The Cox Stockman Lawn Tractor is the latest product from a significant Australian lawn care company. It was designed by Brisbane-based industrial design consultancy CMD (formerly Craig Mounsey Design) for Cox Industries in Queensland. It is an evolution of earlier products made by Cox and features an innovative heat management system for more efficient engine ventilation and cooling. A new seat design improves driver comfort when driving on slopes. Storage features not usually incorporated into ride-on lawn mowers include a dash key and coin holder, lunch or tool box holder, water bottle holder and a cargo net. The contemporary styling reflects recent trends in lawn mower design and helps to give the company a point of difference in the marketplace.

This lawn tractor was the second pre-production machine to be built by the manufacturer and was used by the designers and engineers from Cox and CMD to verify the new design. The Cox Stockman Lawn Tractor received an Australian Design Award and Powerhouse Museum Selection in 2005.

Designed by CMD Product Design and Innovation, Brisbane, Qld from 2003-2005 and made by Cox Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd, Acacia Ridge, Qld, 2005.

This mower began as an evolution of the previous model but over time developed to become significantly different from the earlier Cox mowers. It features an innovative heat management system for more efficient engine ventilation and cooling. A new seat design improves driver comfort when driving on slopes. Storage features not usually incorporated into ride-on lawn mowers include and dash key and coin holder, lunch or tool box holder, water bottle holder and a cargo net. The contemporary styling reflects recent trends in lawn mower design and helps to give the company a point of difference in the marketplace.

The Cox Stockman range of mowers were designed for use in all lawn and field care environments from manicured putting greens and private acreages to harsh Australian grazing and crop fields. The range consists of a number of models to suit different needs - from the 13.0 H.P, 32 inch (805mm) cut unit for small acreage lawn care to the powerful and efficient 18.0 H.P, 40 inch (1005mm) for contractors and councils. In 2006 the range consisted of nine models ranging from 13hp, 15hp, 17hp and 18hp machines with 32 or 40 inch cutting decks. Flexible product architecture allowed common chassis platform and body panels to accommodate the complete Stockman range from the 13hp to the 18.5hp V-twin engines.

The external body of the mower is made mostly of plastic. The major body components are made from injection moulded Nanopac, a high performance polypropylene nanocomposite (Molecular Blend PPNaCO3). The chair is blow moulded polyethylene and other parts of the body are made from pressed metal and compression moulded rubber.

The injection mouldings are joined using quarter turn and plastic snap lock fastener systems whilst the chassis was constructed using robotic welding. Welded chassis sub assemblies were then fastened to each other using Huck Bolt technology which is a new generation of rivet often used in the construction of semi trailers and truck chassis.

'The New 2005 Stockman', Cox Lawn Care Products website, 2006
http://www.coxmowers.com.au/products/feature_stockman2005.cfm

This lawn tractor was the second pre-production machine built by Cox Industries and used by the designers and engineers in testing to verify the new design. The operation of the mower and the engine were tested but it is unlikely that it was used to cut grass. The cutting blades were removed by the donor for safety as this is not a final production model suitable for sale or use.

This lawn tractor was lent to the Museum for display in the 2005 Australian Design Awards exhibition from July 2005 to June 2006 and subsequently donated to the Museum. The lawn tractor received an Australian Design Award and Powerhouse Museum Selection in 2005.

Over 190 products were entered in the Australian Design Awards in 2005. The judging panel recommended 49 of these products receive an Australian Design Mark and of these, 20 products for an Australian Design Award. The products receiving the Australian Design Award were announced at a dinner and awards ceremony on 22nd April at Melbourne Museum. At this ceremony the recipients of the Powerhouse Museum Selection awards for 2005 were also announced.

Cox Industries has its beginnings with Owen Cox who in 1953 founded a company to produce petrol and electric driven air compressors under the brand "Air Rite". The business expanded into producing mowers for the leisure boating market. As the market for petrol mowers was expanding Owen launched his own product, the 'Mowmaster', and sold it through his own retail outlet. In the late 1950's Owen identified a new market opportunity and began producing and marketing the Cox Mow-Mobile - the very first Australian designed & built ride-on mower. From that point, Owen Cox & Co. grew strongly. The company moved to larger premises in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba in 1968. In 1994 the company moved to a new factory at Acacia Ridge.

'About Cox - The History of Cox Mowers', Cox Lawn Care Products website, 2002, [accessed August 2006]
http://www.coxmowers.com.au/about/about_cox.cfm

Lawn tractor 'Cox Stockman 2005', mixed materials, designed by CMD Product Design and Innovation, 2003-2005. made by Cox Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd, Acacia Ridge, Queensland, Australia, 2005

Red and grey ride-on lawn mower with four black rubber tyres. It has an internal steel chassis, front mounted engine, mid mounted seat and driver control area and rear drive axle. The external body is made from mostly of plastic, the majority being polypropylene. It has a yellow handbrake and gear stick. The mower is powered by a Briggs and Stratton 4 stroke engine and has an electrical key start.

The information printed on the bonnet indicates that the mower has a 14.5 HP engine and a 32 inch (805mm) cutter deck with side discharge. The mower does not have a cutting blade.

Designed: CMD Production Design and Innovation; Brisbane, Queensland; 2005

Made: Cox Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd; Acacia Ridge, Queensland; 2005

2006/114/1

2005

1150 mm

1040 mm

1800 mm

230 kg