Takeuchi’s dealer network continues to grow with the recent addition of Ramey Motors in Purvis, Miss., approximately 15 miles southwest of Hattiesburg, Ramey Motors will become the latest addition to Takeuchi’s North American dealer network by now selling and servicing Takeuchi track loaders and excavators.
“Since expanding from the automotive industry into the ag equipment industry back in 2018, we’ve grown exponentially,” said Ford Ramey, co-owner of Ramey Motors. “There’s so much crossover between ag and compact construction equipment that it just makes good sense for us to take on that industry as well. Carrying the Takeuchi line will help us better serve both ag and construction professionals with top-quality equipment that helps them get their jobs done better, faster and more efficiently.”
Ford Ramey and his brother, Taylor, come from an entrepreneurial family, as their grandfather started his own grocery store back in the 1950s. Their father, Brad, eventually stepped in and took over that business, which has since become a chain of 22 grocery stores with locations in Mississippi and Alabama. He encouraged his sons to build their own legacies, and in 2015, the young brothers found the right property in their hometown to launch Ramey Motors as a used vehicle dealership.
“Ford, Taylor and their staff are outstanding at creating customer relationships that stand the test of time,” said Eric Wenzel, southeast regional business manager for Takeuchi-US. “Their No. 1 focus is on understanding their customers and their needs, which has helped them grow Ramey Motors into the multifaceted business it is today. Takeuchi shares that same customer focus, and we look forward to helping Ramey Motors introduce more Mississippians to the many ways our equipment can help improve their productivity and profitability.”
Kress gets Sourcewell approval for cooperative purchasing nationwide
Kress, a manufacturer in battery-powered, professional landscaping equipment and robotics, was approved by Sourcewell, the Minnesota-based government organization that provides cooperative purchasing nationwide. The new cooperative contract will allow any government, education or non-profit agency in the U.S. or Canada to purchase Kress’ line of products without the need to participate in individual bidding. This partnership aims to help more agencies adopt the Kress Commercial 8-minute CyberSystem and boundary-wire-free robotic mowers with inch-level accuracy.
“We are honored to have been awarded Sourcewell approval,” said David Johnson, executive vice president of Kress U.S. “We have already seen large-scale adoption of Kress for commercial landscaping, golf course maintenance and at the municipal level. This partnership will lower the barriers for entry in certain categories, allowing us to continue to revolutionize the industry by improving lawn care and maintenance efforts for more partners.”
Sourcewell-approved Kress equipment includes the full Kress Commercial 8-minute CyberSystem as well as Kress’ full line of real-time kinematic (RTK) robotic mowers. The Kress Commercial 8-minute CyberSystem boasts batteries that charge from 0 to 100 percent in only eight minutes on the go and last 10 times longer than traditional lithium-ion cells, as well as a comprehensive line of outdoor power equipment with as much power output as commercial two-stroke engines, according to the company. Kress equipment is also CARB-compliant, LEEDS and WWF Platinum Certified. Kress’ RTK robotic mowers run on Kress’ proprietary RTK network — with no subscription fees — using GPS technology without the need for local antennas.
Throughout North America, Sourcewell offers a cooperative purchasing programing helping public agencies get what they need efficiently and effectively. Sourcewell approval means that Kress has gone through the bidding process and its products exceeds all local requirements for public agencies.
LandCare launch new website redesign
LandCare launched a redesigned website, created to provide an enhanced user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), according to the company. The updated platform offers easier exploration of the company’s services, it’s defining culture and professional development programs while the visual design better showcases LandCare’s brand identity.
The improved UX design improves navigation, allowing users to better access the company’s offerings and market-specific details through dynamic location pages. Interactive elements provide an overview of LandCare’s impact, featuring real-time metrics that provide insight into the company’s internal and external initiatives.
According to the company the refreshed UI aims to visually reinforce LandCare’s commitment to a collaborative, people-first culture. High-quality imagery and interview-style videos highlight team members and the landscapes they maintain with a clean, modern layout that features LandCare’s signature tangerine and root color palette.
“The approach to redesigning our online space mirrors the way we care for landscapes — thoughtful, intentional and centered on the people who experience it,” said Mike Bogan, CEO. “We carefully considered how visitors interact with our site to ensure it authentically reflects who we are and the core values we uphold.”
Scythe releases instructional video series for M.52 autonomous mower
Scythe Robotics, a Colorado-based company delivering commercial-grade autonomous solutions for the landscape industry, introduced a new series of instructional videos designed to streamline the onboarding process for its M.52 autonomous mower.
With just under one hour of training, contractors can gain a better foundation in mower operation, autonomous functionality and troubleshooting — accelerating deployment and improving efficiency for landscaping crews, according to the company.
The M.52 is Scythe’s fully electric, autonomous commercial mower. Designed for performance across multiple turf types and terrains, it has been deployed across 14 states and counting, adapting to both cool- and warm-season regions.
The new video series features concise, two- to four-minute tutorials in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of users. The videos focus on the key information contractors need to operate M.52 confidently and safely. According to Scythe, whether a crew is getting familiar with M.52 for the first time or just needs a quick refresher, these videos aim to make training more straightforward and effective.
Topics covered in the videos include:
- Machine Basics (English) | Básicos De La Máquina (Español): Learn how to manually operate M.52, transport it safely and keep it powered up.
- Autonomy (English) | Autonomía (Español): Understand how to create Mow Zones, set up No-Go Zones and confidently run autonomous tasks.
- Troubleshooting (English) | Solución De Problemas (Español): Get quick guidance on resolving common issues and know when to reach out to Scythe Customer Support for help.
According to the company, early feedback from users has highlighted the depth and clarity of the training, noting its effectiveness in preparing new operators and companies for successful M.52 integration.
Crew members can watch real-world examples of commercial properties being mowed that help them not just learn but better understand how easily autonomous mowing compliments and enhances their company’s property maintenance efforts.
“Our goal is to empower operators to maximize their M.52 usage in a way that feels intuitive and approachable,” said Courtnie Simmons, customer experience program manager at Scythe. “After watching these videos, an operator should feel confident powering up M.52 the moment it arrives.”
