RAIN BIRD GOLF:
30 YEARS OF COMPUTERIZED CENTRAL CONTROL LEADERSHIP

TUCSON, Ariz., (February 22, 2007) - From the industry’s original central control system to the current Central Control Version 5.0, Rain Bird’s Golf Division proudly celebrates 30 years as the computerized central control industry leader.  Rain Bird’s central control line is the industry’s gold standard in that it offers unmatched water management capabilities with a modular product line that allows each course to customize a system that best suits their individual needs.

“My design philosophy is now, and has always been, that the superintendent is ‘king.’  No matter how automated or smart our system becomes, superintendents will always have the ability to override functions - easily - when he wants to,” said Rene Evelyn-Veere, engineering scientist at Rain Bird and inventor of computerized central control.

Rain Bird developed the original computer-based central control system in 1976 and today has thousands of systems installed worldwide.  Rain Bird’s evolution in the central control market has seen numerous technical innovations designed to improve the efficiency of course irrigation systems.  A few of these innovations and the year they were introduced include:

MAXI®: The first computerized central control system. (1976)

MAXI® II: Pioneered the “linking” concept for irrigation scheduling. (1980)

MAXI®-ET:  State-of-the-art weather stations and ET-sensitized irrigation scheduling. (1987)

MAXI® IV: Introduces Flo-Manager®  and Cycle + Soak balances system hydraulics and pump station demand. (1988)

MAXICOM™-R:  A commercial version of MAXI designed to communicate over radio. (1989)

MAXI® V:  This technology with Rain Bucket™ software adjusts irrigation based on rainfall and soil-holding capacity. (1990)

LINK™: Add wireless technology to the MAXI® system. (1991)

FREEDOM™: Using a handheld device, this software allows users to provide real-time, two-way communication with the central controller from anywhere on the course. (1993)

Stratus™:  The first Windows-based computerized central control system. (1994)

Cirrus™:  Makes map-based irrigation utilizing a GPS survey a reality. (1998)

SmartWeather™: Integrates the weather station directly into the control system for real-time scheduling adjustments based on weather. (2000)

Pump Monitor™ and Smart Pump™: Software offers real-time, two-way communication
between the pump station and the central control. (2001)

FREEDOM-Pad™: Advanced remote puts the irrigation system in the palm of your hand. (2002)

RainWatch® and MinimumET™:  Intelligent environmental reactions making maximum use of real-time irrigation control. (2004)

Central Control Software Version 5.0:  This pioneering software includes timed station-adjust giving superintendents unprecedented control over their irrigation system. (2006)

Today, Rain Bird central controls combine the latest technology and Rain Bird reliability for the ultimate in flexibility and control for your water management system.  The product line consists of Cirrus™, Nimbus™ II, Stratus™ II and Stratus™ LT.

“We’re extremely proud of our heritage in computerized central control because what we’re really doing is providing superintendents the ability to improve their water efficiency – and that’s good for everybody,” said Barbara Booth, Rain Bird Golf Division director.  “Our innovative central control software gives superintendents unique capabilities, such as actual flow monitoring, that will save them time and money and grant them the peace of mind that their irrigation systems will run smoothly and efficiently.”

About Rain Bird Golf

Rain Bird Corporation - Golf Division manufactures a wide range of irrigation products for golf courses: pump stations, EAGLE™ Gear-drive Rotors, the EAGLE Wireless Rotor Series, field controllers, map-based central control irrigation systems, decoders, swing joints, flow meters, filtration systems, valves and irrigation accessories.  Rain Bird Central Control and Pump Station components are serviced and supported by a comprehensive Global Service Plan (GSP).  These products are sold worldwide through an extensive network of specialty irrigation distributors.  For more information, please contact 1-800-RAINBIRD or visit www.rainbird.com.

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Contact:
Sarah Willnerd
(402) 437-6411
sarahw@sramarketing.com