engineered to make lab-accurate measurements on the spot, the new FieldScout SoilStik pH meter from Spectrum Technologies offers a flat surface electrode. To operate, touch the sensor electrode directly onto a moist soil sample. The tool can also measure the pH of irrigation water and pesticide spray solutions. Waterproof, the flat electrode will not clog and is easily replaceable, the company says. Additional features include automatic temperature compensation, a data hold function and alerts when recalibration or sensor replacement is required. Contact Spectrum Technologies Inc., 800-248-8873 (www.specmeters.com).
Ideal for agricultural sprayers, spray guns and pest control applications, Reelcraft’s series 30000 sprayer reels feature vibration-proof, self-locking fasteners and corrosion-resistant, individually powder-coated steel components. The sprayer reels can handle up to 325 feet of ½-inch hose for improved management, the company says. The reels come equipped with the company’s Super Swivel, designed to handle a broad range of pressures, temperatures and chemicals. Contact Reelcraft Industries Inc., 800-444-3134 (www.reelcraft.com/ag).
Tee Shot Media has developed a modified tee box marker designed to help boost course income by placing ads at the feet of golfers. The markers are unobtrusive and blend into golf course landscapes, the company says, adding that the markers are ideal for tournaments, internal promotions and generating local or national advertising revenues. Contact Tee Shot Media, (www.teeshotmedia.com).
A new free online resource available from E-Z-Go is designed to help owners of the company’s electric vehicles learn about proper battery maintenance in their fleets. The Online Battery Training Center offers tips and tools to help users maximize battery lifespan, increase energy efficiency and ultimately reduce a facility’s impact on the environment. Lessons are provided in English and Spanish in a variety of topics, from proper watering of batteries and regular inspection to storage procedures, proper wiring and mounting of chargers and management of energy use. Each module contains a brief exam to test the user’s knowledge of the material. Contact E-Z-Go, 800-241-5855 (www.ezgo.com).
Two new replacement rubber track patterns from Bobcat Co. are now available for compact track loaders. The Bobcat Multi-Bar Lug and EarthForce Bar Lug replacement rubber tracks feature uniformly wound cables and eliminate connection points. The new Bobcat MBL track has a greater number of tread lugs per foot, which enables a smoother ride. Built with aligned loops of cable, the tracks eliminate tighter loops that can gouge and tear into the rubber. To prevent rust and debris penetration, the cables are wrapped in nylon fiber net. Contact Bobcat Co., (www.bobcat.com/trackparts).
Control capabilities of The Toro Co.’s Network VP series field satellite are now available to courses using the Toro Network LTC Plus through an easily installed upgrade kit. Once the satellites are upgraded to the Network VP, superintendents can control run times with precision using either station-based or program-based flow management. The company says the program can save courses in energy costs and reduced labor. The product can be expanded in eight-station increments to control up to 64 stations per satellite. Superintendents can also program run times to determine an exact number of rotations by a sprinkler, ensuring the turf gets the exact amount of water it needs. Installation is completed within existing pedestals, eliminating the need to dig, replace satellites or do rewiring work. Contact The Toro Co., (www.toro.com).
Underhill International announces its TurfSpy turf stress detection glasses, which can reveal potential problems before they are visible to the naked eye, the company says. TurfSpy lenses work by blocking out the green spectrum reflected from chlorophyll in healthy vegetation. The glasses can detect stress conditions such as disease, drought, pests or poor nutrition two to 10 days before being visible to the unaided eye. The conditions appear as glowing colors in red, coral or pink. ANSI-approved, the glasses feature a new wrap-around lens for more effective viewing and an adjustable earpiece for user comfort. TurfSpy glasses are also said to spot wilting caused by drought or broken sprinklers. Contact Underhill International, 866-863-3744 (www.underhill.us).
Echo ETQ fungicide for turf and ornamentals from SipcamAdvan combines an active ingredient with an additive to provide disease control, enhanced turf quality and economic management of summer stress factors, the company says. Said to be cost-effective for use on fairways, Echo ETQ contains the fungicide chlorothalonil and a pigment that stimulates the plant components needed to improve summer stress tolerance. Technology behind the fungicide can improve quality factors such as color, strength, density and consistency, and also can control dollar spot, brown patch, leaf spot, gray leaf spot, anthracnose and other diseases. The formula is available as Echo Ultimate ETQ, a spray-dried granule, and Echo 6F ETQ, a flowable concentrate. Contact SipcamAdvan, (www.advanllc.com).
Gehl Co. announces it has approved Arnco’s new patent-pending Ecoflex tire flatproofing fill for use on all Gehl and Mustang skid steer loaders and telehandlers. Ecoflex is an eco-friendly tire fill formulation that consumes 50 percent less petrochemicals by using renewable and environmentally based components in the production process. In addition to being cost-effective, both Ecoflex and Ecofil work with tube-type or tubeless tires and are safer to use than standard flatproofing materials, the company says. Contact Arnco, (www.arnconet.com).
A new PowerTech E 6068 Tier 3 engine has been added to John Deere’s 710J backhoe, an addition that’s intended to improve emissions compliance and power. The 710J offers a reach of 22 feet, 4 inches when extended. The new engine provides an increase in horsepower and the same heavy-duty six-cylinder torque as on the previous Tier 2 710J models. With a net horsepower of 126, the backhoe also includes variable timing, a new extended grill frame that comes standard and a side louver that improves engine airflow. Contact John Deere, (www.johndeere.com).
Honda Engines introduces a new generation of V-Twin general-purpose engines that includes models GX630, GX660, GX690, GXV630, GXV660 and GXV690. Designed to offer more power, high fuel economy, low noise, low vibration and low exhaust emissions without the use of a catalyst, the V-Twin engines feature a 36-blade resin cooling fan to improve cooling efficiency. Features include a hemispherical combustion chamber design, higher compression ratio, increased displacement and steel connecting rods. An integrated cylinder and head eliminates the need for a head gasket, and fuel consumption is reduced to levels similar in fuel-injected models, the company adds. The V-Twin models also will meet the 2011 EPA exhaust emission regulations without a catalyst. Contact Honda Engines, 800-426-7701 (www.honda.com).
Jacobsen announces a new line of more durable precision tines for its Greensaire series of aerators. The new DuraTine XL and DuraTine XLT tines feature a performance-enhanced surface to improve tine lifespan and hole quality, the company says. Made of special steel alloys, the tines are engineered to strict tolerances and go through a new three-step heat treatment process to give them a consistently harder surface skin, resulting in longer sidewall life with less breakage. The DuraTine XL is made with a more durable tip for improved soil penetration, while the DuraTine XLT is made with a specialized carbide tip for long life. DuraTine XL tines are available as a solid tine and as a top-eject or side-eject hollow tine, and the DuraTine XLT is available only as a hollow, side-eject model. Contact Jacobsen, 888-922-8873 (www.jacobsen.com).
Barber turf rakes are designed to lift stones and debris in one pass, leaving soil aerated and graded, reducing labor costs and readying soil for overseeding and other cultural practices, according to its manufacturer, H. Barber & Sons Inc. Towed and powered by a tractor, Barber turf rakes are equipped with hundreds of spring tines mounted in offset rows. The unit’s moldboard levels the ground, which is then passed over by the tines that rake through the graded soil, allowing stones and debris to be deposited onto the elevating conveyor. Material then moves up the conveyor and is dropped into a hopper with a capacity of 3,800 pounds. The turf rake can remove stones as small as ½ inch to 4 inches in diameter. Built with a low profile, wide frame and low center of gravity with large flotation tires to provide stable operation on uneven or sloped terrain, the turf rake can prepare as much as three acres every hour. Contact H. Barber & Sons Inc., 203-729-9000 (www.hbarber.com).
SourceOne Outdoor Power Equipment introduces a new aerator attachment with 12-inch self-storing wings to allow operation at widths of 36, 48 or 60 inches. The VersaTow’s wings float independently for operation on uneven terrain. Compatible with a Category 1 three-point hitch or standard tow bar, the VersaTow comes equipped with 13-inch-by-6-inch pneumatic tires that easily lower for transport with a trouble-free hand-operated actuator. With a three-point hitch, the tine assemblies on the VersaTow swivel are designed to maximize maneuverability. Users can achieve 6-inch-by-7-inch core spacing up to 4 inches deep from 80 heat-treated 5/8-inch tubular tines. Contact SourceOne Outdoor Power Equipment, 888-418-9065 (www.sourceonex.com).