Hunter Industries

History

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. 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. After being President and CEO for 19 years, Edwin Hunter retired in February 2013 and was succeeded by his son, Richard E. Hunter.

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.

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

Acquisitions

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

On June 16, 2017, Hunter Industries acquired Dispensing Dynamics International from Kinderhook Industries. 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.

On January 4, 2016, Hunter Industries acquired Florida-based Senninger Irrigation. 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.

In 2009, it acquired landscape lighting company FX Luminaire, and in 2008 it acquired custom molding company Grizzle & Hunter Plastics LLC., 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. In 1999 it acquired the Legacy Golf irrigation product line from Buckner Incorporated.

Brands

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

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) and new dripline and subsurface irrigation offerings such as the eco-mat.

Arson

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, 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."

References

References

1. "LEADERSHIP".
2. "Working at Hunter Industries".
3. [http://landscapemanagement.net/2013/06/12/hunter-helps-promote-smart-irrigation-month/ "Hunter helps promote Smart Irrigation Month"] {{Webarchive. link. (2014-08-13 ''Landscape Management''. Retrieved 30 October 2013.)
4. [http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/ll-011713-clca-honors-four.aspx "CLCA honors four"] ''Lawn and Landscape''. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
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8. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060908005202/http://tracks.csusm.edu/archives/media-relations/campus_news/2005-12/cal_state_san_marcos_center_honors_dick_hunter_for_business_leadership.php "Cal State San Marcos Center Honors Dick Hunter for Business Leadership"] ''Campus News''. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
9. [http://www.golfdom.com/new-president-for-hunter-industries/ "New president for Hunter Industries"] Golfdom. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
10. "Company Overview of Hunter Industries Incorporated".
11. "Hunter Industries acquires FX Luminaire".
12. "FX Luminaire names Sales Manager of the Year".
13. (23 February 2012). "Diversification Is the Key to Hunter Sustainability".
14. (19 October 2009). "Hunter Industries to shut down Cary plant on Dec. 23".
15. "Doing Well by Doing Good: 12 Companies that Got it Right in 2016". Center for Executive Excellence.
16. (4 April 2016). "BUSINESS IN FOCUS: HUNTER INDUSTRIES". Center for Executive Excellence.
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18. (15 June 2017). "Dispensing Dynamics International Joins the Hunter Industries Family of Companies".
19. (16 May 2016). "Hunter Acquiring Hydrawise".
20. "Hunter Industries acquires Senninger Irrigation".
21. (25 June 2015). "Hunter Industries Acquires Alex-Tronix Landscape Irrigation Products".
22. (30 November 2001). "Hunter Industries acquires FX Luminaire".
23. "News".
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".
25. "Hunter acquires Legacy line".
26. "Irrigation innovation".
27. (13 April 2015). "5 Key Trends in the Irrigation Industry".
28. "San Marcos, Calif.".