GIE+EXPO is the annual gathering for all segments of the outdoor power equipment and lawn and landscape industry. The event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the Professional Grounds Management Society and the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
This year, the show drew more than 26,500 people from around the world. The indoor exhibit floor and the Outdoor Demonstration Area covered 24,000 net sq. ft. more than last year.
Show highlights
- Lawn and landscape attendee categories increased by 18%.
- Servicing dealer registrants increased by 8%.
- Thirty-four percent of dealer/retailer and 42% of lawn and landscape attendees were first timers.
- Attendees hailed from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.
- Indoor booths were spread throughout 675,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.
- The Outdoor Demo Area exceeded 20 acres for the third year in a row.
- More than 80 products were highlighted in the New Products Spotlight.
Many Product Introductions Featured Electric Power
- Avant introduced the 860i, its largest and most powerful loader to date;
- Bobcat launched its new line of sub-compact and compact tractors which range from 21 to 58 hp and debuted the newest member of its R-Series excavator lineup, the new E26 compact excavator
- Caterpillar introduced its D3 series compact track and skid steer loaders and 306 mini-excavator;
- JCB introduced its 1CXT compact tracked backhoe;
- Multi-One introduced the company’s EZ Series electric miniloaders;
- Toro introduced additional models in its 60V Flex-Force lineup, its new TimeCutter zero-turn mowers, new 60-in. TITAN;
- ASV showcased two special edition machines: The Green Beast, a green and black version of the RT-120 forestry compact track loader and the Black Widow, a black and red version of the RT-40 among the industry’s smallest sit-in compact track loaders;
- Mean Green launched its new Rival and its new EVO.
- Gravely launched its new full-electric commercial ZT machine, with new drives and batteries.
- Exmark unveiled its newest Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower that sports a 96-inch deck.
- Hustler Turf debuted its Super 88 zero-turn stand-on mower allowing operators to mow faster and with a smaller crew.
- Vanguard Lithium-Ion Commercial Battery System; Vanguard 14.0 gross HP 400 and 5.0 Gross HP 160 single-cylinder, horizontal shaft commercial engines; and Integrated InStart and Electronic Fuel Injection with Electronic Throttle Control on Briggs & Stratton residential engines. Commercial innovations included the Ferris ISX2200 & ISX3300; Ferris FS5250 Voyager; Snapper Pro SW15; Snapper Pro S120; Billy Goat Next Gen Debris Loader; and the Billy Goat Post Hole Auger.
Battery Technology
The ongoing transition to battery-powered equipment reached a critical milestone at this year’s GIE Expo: the release of commercially viable tools. Several OEMs released handheld and walk-behind tools with batteries above 80V, the level they all agreed provides gas-equivalent power.
Power Systems Research is based in Minnesota, and we were happy to see a battery-powered snowblower that boasted a 60’ launch range, although the standard 35’ is just fine. OEMs reached this power level in different ways, with some increasing the weight of their equipment by installing larger batteries and others releasing battery backpacks, so landscapers can hold that weight with their core rather than their arms. Run time was up, too. Few people claimed their machines could run a full 8-hour day, but the refrain was that it will run all of the hours you actually need them to run, if you manage your batteries well and charge them on your downtime.
OEMs appeared to indicate a coming shift from the release of more-powerful products to educating their end-users on how to get the most out of the equipment. That isn’t to say that more-powerful equipment isn’t still coming. Last year, most OEMs expected to have their battery powered ZTR mowers on the market in 2023. This year, several new players announced release dates as early as next year.
Along with greater power, greater autonomy was on display at GIE 2019. Last year, Husqvarna was the clear leader in the robotic mower market, and while they still stole the show in that space with their new articulated robotic mower, there were at least two dozen booths displaying a new robotic mowers or robotic mower services. Mowers were not the only machines being automated, though. Remote-control, battery-powered sidewalk plows and tool carriers also made a showing. We look forward to seeing a further spread of automation next year.
The European market has embraced these “Roomba” like machines for years, but the U.S. has been slow to catch on. Companies have been working on ways to make no boundary wires better for the US market with our bigger yards, and landscaping features and improvements have been made.
We will see if the U.S. market starts to adopt the robotic mower at the rate that everyone hopes.
Future
The conversation about “if” electric is coming is done, and the “when” discussion will be soon over. Now the outdoor power equipment industry must do a better job of building what the customers and dealers want.
There will be more advanced displays and touch controls on the machines and electric outdoor power equipment will become more user friendly. The big engine companies are finally embracing the electrification of the market that is coming. PSR
Michael Aistrup is a Senior Analyst at Power Systems Research
Tyler Wiegert is a Project Manager and Research Analyst at Power Systems Research
