Landscape Management, February 2019
adding that the horsepower on the machines initially increased from about 16 hp to 20 hp Other updates that have helped contractors become more efficient include larger tires and higher blade tip speeds both of which have helped increase overall ground speeds along with increased options for collecting grass and other debris You didnt have many options to collect grass even the collectors were very clumsy and heavy Morse says Now theyre lightweight or already built on You can dump it without getting off the machine Its about working smarter rather than working harder and being time efficient Innovations such as mulching decks and rear discharge decks have helped contractors save on cleanup time By discharging clippings out the back of the mower cleanup time to stop and blow clippings off of sidewalks and out of parking lots is virtually eliminated says Brian Schoenthaler marketing coordinator for The Grasshopper Co The versatility of mowers also has made an impact For example in 16 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET FEBRUARY 2019 addition to allowing for attachments several models of standon mowers can be converted to walk behind machines sometimes referred to as secondgeneration stand on mowers It allows you to have a better option for loading and unloading trailers Reister says You can walk up the ramps You can go up a hill and walk behind the machine with greater control Its related to both performance and efficiency but theres a safety element to it as well because you have the option to step off the machine and operate it in a different capacity CRUISING IN COMFORT With the operator top of mind mowing manufacturers also have found ways to improve on the comfort of the tanklike machines of the past When we listen to commercial contractors they identify two focus points Reducing operator fatigue and improving the operating experiences aids in employee retention says Kubota Senior Turf Product Manager Tom Vachal Reducing operator fatigue leads to greater productivity while increased unit performance yields better results and reduced time on the job A major improvement involves better handleability For example end users now only need to put forth minimal amounts of effort to operate controls where it used to take a lot of effort Additionally the positioning of the controls has improved to become more ergonomic To further ensure the comfort of ride on machine operators mowing manufacturers have enhanced the quality of the seat and incorporated full on suspension Full on suspension allows you to absorb bumps and other jarring Continued on page 18 Continued from page 15 EASY RIDER Modern mowers enable landscape pros to maneuver around obstacles and landscape plantings PHOTO JOHN DEERE
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