INNOVATIONS
72 inches , and holds nearly 14 gallons of fuel , allowing the operator to spend more time mowing and less time fueling .
“ This is the top of the category for us in terms of a stand-on mower ,” said Brad Unruh , director of new product development at Hustler Turf . “ We have two engine options – a Kawasaki EFI 38.5 hp . and we are also going to offer the new 40-hp . Vanguard with the OilGuard system . This is a heavy-duty stand-on built for all-day mowing .”
Ferris
The Ferris 500S zero-turn mower is designed to deliver efficiency and performance at a great value .
“ The patented Ferris suspension , the Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series engine , and even the extras like the LED headlight and premium mid-back seat all contribute to productivity ,” said Kody Van Sistine , Ferris brand manager .
The 500S comes equipped with the Ferris exclusive pivoting front axle and coil-over shocks on each wheel so that uneven terrain is no problem for the operator or the unit , which can reach ground speeds of up to eight miles per hour without sacrificing the cut quality . The unit will be available in 48- , 52- , and 61-inch mowing deck configurations with Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series or Kawasaki engines .
Other features of the 500S include a fabricated 10-gauge steel mowing deck , dual commercial transaxles with 7-inch cooling fans , 22-inch rear-drive tires and large front casters , and a foot-operated deck lift that quickly changes cut height in 1 ⁄ 4-inch increments with an adjustable pedal .
OTR Wheel Engineering , Inc .
OTR Wheel Engineering , Inc . ( OTR ) launched the NDX airless tire and wheel system for turf equipment and utility vehicles . NDX is designed to minimize loss of productivity and revenue for fleets and owner-operators , while increasing ride quality .
“ Our history of tire and wheel innovations , advanced construction and relationships with end users have been fully leveraged in this product development ,” said Fred Taylor , founder and chairman of the OTR Board . “ The result is a system that looks and behaves like a pneumatic tire , except it never goes flat , thus eliminating costly downtime and repairs . NDX is tough and durable , as well as competitively priced , to deliver exceptional value and a safe , comfortable ride .”
Featuring a patent-pending design , NDX combines multi-layered construction , engineered structural supports and a tread belt that maintains desired curvature and safe ground clearance at all times .
Additionally , NDX uses premium rubber compounds and a deflection management system that optimizes energy absorption and load distribution . Other benefits of this system include less jarring and bouncing as well as reduced operator fatigue .
“ With our tire , you have the ability to put air pressure into it . If you want 20 pounds of pressure … 30 , 40 ,” said Taylor . “ With the way we have designed it , this tire flexes in the center . That is where your ride activity takes place .”
Sold as an assembly ( tire plus wheel ), the NDX system is available for more than 50 turf equipment products and 10 utility vehicle fitments supporting popular OEM models . OTR is also introducing NDX-style smooth type front tires with turf-friendly patterns .
Greenworks Commercial
Greenworks Commercial announced plans for a new manufacturing , research and development , product testing , and customer experience center in Morristown , Tenn . The $ 20 million initial investment will create hundreds of new jobs for the area beginning next year .
The Greenworks Commercial Center of Excellence will include a 181,000-square-foot manufacturing facility producing commercial ride-on vehicles and mowers and technologically advanced commercial-grade batteries . The campus will also include a 20,000-square-foot customer experience center located on 30 acres of green space , which will be utilized for dealer training and events , as well as product development and testing .
The Greenworks Commercial factory is expected to open in early spring of 2022 and is set to welcome more than 200 new employees .
Greenworks also showcased a wide range of products at GIE + EXPO :
New 82-volt string trimmers utilize a direct drive , commercial-grade brushless motor that produces up to 2.0 kW of maximum power . They also have high and low speed settings for more power or longer runtime , lightweight rear housings , responsive variable-speed triggers and over-molded front handles with large gripping areas for maximum comfort during use and when edging . This
34 SportsField Management | December 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com