The Cyclone Rake Leaf and Lawn Vacuum Celebrates its 15th Anniversary in October 2012

Here at Woodland Power Products we're celebrating the 15^th anniversary of the company’s founding as well as the introduction of our Cyclone Rake product line. The first Cyclone Rake customer shipments started in October, 1997. Since then it has become one of the most popular pieces of outdoor power equipment on the market.

Before the advent of the Cyclone Rake in 1997, lawn vacuums just weren’t practical for lots of people. They were large, heavy, rigid-body machines, hard to maneuver on a normal size property. And way too big to store, unless you had a barn, a big shed or a spare garage. They frequently clogged on heavy, wet debris. The sheet metal impeller wheels were easily damaged by ingested rocks, causing down time and expensive repairs.

The Cyclone Rake changed all that

We set out in 1993 to design a product that was built for people.

• A product you could maneuver on normal size lawns, but with all the capacity of the big bulky machines.

• Easy to store in any home. Because who’s got room for something the size of an SUV? Every Cyclone Rake folds up flat in a few minutes and can be stored easily in a limited space garage, basement or shed.

• A powerful vacuum system that wouldn’t clog up. And impeller wheels that were rock-proof.

• A machine built light in weight, so you could use it, but strong, like a racing bike. You shouldn’t have to be Hercules to handle it.

• Convenience features for every use. Like automatic debris bagging, power unloading, and an easy way to carry hoses and tools. Simple snap-together components, so you don’t need tools to use it.

The Cyclone Rake design took four years to complete. It was so successful that we started the Woodland Power Products company just to produce it. And today, there’s hardly anywhere in the U.S.A. or Canada that doesn’t have lots of Cyclone Rakes— and lots of happy owners.

Milestones Along the Way

We've continued to innovate along the way. Today there are five Cyclone Rake models to choose from, answering the needs of properties from a modest suburban lot to institutions and huge estates. A few milestones are these:

2000: The Cyclone Rake Commercial is introduced to answer the needs of large property owners and contractors. It features significantly more vacuum power and hauling capacity than our original Classic machine.

2005: The Easy-Flow Unloading system is developed. Its tapered collector shape and 60° dumping angle provide major increases in hauling capacity as well as ease of unloading. Easy flow unloading is now featured on four of our five Cyclone Rake models.

2006: The Jet Path® Vacuum System is introduced. This completely new vacuum system uses three-dimensional computer aided design coupled with finite element flow analysis to set a new standard for clog-resistant lawn vacuum performance.

2007: The 9 horsepower Cyclone Rake XL is introduced, along with Briggs and Stratton® Vanguard™ Engines on all our Cyclone Rake models. The XL features a completely redesigned vacuum system with 70% more vacuum power than previously offered.

2009 - 2011: A host of important advancements including our flagship Cyclone Rake Z-10, with its 10-inch diameter vacuum system and 10 horsepower engine, which gives almost three times the debris flow area of the 6-inch systems commonly sold. In addition, our Blue Diamond liner with 200,000 psi steel is introduced to substantially reduce wear in critical internal areas. Finally, the Cyclone Master and Cyclone Mate power lifters are introduced, making unloading as easy as pushing a button.

Thanks to All our Friends and Customers

On this 15th anniversary we offer particular thanks to all the Cyclone Rake owners who have taken their time to write so many outstanding internet comments and reviews about us, our products and our customer service. We don't always get everything right, but we do take satisfaction from customer service and close relationships with customers. Many of our product improvements over the years have been ideas directly from customers. Nobody knows what’s needed better than an actual product user.

In spite of business pressure, we have stayed as a factory-direct manufacturer and marketer. We think it’s the best way to have one-on-one relationships with our customers, and to serve them quickly and directly.

October 1, 2012

James C. Whitney

Founder & CEO