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For Immediate Release

Exmark Unveils Redesign of Its Most Popular Mower

Customer Input, Exmark Research and Innovation Lead to New Next Lazer Z

Louisville, Ky. (October 23, 2008) – Exmark, a leading manufacturer of commercial mowers, introduced the new Next Lazer Z today at GIE + EXPO. Three years in the making, the Next Lazer Z is an evolution of Exmark's premier product, the Lazer Z, and includes dozens of enhancements that will reduce maintenance, improve traction and handling, and make the mower safer and more comfortable for landscape professionals.

"There are probably people who will wonder why Exmark made changes to what was already considered by many to be the best commercial riding mower on the market," said Mark Stinson, president of Exmark. "But as the market share leader, we know it is our responsibility to evolve our products to meet the changing needs of our customers, dealers and distributors."

The Next Lazer Z resulted from a combination of customer feedback and Exmark's own research and development of new technologies. Long before production of the Next Lazer Z began, Exmark engineers, product managers, marketing staff and customer service representatives spent hundreds of hours in the field talking with landscape professionals.

"We started with our customers," said Dave Converse, director of engineering at Exmark. "Our goal, as it has been for 25 years, was to understand their needs and expectations so that we could enhance our product in ways that could make customers' lives a little easier."

On a parallel path, Exmark began investigating a number of new technologies and solutions to improve customer experience, without sacrificing Exmark's trademark superior quality of cut and productivity. Exmark engineers started with a blank slate when designing the Next Lazer Z, incorporating many of the Lazer Z's most popular elements while improving upon others, or adding new features entirely.

"Nothing on the new mower is a result of chance," said Steve Finkner, senior principal design engineer for the Next Lazer Z. "There was a reason for everything we did. Every feature has a purpose and was designed in a very deliberate manner."

Some of the most significant innovations on the Next Lazer Z include:

• Cutting Deck: The new UltraCut™ Series 6 was created by combining the best features of the UltraCut™ Series 4 and Triton™ cutting decks.
• Seating System: To lessen operator fatigue, Exmark created an entirely new seating system with a three-dimensional motion isolation layout that reduces vibrations, bumps and jarring. Its rubber mounts allow 1/2 inch free movement in all directions.
• Hydro Drive System: Exmark designed a custom Hydro Drive System with no hoses, a serviceable pump and motor, tougher bearings, and an improved cooling system for better productivity and increased oil capacity. When used with exclusive Exmark Premium Hydro Oil, the new Hydro Drive system requires even less maintenance.
• Rollover Protection System (ROPS): The ROPS' new rear-sloping position allows it to shed low-hanging limbs away from the operator. Its fold points are lower so it won't hit objects when in the folded position.
• Unibody Frame: The Next Lazer Z's unibody frame sits close to the ground, allowing for the optimum placement of the mower's heaviest components, and helping to improve center of gravity.

In addition to increasing comfort, traction and handling, and safety, Exmark engineers and product managers focused on reducing required maintenance of the mower. Exmark simplified or removed certain components from the original Lazer Z, reducing the number of parts on the Next Lazer Z by 40 percent. The Next Lazer Z also has fewer grease points.

Detailed information about all of the new Next Lazer Z features is available at www.nextlazer.com.

The Next Lazer Z will be introduced at select dealerships in November. The new mower, available with a 3-year commercial and 5-year consumer warranty, will be available for purchase across Exmark's network of 1,500 dealers by the end of 2008. A select number of customers tested the Next Lazer Z during the summer months. Reaction was positive, Stinson said.

"Our goal was to help customers do their jobs in less time, with less effort, without sacrificing the best cut in the industry. We feel like we've done that," he said.

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Note to Editors: All media inquiries or requests for photos should be directed to Shannon Sherman, Public Relations Account Executive, Bailey Lauerman; (402) 514-9423. For other questions, please contact Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc., Industrial Park N.W., P.O. Box 808, Beatrice, NE 68310-0808; (402) 223-6300.

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