Our Equip Expo 2024 coverage

Didn't make it to Louisville for the annual Equip Expo show? Or couldn't keep up with all that was there? No worries! We've got you covered. Even now that we're home from the show, we're still updating this page with the latest products from around the industry.

Want a deeper dive on each product? No problem! Simply click through the hyperlink with each news snippet to read more about each new debut.

MORE FROM THE SHOW:

ECHO: Echo unveiled three new blowers, including the DPB-2610 handheld and the DPB-5900T and DPB-7700T backpack blowers. All three of the new blowers will be available for purchase in the first quarter of 2025. They come with a two-year commercial warranty and five-year consumer warranty.

All three blowers belong to the Echo 56V lineup, so cartridge batteries can be used with other Echo tools in the same lineup. The blowers are just a few of Echo's most recent products the company debuted for 2025.

EARTHQUAKE POWER EQUIPMENT: Earthquake is launching its 60V System featuring an earth auger, string mower and cultivator. The products were first unveiled at this year’s Equip Expo.

The Earthquake 60V Earth Auger with an 8-Inch High-Performance Bit is the first product available as part of the new 60V system. This earth auger combines the performance of gas-powered models with the convenience of electric operation. Whether professionals are digging post holes, planting shrubs or installing irrigation, the 60V Earth Auger is an ideal tool. With the included 4Ah battery, this auger can drill up to 35 holes per charge, allowing users to complete outdoor projects without interruptions.

© DICA

DICA: DICA recently showcased its range of engineered ground protection mats and site access products at the Equip Expo show.

New at the booth this year were MaxiTrack and EnviroMat. MaxiTrack provides temporary access for wheeled or tracked equipment weighing up to 130 tons, while EnviroMat enables contractors to quickly create temporary access and vehicle roadways without the use of tools.  

PGMS AWARDS: The Professional Grounds Management Society honored several grounds professionals with awards as part of its 2024 Annual Awards Celebration that took place Oct. 17 in conjunction with the annual Transform conference and Equip Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

Warren Sellers, Christopher Vetick, Warren Gorowitz, Joel Spies and Barbara Hatchel all received awards.

IGNITE ATTACHMENTS: The company showcased its angle broom attachment for skid-steer loaders and CTLs.

Highlights from the attachment include a 22.5-inch operating height, which offers improved sightlines for safer, more efficient operation. It features a fully reversible drum with individually replaceable polycarbonate bristle wafers and drum carrier components, plus a motor-protecting guard.

TAKEUCHI: The company showcased its TB395W wheeled excavator, which we covered in August, and its TCR50-2 crawler dumper.

The crawler dumper was previously available in other parts of the world but now hits the North American market. Weighing 14,440 pounds with a 118-horsepower engine, the TCR50-2 crawler dumper also offers a 65-degree dumping angle and 8,157-lb. maximum loading weight.

© Takeuchi

NEWS FROM FRIDAY:

MILWAUKEE: At Equip Expo, Milwaukee Tool is debuting several new products that will become available later this year and in early 2025. 

Among its new additions are new MX Fuel tools like the MX Fuel Backpack Blower, M18 Fuel 20-inch Dual Battery Chainsaw, M18 Fuel String Trimmer and more.

Elsewhere at #EquipExpo, @MilwaukeeTool showed off its blowers at its indoor booth. pic.twitter.com/x7XT7tUlvs

— Lawn & Landscape (@lawnlandscape) October 17, 2024

WINNER, WINNER: The annual Hardscape North America Awards Ceremony honored contractors, producers, and designers for their outstanding contributions to the hardscape industry.

The competition featured 215 project submissions across 19 categories, highlighting work with materials such as concrete pavers, clay bricks, retaining walls, adhered thin veneers, porcelain, natural stone and vintage installations. Categories also included projects that featured a combination of hardscape products and outdoor living features.

SUNSEEKER: We saw the latest robotic mower models from Sunseeker, all while Sunseeker unveiling a new image with a new logo and slogan at the show. 

"Enjoy Boundless Possibilities" is the company's new slogan. The rebranding aims to better highlight the company’s evolving focus on delivering versatile, user-friendly solutions. The new branding is part of Sunseeker’s ongoing effort to strengthen its presence in the US market and better align with customer expectations.

SUST: Sust, which works in lawn care and electrification, has launched ChargeBot, a mobile charging solution designed specifically to meet the needs of landscapers and outdoor professionals. 

ChargeBot charges mowers, trimmers, blowers and electric tools from all OPE brands.

© Brian Horn

NEWS FROM THURSDAY:

EXMARK: The company redesigned its signature Lazer Z mower lineup 30 years after it first launched in 1995.

“Armed with the feedback of our customers, we developed a new Lazer Z family that raises the bar for reliability, cut quality and value at every model level,” says Jamie Briggs, director of marketing. “Each customer’s needs are unique, so we worked hard to ensure each Lazer Z model delivers the performance, durability and uptime productivity they need, with the distinct features they want.”

Also revealed at Equip was Exmark's first commercial autonomous mower, the Turf Tracer with XiQ.

CATERPILLAR: Caterpillar hosted a press conference Thursday to showcase its new lineup of skid-steer loaders and compact track loaders. We were on hand last month in Illinois to see these new loaders in action at their debut.

The company revealed its Cat 250, 260, 270 and 270 XE skid-steer loaders and Cat 275, 275 XE, 285 and 285 XE CTLs at the event. Notably, the 285 and 285 XE mark the company’s largest-ever entries in its CTL lineup.

HILLTIP: Its IceStriker 8000 CM Combi Spreader is on display at Equip Expo this week. Its 8.0 cubic feet of capacity makes the new spreader an ideal fit for those working on large job sites.

Designed for Class 6 medium-duty and larger trucks, the 8000 CM is a fully electric-powered spreader with an integrated liquid tank for pre-wetting material or spraying brine directly on driving surfaces.

YANMAR COMPACT EQUIPMENT: The company introduced the ViO35-7 mini excavator. 

© Yanmar

The 24.4-horsepower true zero tail swing excavator includes leading 360-degree visibility, a 25% increase in travel speed under load and a 7% improvement in excavator efficiency.

The 8,047-pound model has increased excavation capabilities thanks to greater breakout forces and improved cycle times under load. Plus, a higher torque swing motor boosts power for backfill work involving swinging and usability on slopes. 

This is all powered by the heartbeat of the ViO35-7, a highly efficient three-pump hydraulic system and 24.4-horsepower Yanmar engine. Yanmar continues to offer a standard hydraulic quick coupler. The coupler is upgraded on the ViO35-7, providing easy attachment switching by allowing operators to engage or disengage ­— as well as see the status of — attachments without leaving the operator seat.

CASE: Case Construction Equipment is rolling out new options to give contractors more swagger on the jobsite, with new custom graphic equipment wraps now available for the Case TV450B and TV370B compact track loaders.

The CASE IronSkins Special Editions program — a new design collaboration with Dirty Graphix — offers contractors another way to command attention on the job while getting more work done. The compact track loader wraps, which were unveiled at Equip Expo, will be available as a special promotion running from October through the end of December.

WAC LIGHTING: We caught up with the company during a booth visit to see what new products will help illuminate landscapes in 2025.

STELLAR: The company has launched the NXT18 Hooklift, which features a 7.5-inch lost load height and boasts an 18,000-lb capacity, accommodating bodies from 8' to 14' for 84" to 120" CA chassis. Its Z-rail design facilitates efficient installation and flexibility.

Also from #EquipExpo, @heritageppg has donated $50,000 to @ProjectEvrGreen at Heritage's party during the show. 👏 pic.twitter.com/P24wiXull0

— Lawn & Landscape (@lawnlandscape) October 17, 2024

NEWS FROM WEDNESDAY: 

SPARTAN MOWERS: The company has rolled out its product lineup for 2025, including the redesigned Shield, Shield-HD, and Defender, along with the RZ-XD and RZ-XD Blackout.

“Big plans are underway at Spartan Mowers,” says General Manager John Swanson. “Our team has been working hard to build on our previous success, and we’re ready to hit the ground running in 2025 with some exciting additions and upgrades to the lineup.” 

DEVELON: The company's showcasing three mini excavators and a CTL at the show.

Develon revealed the DX35Z-7 mini excavator, the conventional tail swing DX42-7 mini excavator and the DX62R-7 mini excavator. Plus, it debuted its new DTL35 compact track loader.

HONDA: A new line of battery-powered mowers highlights Honda's entries at this year's Equip Expo.

The battery-powered, professional-level consumer and commercial walk-behind lawn mowers, Honda HRX, HRN and HRC models, and a battery-powered Honda zero-turn-radius (ZTR) commercial lawn mower will go on sale at select Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide in 2025.

© Brian Horn | Lawn & Landscape

HUSQVARNA: Four sizes of the new Automower iQ Series will be available this spring.

Automower 410 iQ, Automower 420 iQ, Automower 440 iQ and Automower 435 iQ AWD utilize RTK technology and radar odometry for wire-free mowing. Husqvarna’s latest EPOS series will also utilize a cellular reference station, eliminating the need for a physical reference station.

LINXUP AND ROADFLEX: The integration is designed so business owners and managers can monitor fuel card usage, validate fuel expenses and halt fraudulent activity in real time.

We're keeping busy at #EquipExpo, how about you? Here's an interesting prototype from @HustlerTurf, which is soliciting some feedback on a unit that's years before it goes into production. pic.twitter.com/TX4wQrxei2

— Lawn & Landscape (@lawnlandscape) October 16, 2024

STIHL: New battery and gas mowers, plus two new battery blowers, highlight Stihl's offerings at this year's Expo.

Featuring a 24 kWh lithium-iron battery, Stihl's new AZA 700 Series offers cutting deck widths of 48 inches, 52 inches, and 60 inches, with a run time of up to eight hours on a single charge.

URSROBOT: Its new autonomous mower, NexMow M2, hit the Equip Expo show floor.

This processor with fused AI-accelerator for advanced Edge-AI enables the mower to provide AI vision for object detection and obstacle avoidance, ensuring precise and safe autonomous navigation. It enhances navigation capabilities across all types of outdoor environments, while also expanding the possibilities for extensive AI applications.

More from #EquipExpo: We heard why @Rehlko_Global changed its name from Kohler. "It's a lot more than moving the letters around; it was a way to provide some connection and history to our past...but also set us up for the future." pic.twitter.com/6lBzjbdja0

— Lawn & Landscape (@lawnlandscape) October 16, 2024

SEGWAY: The X3 Series rolled out onto the show floor with hardware and software improvements.

The Segway Navimow X3 Series requires no perimeter wire. Leveraging AI-assisted mapping and advanced 3D camera technology, it ensures precise lawn coverage and efficient operation.

KUBOTA: The company debuted a new CTL and two new UTVs at this year's Expo. 

Featuring a 48-inch-wide frame, the new SVL50x is the smallest compact track loader in Kubota’s lineup and will be available at dealerships beginning in the first quarter of 2025. Kubota also introduced two upgraded additions to its RTV-X line with the RTV-X Cab and RTV-X Crew models. These models include a redesigned and more aggressive exterior and new heavy-duty multipurpose tires.

MORE NEWS FROM THE SHOW: The show also featured events on Wednesday like the Mulligan 5K Fun Run & Walk, an opening keynote from This Old House's Kevin O'Connor and a happy hour event with the Equip Expo house band, The Crashers.