| 2008 Landscape Expo Expands
The 2008 Landscape Australia Expo & Conference program has expanded to include a new event in Brisbane. After the 2007 shows in Sydney and Melbourne, the organisers conducted an extensive attendee survey with the objective of enhancing visitor experience. The results indicated that while delegates felt the conference provided insights into current issues facing the Landscape Industry, they also wanted the shows to deliver new landscaping ideas, techniques and skills that they could apply to their workplace.
As a result, the 2008 program will reinforce the practical nature of the educational program with two, free on-floor workshops:
Each day ‘Waterscapes Australia’ will build a water feature from the ground up.
‘Light This Light That’ also will conduct a workshop on installing energy efficient LED lighting into landscapes.
“There are a limited number of places available at each workshop,” Event Manager Michael Nissen says, so early registration is recommended.
The Annual Landscape Australia Expo & Conferences will be held at:
Brisbane (14-16 May)
Sydney (23- 25 July)
Melbourne (27-29 August)
Further Expo Conference and Workshop Information can be found at: www.landscapeexpo.com.au.
Tecumseh Sells Engine & Transmission Arm
Tecumseh Products Co has sold its engine and power train business to Platinum Equity LLC for US$51million (A$57m). The cash sale includes three US factories plus plants in Britain and Czech Republic. It does not include the idled factory in Brazil.
Platinum Equity is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specialising in mergers, acquisitions and operations. It has investments in a wide range of businesses including Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Entertainment Distribution. Shortly before buying Tecumseh Platinum Equity bought Ryerson Inc, one of America’s largest metal service centres.
Tecumseh engine and power train products are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by the Allied Group based in Sydney and Auckland.
Husqvarna Integrates Gardena
Husqvarna has announced the integration of Gardena into its Outdoor Products business. The move was foreshadowed at the time of acquisition by Husqvarna President & CEO Bengt Andersson who said: “The combination of the two companies creates opportunities for growth for both Gardena’s and Husqvarna’s products. We expect to see a positive trend in demand for irrigation products going forward and we see this product area as a platform for growth.”
Husqvarna purchased German Gardena AG from private equity firm Industri Kapital at the start of 2007 for about E730m (approximately A$1.2billion). Gardena is the leader in the consumer market in Europe for irrigation products, and also has a leading position in garden tools, garden ponds and pumps, and electric garden products. In the fiscal year ending September 2006, the Gardena reported sales of E422m (approximately A$697m) and operating income of E54m (approximately A$89m). Gardena has a strong brand based on innovative products and high customer service.
In Australia Nylex distributes Gardena products under a deal that expires in December 2008. From that date Husqvarna will take over distribution here.
Husqvarna MD David Boyd said integrating Gardena into Husqvarna’s local operation would enable his company to establish a dedicated Consumer Products Sales & Marketing Organisation.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our group to focus on strengthening a premium brand and expanding the product offer through all our channels of distribution,” he said, thanking Nylex for their past support for the brand.
“Gardena will allow us to utilise economies-of-scale to streamline and optimise all functions within the supply chain.”
Gardena’s product range complements Husqvarna's powered garden products for the consumer market, with some overlapping within electric products. Synergies are expected in several areas such as sales, product development, administration, purchasing and manufacturing.
2007 GIE+Expo Dealers Choice Awards
Handheld: Stihl MS280C-BQ Chainsaw
Wheeled: Ferris IS500Z ZT Mower
PowerSports/Recreation: Kubota RTV1100UV
Accessory/Attachment: Shindaiwa Speed-Feed
Business Services: ARI WebsiteSmart Pro
Stihl to Buy Zama
The Stihl Group intends to acquire Zama for an undisclosed price – one of the world’s largest manufacturers of carburetors for handheld OPE, with about US$80million sales last year. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Stihl Executive Board Chairman Dr Bertram Kandziora described Zama as “Our key supplier of carburetors”.
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Zama was founded in Japan in 1952 and now has an annual output of more than 13 million carburetors. Some 80 employees work at the company’s four locations. About 1,900 more are employed through a Chinese contractor.
Dr Kandziora indicted that Stihl would adhere to the general course set by Zama. “Existing Zama customers can continue to rely on the excellent development and supply service, and Stihl is also prepared to invest in expansion,” explained Dr. Kandziora. All the plants in Zama City and Iwate (Japan), Franklin (USA), Hong Kong and Xili (China) will be retained along with their employees.
When asked about the effects of the takeover on Stihl, Dr Kandziora said, “In taking this strategic step we are strengthening our supply line and thus safeguarding jobs in the entire Stihl Group."
One of Stihl’s main goals is to further reduce OPE emissions.
“The carburetor producer is a technology leader and a valuable development partner for the handheld OPE industry in the area of optimum mixture control in small engines,” Dr Bertram Kandziora said.
“At the same time, the sale of carburetors to third parties opens up a new business segment with growth potential for us.”
Toro Buys Rain Master Irrigation
Toro has acquired California-based Rain Master Irrigation Systems, a manufacturer of irrigation controllers based in Simi Valley, Calif. Rain Master strengthens the company's position in the central controller market and broadens its precision irrigation range.
Rain Master has been a market leader of innovative irrigation central control systems, controllers and handheld remote controls for landscape and commercial markets. Rain Master products will be an important addition to the Irritrol line and continue to be sold under the Rain Master brand.
"This purchase is consistent with our strategy to pursue acquisitions that will strengthen our position in the water management market and drive our revenue growth," said Toro CEO Michael Hoffman. "Rain Master … will provide us with a product line that helps enhance our global offering now and in the future."
John Deere Buys Chinese Compact Tractor Manufacturer
John Deere has completed its acquisition of the Ningbo Benye Tractor & Automobile Manufacture business, located in Ningbo in southern China. Deere signed a definitive agreement to purchase Benye in June. The acquisition expands John Deere's product line for Chinese farmers and enhances the company's worldwide capacity to produce low horsepower “Compact” tractors. Deere currently builds tractors in the 60-120hp range at a joint venture tractor factory in Tianjin while Benye mainly builds tractors in the 20-50hp range.
Benye is the largest tractor manufacturer in southern China and currently receives 95% of its revenue from sales within China, although it has exported to 70 countries. Deere expects to leverage Benye's product range and manufacturing capacity for sales in China and into other Asian, African, and Commonwealth of Independent States markets.
Deere entered the China agricultural market in 1976 and has manufactured equipment in China since 1997. Currently, the company manufactures combine harvesters in Jiamusi and tractors in Tianjin.
Husqvarna Upgrading Zenoah Plants
Husqvarna Outdoor Products is replacing an existing Zenoah plant in China with a new facility in Changzhou. The new factory will increase consumer chainsaw, brushcutter and hedgetrimmer production by about 1milloin units a year. HOP is also investing in Zenoah’s factory in Kawagoe, Japan, producing key components such as cylinders as well as complete chainsaws, brushcutters and blowers. Kawagoe’s R&D facilities will also be upgraded.
John Deere Leesco Merger Completed
The merger between John Deere and US sportsturf industry supplier Lesco was finalized in December 2007. Following the merger, which took a year to complete, John Deere Golf has added about 150 agronomic experts to its US sales and support organization, including golf sales representatives and the Stores-on-Wheels (which will be co-branded John Deere and LESCO in the near future).
This year John Deere plans to add resources in several US regions that it believes to be under serviced. of the country, Breningmeyer said.
"We have taken all the resources and products from Lesco, combined them with most of our former One Source partners' products and made them easier to acquire through additional distribution points," says John Deere Golf Director of Sales & Marketing Gregg Breningmeyer. |
