Showroom

PARTS

Rotary Engine Maintenance Kits

Maintenance kits for lawnmowers and other small engines are among more than 300 new items in Rotary’s 2021 catalog. Available in 30 different assortments for many popular brands including Briggs & Stratton, Kawasaki and Kohler, Rotary maintenance kits feature up to 10 items including an air filter, pre-filter, oil filter, fuel filter, hose clamps, spark plugs and oil.

Rotary maintenance kits are a quick and easy way for service techs, lawn care professionals and do-it-yourselfers to keep engines performing at maximum efficiency before, during and after the season.

Visit rotarycorp.com

Vanguard 10kWh Battery Pack

Briggs & Stratton has released a 10kWH commercial grade lithium-ion battery pack for its Vanguard engine platform— the largest pack in the line-up, allowing for up to 100 kWh of energy when paralleled with 10 other packs.

Featuring a steel, roll cage design, the 10kWh pack provides maximum protection; while the pack’s Battery Management System (BMS) constantly monitors and measures the pack’s temperature, charge and discharge currents and voltages of each individual cell bank to ensure a safer battery option.

The 10kWh pack has smart technology, allowing it to track it’s own power and energy utilization and state of health. Customers can use this information to know precisely how much life is left and get the full value out of their battery, while end users can also use the power and energy data to track how their machine is used and find more efficient ways to use it. The patent pending customized battery pack, BMS and charger work seamlessly together to deliver efficient power and performance.

The battery pack features two customizable CANbus networks that integrate with legacy systems, and a prequalified and plug-in-ready sharing system can be mounted on- or offboard. Users can count on uncomplicated integration with any equipment and the ability to service all components—allowing it to be repaired instead of replaced.

Vanguard batteries come with service and support offered in a three-year commercial limited warranty.

Visit vanguardpower.com

9 in manufacturing and motivate them to mentor the next generation through an annual awards gala and alumnae programs. The stories of these women and the leadership they show will help inspire next-generation female leaders in manufacturing and support female talent already within the industry. In the program’s first five years, STEP Ahead Award winners impacted more than 300,000 individuals—from peers in the industry to school-age children.

The biggest challenge facing manufacturers continues to be the growing workforce crisis—the shortage of skilled talent to fill open positions. Manufacturers can close the skills gap by 50% simply by bringing 10% more women into the industry. Women account for about half of the U.S. labor force but represent less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce. STEP Ahead empowers and inspires women in the manufacturing industry: The goal is to build networks for women to have support in their industry and to elevate the role models that can motivate and mentor the next generation.

BNSE Announces 2021 Recipients

The Bill Nelson Scholarship Endowment (BNSE) is pleased to announce it has awarded four scholarships totaling $8,000 to its 2021 class of recipients.

Recipients for the 2021 awards are: Abigail Wehler of Mount Morris, Ill.; Karly Kruse of Litchfield, Ill.; Leslie Lingo of Nashville, Ark.; and Varsha Karthikeyan of Tualatin, Ore.

The BNSE is an educational charity designed to advance the academic pursuits of employees and the children of employees who work for member companies of the Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Assn. (OPEAA). Since 2000, the endowment has awarded 65 scholarships totaling more than $137,000 to high school and college students.

Scholarship recipients for this year represent Oregon Tool, Husqvarna and Dometic Marine, and were chosen from among 19 applications received.

The BNSE is governed by five trustees: Sue Chaney, K-C Sales; Britton Harrold, Husqvarna; Ed Nelson, Rotary Corp.; and Jim Paugh, NGK Spark Plugs.

The BNSE Trustees would like to extend their appreciation to all the outstanding scholarship applicants and their affiliated OPEAA member companies.

Connecticut Dealer Warranty Law Enacted

The Northeast Equipment Dealers Assn., on behalf of its Connecticut equipment dealer members, recently reported that the legislators and Governor of Connecticut have enacted CT SB 264. As a result, this updates the warranty provisions included in the state’s equipment dealer law which improved language that addresses dealer compensation for diagnostic time, labor and parts, reimbursement rates, and rejection of claims based on submission errors.

New Player Powershed To Be On Display At GIE

Solar Alliance Energy Inc. has announced a full patent application has been filed, jointly with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, for Powershed, an innovative solar powered charging station for robotic mowers. Powershed has advanced beyond the prototype stage and the latest design iteration of Powershed has resulted in four system sales in July, driven by an increase of 33% in power generation per unit.

In support of the retail and commercial launch of the latest version of Powershed, the Solar Alliance team is scheduled to exhibit and demonstrate Powershed at the GIE+EXPO 2021.

Powershed is a solar powered charging station for robotic mowers that simplifies and improves the operation and use of robotic lawnmowers. Powershed is a new product that allows you to cut the cord and place a robotic mower anywhere the sun shines. “The Solar Alliance team has made significant advances with Powershed by increasing the power output of the charging station and decreasing costs,” says CEO Myke Clark. “Our goal has always been to move beyond the prototype stage with a prudent technology development plan and then market Powershed to a broader audience. With the filing of our final patent application, combined with the technology advances we have seen, we are now prepared to begin a broader marketing campaign targeting larger customers and partners.”

The current retail price for Powershed is $4,500, although the company expects to achieve a significant cost reduction as manufacturing capacity and sales increase. Powershed is designed to meet demand through a scalable production model and will initially be offered through commercial distribution partners and direct sales. The possibility of sub-licensing the product to robotic lawnmower manufacturers exists and will be pursued as demand increases.

GIE 2021 Keynoter Is Four-Star Navy Admiral

Retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral James Stavridis will present the GIE+EXPO keynote “Leadership and a New World Order: The Need for Resilience,” Wednesday, October 20, 2-3 p.m. The longest-serving global combatant commander in recent American military history, Admiral Stavridis will provide answers and strategies to address the most pressing global affairs challenges.

Admission to the keynote, which is sponsored by John Deere and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), is included with trade show registration. GIE+EXPO partners, OPEI, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), and Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), along with the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (Hardscape North America) have joined together to co-host the keynote.

Stavridis led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander with responsibility for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy and cyber security. Subsequently, he served as the 12th dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Earlier in his naval career, he was Commander of U.S. Southern Command, with responsibility for all military operations in Latin America. He holds more than 50 medals, including 28 from foreign nations. He is currently an Operating Executive at Carlyle Group. He has published nine books on leadership, the oceans, maritime affairs and Latin America. He is a monthly columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.

James Stavridis