BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2013--
As The Toro Company nears its 100th anniversary in 2014, it
is reflecting upon its past as it continues to drive to the future.
Since its beginning, Toro has created innovative products, services and
solutions to help customers care for their outdoor environments – from
golf courses and sports fields to public green spaces, commercial and
residential properties, and agricultural fields. The principles that
have guided the company from the very beginning – a commitment to innovation
and building lasting relationships – remain a key focus today as Toro
looks to its next hundred years.
Industry first lithium-ion, battery-powered Toro Greensmaster eFlex walk greens mower (Photo: The Toro Company).
Driven By Innovation
From the company’s first patent in 1920
for a convertible cultivator tractor, to the more than 20 U.S. patents
it received in 2012, Toro has obtained over 800 U.S. patents – in
addition to many corresponding patents outside the U.S. Toro
demonstrates its commitment to innovation by annually dedicating at
least 3 percent of net sales to research and new product development.
Recently, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s list of
annual R&D spending among Minnesota public companies, Toro ranked 11th
with investments of just over $60 million in fiscal 2012.
The combination of intensive product development and a deep
understanding of customer needs has enabled Toro to achieve and maintain
market leadership. In 1919 at the request of The Minikahda Club in
Minnesota, Toro created a mechanized mowing machine to replace
horse-drawn equipment typically used by golf courses at that time. After
Minikahda put the new machine to the test, the chairman of the grounds
committee, Senator William F. Brooks, predicted it would “revolutionize
the cutting of grass on golf courses.” His prediction came true and
helped establish Toro as the leader in the industry.
More recently, in a broader effort to help customers better manage water
resources, Toro introduced the Precision™
Soil Sensor – the first wireless moisture sensor for the residential
irrigation market. This award-winning technology was recognized for its
compatibility with most irrigation controllers, including competitive
units, long-range wireless connectivity, and the ability to help
homeowners save water by knowing when to water based on moisture levels
beneath the surface.
Innovative People
Core to the company’s success is the drive
of its employees in continually seeking new products to deliver
top-quality performance, enhance productivity, and improve efficiency
for customers. Another key contributing factor to Toro’s success is its
partnership with researchers worldwide to advance the science of turf
management, and help customers conserve water and other resources.
One unique, solutions-based approach was the formation of Toro’s Center
for Advanced Turf Technology (CATT) in 1998. Comprised of a team of
leading agronomists and engineers, CATT has been influential in the
development of products that increase productivity, save water, reduce
fuel consumption and improve growing conditions. This group also has
created the foundation for future innovation in robotics, fuel cells,
advanced battery technologies, and site assessment – including Toro’s
patented PrecisionSense™ site assessment solution. Used by golf courses
and sports fields around the world, this innovative mobile soil sensing
and data collection technology measures the variability of key site
attributes – such as soil moisture, salinity, compaction and plant
performance – to help improve water and resource efficiency, and produce
healthy turf.
Industry Leading Products
Understanding the needs of its
customers and empowering product development teams to strive for
innovation enables Toro to deliver industry-leading advancements in its
products. This focus has created all-new product categories, increased
customer productivity, and advanced more efficient use of resources.
Recent revolutionary products include:
-
Toro® Greensmaster®
eFlex® walk greens mower – Making its debut at
championship venues, the Greensmaster eFlex walk greens mower is the
industry’s first lithium-ion battery-powered greens mower and can mow
up to nine greens on a single charge, which is nearly double that of
competitive battery products.
-
Toro® Groundsmaster®
360 rotary mower – Pioneering an all-new rotary mower
category, this innovative machine features all-wheel steering to
maximize commercial mowing productivity and versatility.
-
Toro® Precision™
Soil Sensor – Leveraging the same wireless sensing technology
used on golf courses and sports fields, this award-winning product
helps homeowners maximize irrigation efficiency by continuously
measuring moisture levels in the soil and allowing the controller to
water only when the soil needs moisture.
-
Toro® Precision™
Series spray nozzles – Considered the most significant
breakthrough in irrigation spray nozzle technology in over 60 years,
this product easily retrofits to existing systems and reduces water
usage by up to 30 percent.
-
Toro® Evolution™
Controller – This revolutionary irrigation controller features
an intuitive digital interface that provides simple operation,
expandability and smart control.
-
Toro® Aqua-Traxx®
drip irrigation – Agricultural growers around the world are
looking for technologies to increase productivity of existing land,
while conserving water resources. Toro’s patented Aqua-Traxx drip tape
helps growers deliver water more efficiently to the root zone of the
plant and improve crop yields.
-
Toro® TimeCutter®
SS zero-turn mower – This machine takes zero-turn
mowers to the next level with the innovative Smart Speed™ feature that
pairs greater control with time-saving speed and maneuverability.
-
Toro® TimeMaster™
and TurfMaster™
30” wide-area walk power mowers – This all-new category
in walk-behind mowers delivers a high-performing machine for
homeowners and landscape contractors that significantly reduces mowing
time compared to 21-inch walk-behind mowers.
-
Toro® TRX
Trencher – This highly innovative, dedicated tracked
trencher provides unsurpassed maneuverability and productivity to help
contractors and homeowners make quick work of difficult landscape
projects.
-
Unique
Lighting Systems Hub – The Unique® Hub wiring system
accommodates larger jobs and longer runs in landscape lighting, while
maintaining a desired luminosity.
“As we head into our next century, Toro will continue to build on the
strong foundation that has driven our company’s success in our first 100
years,” said Michael J. Hoffman, Toro’s chairman and chief executive
officer. “We are committed to building trusted relationships with our
customers, and to creating innovative products that help them better
care for their outdoor environments. Kenneth Goit, the company’s third
president, may have said it best, ‘The success of this company is no
secret. It has been due to two simple things: building a good product
and treating customers honestly and fairly.’”
About The Toro Company
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a
leading worldwide provider of innovative turf, landscape, rental and
construction equipment, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions.
With sales of more than $1.9 billion in fiscal 2012, Toro’s global
presence extends to more than 90 countries through strong relationships
built on integrity and trust, constant innovation, and a commitment to
helping customers enrich the beauty, productivity and sustainability of
the land. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence
around a number of strong brands to help customers care for golf
courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential
properties, and agricultural fields. More information is available at www.toro.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20131023005145/en/
Source: The Toro Company
The Toro Company
Branden Happel, 952-887-8930
Senior
Manager, Public Relations
branden.happel@toro.com
