OPE Business

April 2017

Proudly serving the industry for which it was named for more than 50 years, OPE Business provides dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment with valuable information to succeed in a competitive market.

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12 APRIL 2017 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com OPEAA announces 2017-18 officers and directors T he Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Association (OPEAA) announced its 2017-18 offi cers and board of directors during its 31st annual meeting held Feb. 4-6 in Plantation, Fla. OPEAA offi cers for 2017 will be as follows: President Scott Harris, Blount International; Vice President Sue Chaney, K-C Sales Co.; and Secretary/Treasurer Britton Harold, Husqvarna. Serving on OPEAA's board of directors will be John Bauersfeld, Stens Corporation; Alyssa Dennis, NGK Spark Plugs; Donny Desjarlais, RBI Corporation; Kurt Hayes, MTD Products (Arnold); Chris Roessler, Rotary Corporation; and Walter Rieck, Prime Line. OPEAA enjoyed a very successful annual meeting at the Omni Amelia Island in Plantation. The meeting not only provided several social networking opportunities, but was very productive. The conference opened with a cocktail reception held in conjunction with a silent auction to benefi t the Bill Nelson Scholarship Fund, which offers scholarships to employees and families of OPEAA members. The business sessions included speakers who presented timely and relevant information for the industry. "This year's annual meeting highlighted many changes the outdoor power equipment industry is experiencing," said second-term OPEAA President Scott Harris. "Market demands are shifting to include products powered by lithium-ion batteries and more- effi cient gasoline engines. Consumer decision-making is vastly different from just a decade ago. Taking advantage of the digital tools available today allows our industry professionals to yield a better understanding of customer expectations and trends. OPEAA is entering this new fi scal year stronger than ever. I look forward to another productive year as the association president — serving our industry and the OPEAA member companies." INDUSTRY NEWS HEART Inside the strong steel shell is deep-pleated high-capture filter material to scrub your oil and help protect your engine. A louvered metal backbone means stronger oil flow, a steel spring absorbs shock, and bypass and anti- drainback protection are built in. Not every filter has this kind of guts. Keep it genuine Kawasaki. kawasakienginesusa.com of a Champ Schiller Grounds Care broadens BOB-CAT line through acquisition S chiller Grounds Care, Inc. — the manufacturer of BOB-CAT, Classen, Little Wonder, Mantis, Ryan and Steiner gardening, landscaping and turf care equipment — recently announced that it has acquired all of the assets related to Eastman Industries' 21-inch heavy-duty commercial mower family. The new models in the acquisition will be added to Schiller's BOB-CAT brand of commercial mowers. BOB-CAT currently offers full-size, commercial walk-behind mowers with deck widths from 32 to 61 inches. With this addition, BOB-CAT further expands its offerings to lawn care professionals by rounding out its walk-behind lineup. "We've been looking to get back into the 21-inch walk-behind market for a while now, and the acquisition of this product was a perfect fi t," said Matt Donohue, brand director for Schiller Grounds Care. "We know that this addition to the BOB-CAT family will help us continue to comprehensively serve our commercial customers, giving them the top-quality equipment they need to get the job done." The 21-inch commercial mower lineup will boast a cast-aluminum deck, optional 3-speed transmission, and many other high-quality features that uphold the BOB-CAT reputation for quality and durability. BOB-CAT will begin production on these mowers in 2017 at its Johnson Creek, Wis.-based facility. "We've been looking to get back into the 21-inch walk-behind market for a while now, and the acquisi- tion of this product was a perfect fit." — MATT DONOHUE

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