ECHO hosted their annual POWER-ON-ATHON event on September 19th at their headquarters in Lake Zurich, IL. They invited a number of industry and media partners as they announced new products for 2025. This event included a factory tour, product release, and tool test.

Factory Tour

During the factory tour, Ryan Ladley, VP of Operations at ECHO, spoke about a few major focuses for their manufacturing of high end tools. They were safety, vertical integration, continuous improvement, and listening to feedback from their employees and customers. Let me break that down a little further.

Safety:

As ECHO has updated their manufacturing facility, they have made various changes to the assembly line. One of the biggest focuses for them has been the safety and health of their employees. They spend a significant amount of money to ensure that the team has an ideal quality of life and enjoys their work. Some of the improvements to the work line seem simple, but have prevented overuse or work related injuries for employees.

Vertical Integration:

This was a topic that Ryan brought up numerous times throughout the tour. COVID was a challenge for every vendor/supplier. ECHO felt the impact of material and part delays just like every other company. Their response was to bring more processes in house and improve the efficiency of their operations. In essence, they wanted to control their own destiny. This required keen attention to detail. ECHO brought an automation team, molding team, and maintenance team in house. All of this investment allows them to move towards a more self-sufficient supply chain.

Continuous Improvement:

The focus on improving their manufacturing operation was displayed in their quest for quality. For example, ECHO has invested heavily in automation. This investment allowed for improvements in the overall quality of their offering, reduced their scrap rate, and used new, innovative manufacturing methods. They even go as far as regrinding their scrap so that they can reuse the plastic. Today, ECHO has effectively eliminated all manufacturing waste.

Listening to feedback:

ECHO has implemented a few notable ways to gather high quality feedback. Externally, ECHO has implemented their User Advisory Group (UAG). The UAG members are end users (landscapers, carpenters, etc) that they rely on for feedback on their products and suggestions for future development. Internally, they host annual Kaizen events. During these sessions, they invite employees from various levels in the company to collaborate and determine what they can do to improve.

The tour ended with a walk through their warehouse. It was incredible how much product they keep on demand in order to stay ahead of demand.

Product Release

After the tour, the main attraction…the ECHO POWER-ON-ATHON product announcement. For 2025, a total of 10 new products were launched. This includes:

• 4 blowers (DPB-2610, DPB-5900T, DPB-7700T, DPB-2500LE)
• A rapid field charger
• 2 string trimmers (DSRM-225, SRM-2120)
• A hedge trimmer (DSHC-2600)
• A handheld pruning saw (DHS-3006)
• A gas mower (LM-2119SP)

Tool Test/First Impressions

Next up, we were able to test out the new products. Here are our first impressions!

Blowers:

ECHO continues to deliver on high quality blowers for the homeowner and professional alike. The 2610, 5900T, and 7700T are all part of the X Series. The DPB-2500LE is a limited edition blower in which ECHO partnered with Susan G. Komen. All of these blowers put out an impressive amount of power. ECHO’s 56V batteries produce an impressive run time in all of these continuing on the likes of the 5800T.

Rapid Field Charger:

The 6-port Field Charger was designed for commercial landscapers. This comes with awesome features like their trailer/wall mount. With electric tools becoming more prevalent on job sites, this charger allows you to charge 6 batteries at once, ensuring you’re ready for the next job.

String Trimmers:

ECHO’s Speed-Feed trimmer heads make reloading trimmer line a breeze. The DSRM-225 combines this technology with a light, durable carbon fiber shaft and battery power. This makes it a great option for homeowners looking for a low maintenance trimmer. The SRM-2120 utilizes gas and the Rapid-Loader head. And with an incredible price point of $199.99, this trimmer is an unbeatable value.

Hedge Trimmer:

Another addition to the X Series line is the DSHC-2600, however this time with a battery. ECHO designed this to incorporate a 7-degree angle which allows the operator to use the trimmer with added comfort. The blades are also designed to improve cutting efficiency, and the battery allows for quiet operation of a typically noisy tool.

Handheld Pruning Saw:

The DHS-3006 has a 6” bar and cuts through branches with ease. This new tool is one of the lightest, most powerful pruning saws on the market and is a great addition to anyone’s chainsaw collection.

Gas Mower:

Considering battery powered mowers consume a lot of juice, a gas powered saw was a nice return to conventional mowers. The LM-2119SP easily adapts to walking speed meaning you no longer need to fight the controls to find your Goldilocks setting. And the dual-blade design means you get a professional cut.

Recap

All of these great releases continue to improve on ECHO’s established reputation for quality in outdoor power tools. The ECHO POWER-ON-ATHON event was a great success! We look forward to getting our hands on these tools and seeing the ECHO line continue to grow. Check out the ECHO Press Release from the event for more info!

ECHO POWER-ON-ATHON 2024 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Echo CS-590 Timber Wolf Review

CS-590 Timber Wolf

5/5

Manufacturer: Echo
Model number: CS-590
Price: $399.00
Power source: 2-Stroke Gasoline Engine
Motor size: 59.8cc
Weight: 13.2 lbs (powerhead weight)

Specifications and Features

• Engine Displacement: 59.8 cc / 3.64 cu in
• Fuel Capactiy: 21.8 fl oz
• Oil Capacity: 10.2 fl oz
• Powerhead Weight: 13.2 lbs (no fuel, oil, bar, or chain)
• Oiling System: Automatic/Adjustable (Clutch-Driven)
• Starting System: Standard pull
• Carburetor: Butterfly-Valve Diaphragm
• Bar Type: Pro-Lite w/ ProAm material
• Handle: Plastic
• Sprocket Cover: Plastic
• Sprocket Type: Spur
• Available bar lengths (in): 18 / 20* / 24
• Warranty: 1-year commercial / 5-year consumer

*standard offering

First Impression

A friend of mine is an arborist and has been singing Echo’s praises for the past few years. He had a few Echo saws of his own that I had used when I assisted him during climbing and felling jobs. When I first fired up the Echo CS-590, I was immediately impressed. The setup of the chainsaw with the 20″ bar was impressive. The weight is well balanced, the construction is sturdy, the ergonomics are well thought out, and the power…oh the power. It was incredible. Just the right amount of power to take down an impressive tree without being too much to handle.

Safety

First off, safety is always the primary concern. This saw has the standard features that you’d expect from a chainsaw. It has a chain brake with a solid, positive click when it’s engaged. Also, the grip safety is convenient to actuate if you have a good grip on the handle and can be used ambidextrously.

There is a chain catcher which has been effective in protecting the operator in the times I’ve seen an Echo 590 throw it’s chain (seen it happen to someone else, not myself). Also, the location of the on/off switch is somewhat of a safety feature. While it can be accidentally hit (more easily by a righty than a lefty), it’s in a much more convenient spot than some other brands of chainsaws and can be used as a last resort to turn off the saw. While this isn’t a recommended practice, as it could damage the saw, it’s nice that Echo errs on the side of caution with their design.

Echo CS-590 Chainsaw Power

Some chainsaws are overpowered or underpowered depending on the engine-to-bar length ratio. Right away, I could tell that the balance of power to cut capacity was unbelievable. A 20″ bar allows for the felling of pretty substantial trees. During one of the jobs I ran, I was able to fell trees that were 18+” in diameter, then buck them up into firewood length without a drop in performance. It was certainly nice to so efficiently progress through the job site when the hot summer sun was beating down on me.

The power than the Echo 590 brings to the job site certainly helps to prevent fatigue. As jobs progress, it’s natural to feel fatigued which can lead to costly mistakes. Having a saw that makes work quick and easy can reduce this considerably. The saw makes quick work of trees which leads to less time carrying it around and ultimately can help to get you off the job site sooner.

Echo CS-590 Design

The design of the 590 is very similar to most chainsaws, but there are a few features that were particularly pleasing. First off, the saw has a sighting system built into the body. It allows you to line up the saw with where you’re trying to place the tree on the ground for your face cut. In order to get a quick gauge of where you want to put the tree, this sighting system is more than sufficient.

On the bottom of the saw is a screw for the adjustable oil flow system. This is especially nice because it allows you to control the amount of oil used. I personally adjusted the oil flow to completely open and it was fantastic. I’ve never run into an issue of the saw over oiling or running out of oil before gas. The adjustment screw can be a bit tricky as you can’t reach it with a scrench (you need a small screwdriver), but once you have the right tool, it is pretty intuitive with markings on the body about how to adjust it.

The chain tensioner is very simple being on the side plate covering the chain. With a quick turn of the screw, you can adjust the chain for optimal performance. One quick anecdote is to be careful when removing/reinstalling the side plate. I’ve seen a few people break the tensioner when trying to force the pin into the right spot. To prevent this, adjust the tensioner to line up with the bar, then reinstall the plate with the corresponding nuts.

Echo CS-590 Chainsaw Price

This saw is available from a variety of online retailers and hardware stores. The MSRP for the 590 with a 20″ bar is $400 which includes the saw, a chain, scrench, and bar sheath. Everything that you would need (minus gas and oil) comes with the saw.

Overall Thoughts

I am very impressed with both Echo and their CS-590 Timberwolf. While the price point could make a professional question the durability of the saw, I can assure you that it’s tough as nails. Multiple arborists crane climb with CS-590 and they hold up to multiple years of professional use. The saw is extremely comfortable, well-powered, and easy to use. I’d certainly recommend this saw to any professional end user or even homeowner looking for a durable, high-quality saw. You won’t regret getting a 590.

For other chainsaw reviews, check out these other Tool Box Buzz articles.

Echo CS-590 Chainsaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz