Standing ovation
1 May, 2008 By: Brian Moore Landscape ManagementIt has been 10 years since the stand-on mower invaded the green industry. Before that, walk-behind mowers and mid-mount riders were the only options contractors had to equip their fleets. At a time when many contractors were expanding their crews from three to five operators, the ability to put more stand-on mowers on a trailer meant each crewmember could have a more efficient riding mower without the investment of additional, larger trailers.
Stand-on mowers now are available from several manufacturers, including among others, Deere & Co., EverRide, Gravely, Great Dane, Wright Manufacturing Inc. A commonly voiced benefit of stand-on mowers is a productivity boost from increased nimbleness and maneuverability. This benefit is a result of the location of the true center of the turning radius on a stand-on mower. Because the location of the turning radius is near the center of the cutter deck, a stand-on mower virtually cuts grass in its own tire path, eliminating the need for back-and-forth, wasted passes.
 Contractors have reported 25% to 30% reductions in mowing time and increased efficiency. |
Some contractors replace their hydro walk-behinds with stand-on mowers, while others use a mix of sit-down riders, stand-on mowers and walk-behinds. One observation I made when testing stand-on mowers was how well they performed on hillsides.
Find a need, fill a need
"The inception of the stand-on mower, as with most significant new products, comes from a simple strategy: Listen to the users and develop a creative, efficient product that addresses their needs," says industry pioneer Dane Scag.
In the 1990s, while many industry expert and end users continued to laud Scag for introducing the dual-hydro, zero-turning walk-behind, he took note of the numerous comments about walking so much during the day and being exhausted in the evening. An acquaintance showed him a prototype of a hydro walk-behind with a rigid platform.
 Nice ride Yes, stand-on mowers are actually riding mowers, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the mower manufacturers' trade group. The OPEI shipment figures published each year have included stand-on mowers in the category of "Mid Mount Transmission Steer Riders." |
"With my engineering background, I could immediately tell the balances were not right," he recalls. "However, the concept was exactly what the industry needed to address fatigue and increase efficiency."
Once he solved the balance issue, Scag launched Great Dane Power Equipment Inc. in 1996 with the stand-on mower as its core product. "At the time, many people wondered why I wanted to get into the business again," Scag says. "It wasn't about money; it was more out of a sense of responsibility to provide a great tool to the industry."
By January 1997, Great Dane was shipping hundreds of new stand-on products.
"We thought we might ship 400 or so the first year, but the product immediately caught on and we shipped many times that amount," Scag says. "The benefits of decreased operator fatigue, improved productivity and maneuverability were a huge hit with end users."
Another early leader in the stand-on mower market was Wright Manufacturing. Chairman Bill Wright says Wright's stand-on mower innovation was the result of observing and listening to employees of his lawn maintenance company.
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