For Immediate Release

Steel Returnable Crates Save Exmark Dealers Time and Money

Beatrice, NE (December 15, 2008) — Exmark, the leading manufacturer of commercial mowers, has announced that it will ship all Next Lazer® Z and Next Lazer® Z AS products to its distributors and dealers in returnable steel crates.

The steel crates will reduce both the average set-up time required before delivery to the end customer, and the time required for dealers to dispose of wood pallets previously used for shipping. The previous set-up process took between one and two hours. With returnable steel crates, the unit arrives at the dealership assembled, eliminating the need for dealer quality checks and adjustments.

"Exmark is continuously evaluating how we can help our distributors and dealers become even more efficient," said Mark Stinson, president of Exmark. "These returnable steel crates will reduce dealers' set-up time dramatically. With the new crates, the dealer pulls two pins, connects the battery cables, puts fuel in, and drives the mower off the crate."

Dealers will submit a pick up request when they have six empty crates, and the crates will then be collected and re-used. Previously, old wood pallets may have been scrapped after shipment. "Steel crates are a much more environmentally-friendly solution for shipping mowers, and that is important to everyone at Exmark, as well as our partners throughout the distribution channel," Stinson said.

Returnable steel crates are manufactured by Wright Metal Products in Simpsonville, S.C., a leader in OEM manufacturing, assembly and metal packaging solutions.

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Note to Editors: All media inquiries, image or interview requests should be directed to Matt Gersib at (402) 314-2150 or mattgersib@gmail.com. For other inquiries, please contact Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc., P.O. Box 808, Beatrice, NE 68310-0808; (402) 223-6300.