LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE to do so as efficiently and effectively as possible .
Because of this need , reliability and serviceability are key to a long-lasting , well-functioning mower . As a result , manufacturers are constantly working on features that make a mower easier to service . Ensuring that a mower is easily serviceable continues to be a driving trend in commercial mower development .
– Steve Cathey , territory manager , Kioti Tractor
There are three notable trends that we ’ re seeing in the commercial mower space :
1 . Advances in suspension are providing more comfortable operation for lawn crews , which also allows them to mow faster and be more productive throughout the day . And , of course , that productivity translates into more revenue .
2 . Adoption of EFI has been growing as the price point of the technology has come down , which not only helps with fuel savings , but also requires less maintenance , is easier to start and generally more reliable . Along with EFI , the next advancement is EFI with Electronic Throttle Control , which keeps the engine operating at an optimal operating RPM regardless of the turf conditions .
3 . Stand-ons are gaining in popularity , especially with landscapers who are doing more residential work . New stand-ons have the wide mower decks and speed to deliver productivity , but also are great on inclines .
– Joe Ferris , product manager , Briggs & Stratton
Photo provided by Bobcat Mowers
Photo provided by Hustler Turf
Regarding mower trends in the commercial space , it is all about versatility . If a contractor can handle a laundry list of different tasks and applications with a single machine , what they ’ re essentially doing is streamlining their fleet and putting money right back into their operation ’ s bottom line . Additionally , there ’ s been a noticeable bump in overall popularity of stand-on mowers in the landscape contractor equipment marketplace over the past couple of years . Many contractors enjoy the increased visibility , ability to get on and off the machine easily , traction and stability on slopes that stand-on mowers can provide . Furthermore , contractors can potentially fit more equipment on their trailers by leveraging the smaller overall footprint of a stand-on machine .
Finally , the increased adoption of battery-powered products in the professional sphere has finally arrived . Like any new technology , battery-powered professional lawn maintenance equipment has been met with a bit of resistance , and rightly so . Arguably , the technology that has been available up until this point didn ’ t necessarily match up to the performance or runtime of gas-powered machines , or has simply been cost-restrictive and impractical . We believe with the introduction of our battery-powered heavy-duty 21-inch mower that we ’ ve found the perfect balance of power without compromise , at an attainable price point .
– Jared Nuessen , marketing manager at Toro
The pandemic introduced a shortage of commercial landscape employees , which creates a significant need for units with larger deck sizes , like the Super 104 or Super 88 , that will mow more lawns with less people required . – Brad Unruh , director of new product development at Hustler Turf
What landscape contractors need in a mower really hasn ’ t changed . They need productivity and efficiency , but there ’ s a lot that feeds into that . Increasing productivity isn ’ t just about a higher horsepower engine or a larger cutting deck . It ’ s quality of cut as well , because if you have to go back and double-cut properties , having an extra-wide cutting deck isn ’ t worth much . Also , if you have downtime related to service and maintenance , it affects the overall productivity and efficiency of the machine .
– Lenny Mangnall , Exmark product manager
As in past years , lawn mower reliability , efficiency of use and being easy and inexpensive to maintain continue to be extremely important issues for landscape professionals . The commercial landscape market also benefits from increased innovation and development of equipment and tools . Outdoor power product owners , especially those who operate commercial mower models , remain focused both on how to get the most value from their equipment and how to most sportsfieldmanagementonline . com May 2021 | SportsField Management
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