For insight into market trends, Landscape Business, sister production to SportsField Management, recently asked representatives from equipment manufacturers throughout the industry to share their insights into market trends and what industry professionals need to know. The following comments are excerpted from that editorial coverage.
Q: What trends are you seeing with regard to outdoor power equipment for professional lawn and landscape applications (design, manufacturing, supply, sales trends, etc.)?
We’re seeing the trend toward liquid applications to save money and avoid the hassle of cleaning up after granular applications. As a result, equipment is adapting to meet the needs of lawn care operators.
– Matt Smith, sales manager, Steel Green
Latest designs have been revolving around efficiency and helping operators work under the duress of a labor shortage. Equipment that can be used for more than one season of the year is growing in demand.
We are also seeing strong interest in electric equipment technology for mowers and turf renovation in certain applications, such as hospitals, schools, etc., where noise or emissions can be a factor. As many businesses consider more sustainable solutions, products that are more environmentally friendly and offer reduced or zero emissions are becoming more desirable. Also, under the current economic conditions with higher fuel prices, electric fuel injected mowers are in higher demand than in previous years.
– Ron Scheffler, senior product manager Doosan Bobcat, Ryan and Steiner
Customers deciding between buying premium professional products built to last versus less costly consumer products, and – as a result – may last just a season.
Higher horsepower on wheeled products to increase productivity. There has also been a shift in interest toward professional robotic mowers as labor has been hard to find, margins are thin, and manufacturers are innovating more in this space.
The trend toward battery products – manufacturers of professional-grade equipment are looking to find ways to make these products more powerful – particularly blowers.
– Courtney Beall, senior brand manager for Husqvarna Professional
During the past few years, Honda has adopted the operating mantra “expect the unexpected.” Honda has a positive outlook on the commercial outdoor power equipment market and remains focused on providing customers ease of use, efficiency and improved product performance across its entire product line.
– David Bush, senior marketing strategist, general purpose engines and industrial products, Honda Powersports and Products Group
The largest trend we’re seeing and hearing among our dealer partners and customers is an increased emphasis on asset utilization. Driven in part by the lack of carriers on the market, professionals are needing to make their equipment last longer and handle more jobs than usual. Versatility has become an increasing priority, and is something our engineering team is factoring into every new Diamond innovation.
– Matt Nelson, director of development, Diamond Mowers
Across the board we are seeing a trifecta of more power, more technology and higher prices. As we, as an industry, are adding more power into our units and introducing groundbreaking new technology every year, the result is increased productivity for commercial cutters, but that comes with bigger investments per machine.
– David Dwight, director, product management, Briggs & Stratton
The biggest industry trend is still the growing demand for battery-powered products. Many municipalities and residential areas are starting to require low- to no-exhaust emissions and lower noise levels, so the market is adapting to meet those needs.
– Murray Bishop, director of sales, Stihl
Operator experience is a growing focus when it comes to outdoor power equipment for professional applications. More people are prioritizing comfortable, easy-to-use equipment.
Performance and functionality when it comes to equipment size has not been forgotten. Contractors are focusing more on finding equipment that can go where others can’t.
– Buck Storlie, product manager, Yanmar Compact Equipment North America
Progress in the commercial lawn mower space has typically been defined by incremental changes and improvements. However, lawn mower design and manufacturing are quickly being disrupted by two emerging trends — electric and autonomous technologies. While gas-powered mowers continue to dominate the commercial space, market and regulatory forces — notably California’s recent AB 1346 law regulating gas-powered tools — are driving manufacturers to concept and develop electric-powered machines to respond to growing demand. The requirements for commercial electric mowers are rigorous compared to consumer residential mowers, pushing the current electric technology to its limits. They must be designed to stand up to the rigors of commercial use. Autonomous technologies are also shaping the future of mower design.
– Aaron Griffith, national sales manager of professional products at Cub Cadet
While we know that we’re moving toward electric power for a lot of commercial landscape equipment, we’re hearing growing contractor feedback pondering what the infrastructure to support electric equipment will look like. What’s the investment going to be? For contractors who don’t own their buildings, it might be too much of an investment to have infrastructure installed, so we’ll need to come up with new solutions to meet their needs.
– Lenny Mangnall, product manager, Exmark
When it comes to trends in the professional space, it is all about looking for ways to increase efficiency and productivity, while navigating the ongoing labor challenges. To that end, battery-power continues to make waves in the industry as its applied in new and interesting ways.
Of course, we’re continuing to notice an increase in adoption of battery-powered products, especially with emissions regulations getting stricter and gas prices just coming off a record high. To match the increase in demand, battery-powered professional lawn maintenance equipment options are increasing as infrastructure and equipment improves. In the past, electric equipment had challenges matching up to the performance and runtime of gas-powered machines. That’s no longer the case, and manufacturers are applying battery power in exciting new ways.
Finally, we’ve seen a continued interest in stand-on mowers. Many contractors enjoy the increased visibility, ability to get on and off the machine easily, increased traction and improved stability on slopes that a stand-on mower can provide.
– Jared Nuessen, marketing manager, Toro
We’re seeing professionals seek out mowers and other equipment that are reliable, serviceable and easy to use. Professionals want a mower that will withstand long days on the job, allowing them to work efficiently and effectively. Serviceability is a key factor in the purchase decision. As professionals look to expand or replace their inventory, they’re going to prioritize mowers that maximize uptime and are highly serviceable. An easy-to-use mower helps professionals spend more time getting work done and having a mower that won’t slow them down on the jobsite will be crucial.
– Steven Benedict, turf care product line manager, Kioti Tractor
We are seeing an increase in the number of landscape maintenance companies investing in battery-powered equipment. Not only does battery-powered equipment allow businesses to stay compliant with emerging emissions and noise regulations, but also offer benefits such as ease of use and no routine maintenance.
– Tony Buxton, group product manager, Milwaukee Tool
PLCs are always looking for quality equipment that can last all day long and continue to run for several years with very little downtime. They are also looking for higher-horsepower machines in order to get their jobs done quicker and more efficiently. Lastly, PLCs want a strong relationship with their dealer so they know whenever something does go wrong with a piece of equipment that they can count on the dealer to have their back.
– Chad Carney, go to market manager, B2B PLC segment, John Deere
Q: What advice do you have for industry professionals regarding their equipment decisions during the next 12 to 18 months?
Our advice is to order equipment now. With availability problems, you don’t want to wait to make a purchase decision only to find out that equipment is unavailable when you go to order. Increasing prices are another reason not to wait to make equipment decisions. Now’s the time to plan ahead for your equipment needs.
– Matt Smith, sales manager, Steel Green
Landscapers should also review products personally to ensure that the equipment will be able to work as hard as they do. With labor shortages affecting business, saved minutes really add up to dollars in the pocket, and a mower that is quick to clean and maintain, as well as to be ready for the next working day is important.
– Ron Scheffler, senior product manager, Doosan Bobcat, Ryan and Steiner
Our advice to landscape industry professionals, when deciding on the right equipment, is to properly review and understand the battery product differences in units built for professionals versus residential units, which are geared toward homeowner use. While there may be a shift in price points, leaning toward the less expensive model does not guarantee proper performance as you would achieve with a professional-grade product with a premium price tag. These higher-end models are sturdier and built to last job after job.
– Courtney Beall, senior brand manager for Husqvarna Professional
As in past years, reliability, efficiency of use, and being easy and inexpensive to maintain continue to be extremely important issues surrounding outdoor power equipment for landscape professionals. The commercial landscape market also benefits from increased innovation and development of equipment and tools. It therefore comes as no surprise that outdoor power product owners, especially those who operate commercial mower models, should remain focused both on how to get the most value from their equipment and how to most effectively complete outdoor landscaping maintenance and projects.
In addition, customers remain on the lookout for ways to make their businesses and operations more environmentally friendly. This means that fuel-efficient and lower-emissions products are proving to be attractive, along with battery-powered products.
Noise abatement, both for operators and consumers, is an increasingly important aspect of environmental sustainability. Quieter operation of power equipment, like commercial lawn mowers, helps reduce operator fatigue and increase productivity of crews.
– David Bush, senior marketing strategist, general purpose engines and industrial products, Honda Powersports and Products Group
Maintain your fleet. New equipment will continue to be in short supply this year. Do everything you can to keep your current equipment in top form, and be sure your service professional knows and follows the recommended maintenance routine.
– Matt Nelson, director of development, Diamond Mowers
Keeping up with maintenance and repairs has never been more critical. There is still uncertainty in the supply chain, so contractors need to make sure they’re doing all they can to keep their existing units operating and producing revenue. I tell people that maintenance and repairs of existing machines is a great insurance policy. It enables you to buy a piece of equipment when you want to or plan to, not when you have to.
– David Dwight, director, product management, Briggs & Stratton
For those who are actively making the transition to battery, it’s important to find a modular battery platform that drives several professional tools. Look for a broad assortment that extends from trimmers and blowers to multi-attachment tools, and ensure you’re getting a professional-grade tool.
– Murray Bishop, director of sales, Stihl
Versatility remains a key benefit when it comes to investing in landscape equipment, especially with companies facing workforce shortages. Machines with strong speed and the ability to work in all seasons allow contractors to maximize performance for more of the year.
Operator experience should also be top of mind for industry professionals, meaning they should pay attention to comfort and ease-of-use features. These can include fully adjustable seats, Bluetooth speakers, or near-360-degree visibility. Industry professionals should also look at indicators of reliability, such as leading warranties, anti-derailment guarantees and cooling capacity.
– Buck Storlie, product manager, Yanmar Compact Equipment North America
Partner with your local dealer that you have built a relationship with. Discuss with them your issues, concerns and pain points of your business. There are always new products coming out that could and should make your job easier. If you are considering switching brands or dealer partners, visit all the dealers in your area within reasonable driving distances for your operation and see which dealership fits you best. Talk about the support after the sale for parts and repairs. Any time you can save on your downtime you will be ahead.
– Aaron Griffith, national sales manager of professional products at Cub Cadet
I think one of the most important things contractors can do is to plan their purchases. We’re not in an environment where you can run your mower until it dies on Wednesday and expect to have a new replacement mower from their dealer on Thursday. That’s why using the right tools for the job, and planning to purchase the right equipment for your needs, is important.
Look for equipment that meets your needs for productivity, but is also reliable, durable, and is backed by a quality dealer that you have a good relationship with. And, finally, make sure you’re doing the preventative maintenance –– the oil and filter changes, blade sharpening, etc. –– that will help you get the most from your machines.
– Lenny Mangnall, product manager, Exmark
Look for products that check all the boxes: it handles the job quickly, stands up to challenging conditions, keeps your crew comfortable and therefore productive, and is easy and safe to operate. Shop for the long term, not the short term. That means investing in products that will stand up to the test of time, and deliver quality performance again and again. That also means investing in equipment that has a lower total cost of ownership in the long run but may have a higher investment cost upfront.
– Jared Nuessen, marketing manager, Toro
Professionals should look for mowers that allow them to be efficient and effective on the jobsite. To ensure quality results, they should consider a variety of factors in their mowers, including user comfort, ease of use and high machine uptime. With a comfortable mower that won’t require frequent repairs, and one that seasoned professionals as well as first-time users can operate with ease, landscaping professionals can focus on completing the task at hand.
– Steven Benedict, turf care product line manager, Kioti Tractor
As businesses look to make equipment purchasing decisions, they should consider adopting battery-powered equipment in order to be prepared for the potential of further regulations.
– Tony Buxton, group product manager, Milwaukee Tool
Each customer needs to make the decision that is best for their fleet, employees, and upcoming jobs. With the supply chain having several constraints over the last couple of years, it’s not been an easy decision for PLCs on when to trade in equipment and when they can get new machines. It’s important to work with their local dealer to understand those supply concerns and create a plan together on when/how to make those equipment decisions.
– Chad Carney, go to market manager, B2B PLC segment, John Deere