RANSOMES JACOBSEN CONTINUES TO INVEST IN NEW PRODUCTS DESPITE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
15-04-2009

Ransomes Jacobsen and its affiliate company Jacobsen based in Charlotte, North Carolina, continue to invest in new products that demonstrate their unrivalled commitment to the sector, despite the economic downturn. Ransomes Jacobsen and Jacobsen are Textron Inc (NYSE:TXT) companies.

With the support of parent company, Textron, both companies are launching new mowers into the golf and municipal markets in 2009, while continuing their commitment to environmental management.

In the U.S., Jacobsen launched the new R-311 batwing rotary mower earlier this year at the Golf Industries Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. They also launched the innovative Eclipse 322, a hybrid ride-on mower with electric drive to the cutting cylinders with a choice of motive power from a battery pack or diesel engine.



Here in the UK, Ransomes Jacobsen will be unveiling a significant new Ransomes mower at SALTEX in September 2009 for the municipal sector, and are continuing to invest in the Jacobsen golf mowers built in Ipswich. The companies have also recently introduced a new range of cutting cylinders with a 45 degree relief, another first for the industry.

Commenting during a visit to Ransomes Jacobsen’s European headquarters in Ipswich in late March 2009, Dan Wilkinson, President of Jacobsen said,
“The manufacturing facilities here in the UK are second to none and are a credit to the management team. They understand the multiple cultures within their trading territory and have a great reputation. I am delighted with the progress over here, especially the manner in which the team continue to add engineering resources and invest in product development as well as in other strategic areas of our business, going forward.”

David Withers, Managing Director of Ransomes Jacobsen added,
“Our new mower for the municipal sector, launching at SALTEX, will be a surprise to many and this will be followed early in 2010 by other new products for the golf sector. Our environmental commitments remain strong and our actions over the past three years are showing significant payback in these austere times. We remain the only company in our industry with ISO14001, the international standard for environmental management and this is prevalent across the business. We have spent significant sums investing in energy conservation and dramatically reduced electricity costs. Yes, times are tough, but we are determined to remain at the forefront on the industry now, and be in good shape as the economic climate improves.”

Textron Inc. is a $14.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 28 countries with approximately 42,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defence and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, Ransomes, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

For further information please contact: Peter Driver, PR Officer, Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd West Road, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9TT. Tel: 01473 276386. Email: peterd@tip.textron.com.



Peter Driver