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Hunter Industries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hunter Industries, Inc.
Company typePrivate corporation
IndustryLandscape and lighting
GenreManufacturing
PredecessorRichard E. Hunter
Founded1981
FounderEdwin J. Hunter
Paul M. Hunter
Headquarters
San Marcos, California
,
United States
Number of locations
San Marcos, California, Tijuana, Mexico
Area served
Key people
  • Greg Hunter, President & CEO
  • James Burks, President of Senninger Irrigation
  • Arne Pike, President of Dispensing Dynamics International
[1]
Products
  • Irrigation equipment
  • Landscape lighting
Number of employees
1,500+[2]
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.hunterindustries.com

Hunter Industries is a manufacturer of irrigation and outdoor lighting equipment for the landscaping, residential, commercial, agricultural, and golf course industries,[3] based in San Marcos, California.[4] Hunter Industries also offers sanitary dispensing products such as automatic paper towel and soap dispensers. It is the second largest employer in San Marcos after the San Marcos Unified School District.[5]

History

[edit]
Hunter Industries headquarters in San Marcos California

Hunter produces pop-up gear-driven rotors, spray sprinklers, valves, controllers, central controllers, and weather sensors. The company reports that it holds more than 250 product patents and 40 trademarks, and conducts business in 125 countries.[6] The company was founded in 1981 by Edwin J. Hunter and Paul M. Hunter, to produce a compact landscape sprinkler called the "PGP" (an acronym meaning "professional gear-driven pop-up"), the first sprinkler to utilize "matched-precipitation" regardless of the radii or arc.[7] After being President and CEO for 19 years, Edwin Hunter retired in February 2013 and was succeeded by his son, Richard E. Hunter.[8][9]

The company's irrigation and landscape lighting products are used in a wide array of locations including sports stadiums, national landmarks, hotels, and city parks. Manufacturing facilities are located in San Marcos, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, and the company also has overseas offices in China. An additional plant had been in operation in Cary, NC, from 1992 to 2009, but the plant was closed due to poor market conditions at the time.[10][11][12][13][14]

In 2016, the Center for Executive Excellence (CEE) recognized Hunter Industries as one of twelve companies that excelled in promoting a successful business culture.[15][16]

Acquisitions

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On August 13, 2019, Hunter Industries acquired Lumascape, an Australian company that specializes in architectural lighting, facade lighting, and high-output applications.[17]

On June 16, 2017, Hunter Industries acquired Dispensing Dynamics International from Kinderhook Industries.[18] This acquisition marks Hunter Industries' first major foray into a market unrelated to irrigation or landscape products.

In May 2016, the firm acquired Hydrawise, a manufacturer of Wi-Fi-based irrigation controllers and web-based software.[19]

On January 4, 2016, Hunter Industries acquired Florida-based Senninger Irrigation.[20] The two companies have been strategic partners since 2004. On June 24, 2015 the firm acquired all landscape irrigation products, patents, and trademarks from Alex-Tronix Controls.[21]

In 2009, it acquired landscape lighting company FX Luminaire,[22] and in 2008 it acquired custom molding company Grizzle & Hunter Plastics LLC.,[23] now re-branded as Hunter Custom Manufacturing.

In 2007, Hunter acquired the MP Rotator product line from Walla Walla Sprinkler company through an agreement with Nelson Irrigation Corporation.[24] In 1999 it acquired the Legacy Golf irrigation product line from Buckner Incorporated.[25]

Brands

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Hunter industries has several corporate brands offering products for specific needs:

Hunter Brand - Residential, commercial and golf irrigation

Senninger - Agricultural and mining irrigation

FX Luminaire - Landscape and architectural lighting products for consumers, with a focus on LED lighting

Holm - Landscape and architectural lighting products for commercial and industrial use

Lumascape - Custom exterior architectural, landscape and underwater lighting

Dispensing Dynamics - Dispensers for towel, tissue, wiper, napkin, soap and air care products

Hunter Custom Manufacturing - molding and manufacturing services for customers

Conservation

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As part of the increased focus on environmental sustainability in the irrigation industry, Hunter Industries has rolled out new and more eco-friendly sprinklers, including the MP800SR Rotator (short range)[26] and new dripline and subsurface irrigation offerings such as the eco-mat.[27]

Arson

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On October 26, 2003, an arson fire damaged the main manufacturing plant in San Marcos, causing US$17 million in damages. Fires had been started in 8 locations of the building using accelerants, most likely by a disgruntled employee or ex-employee[citation needed], causing damage to inventory and production areas. As of 2006, no one had been prosecuted for the crime, but the fire provided the company the opportunity to modernize and to expand its operations. At the October 2006 reopening, CEO Richard Hunter announced, "Today is a celebration of total recovery from an event that easily could have destroyed our company…instead it made us bigger, better, stronger."[28][5]

References

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  1. ^ "LEADERSHIP". Hunter Industries. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Working at Hunter Industries". Glassdoor. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Hunter helps promote Smart Irrigation Month" Archived 2014-08-13 at the Wayback Machine Landscape Management. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ^ "CLCA honors four" Lawn and Landscape. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b Ibrahim, Noelle. "Hunter Industries emerges bigger, better". UT San Diego. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Hunter Industries". Great Rated!. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Sprinklers: Clearing the Mist". IGIN. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Cal State San Marcos Center Honors Dick Hunter for Business Leadership" Campus News. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  9. ^ "New president for Hunter Industries" Golfdom. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Company Overview of Hunter Industries Incorporated". Bloomber Businessweek. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Hunter Industries acquires FX Luminaire". SportsTurf. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  12. ^ "FX Luminaire names Sales Manager of the Year". Lawn & Landscape. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Diversification Is the Key to Hunter Sustainability". Hunter Industries. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Hunter Industries to shut down Cary plant on Dec. 23". WRAL. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  15. ^ Nasim, Sheri. "Doing Well by Doing Good: 12 Companies that Got it Right in 2016". LinkedIn. Center for Executive Excellence. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  16. ^ "BUSINESS IN FOCUS: HUNTER INDUSTRIES". Center for Executive Excellence Web site. Center for Executive Excellence. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  17. ^ www.hunterindustries.com https://www.hunterindustries.com/sites/default/files/marketing/Lumascape_Press_Release.html. Retrieved 2020-03-08. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ^ "Dispensing Dynamics International Joins the Hunter Industries Family of Companies". Hunter Industries. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Hunter Acquiring Hydrawise". Green Industry Pros. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Hunter Industries acquires Senninger Irrigation". Lawn & Landscape. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Hunter Industries Acquires Alex-Tronix Landscape Irrigation Products". Green Industry Pros. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Hunter Industries acquires FX Luminaire". Sports Turf. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  23. ^ "News". Turf Design Build. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Home » Publications » Industry magazines » Construction magazines » Landscape & Irrigation » May 2007 » Save Export Print Cite Hunter Industries Acquires MP Rotator Turf Sprinkler Business from Nelson Irrigation Corporation". Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  25. ^ "Hunter acquires Legacy line" (PDF). MSU Library Archive. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  26. ^ "Irrigation innovation". Lawn & Landscape. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  27. ^ Trusty, Steve (13 April 2015). "5 Key Trends in the Irrigation Industry". Green Industry Pros. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  28. ^ "San Marcos, Calif". Landscape Online. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
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