Toro Company acquires wireless monitoring technology

The Toro Company announced it has acquired Turf Guard wireless monitoring technology from JLH Labs, LLC. The purchase of Turf Guard systems helps strengthen the company's irrigation product offering, and reinforces a long-term strategy to continue to invest in new technologies to help customers manage growing water management issues. Founded in 2003, Turf Guard is a leader in wireless soil monitoring technology. The Turf Guard system is designed to measure soil moisture...

Dec. 7, 2007

2 min read

• Acquisition strengthens position in precision irrigation market

BLOOMINGTON, MN, Dec. 06, 2007 -- The Toro Company announced it has acquired Turf Guard™ wireless monitoring technology from JLH Labs, LLC. The purchase of Turf Guard systems helps strengthen the company's irrigation product offering, and reinforces a long-term strategy to continue to invest in new technologies to help customers manage growing water management issues.

"This acquisition will help strengthen our position in the precision irrigation market," said Michael Hoffman, chairman and CEO of The Toro Company. "The Turf Guard technology fits well with our current irrigation products and moves us forward more quickly to address growing demand for sensors in the golf market."

Founded in 2003, Turf Guard is a leader in wireless soil monitoring technology. The Turf Guard system is designed to measure soil moisture, salinity and temperature through buried wireless sensors that transmit data to a web-based interface for analysis.

While revenues associated with sales of Turf Guard products are not significant today, the system and technology are an important addition to the company's irrigation strategy. Products are expected to continue to be sold under the Turf Guard name. This acquisition follows the company's recent purchase of Rain Master Irrigation Systems, a manufacturer of innovative irrigation controllers.

As an important part of the acquisition, Jason Hill, Ph.D., president and CEO of JLH Labs, will become part of The Toro Company's irrigation team.

The Toro Company is a leading worldwide provider of outdoor beautification products, support services and integrated solutions. The company is headquartered in Bloomington, Minn.

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