Kubota are ready to do battle on the golf course, introducing a new professional mower in the hopes of building its Australian market share.
Built by Japanese company Baroness, the LM551 is a 5 gang fairway mower featuring a 33 kilowatt Kubota V1505-T diesel 4-cylinder engine.
Kubota golf and turf equipment sales executive Trent Saunders said the LM551 mower was a completely new design from Baroness, developed to target the competition.
"This mowing will be class leading," he said.
"The LM551's unmatched quality of cut and performance fills a gap in the market for elite golf courses.
"The forward and backward slide rear cutting function allows the unit to closely follow all undulations and contours, creating optimum playing conditions."
Mr Saunders said along with golf greens, the Baroness range was a good fit for parks, schools and ovals, particularly as grass maintenance was now recognised as increasingly important.
"Sports ovals need to be kept at a satisfactory standard so people aren't being injured, and the quality of cut plays a major part in that," he said.
"A good cut means the plant doesn't get as much disease or heat stress, invasion from insects is less because the plant is healthier."
Mr Saunders said speciality mowers were a growth area for Kubota.
"It compliments our existing rough terrain vehicles, tractors and rotary mowers," he said.
"We start at the self-propelled push mower and go right up to the Baroness 551 as well as aerators and bunker rakes."
Mr Saunders said the best way to ensure you maintained a healthy lawn was to ensure you had good thatch reduction, carried out a quality cut and planted the right grass for the right location.
"Quality machinery to look after your grassed areas is important, people often think they can get away with cheaper machines but it costs them in other ways," he said.
Mr Saunders said the LM551 had a cut with of 254 centimetres, allowing it to cover ground efficiently.
"A mowing height of 6-20 mimlimetres in the LH52 cutting unit and 8-45mm in the LH62 cutting unit allows the LM551 to be adaptable for all premium playing surfaces," he said..
"The LM551's industry-leading range of motion is a key component to achieving perfectly manicured fairways golf courses."
Mr Saunders said other features included a tight turning circle and comfortable operating area.
