Industry News

Industry News – May/June 2016

U.S. BATTERY’S NEW 12VE XC2 BATTERY OFFERS AND ECONOMICAL SOLUTION FOR REDUCING OPERATING COSTS

U.S. Battery now offers a reliable 12-volt deep-cycle battery for fleets and operators wanting an economical, high-capacity battery that can lower annual operating costs. The U.S. Battery 12VE XC2 is the company’s latest design incorporating a new cell configuration that supplies 145 amp-hours at a 20-hour rate, making it suitable for a variety of equipment and vehicle applications. This new economical design however, doesn’t mean reduced power or performance, as the USB12VE XC2 battery incorporates the company’s exclusive XC2™Formula and Diamond Plate Technology®. This allows the battery to reach higher initial rated capacity, and faster cycle up time to full-rated capacity, than other battery in its class and price range.

Manufactured in the U.S.A. to the same external dimensions as U.S. Battery’s USB12V XC2, the USB12VE XC2 offers a weight reduction of five pounds, and comes with a variety of heavy-duty terminal options. With a durable polypropylene case and U.S. Battery’s exclusive SpeedCap® battery vent cap for easy maintenance, the 12VE XC2 can be used with an optional single point watering system and Sense Smart™ valve, that indicates when electrolyte levels are low and the battery(s) require water.

For more information contact U.S. Battery Manufacturing, 1675 Sampson Ave. Corona, CA 92879. (800) 695-0945.

Visit www.usbattery.com.

YAMAHA ANNOUNCES TWO NEW PROMOTIONS

Yamaha Golf-Car Company has announced that Jeff Simpson, Western U.S. District Sales Manager, has earned the Salesperson of the Year Award from the South Central Section of the PGA of America.

Simpson will formally receive the honor at the Section’s Spring Meeting and Special Awards Banquet to be held Monday, March 7, 2016 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa, Okla. The South Central Section covers Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Kansas, and is one of 41 PGA Sections in the United States.

“The Yamaha family couldn’t be prouder of Jeff for his profound community involvement and the tireless commitment he brings to nurturing the sport of golf in this country’s heartland,” said Yamaha President Tom McDonald. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jeff and his family.”

Based in Bixby, Okla., just south of Tulsa, Simpson first worked for Yamaha as the North Texas District Sales Manager from 2007-08.  After exploring other ventures, he returned to the company in 2014, managing district sales operations for Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Simpson plays an active role in the South Central PGA Section, representing Yamaha Golf-Car Company as a sponsor of the SCPGA Section Championship, Assistant’s Section Championship and Senior Section Championship. Additionally, the company is the title sponsor of the SCPGA Yamaha Team/Senior Team Championship.

Yamaha Golf-Car Company has named 28-year industry veteran Frank Savakis as Eastern Regional Manager, Distributor Sales, according to Tim O’Connor, Division Manager, Distributor Sales & Marketing.

In his new role, Savakis will develop integrated strategies to nurture and grow existing regional accounts, while taking advantage of his broad network of golf industry relationships to promote new business.

Savakis most recently was a senior sales representative for E-Z-GO Golf Car Company, where he was named “Sales Representative of the Year” for 2015. Prior to that he was a territory sales manager for The Bruedan Corporation.

Said O’Connor, “We are glad to have Frank Savakis join the Yamaha family. Our distributor customers will greatly benefit from his 27 years’ experience in our industry as we continue our rapid market share growth with the fleet segment of our business.”

For more information about Yamaha Golf-Car Company, visit online

at www.yamahagolfcar.com.

M&M GOLF CARS WILL BE MAKING A TRIP TO THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, many will put their best foot forward as they showcase their talents on an international stage.  Mexico, Mo. will also be represented at the games, as M&M Golf Cars will be manufacturing and supplying 41 wheelchair-accessible golf carts that will transport spectators to and from the events.

Mexico resident and city councilman Chris Miller announced the deal during the comments portion of the city council meeting on Monday.

The golf cart company, which was started in 1978 by Miller and his wife Vivian, won the bid for supplying the vehicles after competing with two other firms, one in Japan and one in China. The carts will be specially designed for wheelchair and handicapped accessibility.

M&M will be working in partnership with Club Car of Augusta, Ga., whose representative in Brazil placed the bid with the International Olympic Committee and secured the $500,000 job.

Club Car will manufacture the frame or chassis on which the body of the carts will be mounted. In about three weeks, they will ship those parts to Miller’s factory in Mexico for further assembly.

By mid-April, M&M will ship the completed vehicles in container trucks to St. Louis, and from there they will be transported by railcar to Florida and complete their journey to Rio by ocean freight.

Miller said his manufacturing team has already begun making parts for vehicles, including the wheelchair ramps. Each cart will seat six people with room for one wheelchair.

Miller hopes the company, which started with six cars for lease and now leases and sells thousands of vehicles each year, will inspire other business owners in the community.

“I’d call it a success story,” he said. “I’m just a hometown boy who went to Mexico High School.”

He isn’t sure if he will be attending the games in Brazil, as his main concern right now is getting the job done.

“It’s exciting to be part of something like this, to get involved in something international,” he said. “But we gotta get ‘em built first.”

COLUMBIA PARCAR COMPLETES TOMBERLIN ACQUISITION, READY TO HIT THE MARKET

As first announced last spring, Columbia ParCar Custom Carts, Inc. has completed the purchase of certain assets of Tomberlin Automotive Group, Inc., a recognized leader in the electric vehicle market. “We are absolutely thrilled with this new partnership, which aligns perfectly with our goal of leveraging the considerable investment we have made over the last thirty plus years manufacturing and distributing pure electric vehicles for the widest array of applications” said Todd Sauey, Chairman of Columbia ParCar.

As part of their strategy to create the world’s leading privately held EV company, consisting of the Columbia brand of commercial electric vehicles, the ParCar and Tomberlin consumer-oriented electric vehicles, and their Elite golf car enclosure company. “Our dealers will undoubtedly benefit from the vast resources of the organization, driven by Columbia’s 70-year heritage of developing proprietary products through innovative manufacturing, engineering, marketing and customer support services. Sauey further stated, “We’ve also relocated our consumer products group to our FL campus and more than doubled our operations, warehousing and customer care center to assure we provide reliable support to our dealers and meet the demand for both brands.”

“As word of the acquisition has spread, the response from the market and our dealer partners has been remarkable. It’s rewarding to realize the Tomberlin and ParCar brands have considerable market appeal, and we anticipate tremendous response to the launch of the new 2016 Tomberlin offering. ParCar is the leader in electric vehicles in The Villages, FL and in Phoenix, AZ – two of the largest golf car markets in the world.  We plan to leverage their retail success, in synchrony with Tomberlin and the hundreds of dealers who have enjoyed our products over the last decade, to build the markets leading consumer-focused electric vehicle brand”, said Mike Tomberlin, who will lead the retail/consumer business unit. “We will set the standard in safety, styling and performance, and the combination of ParCar and Tomberlin products will assure we accomplish this goal.”

“This truly is a totally new company”, according to Jeff Andrews, director of dealer development for ParCar and Tomberlin. “The company’s investment in infrastructure, product inventory and aftermarket parts and services to support our dealers is quite impressive. The enhancements to the 2016 Tomberlin Emerge are revolutionary and will begin to hit the dealer’s showrooms in March, with a full complement of models and styles rolling out throughout this spring and summer”.

“We’re going to be selective in assigning dealer partners to assure we’re responsive to their needs and exceed their expectations, while managing our growth accordingly. I encourage any dealer interested in being a part of this exciting new business to contact us soon, because this train is leaving the station and the ride will be one to remember!” noted Andrews.

For more information, visit www.parcar.com.

JOHN DEERE CONGRATULATES PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, WINNER OF 2016 GCSAA COLLEGIATE TURF BOWL

John Deere is pleased to announce Penn State University as the 2016 winner of the GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl. John Deere and the GCSAA awarded the team the traveling trophy and $4,000 first-place prize.

At the 2016 GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl, teams of students from more than 30 universities and colleges across the nation competed for the chance to win a cash prize for their school’s turf program, and first place bragging rights. 

“We know for the industry to be successful, we need to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow, which is why our involvement with the GCSAA Turf Bowl is so important,” said Dave Plaster, North American sales manager, John Deere Golf. “This competition is a great way to build excitement about a career in the Golf industry and show our support for future generations of superintendents.”

The Turf Bowl tested teams on both their turf management knowledge and ability to think quickly under pressure in order to identify solutions to challenges superintendents often face.

In addition, a “Tweet Rally” was held in conjunction with the Turf Bowl. Competing teams and industry members were invited to vote for a Turf Bowl team in the form of tweets with a custom hash tag. The school with the most support through hash tag votes, which was Michigan State University, was awarded “Best School Spirit” and received a $1,000 cash prize.

For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at

www.JohnDeere.com.

CLASSIC ACCESSORIES PARTNERS WITH NIVEL PARTS IN 2016

Classic Accessories is excited to introduce their partnership with Nivel Parts for 2016. Nivel Parts has been in business for over 45 years and is North America’s largest provider of golf car aftermarket parts and accessories, carrying products for all golf car models from each major OEM. Along with their expert technical assistance, they also house the largest support staff in the Golf Car Aftermarket Industry. Ray Fundora, President of Nivel Golf, expressed, “We are excited and energized to partner with Classic Accessories. Stocking Classic’s products throughout our distribution network will reduce lead times and improve the selection of products available to our customers.”

The partnership will allow Classic Accessories and Nivel’s customers one fulfillment point and the opportunity to work with one contact for all their golf needs. To further support the arrangement, Nivel Parts will be warehousing Classic Accessories’ entire Fairway Collection of products.

“We are excited to expand our relationship with Nivel and are looking forward to increasing the services we can offer our customers by utilizing Nivel’s delivery capabilities, distribution facilities and customer support staff,” said Brian Bozlinski, President of Classic Accessories. Both Classic Accessories and Nivel launched their partnership at the PGA show in Orlando, Florida. Brian also added, “We believe there is a mutual opportunity to expand our businesses while at the same time providing an overall better customer experience.”

CLUB CAR OFFERS NEW FOLD DOWN REAR SEAT KITS FOR PRECEDENT PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES   

Affordable Kits Add Two Additional Seats and Take Family Time on the Road

Augusta, Ga. (April 12, 2016) –  Club Car is now offering a new fold down rear seat kit for Precedent®  Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTVs). It’s an ideal and affordable way to carry two additional passengers.

“The new rear seat kit is great for consumers who want to upgrade their existing cars and for dealers who wish to refurbish pre-owned vehicles with Club Car quality products,” says Aftermarket Parts and Accessories Manager Brian Marion.

The kit creates a four-passenger vehicle that’s perfect for residential, gated, retirement or seaside communities. “You’ll be able to take your kids to school, drop them at the pool or cruise the neighborhood,” says Marion.

A Perfect Match

The kit is designed and engineered to seamlessly integrate into existing Precedents for a stylish fit and appearance. It features:

A choice of a beige, black or white seats that match Precedent front seat colors.

A powder-coat, textured finish that matches Precedent struts and resists scratches and UV fading.

Fits the two-passenger Monsoon™ Canopy.

Compatible with Club Car’s four-passenger Elite canopy with new strut purchase.

Designed and Tested by Club Car

Unlike competitive products, this kit is made specifically for Precedents and tested to meet Club Car’s rigorous quality standards. If delivers superior quality, fit and these value-added benefits:

Contains everything needed for quick and easy installation.

An integrated safety strap on the rear bottom seat cushion.

A fold-down area with a diamond textured deck for carrying cargo.

Accommodates an optional accessory mount bar that can be used with Club Car’s current two golf bag attachment

“The exclusive optional accessory mount lets you create a dual-purpose vehicle that you can use for both family neighborhood transportation and golf,” Marion says.

Find out more information at www.clubcardealer.com.

CONSUMER AND FLEET PRECEDENT® GOLF CARS NOW AVAILABLE IN PREMIUM METALLIC COLORS — “CUSTOMIZED” COLORS, RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY

Augusta, Ga. (March 24, 2016) –  To give consumers the automotive-style colors they want, Club Car is now making Precedent golf cars available in these premium metallic colors:

Metallic Sapphire

Metallic Mocha

Metallic Candy Apple Red

Metallic Platinum

“This give consumers OEM-quality finishes at competitive pricing, backed by Club Car,” says Consumer Manager Mark Messick. “You’ll no longer have to hassle with unknown third-parties to get these dramatic colors.”

The new colors are available on all new 2015 and 2016 Precedent golf cars, including the Precedent i2, i2 Villager™ 4, and Stretch Personal Transportation Vehicle.

The Precedent Golf Car Difference

Gasoline Precedent golf cars are powered by an automotive-design overhead cam engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI) that outperforms any other golf car engine on the market.

Electric models feature a high-frequency onboard charger that issues alerts to prevent common user errors and monitors the battery pack after charging to deliver power as needed.

“If you’re looking for neighborhood transportation, the Precedent Stretch Personal Transportation Vehicle (PTV) has four forward-facing seats, 35″ of additional leg room, and a 19-mph Private Use Speed Option,” Messick says. “It’s ideal for families.”

Find out more information at www.clubcardealer.com.

NIVEL JOINS FORCES WITH THE BUTKUS FOUNDATION

The Butkus Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 and a private corporation, created to advance health and wellness through special cause marketing initiatives associated with Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.

Considered one of the greatest defensive players in history, Butkus us forever etched in America’s football culture as a man who changed the game through intensity, determination and persistence. Forty years after a knee injury ended his career, watching the Butkus highlight reel from NFL films is still a pregame ritual for hundreds of high school and collegiate programs. Following his illustrious career, Butkus enjoyed success in business, broadcasting and entertainment, including appearances in more than 200 movies, television shows and commercials.

Through his career, Butkus has placed high priority on giving back as a way to honor those who made his career possible and protect the game for generations to come. His lifelong commitment to philanthropy is what underpins the Butkus Foundation. As a USA Today reported aptly noted, Butkus is making even bigger impact off the field than he did on it.

One of the many events held by the Butkus Foundation was The Executive Partners event, February 19 – 21, 2016, at Larry Ellison’s beautiful Porcupine Creek estate in Rancho Mirage, California. Nivel contributed to this worthy event where the proceeds supported activities of the Butkus Foundation, specifically, the Butkus Takes Heart initiative. This is focused on cardiovascular wellness, including early screenings and prevention.

Nivel is committed to supporting events and causes promoting activities that help people to live longer and healthier lives.

NIVEL’S NEW NORTHEAST WAREHOUSE AND OPEN HOUSE EVENT

Dealers from as far away as Virginia gathered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, March 12th, to enjoy lunch, cocktails and to get some inside information. The reason? The NEW NORTHEAST WAREHOUSE for Nivel Parts.

Nivel hosted an Open House to showcase the new facility. Dealers were treated to inside access to get an actual look at the state of the art facility. Over 52,000 square feet of product available for delivery in 1 or 2 days, in the Northeast. This gives those dealers unprecedented availability to Nivel’s inventory of golf car tire and wheel combos, the Genesis rear seat kit line, LED light kits, Jakes, GTW & Madjax lift kits and Red Dot Enclosures.

One exciting activity at the Open House was an obstacle course dealers were taken on to highlight the Navitas Programmable Controller. Dealers were taken off road and uphill to experience controlling the rate of acceleration and the regenerative braking on the fly. Madjax and Jake’s Point-Of-Purchase (P.O.P.) display racks were onsite to show the benefits of accessorizing your showroom. Red Dot also premiered the Door Max enclosure. Dealers were able to get an up close look at why the Door Max cuts down on installation time and is going to be the top selling door enclosure in the market.

Nivel’s focus to help the dealer’s on their Road to Success is evolving. From their Open House Event at the PGA Show, in Orlando, FL, to exhibiting in San Diego, California at the Golf Industry Show, the Loyalty Program and opening the Northeast Warehouse in Camp Hill, PA… to future in events in Tampa, FL and Phoenix, AZ…Nivel is committed to its dealers all across the country. Keep an eye out for details on Nivel’s future endeavors to help you on Your Road to Success!

RELIANCE POWER PARTS PROUDLY INTRODUCES NEW CAMSHAFT & PISTON PIN BUSHINGS FOR CASE NEW HOLLAND®, IVECO® AND FIAT POWERTRAIN® NEF

We are proud to introduce two bushings for Fiat Powertrain® NEF engines. The addition of these bushings continues our commitment to offer the most comprehensive coverage in the aftermarket. New bushings now available:

Camshaft bushing for 4 and 6 cylinder engines

Reliance Power Parts is pleased to announce the availability of camshaft bushings for the four cylinder (4.48L) and six cylinder (6.72L) CNH/Iveco/Fiat Powertrain NEF engines. One bushing is required for each four and six cylinder engine. These bushing will now be included in all of our NEF major overhaul kits as well as being
sold separately.

Piston pin bushing for 4 and 6 cylinder engines

Reliance Power Parts is pleased to announce the availability of honable connecting rod bushings for the four cylinder (4.48L) and six cylinder (6.72L) CNH/Iveco/Fiat Powertrain NEF engines. All four cylinder engines require quantity four and all six cylinder engines require quantity six. These bushing will now be included in all of our NEF major overhaul kits as well as being sold separately. 

BATTERY WATERING TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCES THE NEW ROBUST 9 GALLON AQUA SUB JR.

The Aqua Sub™ is an industrial and heavy duty watering cart. Great for filling batteries in medium and large fleets, the four-wheeled configuration rolls easily and its steel frame makes it extremely durable. With the large opening, the Aqua Sub™ is easy to fill and there are no power cords to trip over. The direct fill link on the hose delivers the right amount of pressure required to fill the batteries quickly and efficiently.

25 Gallon (95 L) Capacity – Sturdy polypropylene tank is corrosion resistant and has a large lid for easy filling. For best results, fill tank with tap water, bottled water or deionized water from the deionizer (Part# PW-1800).

Steel Frame – Rugged steel construction with tough powder coat finish.

Battery – Requires a 12-volt Group 24 deep cycle battery (not included).

Charger – The charger is installed inside the battery box and is intended for a 120V/60Hz AC wall outlet. The charger shuts off when the battery reaches full charge. Contact us if AC voltage requirements are different.

Direct Fill Link – Ships with a pressure regulator and 09FBLUT3 connector. It is also available with 09GRF1 connector upon request.

Manual Gun – Available upon request for manual watering (Part# NC5250PN-MAN) Aqua Sub™ Pt# NC5250PN – 25 gallon with 09FBLUT3 connector

Hose – 12’ (3.65 m) of 3/8” (9.5 mm) industrial strength hose is included.

Pump – 1.0 G.P.M. diaphragm pump with in-line fuse.

Wheels – 5” (127 mm) heavy duty industrial wheels.

Assembly – Attach handle and install battery. Everything else is pre-assembled.

Shipping Box Dimensions – 48” x 24” x 24” (1219 mm x 610 mm x 610 mm)

Approximate Shipping Weight Empty – 110 lbs. (49.89 kg) Palletized for shipping (LTL).

Warranty – 1 year parts and labor.