Where the Wild Things Are

Kubota Compact Machines Help Cultivate P. Allen Smith’s Garden House

By Betsy Lyman

Celebrity garden designer P. Allen Smith is building a home and garden to serve as a new set for his national media venues that include two weekly television shows, reports on The Weather Channel, books and garden publications. But this construction job isn’t one he can do with a shovel and trowel. The 50-acre estate with its 3,600-sq ft house, seven outbuildings and two 320-ft terraced gardens requires several specialized pieces of equipment.

Smith’s “Garden Home Retreat” will include a Greek Revival style home built with energy efficient materials, an ornamental farm-style garden and several buildings to house a state-of-the-art production studio and host various public events. All of this overlooks a breathtaking view from atop a mountain about 30 minutes away from Little Rock, Ark.

The entire construction process is being taped and photographed. Smith’s weekly PBS television series, “P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home,” focuses on the construction of the site showing various pieces of compact equipment in action.

“Size, horsepower, versatility, fuel efficiency and reliability are key considerations in choosing equipment,” said Smith. “I look for products that can maneuver through tight areas and have enough power to do the job with the right attachments that can take on everything from construction to nursery work to maintenance chores.”

Smith has adopted a “green theme” in all his construction and product selections. The entire project will serve as a working model to teach lessons in garden design, sustainable living and good stewardship, so his equipment choices must reflect these standards.

Smith’s construction team is using a Kubota 42-hp compact excavator with a dedicated bucket and quick-coupler. The emissions from the environmentally-friendly engine pass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations, providing fuel efficient enhanced output and lower levels of noise and vibration. Its compact size has been ideal for trenching irrigation and underground utility lines, reworking the earthen dam on an existing pond and digging footers for the house, as well as a site for a fountain in the garden.

A Kubota 50-hp diesel tractor with a single pedal-operated hydrostatic transmission and a cab has several attachments that make it versatile in the field. A 65-in. box scraper attachment is ideal to prepare the surface and sides of the half mile entrance drive into the site. In the garden and landscape where Smith will be demonstrating his design concepts, bed preparation is crucial. He uses the tractor’s 72-in. quick-attach loader to move and mix large piles of soil and soil amendments.

A rough terrain utility vehicle with a hard cab and a manual dumping cargo bed is used daily for transportation and hauling garden tools, chainsaws, firewood and hay bales for Smith’s two Belgian draft horses, Kit and Atticus.

You can keep up with the current developments at P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home Retreat by logging on to his Web site (www.pallensmith.com). There you can also check for local listings of his television programs and his latest publications.

Betsy Lyman is director of publication for Hortus Ltd., Little Rock, Ark.

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P. Allen Smith’s Five Tips for Using Compact Equipment on Large Estates

1. Select equipment that is fuel efficient with low emissions.
2. Match the size of the equipment to the job and the site. Bigger is not always better.
3. Be familiar with all the safety features of the equipment.
4. Ask for demonstrations of the equipment before purchasing.
5. Be sure the controls and handling meet the requirements of the operator.

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Perkins Engines to Create
Crankshaft Manufacturing Facility

The crankshaft, sometimes just casually called a crank, is an integral part of the engine, translating reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation (that’s a fancy way of saying it’s the rotating shaft that keeps the pistons pumping).

Perkins Engines understands the value of a quality crank to power its pistons, which is why the company is investing $59 million in creating a world-class, global crankshaft machining center at its headquarters in Peterborough, United Kingdom

“This is excellent news for Perkins,” said Perkins president Hans Haefeli. “What a great way to begin celebrating our 75th year. This commitment and investment will ensure a stronger future for employees and continue to build on our entrepreneurial heritage as an innovative diesel engine manufacturer.”

In addition to the Peterborough plant, Perkins has an engine manufacturing facility in Griffin, Ga., and one in Curitiba, Brazil. The Peterborough crankshaft facility begins production in 2008 and will produce over 250,000 crankshafts a year when at full capacity.

“We are developing a facility that will give our customers the best delivered quality yet and will achieve a flexible world class solution that will be the industry benchmark for crankshaft technology and automation in the world,” Haefeli added.

There are also significant safety and environmental benefits to the new facility. For example, the complete elimination of the heat treatment process will decrease energy consumption. Using leading-edge technology, the facility will deliver higher speed processes, while extending tooling life. Smart supply chain performance will also deliver lower freight costs.

This year, Perkins is celebrating its 75 years in the business. Founded in 1932 by Frank Perkins, an entrepreneurial businessman, the company has been producing world leading products ever since.

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Ingersoll Rand to Sell Its Road Development Business to Volvo

Volvo is building new roads into heavy highway construction, redefining its position in the road market and increasing its manufacturing muscle. The company just recently reached an agreement with Ingersoll Rand to acquire the assets of the company’s road development division, a world-leading manufacturer of heavy equipment for road construction and soil compaction with revenues of $864 million in 2006. Operations also include materials handling equipment. The purchase price amounts to $1.3 billion.

“I am pleased that we can continue to expand our successful construction equipment business and the acquisition gives Volvo Construction Equipment a world-leading position within heavy road construction equipment,” says Volvo CEO Leif Johansson. “This acquisition is strategically important since it will improve the overall competitiveness of Volvo CE as a full-range supplier of construction equipment.”

The global market for road construction equipment is about $4 billion annually and is projected to grow substantially as a result of increased investments in infrastructure globally. Volvo CE has a distinct ambition to expand in this market and the acquisition complements current operations by sharply strengthening Volvo’s presence in equipment for road construction work.
The acquired business includes a full range of heavy compactors, asphalt pavers and milling machines and provides favorable growth possibilities. The acquisition also strengthens Volvo CE’s position in the market for materials handling equipment in North America.

In addition, the acquisition also includes 20 dealerships in North America and distribution companies in Europe and Russia, which will leverage Volvo CE’s sales of compact equipment, primarily in North America.

“Strategically, the acquisition of Ingersoll Rand Road Development fits exceptionally well with Volvo’s current operations within motor graders and positions Volvo as a full-range manufacturer of heavy road construction equipment,” says Tony Helsham, president of Volvo Construction Equipment. “Geographically, the purchase also fits Volvo CE very well and provides attractive growth possibilities by capitalizing on the common dealer network in North America, Europe and Asia.”

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Makita and Monster Energy Drink Give Away a Fully-Stocked Work Truck

In March, a lucky winner drove off in what’s being called the “Ultimate Truck,” loaded up with enough Makita power tools and Monster Energy Drink to keep any crew working frenzied and caffeinated for months to come.

As the X-Game freestyle riders took to the air during a world class demonstration of motocross at the New Orleans Convention Center in early March, Geoff Bremmer, Monster Energy brand manager, presented the keys to the sweepstakes winner Kyle Dettlinger, a 24-year-old carpenter from Louisville, Ky.

The Ultimate Truck is a customized 2006 GMC 2500 4x4 totally pimped out with a Duramax Diesel engine, 6-in. Fabtech suspension, Dirt Logic Shocks, KMC Wheels mounted on 35-in. BF Goodrich tires, Kicker audio system, customized billet grill and (we assume) the latest in flux capacitor technology.

The Truck came fully-loaded with Makita industrial tools from the Makita LXT and AVT Series, as well as a pallet of Monster Energy Drink. Dettlinger, who made the trip to New Orleans with his wife Kelly, entered the contest on the Makita Web site after browsing the site for new products.

“I have always wanted brand new tools to be dropped on my doorstep, and now it has actually happened,” said Dettlinger. “I’m happy about the truck, but I’m even happier about the Makita tools.”

For Makita brand manager Brent Withey, the event capped a successful collaboration between Makita and Monster Energy: “We see Monster Energy drinks on jobsites across the country, so it was a natural for our two brands to work together,” he said. “After collecting thousands of entries, awarding this prize to a professional carpenter is a fitting end to this exciting promotion.”

The afternoon was punctuated by an exhibition of freestyle motocross. Freestyle riders Jeff “Ox” Karogola(X-Games medalist), Ryan Hagy, Chuck Carruthers (X-Games medalist) and Justin “Wacker” Nowak each took turns jumping their 250-cc dirt bikes off a metal ramp, often throwing in a back-flip as they cleared the 75-ft gap. The event was emceed by Mike Metzger, also known as “The Godfather of Freestyle Motocross.”

Makita USA Inc. is a leading manufacturer of more than 450 professional, industrial quality power tools and has more than 5,000 industrial accessories.

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Case IH Rolls Out New Biodiesel N85 Company Fleet

For the first time, Case IH company vehicles will be fueled by a corny mixture grown on America’s farms. In a move that’s exciting corn-growing customers and field employees alike, Case IH is establishing a company fleet of flex fuel Ford F150 pickups.

New E85 flex fuel trucks are now being delivered to the Case IH field representatives. The company also is working on a new truck design for interested Case IH dealers. Not surprisingly, the color of the new E85-powered fleet is red, just like Case IH equipment.

“Every day, every Case IH territory sales manager, technical manager and product specialist will be helping drive demand for the products our customers produce,” said Bill Nygaard, Case IH manager of customer and field service in North America. “It sends a visible message that we’re committed to our customers and to the agricultural industry.”

The president of the National Corn Growers Association agreed.

“Case IH is a vital part of agriculture, and this shows the company’s commitment to helping us move ahead into the future,” said Ken McCauley, who farms in White Cloud, Kan. “Corn growers and ethanol are the big winners in Case IH’s announcement to buy flex fuel vehicles for its entire fleet. This decision will continue to drive flex fuel vehicles and ethanol use.”

Case IH also works to increase demand for soybeans. Every engine that powers Case IH equipment is approved for B5 biodiesel blends. Use of 20 percent biodiesel blends (B20) are approved in more than 90 percent of the models now being sold in Europe and North America, including the workhorse Magnum tractors, when proper maintenance and fuel requirements are followed. Nearly half of the models sold globally, including the flagship Axial-Flow 8010 combine, are approved following proper protocols for use of 100 percent biodiesel (B100).

According to Nygaard, the new fleet serves as a symbolic reminder of Case IH’s commitment to agriculture.

“When the big red Case IH truck pulls up, you know you’re in good hands, and you know that we stand firmly behind every piece of Case IH equipment,” McCauley said. “Using E85 reduces harmful tailpipe emissions, and it contains less benzene and sulfur. This is a win, win, win. It’s a win for Case IH employees, our customers and the agricultural industry.”

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