John Deere unveils products, prototypes at feedback program

MOLINE, Ill. - John Deere unveiled two new products and several prototype models during its recent feedback program here at its company headquarters in Moline.

This year's feedback program, which took place at Pinnacle Golf Course, hosted approximately 550 superintendents from all 50 states and all over the world including Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria and Germany. The program is designed to introduce superintendents to new products and to get feedback on prototypes.

"We have already started tabulating the results," said Chuck Greif, manager of market development for John Deere's golf and turf division. "We want to implement some changes in products before the GCSAA show in February."

Greif pointed out several product changes in this year's models that were made in response to last year's feedback session.

"We added new control arms on the trim mowers, improved seat positioning, added a new suspension seat on the fairway mower as standard equipment, and revamped the clutch in the Turf Gator to make it quieter," he said.

NEW MOWERS FOR 2002

The new B-series walk-behind greens mowers were the top product introduction at this year's feedback program. They will replace the A-series mowers and offer 26-inch, 22-inch, and 18-inch widths.

John Deere is building 30 of the B-series units to field test worldwide and then will make final changes before entering production in early 2002. Greif expects the B-- series to be available in the spring.

The company also unveiled its first rotary flex deck for roughs. The 72-inch three- unit deck has rear rollers for striping and has a larger degree of flex than the current 72-inch Lastec model currently available.

PROTOTYPES ABOUND

In addition to the new products, John Deere is also working on several prototypes and new technologies. Closest to market is the new fairway mower with a turbo-charged engine and new operator station and foot controls. Greif said that model could make it to the market by the end of 2002.

The company's Global Positioning System efforts also attraded the attention of superintendents. One of the GPS programs is geared to the management of equipment fleets via on-board units that transmit information to the shop when service intervals are approaching. The other program is a spray tracking system that monitors and records how much and where chemicals have been sprayed on the course.

Other new concepts presented at the feedback session included an electric triplex riding greens mower that will eliminate hydraulic leaks, a combination fairway/trim mower for increased flexibility, and a core processor that breaks up and redistributes aeration cores faster and easier.

Greif said the production of the prototype models and technologies will depend on the feedback responses and further market research.

Copyright United Publications, Inc. Oct 2001
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