Coming away from the recent Service Dealer Conference and Awards, I couldn’t help but think about the topics that were discussed. One topic, in particular, grabbed my attention and everyone else’s as well. That was the topic of hiring and retaining staff, especially technicians/mechanics in the service dept. of the business.

As we all know it is extremely difficult to hire the right person and retain good staff. Why is this the case? Many suggestions were given at the Service Dealer Conference and brought up a lively and healthy debate on how to solve this ongoing problem.

For example, recruiting technicians can come from many sources such as:

• Head hunting from other dealers (also known as poaching!)
• The local press
• Word of mouth
• Employees within the business who show an interest or have potential/ability

The last point above is particularly important. It is always worth keeping an eye out for employees within your firm that show a good work ethic. The person that sweeps the floor and tidies up in the workshop could, one day, be your best technician.

Employers, when interviewing potential candidates, often look at the person’s skills and ability when deciding whom to take on. However, this may not be the most important attribute when deciding whom to chose. A person’s attitude is probably more important than what’s written on their C.V. If he/she shows a willingness to work and loves working with machines, then you probably have a very good candidate sitting in front of you. Knowledge, skills and experience can be developed later.

When it comes to keeping good staff, the owner or business manager faces a number of problems. It is important to look after your best staff. This can be done in a number of ways:

• Pay them the appropriate rate (or else they will go elsewhere)
• Give them ongoing training (also known as CPD)
• Give them a job title, something they can be proud of

One big hurdle the farm and garden machinery industry has to overcome is the competition it faces with the car dealerships. Car mechanics are generally paid a higher rate than their agricultural counterparts. A technician, after serving time working in a tractor or mower workshop, will find the lure of a higher salary from a car dealer, who is looking for a mechanic, very tempting indeed.

How can we stop this? Should the agricultural technician be paid the same rate as the car dealer technician? If that were the case then that would significantly push up the cost of tractor and mower repairs and services. Would the customer be willing to pay for this extra cost? Probably not, yet they pay the high cost of motor repairs and service in the same way as a farmer will pay a higher rate for repairing his Land Rover or jeep but would object profoundly if this rate were applied to his tractor repairs. Bob Clements wisely said at this year’s Service Dealer Conference and Awards “Never apologise for being priced too high. Apologise for poor quality.”

The market is scarce of quality technicians. This industry needs to make it more attractive to entice young people to want to make a career in the farm and garden machinery sector. It’s up to the industry to throw out the carrot to them.

Barrow Valley Spares (BVS Parts) launched Ireland’s first “Powered by Kramp” store in Athy, Co. Kildare on Saturday 9th November last as one of Leinster’s largest dedicated farm, garden and construction machinery parts stores.

Alan Maher of BVS Parts with Craig Marsh of Powered by Kramp at the recent Service Dealer 2019 Conference and Awards

The store includes over 27,000 items instore and a dedicated online parts store accessible to all account holders giving them access to over 500,000 products delivered straight to their homes or businesses.

Brothers in business

BVS Parts was established in early 2014 by two Athy brothers, Declan and Alan Maher, working from a 400sqft shed beside their house. Working predominantly mending hydraulics hoses and components they quickly established themselves as an agri-parts store supplying the local community with filters, oils and grease. They expanded to supply machinery parts for tractors, ploughs, tillers, seeders, cultivators, diggers and track machinery. They quickly realised they were running out of space after the first year, so they moved into a larger premises by January 2016.

The determined duo began to set their sights on international markets. They met a variety of distributors and manufacturers over the next 12 months and tested out ideas in the local market. In late 2017, the stars aligned and BVS Parts met Kramp who were serendipitously looking for a distributor in Ireland. Kramp are still a family orientated company and they constantly seek they can help the local retailer expand their business with Kramp’s range of original and private label products.

A huge online offering

Kramp are Europe’s largest distributors of agricultural products and BVS Parts instore range will represent a broad selection of the most popular items in the agri, garden, construction and engineering industries. This offers a huge benefit. This increased convenience means a decrease in downtime, significant time savings and a wider choice in the one location. You can order anything you need from the comfort of your own home or even out in the field and know that you have support both locally and European wide.

Supporting farmers nationwide

BVS Parts have ambitious plans for the future. They are dedicated to supporting farmers and have set a task of building a nationwide database of independent skilled workers on one easy location on their website. They want to hear from local self- employed mechanics, service technicians, relief workers, contractors and engineers from across Ireland who are interested in becoming part of the BVS Parts family. They are offering easy setup accounts to these individuals, providing them with an online presence and directing any work inquiries back to the most appropriate business. Similarly, any farm relief workers/contractors who are listed on the site can promote their services.

Grand opening

The grand opening took place on Saturday the 9th of November at BVS Parts, Athy, Co. Kildare. There were fantastic opportunities instore on the day including new online accounts were eligible for a 25% discount on their first order up to €500. Those who made the trip to the store had the opportunity to avail of up to 70% discounts. Kramp representatives were there to answer any questions regarding their products and gave live demonstrations of the online store. During the opening they held raffles for a Grassmen goody bag, a 96 piece socket set valued at €320 and other great prizes. All monies raised were donated to the most deserving of causes; A Little lifetime Foundation who provide support to families following the death of a child.

It has reported in the U.S that Doosan Bobcat Inc. is to acquire the assets of the BOB-CAT Mowers, and the Steiner and Ryan brands of groundscare equipment from Schiller Grounds Care Inc.

The transaction is expected to close by December 31st 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

“As a pillar of our growth strategy, this acquisition will complement our existing business and expand our footprint to additional, growing industries,” Scott Park, president and chief executive officer of Doosan Bobcat Inc is quoted in U.S trade magazine, Rural Lifestyle Dealer. “These successful brands bring market leadership and closely align with our vision, which will further diversify our business as we expand the reach of Doosan Bobcat to more customers and markets.”

Under the agreement, Doosan Bobcat will acquire the Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility, and the BOB-CAT Mowers, Steiner and Ryan brands of ground care equipment. The Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. employees working at the Johnson Creek location, as well as the distributor and dealer direct field sales and technical support teams, will join the Doosan Bobcat team once the acquisition is finalised.

“We see tremendous opportunity in these brands and the grounds care industry,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “We look forward to welcoming these employees to our North America team and are excited about what we will be able to accomplish together.”

The purchase price of the assets of the BOB-CAT Mowers, Steiner and Ryan brands of ground care equipment from Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. was not disclosed. BDO Capital Advisers LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to Schiller Grounds Care Inc.

A record-breaking total of 66 young parts and service technicians are being trained in this year’s John Deere Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech advanced apprenticeship programmes, the highest total intake since the first Ag Tech induction in 1992.

John Deere’s new Ag, Parts and Turf Tech trainee apprentices, pictured during their induction day at the Albert Hall Conference Centre in Nottingham in October

The group includes for the first time apprentices from Ireland, the John Deere Forestry division and the Wirtgen road construction business, which Deere acquired at the end of 2017, as well as more female apprentices than ever before (five altogether). These annual programmes are run in partnership with the dealer network and national training provider ProVQ at the purpose-built John Deere Apprentice Training Centre in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire in the UK.

“There’s never been a better time to consider an apprenticeship with John Deere,” says the company’s training centre manager Allan Cochran. “The increasing levels of automation used throughout our products, including artificial intelligence, advanced electronics, satellite guidance systems and telematics, give us the ability to diagnose and repair machines without even laying a hand on them. All this technology, as well as cutting edge engine and transmission design, means the need for skilled people within our dealerships is ever present.

“It’s not just about the machines either - sophisticated parts and service systems require the same skills too. The John Deere dealer of tomorrow is a challenging business, with a wide range of opportunities and exciting prospects for talented, enthusiastic people from any background.

“Like all apprenticeships, the programmes combine on-the-job training with paid employment at the dealership, leading to nationally recognised and valued qualifications. Apprentices undergo fully supported training, assessment and guidance, gaining valuable workplace skills by undertaking practical tasks and experiencing real-life challenges. They also spend eight weeks each year at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre and at our head office in Langar.

“We are delighted to expand the programmes for the first time to our dealers in Ireland. This will allow us to deliver the same consistent, high quality apprentice training across the UK & Irish network, to the benefit of all our customers in both countries.”

John Deere’s three-year Ag Tech and Turf Tech and two-year Parts Tech apprenticeships involve students being trained in engineering, electronics, hydraulics, diagnostics, communication skills, computing, sales and marketing. The programmes lead to IMI Level 2 & 3 Diplomas in Landbased Engineering and Vehicle Parts Competence, and registration at LTA Intermediate level in the industry’s Landbased Training Accreditation scheme.

In subsequent years qualified technicians undergo further education and adult training within the John Deere University programme, on a career path that can ultimately lead to the highest possible LTA Master Technician accreditation.

Machinery dealers supplying Landini and McCormick tractors in Ireland, Scotland and the north of England are being supported in terms of parts procurement and sales by Adam Waugh (35), a new recruit to the UK & Ireland team at manufacturer Argo Tractors.

Adam Waugh

“Having worked on parts and sales in the family machinery dealership, I’ve seen from the other side of the counter the importance of good parts management to ensure customers can get the items they need when they need them,” says Adam.

“I’m already enjoying my new role, visiting and introducing myself to dealers and setting out the new digital technologies that Argo Tractors has developed for parts management.”

Adam Waugh is working alongside Tony Burgess, the national parts sales manager based at Harworth near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, who looks after dealers in Wales and the rest of England.

The Argo Parts international distribution centre in Italy is backed up by a substantial stock held at the UK & Ireland base in Harworth.

As he tours the machinery dealers on his patch, Adam Waugh says he is pleased to be back on the agricultural scene after a few years working with construction equipment.

“Agriculture is a great industry and although I now live in Glasgow, my family is still in Stranraer, south-west Scotland, which is ideal for taking the ferry to visit our dealers in Ireland,” he says.

Manufacturers of grassland equipment experienced an unexpected small growth in shipments in the year 2018/2019.

On the basis of the developments in the previous season they expected a balanced market. As during the last season, dairy farmers and contractors invested in their equipment based on rather stable prices for milk products, but drought in specific European regions had an impact on demand. Although the total market developed positively, the figures are different per country/region and for the individual segments of loader wagons, mowers, rakes and tedders.

For next season, manufacturers expect stability in the market. When it comes to units, the market has shown a trend to grow in size and capacity of replacement of equipment. This was the key conclusion of the meeting of the CEMA Product Group “Grassland Equipment” at Agritechnica Hannover.

Manufacturers need to anticipate volatility in specific markets, as well as the impact of climate change in specific regions as experienced in two consecutive years. Developments in the United Kingdom and Ireland remain unpredictable. In the long term, instability in the world market, trade agreements and the post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy shall impact the market; nevertheless, manufacturers are confident they shall manage the future developments.

Source: CEMA aisbl - European Agricultural Machinery

Geaney & O’Neill is now suppliying the Easy Petrol Post Driver which they say is designed to knock any size stake, peg, or post into the ground, up to a four-inch diameter (subject to soil conditions), and is powered by a four-stroke Honda GX35T 1kW motor.

The company says the compact engine creates a high-impact hammer action of 1,720 blows per minute, which will drive a post into the ground in a matter of seconds.

Easy Petrol Post Driver. Photo: Geaney & O'Neill

The post driver is suitable for inaccessible places, as it is light enough to put in the operator's car at 15.3kg, allowing many hours of fatigue-free operation.

The operator is isolated from the hammering action via spring cushioned handles. The machine’s internal components are manufactured from the highest-quality precision machined materials to give the longest tool-life possible.

The Easy Petrol Post Driver can drive up to 500 posts per litre of fuel, resulting in cheaper running costs. The ability to operate this machine in hard-to-reach areas, as well as for quick and emergency projects, can save the operator the costs of having to ship large expensive machinery to the site.

The machine comes with a one-year motor and assembly warranty, and Clipex attachments are available from Geaney & O’Neill to complete the machine.

Applications:

• Two, three, and four-inch adapters available.
• Fencing – timber and angle iron posts.
• Landscaping – tree stakes.
• Nurseries – tree and plant support.
• Vineyards – especially steep hillsides.
• Farming – sheep and cattle fencing.
• Construction – temporary fencing/shuttering/ground pinning.
• Contractors – tent stakes/ground anchors/signage.
• Festival/Fair organisers – signage/temporary fencing.

For more information and pricing, contact Geaney & O’Neill call: 021 4822465. Or check out their website www.thelawnmowerman.ie