Beginning January 1, 2010, gasoline retailers in Oregon will be able to sell ethanol-free premium gasoline. House Bill 3497, introduced by Republican Leader Bruce Hanna and Rep. Tim Freeman and recently signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski, addresses issues some consumers are having with an already enacted state law that required retail transportation fuel gasoline blends containing at least 10% ethanol.

While a law in 2008 has allowed the sale of non-ethanol fuel, this has been only for certain off-road and exempted uses, and the fuel has not been easy for consumers to find, since all on-road uses require blended fuel. According to Freeman, the new law addresses concerns he and other legislators have heard from small engine users such as loggers, snowmobilers and fishermen who claim to have problems with ethanol-blended fuels and were having trouble finding places that sell ethanol-free gasoline. The new law goes into effect January 1, 2010.

The Engines and Power Products Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S. has increased the consumer warranty on selected engine groupings to three years. Engines affected by this new warranty coverage are the FR, FS, and FX series, which totals 22 separate engines.

According to Rodger Howe, Director of Operations, this expanded warranty does not apply to engines used for commercial purposes. The company’s standard two-year warranty will continue to cover those used in professional lawn and garden applications.

Maruyama U.S. Inc. announces a business partnership with elite outdoor power equipment distributor, Roberts Supply, Inc. located in Winter Park, Fla. Roberts Supply will distribute the full line of Maruyama products in the states of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

In 1963 Bill Roberts opened a small outdoor power equipment retail store in Winter Park. Wayne and Bill Roberts Jr. joined their father in the business the next year. By 1971 the Roberts family operated four stores and a central warehouse to hold the overstock equipment and parts. By 1979 Roberts sold the last of the retail stores and began the now very successful wholesale business, Roberts Supply, Inc.

Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced Wednesday a plan to close its Jefferson and Watertown, Wis. manufacturing facilities in fiscal 2010. The power products segment facilities currently manufacture all portable generator, home standby generator and pressure washer products marketed and sold by the company. Briggs officials said the job reductions will occur by the end of the year and are partly the result of poor market conditions and a need to consolidate production at its factories.

About 100 salaried employees in Jefferson will be offered jobs at other Briggs locations, including Wauwatosa. Production at the Jefferson plant will be moved to other Briggs factories, including plants in Alabama and Georgia. The Jefferson facility will be sold, said Laura Timm, a company spokeswoman.

Outside the U.S., Briggs has benefited from low-cost manufacturing plants it opened in the Czech Republic and China. The Czech plants serve Briggs’ European market, including fast-growing Eastern European countries. According to some reports, Briggs has resisted moving all its manufacturing plants overseas because the U.S. plants can reportedly build an engine with 30 minutes of labor, making them very efficient. Having plants in the U.S. also gives the company a competitive advantage in being able to respond to U.S. hurricanes, snowstorms and other power-related emergencies.

GIE+EXPO, set for October 29-31 in Louisville, is adding the new High-Performance Service Department, a collective effort of several exhibitors and Bob Clements International. The how-to pavilion will simulate a highly efficient service department including:

• Two large service bays plus service areas for riding equipment and walk-behind and handheld equipment
• A staging area and wash bay
• An example of an out-dated service department bay showing “what not to do”

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced its 2009-10 officers and board of directors during its 57th Annual Meeting in Greensboro, Ga. held June 25-27, 2009.

Officers for 2009-10 include: Chairman Michael Hoffman (Chairman, CEO, The Toro Company) Vice Chairman Fred Whyte (President, Stihl, Inc.), and Secretary/Treasurer Jean Hlay (President and COO, MTD Products, Inc.).

Continuing their service on the board are: Immediate Past Chairman Daniel Ariens (President, Ariens Co.), Steven Bly (Executive VP, Echo Inc.), Richard Fotsch (President of the Global Power Group, Kohler Co.), Gary Michel (President, Club Car, Inc.), Paul Mullet (President, Hustler Turf Equipment), Dan Wilkinson (President, Jacobsen, A Textron Co.), and David Zerfoss (President, Husqvarna Professional Products).

Newly elected to the OPEI Board of Directors is: Randy Sergesketter (Senior VP, Ag & Turf Global Platform, Turf & Utility, John Deere Co.).

Maruyama U.S. Inc. has announced a business partnership with power equipment distributor Smiths South-Central Sales Company of Springhill, La., to  distribute the full line of Maruyama commercial products in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. According to Robert Smith, Vice President of Smiths South-Central, “Everyone at Smiths South-Central is very excited to be joining the Maruyama team. Maruyama is a fantastic brand with a long, rich history known for high-quality commercial products supported by a strong commitment to excellence. Maruyama power equipment and chemical application products offer tremendous opportunity for our network of servicing dealers.”

For more than 35 years Smiths South-Central has been a full service distributor of quality lawn and garden power equipment. The company employs a team of customer service representatives, technical service personnel and outside territory sales managers—each committed in providing unmatched service. Says Leif Ringstad, Maruyama U.S. Inc General Sales Manager, “Smiths South-Central Sales is the touchstone for all independent distributors in the power equipment industry. We are both excited and pleased to have such a stellar company as part of the Maruyama family.”

The formal public comment period for a proposal currently before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to raise the allowable limit of ethanol blended into standard transportation gasoline from 10% to 15% ended this past week, and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute signed on to an  Alliance for a Safe Alternative Fuels Environment coalition comment that the move poses serious safety and regulatory risks, and the process itself is illegal.

The Alliance for a Safe Alternative Fuels Environment (AllSAFE), which speaks for manufacturers on fuel-related legislation representing 400 million products that over 250 million Americans own and operate, including recreational boats and marine engines, chain saws, lawnmowers, motor vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, generators, and related vehicles and equipment, recently delivered official comments voicing concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about pro-ethanol group Growth Energy’s fuel waiver application to the EPA for 15% blended ethanol gasoline, or E-15.

The American Brands Council has recognized Stihl as one of America’s greatest brands. The OEM will be featured in the 2009 edition of America’s Greatest Brands, a hard cover coffee table book recognizing some of the strongest and most trusted business brands in the U.S.

Currently in its seventh edition, America’s Greatest Brands features leading companies from a brand marketing perspective. The book explores the history behind the top brands and highlights their innovations and accomplishments. Each company is featured in a two-page spread. Among brands recognized in this year’s book include Campbell’s Soup, the National Football League (NFL) and Xerox.

America’s Greatest Brands is currently available in major bookstores nationwide or online at americasgreatestbrands.com. More information about Stihl Inc. is available at stihlusa.com.

Maruyama U.S. Inc. hosted its first North American distributor council meeting in St. Louis, Mo., June 11-14, to discuss both immediate and long term strategic plans and goals, such as market development and dealer incentive programs.

The Maruyama distributor council consists of five principals chosen to represent their respective regions for a two-year term. The council members (pictured) include: Steve Purdy, President (Oscar Wilson Engines & Parts Inc., O’Fallon,  Mo.);  Jack Ball, Sales Manager (Tru-Power, Inc., Corona, Calif.); Rick Roberts, Executive Vice President and Director of Sales (Roberts Supply, Inc., Winter Park, Fla.); Robert Smith, Vice President (Smiths South Central Sales Co., Springhill, La.); and Donald Marquis, Sales Manager (Theo Turgeon, Inc., Quebec, Can.).