Looking Back on Fifty
1970’s
Rain Bird Europe Founded
Founded in April 1972 by then CEO Mary LaFetra and her son Tony LaFetra, Rain Bird Europe was developed as a formal Rain Bird subsidiary to better serve its international customers.
From its headquarters in Aix-en-Provence, France, Rain Bird Europe worked diligently to develop new partnerships and build a strong network of distributors across the region.
1980’s
The Rise of Irrigation Education
In southern European countries where water was scarce, Rain Bird prioritized irrigation education, training populations on The Intelligent Use of Water™. Rain Bird organized live demonstrations at customers’ properties—something that no other irrigation company was offering at the time.
1990’s
Autonomous Solutions
Battery operated controllers launched in the early 90’s also provided a never-before-seen, autonomous solution for European gardens and sites without power sources.
2000 - 2010
Municipal Opportunities
Recognizing a gap in the market, Rain Bird adapted a large range of products specific to the needs of municipalities.
2010 - 2020
New Technologies for Golf
Not only was Rain Bird Golf the first to innovate a computer-controlled irrigation system, but an entire range of novel golf products enabled European course managers to shorten irrigation windows, conserve water, and manage sites remotely.
A newly launched IC System™ connects central control directly to every rotor and valve, providing exceptional course conditions, with unmatched water and energy efficiency.
2022
Celebrating 50 Years of Innovation
2022 not only marks the 50th anniversary of Rain Bird Europe, but also the introduction of the game-changing RC2 Smart Controller. Inspired by its popular RC predecessor, the RC2 represents a new era for irrigation controllers.
At the heart of Rain Bird’s success in Europe and around the world is our committed community of customers and employees who are passionate about managing water efficiently and sustainably. Working together, this community creates irrigation solutions built on value and quality that will be impactful for generations to come. We’re proud to celebrate 50 years of Rain Bird in Europe and look forward to many more.
— Michael L. Donoghue, Rain Bird President & CEO
Rain Bird Now
Today, Rain Bird Corporation is a leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products worldwide. We offer the industry’s broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more than 130 countries around the globe. Rain Bird also partners with contractors, designers and municipalities to provide solutions, education and training to help achieve near-term and long-term water resource management goals.
A More Sustainable Future
Our goal is to continue to develop products, services, and education opportunities across Europe that promote The Intelligent Use of Water™.
This includes working towards EPA WaterSense certification for all our products, innovating irrigation emission devices that lead their categories in water conservation, increasing the amount of recycled packaging and resins used year over year, and facilitating wider use of reclaimed water. As Rain Bird continues to reduce its own carbon footprint, we hope to not only inspire, but to enable others to do the same.
The Intelligent Use of Water™
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EDUCATION
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Global leadership in intelligent irrigation control methods & products
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INNOVATION
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Irrigation emission devices that use water more efficiently
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VISION
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Environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices
The Intelligent Use of Water™
-
EDUCATION
-
Global leadership in intelligent irrigation control methods & products
-
INNOVATION
-
Irrigation emission devices that use water more efficiently
-
VISION
-
Environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices