The Toro Co. EVOLUTION???(R)???AE???? controller was named winner of 2013 Turf/Landscape Category at the Irrigation Show in Austin, Texas. The patent-pending controller was developed from years of customer research to find the perfect balance of simplicity and sophistication.
Courtesy of The Toro Co.

The Toro Co. once again demonstrates its innovation leadership with the EVOLUTION???(R)???AE???? controller recently being named winner of the Irrigation Association's 2013 New Product Contest in the Turf/Landscape category at the Irrigation Show in Austin, Texas. 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, the company has now won three straight years in a row with the Precision• Soil Sensor in 2012 and the PrecisionSense• site assessment system in 2011. It also received best new product honors from the Irrigation Association in 2008 with the Precision• Series Spray Nozzles.

EVOLUTION 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. "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 controller allows landscape contractors to extend their sales cycle after installing the controller. With the simple addition of a 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 it ideal for users seeking an advanced irrigation controller without the complexity. For more information visit www.toro.com/evolution.