Stihl Inc., a leading manufacturer of chain saws and outdoor power equipment, recently hosted a three-day Manufacturing Technology Summer Workshop. The Stihl campus in Virginia Beach, Va. hosted all of the workshop’s day-to-day activities in machining, molding, assembly and apprentice lab.

The objectives of this workshop were to develop a future project for the upcoming camps and to give the Virginia Manufacturer’s Assn. a tool to use throughout the entire state of Virginia. The workshop taught high school students, teachers, and counselors significant information about manufacturing in general. The core departments focused on were accessories, assembly, engineering, machining and polymers. »» Read More

Paulson Computer Systems is offering power equipment retailers an incentive to switch from a competitor’s software system to its highly regarded InvenTrakk Power Equipment Edition. As much as 50% of the cost will be discounted if a dealer purchases the system before Oct 1, 2010.

Combining a full suite of business management tools into a powerful single solution, PCS’s InvenTrakk helps power equipment dealers stay on top of all major aspects of their business, from inventory stock levels to customer quotes, sales and service to financial reporting, and more. InvenTrakk lets dealers easily keep track of every unit they have ever stocked, serviced or sold. Using this tool, dealers can quickly see the status of every work order, the customer for whom the service is being performed, the technician assigned to the repair,  and which unit should be serviced next. The system comes with search and printing functionality, allowing the dealer to search by specific make, model or line. »» Read More

Anita Gambill of Stihl Inc. has been named as a member and trustee to work to advance knowledge in arboriculture and urban forestry on the board of the Tree Research Education and Endowment (TREE) Fund. She will be appointed to the board for a three-year term, filling one of three vacancies to help expand the influence of the TREE Fund. The TREE Fund’s working board of all-volunteer trustees all share the passion for the education needed to ensure further tree care research.

“I am very honored and excited to take on the responsibilities as a member of the TREE Fund Board of Trustees,” said Gambill. “Most importantly, I believe in its mission and possess a passion for contributing to its success.” »» Read More

Wright Commercial Products has named EDM Distributors its 2010 Distributor of the Year. The Suffield, Connecticut firm distributes Wright commercial mowers and accessories to dealers in New England.

EDM was selected for Distributor of the Year honors because the 15-employee firm led the country last year in percentage of increased retail sales, new dealer development and overall parts and service satisfaction rating.

According to Hal White, Wright’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “EDM’s commitment to excellence makes it one of Wright Manufacturing’s premier distributors.”

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The Engines and Power Products Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. has announced the promotion of Laura Holtrop to the position of OEM Sales Manager. She joins Tim Malinowski, the other OEM Sales Manager, and Senior OEM Sales Manager, Randy Lockyear, in helping to further expand this growing segment.

Holtrop, an 11-year Kawasaki veteran, most recently was the senior sales specialist, dealing only with the company’s OEM engine accounts.  She has held various positions focusing primarily on the day-to-day operational issues and production scheduling. »» Read More

The Engines & Power Products Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A., which recently announced a distributor and dealer service-oriented change to its warehousing and distribution system, will be relying on software from Baxter Planning Systems Inc. to help manage the new process. The software—Prophet by Baxter—is a software-as-a-service solution to support Kawasaki’s parts, power products and engine distribution business.

Kawasaki will use Prophet to forecast inventory purchases, determine warehouse stocking levels and initiate inventory replenishment and re-balancing of inventory between stocking locations. The Baxter system will also automate the planning for Kawasaki’s large OEM and distributor customers by aggregating common part orders and facilitating drop-ship orders direct to suppliers. »» Read More

Walbro Engine Management, engine management technology solutions for non-automotive applications, is expanding its multilayer fuel tank production and support capabilities to meet demand for low evaporative emission fuel tanks in the global Lawn & Garden and Recreation & Marine markets.

Walbro is adding two advanced multilayer blow molding machines: one for installation in North America at the end of 2010, and the other for installation in Thailand in mid-2011. Walbro plans to add several more blow molding machines in late 2011 and 2012.  These additions complement the existing capacity and technical resources established by Walbro over the past five years in Cass City, Michigan. »» Read More

When Mike Halloran, president of Halloran Power Equipment of Palatine, Ill., saw the tar balls and debris washed ashore from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, he had an idea.

At his Chicago-area Gravely dealership, Halloran knew the Gravely Rapid E 2-wheel tractor with its optional sand cleaning accessory head would be the perfect tool for cleaning gulf shore beaches. The smaller equipment was designed for this task and would leave a smaller footprint than the 10-ton, tow-behind equipment Halloran saw being used.

“The Rapid E and sand cleaner are the only machines I am aware of designed for this purpose,” he said. “They are used every day for general beach cleaning, but excel at removing oil from sand.” »» Read More

Environmental and industry groups that frequently oppose each other on a broad range of policy issues are launching a joint campaign calling on Congress to require thorough and objective scientific testing before allowing an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline. Raising strong concerns about consumer safety and environmental protection, the groups have joined forces to sponsor an ad with the tagline “Say NO to untested E15” as part of an effort to persuade Congress and the EPA to reject calls by some in the ethanol industry to allow the amount of ethanol in gasoline to increase by 50%. »» Read More

Excel Industries Inc. has donated a Hustler Zeon to the Greensburg, Kan., organization, GreenTown. According to Daniel Wallach, executive director and founder of Greensburg Greentown, the donation is a great boost. “We are all about showing visitors the options available for building as well as home and yard maintenance that have a minimal impact on the natural environment while raising our energy independence,” said Wallach.

“Greensburg GreenTown is very excited to have the state of the art technology that the Hustler Zeon represents. Being America’s model green community, we are delighted to be able to showcase this high power, low impact way to maintain lawns. The machine is amazingly quiet, yet as powerful as its gas counterparts.” »» Read More