Archive for April, 2016

Exmark Employee Profile: Manalle Armstrong

Sunday, April 24th, 2016
Manalle Armstrong

Exmark Inside Sales Representative, Manalle Armstrong

When did you start working at Exmark?

January 2007

Where are you from?

Beatrice, Nebraska

Tell us about what you do at Exmark.

My primary responsibility is shipping Exmark products to our distributors and dealers. For this to happen, there are many details that need to be managed. Plus, shipments are dependent on many factors that may or may not be within our ability to control.

What’s been a good, challenging experience for you at Exmark?

Evolving with the times is always a challenge! A number of our programs and processes are highly specialized and customized, so there’s no textbook or training class to help us advance our processes. Instead, we take initiative on changes we feel are important, brainstorm to determine the best solutions, and then implement them. We’re constantly evolving.

What’s your favorite thing about working with Exmark?

My favorite thing about working at Exmark is most definitely the people, including my co-workers, and Exmark distributors, dealers and end-user customers that contact us directly for assistance. It’s very rewarding working with such a diverse and talented group.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two sons, fishing, visiting with family, watching my sister-in-law play on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker softball team, gardening, working out, hanging out with friends, and watching ‘Husker football games.

If you could have lunch with any person, who would it be?

Exmark General Manager, Judy Altmaier. She is a great mentor. She leads by example and is a woman I admire and respect that’s in an influential position. I aspire to be in a similar position to her someday.

What’s something surprising about you that not many people know?

I have a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development! Another surprising fact that not many people may know is that my husband and I formed our first corporation together when we were teenagers. Today, we are the proud owner operators of five corporations (including a successful full-service landscape maintenance and snow removal company), which collectively employ up to 50 people in peak seasons.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

The Exmark culture is something I’ve longed to be part of since my early youth! My father has been with Exmark for 30 years and the company is one I grew up hearing about and intrinsically loving from an early age.

The most important thing I want our customers to remember is that it takes a village to deliver Exmark products to our end users. Every single person and step in the process is important and it takes the entire Exmark family to, in essence, create the potential quality of life for the distributors, dealers and end-user customers we serve!

Exmark products are preferred two-to-one by landscape professionals because our machines are durable and their cut is phenomenal. We’re successful because we listen to our customers, and the quality of our customer service is unmatched!

Exmark Advantage: Enhanced Control System (ECS)

Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

Enhanced Control System ECS

One feature that sets Exmark commercial-grade walk-behind and stand-on mowers apart from the pack is our patented Enhanced Control System (ECS). ECS makes mower control easier, more ergonomic and ultimately, more sustainable day after day.

Exmark ECS controls

ECS places the controls at the operator’s fingertips for maximum ease of use.

The comfort of the operator’s hands might not be the first thing you think of when you think of commercial mowers. But we couldn’t forget about the hands, because in this case, they do just as much work as the operator’s legs and feet. And from an ergonomic standpoint, traditional control layouts leave a lot to be desired.

ECS in-use

Visit your local Exmark dealer to experience the advantages of ECS for yourself.

Our ECS-equipped walk-behind and stand-on mowers place the control handles in the location and angle your hands naturally fall. This also helps protect hands from hitting objects that stick out. The shorter grip distance and drive levers relieve fatigue while the cushioned handles reduce vibration. It’s total comfort for hard-working hands.

Learn more about the Exmark Advantage at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage.

Tips for Picking the Right Lawn Mower

Sunday, April 17th, 2016

(StatePoint) While a beautiful lawn can be achieved through sweat and determination, you can make the work involved easier and achieve better results by choosing the right mower type and size for your yard.

Exmark lawn care“Take advantage of your local dealer’s perspective when choosing a mower,” says Steve Finkner, senior product manager at Exmark, a leading mower manufacturer. “They know what has worked well for other homeowners in your area, and that perspective can be valuable in helping you confidently purchase the right mower for your lawn.”

With that in mind, Finkner offers some factors to consider when choosing a new mower.

  • The area: How much lawn will you be mowing? A walk-behind mower is a good choice for properties of 1/2 acre or less. If gate access isn’t an issue, a large walk-behind or stand-on machine can be better. For larger properties, a zero-turn riding mower or stand-on riding mower can make lawn care easier and give you more free time.
  • The landscaping: Is your landscaping fairly straightforward or is mowing complicated by lawn furniture, a kids’ area, flowerbeds or lawn art? If so, maneuverability is an increasingly important factor. You may want to consider a zero-turn rider, which allows you to mow closer to lawn features with greater control. This can save you considerable time on trim work.
  • Your budget: Narrow down your mower search by deciding on your budget range in advance. Some manufacturers and retailers offer financing options that can help you more easily afford the right mower for your property.
  • Fueling up: One of the most basic decisions you’ll make when purchasing a new mower is <ahref=”https://blog.exmark.com/2016/01/exploring-fuel-options-for-exmark-mowers/”>fuel type. Propane offers reduced operating costs and an up to 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to gasoline-powered mowers. However, gasoline remains a popular fuel option due to its ready availability. Options such as electronic fuel injection can increase fuel economy and optimize performance for varying environmental conditions. And diesel-powered mowers are a popular choice for parks and municipal mowing crews.
  • Your search: Free online resources can help you dial in to the best mower for your lawn. You can filter your search on criteria such as fuel type, cutting deck size, price range and payment range. To research mower options, visit www.Exmark.com.

For more resources and tips on lawn mower selection, visit www.blog.exmark.com.

You can get your lawn into tiptop shape in less time by choosing the right mower. Do the research up-front and you can be confident your investment will save you energy on lawn care for years to come.

What to Know When Repairing Your Lawn Mower

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016

(StatePoint) Every lawn mower requires routine maintenance to keep it running with efficiency and maximum performance. If a breakdown occurs or parts wear out, it’s much more cost-efficient to simply replace the worn parts than it is to buy a whole new mower.

EX16_Pioneer_S-Series_InUse_6_web72To keep your mower functioning optimally, consider the following:

Regular Maintenance

Follow your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule. Check your owner’s manual or your mower brand’s website for information on when and how to maintain your  machine, including checking and changing engine oil and filters, hydraulic filters, belts, air cleaners, spark plugs and more. This upkeep on your mower can prevent unscheduled downtime and costly repairs.

Replace Parts Wisely

“Modern mowers are designed to function as a system; they aren’t just a collection of parts,” says David Martin, customer service manager at Exmark, a leading mower manufacturer.

While virtually any company can sell parts that are almost right for your machine, Martin advises using original parts from the mower manufacturer. Brands such as Exmark, for example, extensively test every part and accessory for hundreds of hours to ensure they won’t compromise the safety, productivity or durability of the mower, or the quality of cut it provides.

“There is great value in using genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as opposed to cheaper “will fit” alternatives, when replacing belts, blades, filters, lubricants and other mower parts,” says Martin.

To learn more about the differences between using generic replacements from an aftermarket company and OEM parts, visit www.exmark.com/OriginalParts.

Whether you mow your lawn often or just a few times a season, be sure to take good care of your mower, paying attention to the suggested maintenance routine. It’s always better to prevent a problem before it becomes an issue. And doing so will improve the quality of each cut and extend the life of the machine.

Exmark Advantage: Welded Cutting Decks

Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

The heart of a mower is its cutting system, because let’s face it, if a mower can’t cut grass well, what good is it? At Exmark, we know the best mowers start with great cutting systems, so we’ve spent an incredible amount of time testing and refining our cutting deck designs.

Exmark fabricated cutting deck

Whether you’re a homeowner or a landscape professional, Exmark’s fabricated cutting decks deliver the strength, durability and cut quality you’re looking for.

One feature that contributes significantly to the performance and durability of Exmark cutting decks is the fabricated, welded construction we employ on cutting decks throughout our line. When compared to the more common stamped steel cutting decks used by competitors, Exmark’s fabricated decks deliver increased strength, stiffness and durability, with our signature quality of cut.

Why are fabricated cutting decks better?

Stamped steel cutting decks are produced by pressing, or stamping, a flat sheet of steel into shape. The stamping process introduces limitations to the thickness and ductility/malleability of the material used. As a result, stamped cutting decks will often use thinner 12- or 13-gauge steel, compared to 7- to 10-gauge steel Exmark uses to produce its fabricated cutting decks.

Exmark UltraCut deck shell

It takes more time and skill to build fabricated cutting decks, but the results are worth the effort.

Exmark cuts and welds these thick, high-strength plates of steel into the form of a cutting deck. In addition, Exmark add reinforcements to may of its cutting decks at points of high stress or wear, such as spindle mounts or at the base of the deck skirt. These reinforcements provide the strength and stiffness necessary to withstand the punishment of commercial mowing, or deliver a lifetime of reliable mowing for a home or acreage owner.

Fabricated construction also allows Exmark to utilize its patented flow-control baffles on a number of its UltraCut cutting decks. Flow-control baffles accelerate airflow under the deck to provide enhanced clipping management, a higher quality of cut and more even clipping discharge.

Learn more about the advantages of Exmark cutting systems at Exmark.com/Exmark-Advantage/Features/Decks.