Groundscare - Market Report
can now offer ZT and Grandstand mowers with an eight-hour operating time on battery power,” said Coleman. “The Revolution Series has some really nice features and we’re expecting it to excite the market.
“We are also developing a complete commercial handheld range on the 60V battery platform, so the battery pack is interchangeable across all products. For instance, our 60V Proline 21” mower has been very popular this year.”
Paul Hicks, Marketing and Product Manager at STIHL GB, also sees electrification as a key trend in groundscare. “The development of battery technology has been part of STIHL’s R&D for many years and this focus will continue moving forward,” he said. “STIHL’s recent announcement of a new €125 million state-of-the-art manufacturing site for electric and cordless power tools in Romania, significantly enhancing its battery- powered product manufacturing capacity, is testament to that.
User demand Handy believes the growing demand for battery products is due to pull-through from end users. “We are also seeing pressure being put on landscapers to meet strict zero-emission targets from councils and municipals when tendering for larger contracts,” said Moseley. “Those contractors or dealers who have already made the step into cordless are winning the business.
“Traditionally, we have seen petrol-powered garden equipment as the only option for ground care and maintenance. That’s because battery-powered garden equipment hasn’t met the high requirements they need, until now.
“There is significant noise reduction compared to traditional petrol machinery. Noise reduction allows people to work in noise-sensitive areas, during unscheduled hours.
The technology is also designed to generate less heat and increase efficiency and battery life. Devices fitted with the high-performance battery are much more cost-efficient in terms of operation and maintenance compared to conventional, fuel-powered devices.”
Paul Hicks, marketing and product manager at Stihl GB.
“New STIHL battery tools are constantly being added to the product ranges to meet market trends and demands from customers and contractors alike across all sectors, from Tier 1 National Contractors to small private landscapers. Hire companies are very good at responding to market changes and demands so interest in the battery powered tools is growing rapidly year on year.
“Due to the continued advancement of battery technology, we believe there will be a continued trend towards battery tools in 2023 and beyond, with professional users now having a genuine alternative option to petrol tools from a performance point of view.”
The market’s robust state is in part due to its ability to weather the storm of covid. “I think it’s fair to say that the pandemic had less of an impact on the landscaping and groundscare industries than others, mainly due to the nature of the groundcare business,” said Hicks. “Landscapers and groundcare workers often work remotely and naturally keep their distance from clients and each other, so it was ideal working conditions to navigate the pandemic.
“Although there were some tough months when the pandemic first hit, these working conditions allowed the groundscare sector to bounce back quickly and it’s great to see that it’s booming currently.”
Toro used the pandemic as an opportunity to increase investment in R&D and is now reaping the benefits. “This year alone we have invested 140 million in research and development,” said Coleman. “A lot of that is around electrification.
The Cramer 82CTS15 battery chainsaw.
“The investments we made during the covid period have stood us in good stead in terms of leading the market. We are not trying to match what someone else is doing, we are going beyond that.”
Looking forward
Along with battery power, other new technologies are continuing to emerge, including automation.
“We’ve seen developments of new technology within the ground care industry, and we continue to do so,” said Moseley. “One of these developments has been automation - robotic lawn mowers - and the other has been alternative energy sources such as battery power.
“Battery technology has improved in recent years, which has led to an increase in people making the switch to batteries. With increasing fuel prices, those who have made the switch to a battery-powered machine now enjoy low operational costs for their devices and equipment.”
Meanwhile STIHL expects 2023 to be another strong year. “Market performance in 2023 would be expected to remain strong as the groundscare sector is robust, even in these times of high inflation and rising costs,” said Hicks.
Coleman agrees. “Globally, Toro is set to hit 4 billion turnover this year. 2023 is shaping up to be very strong for us, too.” n
October 2022 - Executive Hire News 23
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