Ronnie Puckett, president of Mountain View Grading in Jefferson, Ga., uses the Takeuchi track loader to cut driveways and to prepare yards for landscaping. He says the machines are easy to operate. "The rubber tracks make life easier -- you don't have to worry about getting stuck," Puckett says. "It has a floatation seat which most of the others, as far as I know, don't. It makes it easier to sit on all day and work."

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Mini skid steer
The new Ditch Witch SK300 is a mini skid steer designed to perform a range of landscaping, utility, fencing and construction tasks. Featuring a variety of attachments, the SK300 can transform from a trencher to a loader, a pallet lifter or an augering machine. The SK300 offers a 13-hp Honda engine, 300-pound rated operating capacity and independent dual hydrostatic ground drives to provide a zero turning radius.

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Lifting
Vertical lift
The new model 19AMI-DC manually propelled battery-powered vertical lift from JLG Industries lifts up to 350 pounds to a working height of 25 feet, 4 inches without the need for outriggers. The lift is only 34 inches wide and can be used in confined areas. Standard features include non-marking tires and a low maintenance anodized aluminum mast. Batteries can be recharged using the automatic built-in charger and a battery discharge indicator warns operators when the charge gets low. The lift has an auto power battery saver that shuts off power when it is idle.

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For Contractors
Helmet
Miller Electric's new Big Window Elite Series of auto-darkening helmets offers performance in all welding applications and is specifically designed to satisfy the most demanding industrial requirements. Features include four independent arc sensors and a 30 percent larger lens window than Miller's standard helmets. The independent sensors improve out-of-position welding, while the larger window provides maximum viewing capability while retaining a 4-ounce weight edge over competitors, the company says. The Big Window Elite helmet is available in black, two flame patterns and a patriotic design.

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Chain saw
RedMax introduces the GZ4000, the first chain saw powered by the company's Strato-Charged engine. This engine introduces fresh air into the engine between the exhaust gases and the fresh charge of air/fuel mix. This reduces exhaust emissions without the added bulk of a catalytic muffler. The Strato-charged engine uses less fuel than conventional RedMax engines. This saw meets 2005 EPA and CARB standards without the need for a heavy catalytic muffler. The 40.1 cc engine, rated at 2.45 hp, has a maximum speed of 13,000 rpm.

"The Strato-Charged GZ4000 is the only chain saw that complies with the 2005 emission regulations with no catalytic converter," says Tommy Tanaka, marketing manager for RedMax. "The other manufacturers' chain saws use catalytic converters, which must generate very high-temperature exhaust gas for the catalyst to work efficiently. This very hot exhaust can cause fires, burn the operator, melt parts of the machine and make the engine overheat. The Strato-Charged engine does not have these problems."

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String winder
Tru Mark introduces a construction and field marking string winder. The lightweight automatic string winder has a sturdy plastic frame reel and a durable plastic spool with an internal handle and a powder-coated steel frame with connecting post. It also has a connection post for cordless drill attachment and comes standard with a 3/8-inch steel post for a cordless drill and a free wheeling handle. This string winder holds more than 500 feet of twine.

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For Homeowners/Light Contractors
Stump grinder
The Hawk self-propelled stump grinder is designed for rental stores, tree care companies, landscapers, golf courses and more. This stump grinder is capable of grinding any stump diameter from a height of 24 inches down to 16 inches below grade. A standard 20-hp and 25-hp Kohler or Honda engine is furnished with a heavy-duty industrial cartridge-type air filter to help extend engine life. The stump grinder is 30.5 inches wide, 320 pounds and features an emergency stop switch on the control panel, eight cutting teeth to optimize performance while minimizing maintenance and an ergonomically positioned footrest to keep the operator in control while starting the recoil engine.

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Edger
The BedShaper from LittleWonder can cut clean edges and borders in lawns, gardens, golf courses and athletic fields at up to 100 feet per minute. Cutting depths from .5 to 4.5 inches are controlled by a seven-position gauge wheel. The notched blade slices through the soil and turf to create an edge guaranteed against chipping, breaking, bending and delaminating. When the notched blade contacts a rock or tree root, the patented BladeFloat lets the arm "float" over the obstruction while the blade continues to cut.

Mike Grubbs of Landscape Maintenance Services in Cranbury, N.J., likes the machine because it works well in tight places. "The BedShaper does a better job than any of the competitors," Grubbs says. "It does the nice tight beds. It seems to cut it in an efficient amount of time. We're very happy with the machine."

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Hydroseeding system
Turbo Technologies offers the HS-300E hydroseeding system. Designed for the rental market, the system is easy for homeowners to learn to operate and features powerful agitation to benefit the landscaping professional. The HS-300E features new higher pressure pumps and new custom poly tanks with molded in bale hoppers.

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Riding mower
The XXWD5000-72 riding mower from Dixie Chopper features a turbo-charged 50-hp diesel engine and a fuel-efficient Yammer horizontal shaft. The liquid-cooled engine provides total output of 3,200 rpm. This mower has mounted replaceable Yammer oil filters, electric start and a gear driven oil pump for pull pressure lubrication. The mower has a 72-inch cutting deck and operates at 0 to 13 mph, forward and reverse. Other features include a foot-operated deck height adjustment, two hand-operated steeling control levers and hand-operated mower deck engagement.

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