Product News
Toro three-peats at Irrigation Association’s New Product Contest
November 22, 2013 By Mike Jiggens
Toro's EVOLUTION® controller has been named winner of the Irrigation Association’s 2013 New Product Contest in the Turf/Landscape category at the Irrigation Show in Austin, Texas. The patent-pending EVOLUTION controller was developed from years of customer research to find the perfect balance of simplicity and sophistication. Launched in the spring of 2013, the product has been well received by contractors and homeowners alike for its intuitive interface, USB functionality, and smart upgrade path.
With this recent win, Toro has now won three straight years in a row with the Precision™ Soil Sensor in 2012 and the PrecisionSense™ site assessment system in 2011. Toro also received “best new product” honours from the Irrigation Association in 2008 with the Precision™ Series Spray Nozzles. 
The EVOLUTION controller was designed to perform like a traditional time-based controller, but could evolve into a “smart” controller with water-saving upgrades that can be added during installation or over time as the customer’s needs evolve.
“We developed a product that was simple enough for a homeowners’ limited interaction,” said Burnett Jones, marketing manager for Toro Irrigation. “But on the other end, EVOLUTION is smart enough and advanced enough to allow contractors to fully utilize their expertise and knowledge in managing irrigation systems and landscape needs to the full extent needed at an individual property.”
The base model of the EVOLUTION controller allows contractors to extend their sales cycle after installing the controller. With the simple addition of Toro’s wireless Smart Connect™ feature, contractors can provide smart irrigation products including rain/moisture sensors, a weather sensor, handheld remote control, and even auxiliary features such as landscape lighting. Its modern-day programming, expandable design and smart capability make the EVOLUTION an ideal choice for users seeking an advanced irrigation controller without the complexity.
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