Summer has a tendency to fly by, as does news in this dizzying, 24-hour-news-cycle world of ours.

Here are some items you may have missed in the blur.

Toro Toro Toro

Edric C. Funk has been elevated to president and CEO of the Toro Company, effective November 1.

He had previously been president and CEO, and now will also join the company's board of directors. Funk will succeed Richard M. Olson, a 40-year veteran of the company who has been CEO since 2016.

The turf and grounds maintenance company — and parent of underground construction industry staple Ditch Witch — doubled revenue during Olson's tenure, expanding into infrastructure with the Ditch Witch buy, and also into the high-tech worlds of electrification and connectivity.

Ditch Witch's "Orange Intel" shows telematics future

Since joining The Toro Company in 1996 as a design engineer, Funk has developed a deep understanding of its industries and customers through leadership roles spanning engineering, marketing, global product management, and technology innovation.

He led the company’s Center for Technology, Research and Innovation in 2017, became general manager of the Sitework Systems business in 2020, and later served as group vice president of Golf, Grounds, and Irrigation, where he continued to play an influential role in shaping the company’s approach to technical innovation.

Funk holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of Minnesota — Carlson School of Management. He also has a professional certificate in innovation and technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves on the boards of the National Golf Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation.

Topcon finds the GreenValley

Topcon Positioning Systems has announced it has entered a strategic agreement with GreenValley International (GVI) to collaborate on technologies for surveying, mapping, construction, forestry, and other spatial intelligence related applications.

Planned innovations will include integrated hardware and software solutions for handheld, aerial, and mobile LiDAR data collection and processing workflows, with developments extending into robotic systems, autonomous monitoring solutions, and real-time cloud-based data processing and transfer.

What's all that mean?

A combining of resources and intelligence, and more efficient workflows for industry professsionals. Lots and lots of tech expertise.

“Collaborating with GreenValley allows us to combine the strengths of both organizations and deliver simpler, more efficient workflows to more professionals,” says Ron Oberlander, head of the Topcon Geomatics and Construction Platforms. “By advancing joint research and integrating emerging AI technologies into spatial solutions, we aim to help users collect, process, and apply data more effectively, even in remote and challenging environments.”

Construction's autonomous future still starts with humans

“Together, we are focused on developing AI-enhanced point cloud processing, including automated feature extraction and classification, multisensor integration, and intelligent workflow automation to help users collect, process, and maximize the value of geospatial data," says Cody McColl, North American operations manager with GreenValley International.

Hilltip Premium Truck Beds

Hilltip, which bought Industrial Truck Beds, an Indiana-based manufacturer of premium truck beds, in 2022, has officially rebranded as Hilltip Premium Truck Beds.

The change reflects the company’s expanding truck bed offerings, as well as its alignment with the Hilltip portfolio of snowplows, spreaders, de-icing sprayers, sweepers, and other road maintenance equipment manufactured in the its Fort Wayne, Indiana, facility.

Hilltip Premium Truck Beds designs and manufactures hook-lift and interchangeable beds, as well as dump beds, flat beds, and custom-built or private-label solutions. 

“We’re proud to build on strong legacy of Industrial Truck Beds and further strengthen our commitment to North American manufacturing,” said Craig Sandmann, managing director for Hilltip North America. “This new chapter reflects who we’ve become — a team dedicated to producing premium custom truck bed solutions that help people work smarter and more efficiently. ”

Known in North America mostly for snow fighting, Hilltip is actually headquartered in Pietarsaari, Finland, and is a leading manufacturer of road maintenance equipment in Europe.