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ECHO HOSTS POWER- ON-ATHON 2024 Echo Incorporated hosted its Power-On- Athon 2024 event September 19 at its Lake Zurich , Illinois , headquarters . During the annual media event , Echo announced 10 new products to its lineup .
The latest products include eight additions to the Echo 56V battery system , featuring a limited-edition pink handheld blower in collaboration with Susan G . Komen and a six-port field charger plus two new gas-powered units – including a self-propelled gas-powered walk-behind mower .
“ Since 2017 , we ’ ve introduced 154 new tools , setting new industry benchmarks ,” said Wayne Thomsen , vice president of marketing and product management at Echo . “ Alongside expanding our range of battery and gas-powered equipment , we ’ re also supporting the fight against breast cancer by donating a portion of the proceeds from a limitededition pink blower to Komen .”
The new self-propelled gas lawn mower is in a market segment that the Echo brand hasn ’ t served since the 1990s . This 21-inch mower uses a 190cc Briggs & Stratton engine . The Mow N ’ Stow feature and foldable handles
Powered by gas , this mower gets a stand-up storage feature made popular by batterypowered walk-behind mowers .
Echo brings back gas-powered walk-behind mowers after a 20-year absence from its lineup . We expect this line to expand .
mean the mower can be stored upright , a feature that has made battery-powered mowers popular . The self-propelled mower features a variable speed system that automatically adapts to the user ’ s walking speed . It uses a dual-blade design plus 11-in . rear and eight-in . front ball-bearing-supported wheels .
During the Power-On-Athon , Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton presented Echo with a Green Business Award . The award recognizes businesses in Lake Zurich working to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future .
“ Lake Zurich has been the world headquarters of Echo since 1985 , and it ’ s an important pillar of our business community ,” said Poynton . “ Not only has Echo created hundreds of good-paying jobs – juicing the local economy – they also understand why being environmentally friendly is good for business .”
According to Poynton , the Lake Zurich Green Business Award program encourages local companies to take more sustainable actions , and honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in integrating sustainable practices into their daily business operations .
“ Echo is a pioneering force in sustainable business practices ,” said Poynton . “ We ’ re proud to acknowledge the leadership and dedication to environmental sustainability that Echo represents .”
Poynton outlined Echo ’ s Earthfriendly initiatives aimed at promoting green business practices across its operations . Echo recycles and regrinds 100 % of its plastic waste , and turns plastic rosin into its own usable plastic crates that are molded in house . The total recycling diversion rate for all materials at Echo last year was calculated at 96.5 % with 2.2 million pounds of recycled material leaving the facility . Echo also completed a solar energy panel installation that offsets about 38 % of its total energy use ; it converted the exterior lights to point down instead of up – helping to reduce nighttime light pollution ; it purchased reusable drink tumblers for all Echo employees to eliminate single-use water bottles ; and it stocked the building with biodegradable compostable plates and cups in lieu of Styrofoam products .
6 OPE + October 2024 www . OPE-Plus . com