Daytona International Speedway, the home of the Daytona 500, is using a Spider ILD02 remote-controlled slope mower on the steep-sided banks.

The Spider mower, built by the Dvorak Co. in the Czech Republic and distributed by Orlando, Fla.-based Slope Care, is just one of the tools the Speedway has employed over the years to keep the grass in place and growing on the steep surface outside the turns at Daytona. The high banks are one of the bigger challenges for the grounds maintenance team that spends all year keeping the Speedway turf groomed and green. Other issues include drought, disease and water restrictions that govern how much water they can use to keep the grass looking good.

“The Spider ILD02 has an integrated winch which allows it to be operated on banks up to 60 degrees and ground anchor,” said Jason Griffith, head of the facility grounds team. “One of my team, Emory Renfroe, manufactured a special frame attachment for a tractor, which acts as a mobile ground anchor, allowing the machine to track across the slopes with the operator maneuvering it with his remote-control unit.”

Anuvia Plant Nutrients has been selected by the Business Intelligence Group as a winner of its 2018 Sustainability Awards Product of the Year. The Sustainability Awards honor those individuals and companies worldwide who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice.

“We’re proud to reward and recognize Anuvia Plant Nutrients for their sustainability efforts,” says Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer, Business Intelligence Group. “It was clear to our judges that their vision and strategy will continue to deliver results toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.”

Anuvia Plant Nutrients produces plant nutrients for agriculture, turf and lawn care markets. Located in Zellwood, Fla., their manufacturing facility has been in full-scale operation for two years.

The Davey Tree Expert Co. has committed to adopting one of Akron’s most iconic historical landmarks, the Signal Tree. Located in the Summit Metro Parks, the tree is estimated to be more than 350 years old.

This adoption ensures the Signal Tree continues to receive proper arboricultural care for the next five years. Davey’s Akron residential/commercial office will provide regular maintenance of the tree in addition to annual assessments of the tree’s health.

“As a tree care company, we have a special interest and appreciation for large, historical wonders like the Signal Tree,” said Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration for the Davey Tree Expert Co. “And since the Signal Tree is in a public green space, it’s especially important that we keep it healthy so our community can enjoy its beauty and the benefits of a healthy and beautiful green space for many years to come.”

Davey Tree will continue to donate care for the Signal Tree through 2022.

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America produced its 50,000th gasoline-powered Isuzu N-Series truck in Charlotte, Mich. Assembly of the truck began at Spartan Motors in April 2011.

“We anticipated the demand for gasoline-engine low-cab-forward trucks over seven years ago, and the assembly of our 50,000th truck proves that our instincts were correct,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America.

ASV Holdings, a manufacturer of all-purpose and all-season compact track loaders and skid-steers, is celebrating 35 years in business this year. The manufacturer commemorated the anniversary with an open house event in August at its Grand Rapids, Minn., facility.

“The anniversary is a testament to everyone involved with ASV, from those who created the first Posi-Track loader to those who are still involved with this unique product,” CEO Andrew Rooke said. “It is a remarkable achievement for a relatively small company from Grand Rapids, Minn., to create such a legacy. The future is bright for our customers and stakeholders.”

More than a thousand people attended the open-to-the-public open house event. The occasion included a special anniversary-branded RT-120 Forestry Posi-Track compact track loader, food, games, factory tours and an opportunity to learn about ASV’s history.

LandscapeHub, an online marketplace for the green industry, announced an agreement with A.D.R. Bulbs, providing inventory to be made available on the LandscapeHub platform. LandscapeHub is an online marketplace with a custom procurement tool aimed to optimize the buying
and selling of materials for wholesale needs.

“Adding the quality and selection of A.D.R. Bulbs is a major highlight for me and all of us at LandscapeHub,” says Lisa Fiore, Founder & CEO. “We are thrilled to provide buyers access to their exquisite inventory just in time for fall planting.”

With this new agreement, LandscapeHub will provide buyers 24/7 access to a large fall bulb inventory and buyers will receive free same day shipping, job labeling and automatic pre-cooling for southern zones.