Photo: HusqvarnaHusqvarna has revealed its next generation of 50cc chainsaws for professional loggers and arborists, the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II and the 545 Mark II.
The company says these chainsaws are redesigned from scratch, resulting in a new level of cutting capacity, maneuverability and endurance, making them optimized for harvest forestry and urban forestry applications, including felling, limbing, removals or cross cutting of small and mid-sized trees.
Husqvarna says the 550 XP Mark II and Husqvarna 545 Mark II have been developed to deliver outstanding cutting capacity for handling small and mid-sized trees, and they add that cutting capacity is the true measure of the performance of the saw.
The company says it is the speed at which the entire system of the bar, chain and powerhead works together to cut wood at optimal RPM. Through a series of internal tests, the company says it has shown that the 550 XP Mark II provides best-in-class cutting capacity when compared to the closest competitor in the 50cc segment.
“It’s not just a new chainsaw, it’s a new generation of chainsaws in which all vital parts are new,” explained Gent Simmons, director of product management, forestry at Husqvarna.“The Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II has superior cutting capacity and has been proven through the most extreme testing to assure it meets expectations of our most demanding forestry and tree care professionals. We are redefining the 50cc segment by setting a new standard for performance, durability and maneuverability.”
For the purpose of endurance in tough conditions, Husqvarna says the cooling capacity of the 550 XP Mark II and 545 Mark II has been improved by 13 percent, compared to the previous generation of 50cc chainsaws from Husqvarna. The company says this is made possible by three key improvements: an optimized air flow, the addition of more cooling fins in critical areas that contribute to more effective cylinder head dissipation and an insulating heat shield, specifically developed for the new chainsaws, which provide sealing against the cylinder area and minimizes heat leakage.
The company says these chainsaws also have a new air filter design, which Husqvarna says comes from the combination of a redesigned air filter with higher capacity and improved sealing and an upgrade of the air injection.
Husqvarna says this new generation of 50cc saws have a user-centric design, and the well-balanced saw body with low gyroscopic forces provides excellent maneuverability and handling, which the company says enables users to work longer without tiring. The company adds that the ergonomically designed handles provide a safe, comfortable grip, and the 550 XP G Mark II is equipped with heated handles.
The 50cc chainsaws have two felling sights, one vertical and one horizontal, both of which the company says are molded into the plastic for clear aiming and permanent guidance.
Arborjet announces expanded role for Joe Aiken
Arborjet recently announced an expanded role for one of its veteran tree care professionals, Joe Aiken, regional technical manager for the Great Lakes region and Canada. The company says Aiken has 30-plus years’ experience in the tree care industry.
“Joe Aiken has provided valuable insight to help guide a diverse set of clients with their plant health care decisions,” says Arborjet president and COO, Russ Davis. “He shares the belief and goal of tree preservation, and the importance of educating others on the benefit of environmentally sustainable solutions for maintaining and caring for the world’s urban forests.”
The company says Aiken has worked in all phases of tree care as both a licensed applicator and an ISA certified arborist. Arborjet says he routinely conducts product seminars and presentations on various treatment methods, which are attended by arborists, city foresters, plant health care technicians, master gardeners, grounds departments, university extension agents and research personnel.
According to Arborjet, Aiken will continue with his work as the official Arborjet University liaison, where he will identify the universities that are impactful in setting procedure and policy around trees/shrubs/pests, and working to develop relationships, trials, guest speaker opportunities and instructional and training opportunities.
The company says Aiken will also continue to support Arborjet’s research department, co-operating with universities to assist with tree injections on research sites and other aspects of research required to aide in the development of equipment and formulations needed to control today’s invasive pests.
Arborjet adds that this will also include research in the field to set up trials, complete and review trials and assess results accordingly.
Paul Guth promoted to president of iQ Power Tools
iQ Power Tools announced the promotion of Paul Guth to president.
For over 15 years, Guth has served as the vice president of product development at the company. A third-generation mason by trade, the company says Guth brings over 30 years’ experience as a general, masonry, concrete and tile contractor, providing major contractor insight to all of iQ Power Tools’ designs.
Paul GuthAs the firm’s lead designer, iQ Power Tools says Guth not only manages a creative team for solution-based tool designs, he has also invented, designed and patented several innovative new tools and fastening solutions for the construction industry. The company adds that Guth currently holds 10 patents plus numerous new inventions in patent-pending stages.
During his extensive career, the company says Guth has managed the research and development, production and distribution of related construction power tools, diamond blades, fasteners and more. He has also been responsible for introducing dust collection solutions to the construction marketplace via new product launches and industry tradeshows.
The company notes that Guth is an active member of the Masonry Industry Training Association, Masonry Contractors Association of California, Masonry Contractors Association of America and the California Association of Specialty Contractors.
“I am very excited about this new leadership role,” exclaimed Guth. “I’m eager to continue bringing to market innovative power tools that increase jobsite efficiency and safety.”
Ruppert Landscape promotes Brown to branch manager
Ruppert Landscape recently announced the promotion of Ethan Brown to the position of branch manager in the company’s Alexandria, Virginia, landscape management branch.
Ethan BrownBrown holds an associate degree in landscape and turf management and a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from Virginia Tech. Before joining Ruppert in 2016 as an area manager, Ruppert Landscape says he quickly became known as an exceptional salesperson, leading the landscape management division in enhancement sales for a cumulative 10 months over a two-year period.
“Ethan has set a new standard with his sales achievements, which can only be accomplished through building strong customer relationships and providing exceptional service,” says Fred Key, region vice president in the company’s landscape management division. “We look forward to great accomplishments from Ethan and the Alexandria team in the years to come.”
As the branch manager, Ruppert says Brown will be responsible for the overall welfare of his branch, including the safety and development of the team, strategic planning and budgeting, training and day-to-day operations.
Porous Pave utilizes more than 13 million pounds of recycled rubber
Porous Pave Inc. recently reached a new environmental milestone in 2018, surpassing 13 million pounds of recycled rubber used in installations of its permeable paving material.
Photo: Porous PaveWith 27 percent void space, Porous Pave says it infiltrates storm water on site, decreasing runoff into storm drains and sewers. Porous Pave says the XL is the company’s strongest, heavy-duty formulation for hard-wearing permeable pavement and combines equal amounts of recycled rubber chips and kiln-dried aggregate mixed on site with a moisture-cured, liquid binder.
“Topping 13 million pound demonstrates that facility managers, public garden administrators, public works officials, landscape architects and contractors continue to trust our proven product for their permeable paving applications,” says Dave Ouwinga, president, Porous Pave, Inc.
“Porous Pave fulfills our requirements for permeable pavement,” says Jack Carman, FASLA, RLA, landscape architect, Design for Generations, a landscape architecture firm specializing in the design and development of therapeutic gardens and landscapes. “It provides greater porosity than permeable pavers, it is non-slip and gives off less reflective glare than concrete and its texture and colors enable us to harmonize permeable pavement within our garden designs.”
GreenCare for Troops volunteer commits to helping in unique ways
Project EverGreen says in financial terms, the estimated value of the services GreenCare for Troops volunteers provide exceeds $8 million dollars.
The group says GreenCare for Troops volunteer Lawn-Plus in West Alexandria, Ohio, outside of Dayton, services a number of military families who are stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located a half hour’s drive from their office.
While Lawn-Plus says taking care of their lawns was satisfying, they thought they could do more to support military families and the GreenCare for Troops program, which services the yards of military families from coast-to-coast.
Lawn-Plus general manager Bob Brower (left) presents the check to Project EverGreen board member Fred Haskett.Photo: GreenCare for Troops
“The lawn care industry as a whole consists mainly of local companies who are more than just a place to work,” says Austin Schmidt, sales and marketing manager for Lawn-Plus. “We want to be engaged and give back to the communities we service and become a positive force in that community.”
Because of this, the Lawn-Plus management team, led by owner Rodney Creech, met last summer to discuss the company’s fall promotional campaigns, and they identified a way to support GreenCare for Troops while providing a much-needed service to its customers.
Lawn-Plus says they committed to donate 15 percent of the total cost of any new fall aeration job that was sold in August and September to Project EverGreen and the GreenCare for Troops program.
“We looked around the table and said why not give back to a cause we strongly believe in but also tie the fundraiser to a service we know consumers were interested in buying,” says Schmidt.
Lawn-Plus says it promoted the offering through social media, Facebook and Instagram mainly, with multiple posts and providing call center representatives with a promotional script. The company says that the response from existing clients who added the service and new customers looking to do a good deed with their purchase led to the company raising more than $2,300 for GreenCare for Troops.
“We thought the promotion would go well because anytime in the past we’ve done an effort on behalf of the military it has been well-received,” says Schmidt. “Our customers responded and stepped up to the plate. The best thing we did was make the process simple. Customers didn’t have to know about the promotion to have a chance to donate. Regardless if the customer was aware of the promotion, everything sold was automatically donated.”
Schmidt says Lawn-Plus is already looking ahead to this year to see what it can come up with to help give back to GreenCare for Troops and a community that’s treated them so well.
