Gehl and Rahal Letterman Racing
Announce Partnership

Rahal Letterman Racing, a leading North American open-wheel racing team, and Gehl Co., a Wisconsin-based leading manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment, recently announced a marketing and promotional partnership for the 2006 racing season. Gehl Co., which has been involved in motorsports and the Champ Car World Series since 1990, will sponsor Graham Rahal’s Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Champ Car Atlantic Series effort, in addition to establishing an integrated marketing program with Rahal Letterman Racing’s IRL IndyCar Series program. Gehl will be an associate sponsor on the Rahal Letterman cars at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series race at the Milwaukee Mile.

“We’re thrilled to be associated with Rahal Letterman Racing,” says Dan Keyes, Gehl vice president of sales and marketing. “Having Graham Rahal fighting for the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic Series championship with Gehl Co. sponsorship will provide a high level of excitement for our customers and dealers throughout the season. Graham is a fine young man, not to mention one of the top up-and-coming drivers in the country. He will be a perfect spokesman for our company and our products.”

“We pride ourselves at Rahal Letterman Racing on partnering with like-minded companies that are leaders in their respective fields,” says Bobby Rahal, three-time CART champion and the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner. “The Gehl Co. motorsports program has been in existence nearly 20 years. They were looking at opportunities to expand their motorsports program, and the opportunity to partner with a young driver like Graham and to be involved as an RLR partner at Indianapolis, St. Petersburg and Milwaukee proved to be the right mix.”

The relationship marks a new level of participation for Gehl Co., which is already active in motorsports as the “Official Construction Equipment” of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, The Milwaukee Mile and Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Gehl is also an “official supplier” to the Champ Car Safety Team.

“This new association is a natural extension of our long-standing motorsports marketing program,” says Keyes. “This year we’ll have a larger presence than
usual at major racing events throughout the United States and in Canada and Mexico.”

For Graham Rahal, who recently celebrated his 17th birthday, Gehl Co.’s participation is important both to him and the entire Atlantic Series field. “I am
excited about having Gehl sponsor my Atlantic effort — some of the tracks we will be racing on this season couldn’t be built without their equipment,” says Rahal. “This is going to be a very competitive championship, and I am looking forward to working with Gehl, and hopefully we can get them to the top of the podium often this season.”

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President Bush Visits Deere-Hitachi, Discusses Economy

In his visit to Deere-Hitachi Construction Machinery Corp. on Dec. 5, 2005, President George W. Bush told employees that he appreciated the job they are doing. Deere-Hitachi is a 50/50 joint venture, formed in 1988, between Deere & Co. and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. The facility in Kernersville, N.C., builds hydraulic excavators primarily for sale in North American markets.

“I want to thank the workers of this facility for letting me come by to interrupt their work days,” he said, adding “I’ll try to keep my comments brief, so you can get back to work. I appreciate the job you’re doing. This is a remarkable facility — a facility of high technology, of good management and great, skilled workers.”

During his remarks, Bush discussed a number of topics, including the strength of the U.S. economy, the need for pension reform and the importance of free trade. He also promoted renewable sources of energy, such as ethanol and biodiesel, and discussed permanent tax cuts.

Accompanying the president on his visit were Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and Secretary of the Treasury John Snow. A number of local, state and U.S. elected officials also attended the event and provided remarks, including Senator Richard Burr and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx who represents the Kernersville area.

Jim Jenkins, Deere & Co. senior vice president and general counsel, attended the event on behalf of chairman and CEO Robert W. Lane, who was traveling in Central America as part of the President’s effort to raise funds for hurricane relief in that area.

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Jewell Attachments Celebrates Grand Opening of New Facility

After 31 consecutive days of rain, the skies cleared for the grand opening of Jewell Attachments’ new manufacturing facility in the Portland, Ore., suburb of Tualatin. Offering more than 60,000 sq ft of manufacturing and office space, the new facility takes the manufacturer of equipment and attachments from extremely cramped quarters to a site that is spacious, well-planned and truly world-class.

Attended over the course of the day by hundreds, including customers, dealers, vendors, suppliers and key personnel from throughout the ranks of parent company Paladin, the new facility drew unanimous raves.

From the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, shared by founder Jim Kirkpatrick, general manager Dannie Smith and Paladin chairman Bill Van Sant, to the plant tours conducted throughout the day, the overriding themes were those of excitement and anticipation of things to come.

The new manufacturing, fabrication and assembly area, itself more than 51,000 sq ft, is designed around 10 continuous flow work centers to employ the
efficiency-based principles of Lean Mfg. now in place at Jewell. Key components include a 48-ft CNC controlled plasma burn center, multiple machining centers, areas for fabrication, overhead cranes with 5- to 20-ton capacities and enough floor space to accommodate a sizeable number of excavator conversions, attachments or components simultaneously.

In addition to doing excavator conversions, Jewell makes attachments for the forestry, construction, demolition and recycling markets and will make all of those at this new location. The site is also capable of taking in manufacturing from Paladin’s other companies, several of which provide buckets, augers and other attachments for users of compact equipment.

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Farmall Promenade Dancing with Case IH

The Farmall Promenade was pleased to announce Case IH as its official corporate sponsor. The now famous square dancing tractors made 23 appearances in 2005 throughout the Midwest.

“Financial support from Case IH will allow us to expand our schedule of performances to include new places and new people,” said Neal Johnson, one of the twelve founding tractor square dance performers. “The Farmall Promenade began as a fun idea to draw more people to Nemaha, Iowa’s centennial celebration in 1999, and it has grown to a phenomenon that has delighted hundreds of thousands of people both in the United States and internationally.”

The manufacturer of the eight antique Farmall tractors featured in the show was International Harvester, a predecessor company to today’s Case IH agricultural equipment. Case IH recently reintroduced the Farmall name on its line of
subcompact, compact and utility tractors.

“Farmall is an important element of the Case IH tradition, both past and future,” said Frank Anglin, vice president of the Case IH North American agricultural business. “We’re excited to join the dance and help promote the Farmall heritage in a unique way.”

Case IH, through its parent company CNH, has also granted Farmall Promenade exclusive license to the Farmall Promenade name. This agreement resolves a previous trademark dispute.

Twelve of the town’s 120 residents brought together square dancing and antique Farmall tractors to create a performance like none other. Nemaha’s gentlemen and their “lovely ladies” do actual square dances aboard eight antique tractors at a variety of fairs and events in a multi-state area. For a complete schedule, visit their Web site at www.farmallpromenade.com.

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TV Landscaper Meets and Greets at Minnesota Tradeshow

Roger Cook, longtime Bobcat customer and landscape contractor featured on television’s “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House,” did what he does best during daily Bobcat booth appearances at January’s Minnesota Green Expo — he made friends and gave advice.

Cook greeted attendees, signed autographs and posed for pictures
at the annual conference and show for the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation in Minneapolis. He also answered a number of project and business questions — much like he does on the popular PBS show, “Ask This Old House.” Visitors to the booth, realizing Cook is not only a television personality but also a successful landscape contractor himself, were quick to talk shop and seek advice on jobs, running a landscaping operation and selecting compact equipment.

One contractor asked about removing an exterior wall without damaging a foundation or roof; another asked about putting in a gravel driveway. Someone even asked him about growing Christmas trees. Several visitors inquired about his experience with certain machines, and Cook was happy to point out the benefits of a compact track loader vs. a skid steer loader in certain applications.

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Honda Power Equipment Sells 20 Millionth Power Product in U.S.

Honda Power Equipment recently announced that it has shipped 20 million power products to domestic dealers and distributors since it began offering outdoor power equipment in the United States in 1972.

Beginning U.S. operations with only engines, tillers and generators for sale more than 34 years ago, Honda Power Equipment has evolved into the world’s largest engine manufacturer and one of the leading global power products suppliers. Honda currently provides more than 60 models of power products, 37 models of general-purpose engines and the industry’s widest variety of four-stroke outboard engines.

“We achieved this significant sales accomplishment by continually designing and building equipment that exceeds consumer expectations while adhering to the Honda corporate expectation of environmental responsibility,” says Steve Bailey, Honda Power Equipment vice president. “This milestone demonstrates that customers value technological and environmental innovation, and Honda remains committed to both.”

At the heart of Honda’s power products business is the organization’s long-standing commitment to engine development and technology. Honda is the world’s largest manufacturer of engines, producing and marketing nearly 20 million units globally for automotive, motorcycle, marine and power equipment products each year. All Honda engines feature clean, fuel-efficient, four-stroke overhead valve designs that are optimal for multiple power applications.

Although Honda Power Equipment products are produced at 11 Honda manufacturing facilities worldwide, nearly 75 percent of Honda power products are produced at the Honda Power Equipment Mfg. Inc. (HPE) facility in Swepsonville, N.C., which opened in August 1984.

HPE produces general-purpose engines, walk-behind lawn mowers, snow blowers, string trimmers, water pumps and tillers. Annually, HPE manufactures about 2 million units for both retail and commercial uses.

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IVECO MOTORS Powers High-Mobility Strike Vehicle Prototype

IVECO MOTORS of North America Inc., a Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) company, recently announced its partnership with Arkansas-based Zeus Cal-Zark LLC to power a high-mobility, strike vehicle prototype. Zeus’s expertise is in off-road vehicle dynamics, suspension design and safety testing. IVECO MOTORS’ HPI 3.0-liter diesel engine was chosen for its light weight and extremely high power rating.

The prototype vehicles will undergo an extensive field testing program through August 2006 and various configurations will be designed including a medical evacuation vehicle.

“We needed a high power density engine that would fit into the confines of the vehicle’s engine compartment,” said Will Harvey, CEO of Cal-Zark. “IVECO MOTORS’ HPI 3.0-liter diesel engine provides us with the perfect fit; it’s powerful enough to travel over rough terrain and light enough to be efficiently transported by air.”

IVECO MOTORS’ North American headquarters confirms their commitment to the development of this project. The HPI 3.0 liter is a four-cylinder diesel engine, with a power rating of 164 hp at 3,500 rpm and weighing just 463 lbs. The engine features four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshaft (DOHC), aluminum cylinder head and common-rail fuel injection system. Already available throughout Europe, the prototype engine was available to the North American
marketplace in early 2005.

Zeus’s high-mobility, strike vehicle is being designed for and funded through the Office of Naval Research. The prototypes are being designed as a platform for medical evacuation and as light strike vehicles. The vehicles will have the capacity to travel through very rough terrain and access narrow spaces. Due to its extremely light weight and compact track width, the vehicle can be transported in the V-22 Osprey, CH-53, CH-47 and CH-46.

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