THE DIRT GREEN INDUSTRY NEWS
2018 Green Industry & Equipment Expo ALREADY BREAKING RECORDS Continuing the show's record-breaking trajectory, early-bird registration week for the 2018 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) was the biggest ever. More than 3,000 attendees registered the week of September 3, setting a new weekly record and putting overall attendee registration 12 percent ahead of last year at this time. More than 24,000 participants are projected to be in Louisville, Kentucky, October 17 through 19 for the annual event. "Every indication points to the 2018 show being bigger than ever on all fronts," said Warren Sellers, show director. "Participation from all segments of the industry is going strong. Add to that the synergy that's being generated by the new Wednesday format, as well as exhibitors who are stepping up participation on the show floor—both indoors and out—and this is shaping up to be our best event yet!"
Indicators include: • The servicing dealer registration category is up 12 percent over last year at this time. The contractor categories are up 11 percent. • Attendee registration for Hardscape North America (HNA), co-located with the GIE+EXPO, is currently 11 percent ahead of last year. • Exhibitor participation is up with about 1,000 total GIE+EXPO and HNA exhibits, indoors and out. About 18 percent are new exhibitors. • The outdoor demonstration area is going to cover more than 20 acres. • More new product introductions are expected, with over 120 products in the New Products Spotlight and 21 exhibitors hosting press conferences. Exhibitors are contributing to the excitement with a wide variety of giveaways, including:
• The Fabulous Friday $10,000 giveaway sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Vans. • A $5,000 dealer giveaway by STIHL. • A utility terrain vehicle giveaway by one of the following participating manufacturers—American LandMaster; Gravely, an Ariens Company; Bobcat Company; Hisun Motors; Hustler Turf Equipment; John Deere; KIOTI Tractor; Kubota Tractor; ODES Industries; SnowDog or Yanmar. • A PRO Hydro Walk mower giveaway sponsored by Cub Cadet. • A Husqvarna V548 stand-on mower giveaway sponsored by Greenius. • And more. The annual event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Professional Grounds Management Society and National Association of Landscape Professionals.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO HOLD LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS’ FEET TO FIRE ON H-2B To ensure compliance with federal wage laws, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a nationwide initiative to strengthen compliance with the labor provisions of the H-2B temporary visa program in the landscaping industry. The initiative includes providing compliance assistance tools and information to employers and stakeholders, as well as conducting investigations of employers using this program. "The H-2B visa program includes specific requirements employers must follow to participate," said Bryan Jarrett, WHD acting administrator. "This initiative demonstrates our commitment to educate employers about those rules and enforce them to safeguard American jobs, protect guest workers and level the playing field for law-abiding employers." Last year, WHD investigations found more than $105 million in back wages for more than 97,000 workers in industries with a high prevalence of H-2B workers, including the landscaping industry. A key
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component of the investigations is ensuring that employers recruit U.S. workers before applying for permission to employ temporary nonimmigrant workers. The H-2B nonimmigrant program permits employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrant workers from outside the U.S. to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the U.S. The employment must be temporary in nature, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal need or intermittent need. The landscaping industry employs more H-2B workers than any other industry. Before employers can be approved to request guest workers under the H-2B program, they must file an application with the department stating that: • An insufficient number of U.S. employees are qualified and available to work. • The employment of nonimmigrant temporary workers is not going to adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/whd.
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BRIGGS & STRATTON ACQUIRES STAND-ON BLOWER PRODUCT LINE Briggs & Stratton recently announced that it acquired certain assets of Hurricane Inc. of Muskegon Heights, Michigan, a designer and manufacturer of stand-on leaf and debris blowers. Terms of the transaction, which accelerates the company's diversification into commercial products, were not disclosed. "Hurricane brings high-quality products with differentiated capabilities around airflow and handling, which make the lawn and turf care professional more productive, and able to tackle even the largest jobs more efficiently and easily," says Harold L. Redman, Briggs & Stratton's senior vice president and group president of Turf and Consumer Products. "The acquisition brings Briggs & Stratton and its family of brands one step closer to its goal of filling a landscaper's trailer with everything needed to start and finish a job in as little time and with as little effort as possible to maximize their profitability."
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9/25/18 11:56 AM