New mowers from John Deere

Roberine mowers adopt John Deere branding

By Steve Mitchell

SALTEX 2003 was the first opportunity to see Roberine mowers sporting the John Deere colours and brand name, to complement the company's existing range of commercial equipment. From November 1, 2003, the Roberine 500, 900 and new 1905 models will be sold under the John Deere name to UK and Irish customers.

"For more than 20 years, John Deere has been selling product lines across Europe under five different brand names," says Graham Williams, John Deere's director of inter­national marketing for commercial & consumer equipment.

"The products engineered and manufactured at the John Deere Enschede factory in Holland will continue to be sold and supported through Deere's European sales branches and their respec­tive dealer networks, and they will remain an integral part of our professional turf care products strategy."

The machines are being presented in their new John Deere colours at this autumn's major European trade shows in the UK, the Netherlands, France and Sweden. They include the newly designed 1905 five gang cylinder mower, which will replace the existing 1903 model for 2004, while basic specifications of the 500 and 900 triple cylinder mowers remain unchanged.

Designed primarily for golf & amenity turf applications, the four wheel drive 1905 mower features a new Yanmar 43hp four-cylinder diesel engine and hydrostatic transmission. Initial production models will be fitted as standard with John Deere's established ESP (extra strength & precision) cutting reels, which are particularly popular with golf course users.

This new mower will also be available with a luxury Mauser cab, with integrated air conditioning and new armrest controls. It has a total cutting width of 3.45m (136in), and can travel at speeds of up to 25kph (15.5mph) on the road, or 13kph (8mph) when mowing.

Latest John Deere mowers make the top 20

Suitable for large lawns and commercial grass areas, John Deere's new R and C Series walk-behind lawnmowers offer both domestic and professional users a range of high quality features for easy, efficient mowing, bagging and mulching.

There are 10 new mowers and a scarifier available, joining the existing range of 10 R Series machines to provide a flexible choice of electric, rechargeable battery and 4.5 to 6.5hp petrol engine powered models. All use a lightweight die-cast aluminium deck with a deep design for more efficient grass cutting, with cutting widths of 43, 47 or 52cm (17, 19 or 21in).

C Series commercial mower decks feature additional steel protection for extra durability, while the scarifier has a working width of 45cm (18in). There are four models plus the scarifier in the commercial range, featuring high mowing capacities and good ergonomic design for easy operation.

The full range includes push mowers and single or variable speed transmission models, with controls conveniently located on the adjustable handlebar, which can be folded away for storage and transport. John Deere's exclusive TurboStar mowing system and TurboJet blade on selected models also provide excellent grass lift and maximum airflow for improved mowing and grass collecting in all conditions.

Cutting height is adjustable from 20 to 82mm (0.8in to 3.2in) depending on model, and all the new mowers offer John Deere's established mulching kit for handling both grass clippings and leaves. Large capacity (65 or 75 litre) rear discharge bags are also available on all except the commercial side discharge model; these feature a special indicator to show when the bag is full, and a large opening for easier emptying.

The new R and C Series lawnmowers join the existing domestic and commercial walk-behind and ride-on machines, all of which are now branded John Deere to provide a fully integrated product range throughout Europe, supported by the company's established servicing dealer network and overnight parts delivery system.

New domestic front mowers from John Deere

John Deere has added four new front rotary mowers to its established riding lawn equipment range. The 13.5hp F410 and 15.5hp F420 are aimed at domestic users looking for an affordable alternative to the classic lawn tractor, while the 15.5hp F530 and 20hp F540 feature articulated steering for extra manoeuvrability in confined spaces.

All four machines include a hydrostatic transmission, simple two pedal foot controls and dedicated mulching decks, which can be easily raised into the vertical position for cleaning and maintenance in less than a minute. They are suitable for mowing open areas as well as cutting closely around trees, shrubs, flower beds and fences.

With the articulated F500 Series front mowers, the rear wheels always follow the path of the front wheels, allowing these machines to mow quickly and easily around landscaped areas in one pass. There is also a diff-lock to provide maximum performance and traction on slopes, which is aided by the large profile 17in tyres.

Other features on these top of the range models include a deluxe seat with armrests and vertical spring suspension, power steering, cruise control and a large capacity 12 litre fuel tank. The engine compartment is fully enclosed to provide a quiet ride, and completely opens up for easy maintenance access.

All four new F Series residential front mowers will be available for the 2004 season through John Deere's dedicated homeowner dealer network in the UK and Ireland.

For further details please contact David Hart at John Deere Limited on 01949 860491