For Stens, Move into New Building Pays Off

JASPER, Ind. – September 16 -- It’s only been a few months since Stens moved into its new facility, but the Jasper, Ind.-based company’s top executive said the move is already paying off.

Stens distributes replacement parts for lawn mowers, chain saws, golf carts and other outdoor power equipment.

Because of company growth over the years, employees were spread out among three different buildings, but the move allowed them to come back under the same roof, said Stens President Peter Ariens.

In late June, Stens moved into the former Columbus Container building, a 208,000-square-foot facility that Stens purchased and renovated. On Monday, the company hosted a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the move.

Having everyone working in the same space again has improved employee communication and creativity, Ariens said. Since the move, he said, employees have had more success coming up with new ideas and programs.

“The creative juices just flow so much better and they can bounce things off each other all through the day,” Ariens said.

The new space will also give Stens room for growth, Ariens said.

Stens first announced its plans in December 2011. At that time the company said it planned to hire up to 98 new employees by the end of 2015.

Based on those plans, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Stens up to $750,000 in conditional tax credits, and the city of Jasper offered a 10-year tax abatement.

Ariens said his company is still on track to meet its job-creation goals, and has begun filling some positions.

According to information on the IEDC’s website, as of the end of last year, Stens was about one-third of the way to its goal, having added 37 of the planned 98 jobs.

CPSC, Stihl Recalls Chain Saws Due to Risk of Injury

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 14 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: MS 391 Chain Saws

Units: About 3,000

Manufacturer: STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: The flywheel on the chain saw can crack causing parts of the flywheel to separate and strike users or bystanders, posing a risk of injury.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves STIHL MS 391 gas-powered chain saws with an orange top casing, gray base and black front handle and hand guard. "STIHL" and "MS 391" are printed in an orange circle on the starter side of the unit. The serial number is located on the crankcase to the right of the muffler when viewed from the rear of the saw. Serial numbers included in the recall are:

28535 1759 through 28535 1956

28664 5278 through 28664 6277

28665 1283 through 28665 5577

28724 4317 through 28724 4480

28735 3627 through 28735 3647

Sold at: Authorized STIHL dealers nationwide from March 2011 through July 2011 for between $530 and $550.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chain saws and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for the installation of a free replacement flywheel.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers should contact STIHL at (800) 610-6677 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.stihlusa.com. Consumers also can email the firm at stihlrecall@stihl.us

Snowstorms Boost 2010 Snowthrower Sales

January 7 -- In the 12 months ending November 2010, 38 million outdoor power equipment units were sold in the U.S., valued at $5.5 billion, according to NPD’s Consumer Tracking Service. Snowthrowers were the top-growing outdoor power equipment category, up 24% in units and 14% in dollars during the 12-month period ending November 2010, compared to the same time the previous year.

The market research firm said the East/South Central region of the U.S. showed four times the sales of snowthrowers compared to the previous 12-month period. The West North Central, South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic, and New England regions all experienced double-digit growth in snowthrower sales.

“Much of the snowfall of the early part of 2010 came unexpectedly, and seemed constant in some places, driving consumers to get that snow blower they had been putting off, particularly the aging boomer population. With storm after storm, there’s only so much shoveling and back pain we can endure,” said Peter Goldman, president of NPD’s home division.

The outdoor power equipment category, as tracked by NPD, includes chain saws, trimmers, mowers (walk-behind and riding), leaf blowers, pressure washers, and snowthrowers.

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CPSC, STIHL Initiate Recall for Chain Saws

Stihl Inc. has recalled about 5,000 chain saws that could have sticky throttles and pose a risk of cutting the user, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

This is Stihl's second recall this month. The German-owned power-tool company, with U.S. headquarters in Virginia Beach, recalled about 1,000 Bike Handle Trimmer /Brushc utter a week ago because vibration could cause the head to come loose.

On Thursday, the agency said Stihl voluntarily pulled from shelves the MS 361C saws (the C-Q version), which have a chain brake activated by the rear handle. They have an orange top casing, gray base and black handle with the style number printed in an orange circle on the side.

The throttle trigger on the saws can stick after being released and could allow the engine to continue to run at a high enough speed to drive the chain. Stihl has received three reports of the throttle trigger sticking but no reports of injuries, according to the commission.

The saws were sold from February 2004 through August 2009 for about $640.

Consumers should stop using the saws and return them to a Stihl dealer for a free repair. For more information, call (800) 610-6677 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.stihlusa.com

Echo Expands in Lake Zurich to Accommodate Shindaiwa Merger

July 12 -- Echo Inc., maker of hand-held outdoor power equipment, opened its new 129,000-square-foot warehouse in Lake Zurich today.

The new facility at 400 Oakwood Road brings the total operation of the U.S. headquarters in the Lake County community to 540,000 square feet.

"We're just about ready to move in," said Joe Fahey, vice president of marketing for Echo, a company that has been in the United States for about 30 years.

The warehouse expansion is necessary to accommodate the merger with Shindaiwa about nine months ago. Shindaiwa, which was based in the Portland area, will move most of its operations to the new Lake Zurich warehouse.

"We brought the Shindaiwa operations here with the expansion so we can better serve our Shindaiwa dealers," Fahey said.

He added that the goal is to ultimately move more of the Shindaiwa operations from Japan.

"This will ultimately mean more local jobs," Fahey said.

Echo in Lake Zurich now employs more than 700 people at the office, manufacturing and warehouse complex in Lake Zurich.

"This is a big day for us. It's a culmination of all the efforts of the merger and bringing the brands together," Fahey said.

Echo develops and manufactures hand-held outdoor power equipment for commercial and high-end residential clients. Shindaiwa has focused more on the commercial market, Fahey added.

Top items for the privately held company include grass trimmers, blowers and chain saws.

Power edgers, bed re-definers, power pruners, sprayers, earth augers, water pumps and safety accessories are other items included under the Echo brand.

Founded as Kioritz Corp. of America in 1972, the company serves landscaping, arborist and industrial markets. It changed its name to Echo in 1978, and today operates as a subsidiary of Yamabiko Corp., a billion dollar company.