Quality construction, design superiority and ergonomic benefits set Grasshopper apart.

Premier Business Partners:

The Grasshopper Co. Ferguson Production Inc. Parker Steel Manufacturing & Warehouse Co.

U.S. Business Review: What distinguishes Grasshopper from its competition?
Stan Guyer: One thing that sets Grasshopper apart is our early commitment to automation. We adopted advanced manufacturing disciplines early in the 1980s and continue to seek out productive methods for improvement. Our first robotic welder came on line in 1984, and soon was joined by others. We adopted a powder coating system to replace liquid paint in 1987 with a number of environmental and product quality benefits, eliminating problems with liquid paint waste disposal since all the powder overspray is recyclable. Currently, we employ robotic break presses, welders, lasers and CNC machine tools. Our employees have embraced the technology and view it as empowerment, going on to develop other in-house manufacturing methods that contribute to efficiency in production.

We have an engineering, research and development team that embodies our “test and prove” culture. All components are extensively tested before approval for production. Test cells run 24 hours a day, pushing components to their limits to find out whether they can exceed our expectations for performance. Cooperation with suppliers is cultivated, so components that meet our specifications are made available.

USBR: Describe some recent products.
SG: Selected models for 2008 contain a revolutionary new transmission co-developed by Grasshopper and Parker Hannifin and dubbed the T-Drive because of its tandem pump placement. This design simplifies power transmission from engine-to-drive wheel motors, eliminating a number of moving parts and allowing more power to the cutting deck. At the heart of both T2 and T6 models is the Anti-Vibe Power Platform, which isolates the engine and drive train from the operator platform, providing an unprecedented vibration-free experience for the operator.
Another recent Grasshopper innovation is the patented PowerFold deck option, which effortlessly raises the front-mounted deck with fingertip control for underside access to change blades, install or remove the mulching package, or to save space in storage or on a trailer.

To streamline parts look-up and ordering at all levels and to increase dealer efficiency, Grasshopper developed the proprietary online QuikParts program, covering current and past Grasshopper power units, decks, implements and information bulletins.

USBR: How do you improve customer education?
SG: For years, we invested time and effort toward presenting the mowing advantages of zero-turning-radius maneuverability, and particularly, the ergonomic benefits of the swing-away dual lever steering concept originated by The Grasshopper Co. Now that this design has become the industry standard, we still stress demonstrating our machine, so the customer can appreciate the quality construction, design superiority and ergonomic benefits that set Grasshopper apart.

USBR: How do you maintain the productivity and quality of your products?
SG: We are continually looking for employees who will accept the challenge to embrace the technology and grow with the job. Developing relationships with suppliers who can be counted on to deliver the components and raw materials we need (and) when we need them can be a challenge. Fortunately, we have found a number of vendors that work very well with us by getting us the right product at the right time. We work closely with our component manufacturers to be sure they can supply components that meet our strict requirements. The revolutionary patent-pending T-Drive, co-developed with Parker Hannifin to Grasshopper’s design criteria, required many months of testing, communication and coordination to bring it to market. Now, the second phase of that process is on the verge of completion, and a larger capacity T6 drive will soon be introduced for our larger machines.

USBR: What does the future hold?
SG: We see the continued development of automation throughout the plant. We’ll continue to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry. Our research and development division is continually designing and testing new ideas and improvements.  

On the human side, the third generation of the family will have been involved with the company, gaining experience that prepares them for jobs at the next level and readies them to move ahead.