As of January 2022, President and CEO Mark Litke will retire. Bryan Nyeholt has been named the next president.

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – SoundOff Signal, a producer of vehicle LED lighting, controls systems and electronic warning solutions for the law enforcement, amber and government markets, announced today that Mark Litke, president, and CEO, is retiring as of January 2022 and the board of SoundOff Signal has named Bryan Nyeholt his successor as president. During the remainder of 2021, Litke will be transitioning his position to Nyeholt to ensure continuity of the business and a seamless transition. In addition, Daniel Boerigter, chairman of the board, will assume the title of executive chairman.

Litke has been with the company for nearly 20 years, holding previous positions of vice president of engineering, chief operating officer, and for the past 12 years, president and CEO. He will move to the board of directors upon retirement to continue helping SoundOff achieve its anticipated growth and success.

“We thank Mark for his outstanding results and leadership that have positioned SoundOff Signal for future success,” Nyeholt said. “I am excited for what the future holds for Soundoff Signal. I look forward to taking SoundOff into the next chapter and continuing the prosperity and growth of the company. I look forward to getting out and meeting all of our customers and suppliers in the near future in this new capacity.”

Nyeholt has been with SoundOff Signal for two years. Previously, he held the senior vice president of operations position. Nyeholt came to SoundOff with an extensive background in Automotive tier one companies, having previously held leadership positions at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, Johnson Controls and Prince Corporation. His previous positions included vice president of global program management, vice president of global product and process strategy and vice president of global innovation.

SoundOff Signal’s management team of Jon Coe, chief financial officer; Doug Baker, senior vice president and chief innovation officer; Drew Radtke, vice president of sales; Marni Epstein, vice president of product management and marketing; and Randy Karel, vice president of business development will continue in their roles.

The latest addition to the excavator lineup combines a redesigned engine, optimized lift performance and undercarriage improvements.

WEST FARGO, N.D. – Bobcat has unveiled its new E88 compact excavator. This machine has up to a 14% increase in over-the-side lift capacity, as compared to the previous generation.

The E88 comes equipped with dual-flange track rollers, integrated counterweight, extra machine weight and added track on ground. These new undercarriage improvements offer increased over-the-side lift capacity allowing operators to dig with greater confidence over the side of the machine. Like other Bobcat compact excavators, the E88’s Tier 4 turbo charged Bobcat engine achieves emissions compliance without the use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) or selective catalyst reduction (SCR). This means fewer components for easier maintenance, plus no work stoppage due to DPF regeneration.

“We are excited to welcome the E88 to the world-class Bobcat excavator lineup. The new model is designed for performance, ruggedness and operator convenience,” said Mike Wetzel, director of product management at Doosan Bobcat North America. “The R2-Series takes the key benefits from the prior generations with new improvements in lift performance, work group fine control and ride smoothness to push what is possible in a compact machine. The E88 is poised to help customers tackle the toughest jobs in a compact product.”

Increased distance from sprocket to idler puts more track on the ground, which adds stability and helps to prevent a rocking sensation while lifting heavier loads. Improvements to the track design increase uptime and the overall life of the tracks as well. In addition, increased machine weight gives operators a solid base for strong productivity, especially during the tough digging and heavy lifting tasks.

The E88 is powered by a newly redesigned Bobcat engine that delivers efficiency and performance, plus simplified routine maintenance. It also improves cold-weather operation and includes a variety of features that make maintenance and service more convenient. The new low-effort joysticks coupled with the new hydraulic control valve offers improved metering, movement and controllability.

Key new features include integrated lift eye, optional clamp diverter valve and an add-on counterweight option to propel lift capacity even higher.

In addition, the E88 features an optional angle blade, important for fast backfilling and grading. This feature allows operators to angle the machine’s backfill blade 25 degrees left or right to direct spoil from one side to the other – without forming windrows on both sides of the blade. A great range of downward positioning ability enables an ideal angle for stabilizing the machine on uneven surfaces or while trenching at an angle. The blade is also ideal for “dust panning” material into the bucket, providing extra versatility for jobsite cleanup.

The spacious interior houses an easy-to-reach control pattern selector right underneath the seat, so operators can switch between ISO and standard controls without getting up or over-reaching. The optional automatic heating and air conditioning adjusts depending on the temperature of the cab. An optional high-back, heated seat with headrest provides added support for long hours of operation and serves as an ideal complement to the automatic climate control feature.

Owners have the option to add on a waterproof, chemically hardened 7-inch touch display. Operators can access their mobile devices via Bluetooth, connect with their dealer or customer easily through a quick contacts option and secure touch operation without the inconvenience of glove removal.

For more information on the Bobcat R2-Series E88 compact excavator, visit www.bobcat.com.

Aspire will continue to build its business in St. Louis with the support and investment of ServiceTitan.

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. –   Aspire Software, a landscaping business management software provider, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by ServiceTitan, a provider of software for the trades. 

The deal would represent ServiceTitan's largest acquisition to date and its second acquisition in the last twelve months, following the company's acquisition of ServicePro, the software provider for the pest, lawn and arbor industries. ServiceTitan, most recently valued at $9.5 billion, powers more than 7,500 trade businesses across various home and commercial service verticals.

READ MORE: Aspire ranks 115 on list of Midwest’s fastest-growing private companies | ServicePro joins ServiceTitan family

Founded in 2014 by Mark Tipton and Kevin Kehoe, Aspire powers hundreds of commercial landscapers that collectively count more than 50,000 and perform just under $4 billion in annual transactions across landscaping, snow and ice and construction. 

ServiceTitan will acquire Aspire from the founders and growth equity investor Mainsail Partners. As a part of the acquisition, Aspire will continue to build its business in St. Louis with the support and investment of ServiceTitan. Aspire customers can expect some immediate product enhancements, and over time, access to ServiceTitan's suite of Pro Products.

For more information on the acquisition, click here.

The IceStriker 2000-3300 SSA/SSC includes three models with capacities of 2.0, 2.65 and 3.3 cubic yards.

LAKESIDE PARK, Ky. – Hilltip announces its new IceStriker™ 2000-3300 SSA/SSC stainless-steel salt spreaders, designed for use on three-quarter-ton trucks. These new electric-powered spreaders provide new capacity and material options for Hilltip’s IceStriker technology, which contractors can use to spread bulk sand and gravel, bulk/bag salt, sand-salt mixes and fertilizers.

Powered by either 12- or 24-volt dual motors, the IceStriker 2000-3300 SSA/SSC salt spreader line includes three models with capacities of 2.0, 2.65 and 3.3 cubic yards. The modular hopper bodies and all mounted components are constructed of stainless steel, which helps prevent rust and corrosion.

The 12-gauge, stainless-steel hopper body facilitates smooth material flow. Material delivery is further optimized by an inverted V with a vibrator to help prevent bridging. To provide consistent material flow to the spinner, the SSA version includes a 6-inch, stainless-steel, 3-pitch auger, and the SSC version is equipped with a 12-inch pintle chain system. All models include a stainless-steel flip-up chute designed to spread salt in environments with high humidity, and a tarp kit to help keep spreading materials dry.

The color screen StrikeSmart controller comes standard with all IceStriker 2000-3300 SSA/SSC spreaders, providing users the ability to either manually set a fixed auger/chain speed or have the material spreading rate automatically adjusted according to vehicle speed. The interface provides easy control of the various spreader functions, such as the vibrator and work light, from the comfort of the cab. Additionally, the controller collects and saves essential data to a USB memory device, which can be used for generating reports.

For maximum control and observation of an equipment fleet, all IceStriker spreaders come standard with Hilltip’s exclusive HTrack™ tracking software. This allows for complete remote tracking and management of all software-installed spreaders from a computer, tablet or smartphone. One can monitor treatment routes, vehicle speed, GPS location and material usage in real-time. All of this information can then be used to generate PDF reports for the most detailed documentation. Also, the two-way GPRS communication channel allows application rates to be remotely set and adjusted for each customer’s site depending on weather conditions.

Additional accessory options include LED stop/tail/brake lights, strobe lights, LED work lights (white), end of material alarm sensor on the spinner, in-cab spreading symmetry adjustment, a chute extension for truck beds over 43 inches and 6- or 12-inch stainless-steel side extensions for more coverage.

The Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio recently benefited from a service project on June 16.

MOLINE, Ill. – A new Community Impact Project launched by the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio’s Broadway Club (BGCNEO) in Cleveland on June 16, 2021.

The Community Impact Project involves both foundations working with local nonprofit organizations to give back to communities across the country through various rental-related projects. The series of projects kicked off by helping BGCNEO, which serves over 8,000-member youth ages 6-18 throughout a five-county footprint. The Cleveland branch’s Broadway Club is home to a robust outdoor horticulture program where youth engage with and experience nature through a variety of hands-on, interactive program opportunities.

Through the launch of the Community Impact Project, the BGCNEO was revamped in a day. Projects included revitalizing a pollinator garden, creating and planting new landscaping beds and refurbishing the baseball infield.

The inaugural Community Impact Project was made possible by a group of more than 20 volunteers from six rental companies and two Cleveland area organizations.

“Partnering with The Toro Company Foundation, our members and volunteers has been an impactful experience,” said Marcy Johnson, ARA Foundation executive director. “Together, we have been able to leverage the talents and resources of everyone involved to promote the rental industry while helping out a local community.”

Three additional projects are planned for this year. The next Community Impact project will be held on July 21 in Denver. For more about the ARA Foundation, click here.