We are delighted to welcome you to the exciting launch of this new Service Dealer Weekly Update Ireland. Service Dealer is totally independent and now for outdoor powered machinery dealers in Ireland.

My name is Liam de Paor and I am the editor of Service Dealer in Ireland.

This new Service Dealer Ireland distribution list has evolved from those of you already subscribed to Service Dealer. And for those new dealerships, we have been calling round over the last few weeks to introduce ourselves and verify acceptance. If for any reason you have been missed, we apologise and if you would rather not receive the Irish Edition, just click on unsubscribe at the bottom of the page.

Service Dealer was established in 1988 with the sole purpose of helping join the disparate UK specialist dealer community together. The publication serves garden machinery, professional turf care, forestry, ATV and agricultural machinery dealers. Over recent years the publication has been approached to launch in Ireland and we are delighted to now bring you the Service Dealer Weekly Update Ireland.

Relevant for dealers large and small, this Update will be circulated every Monday (except on bank holidays), free of charge to all independent machinery dealers in the Republic of Ireland. We hope you will find this to be as valuable a resource as it has been to machinery dealers in Britain and Northern Ireland for over thirty years. 

A little about myself, I am an Honours Ag graduate from University College Dublin and hail from West Cork. I established my own communications consultancy in March 1998. Prior to this I had been Managing Director of Volac Feeds for seven years.

I am also a former chairman of the Mid West branch and served on the National Council of the Irish Marketing Institute. I am also a member of the Agri Science Association, Guild of Agri Journalists, Public Relations Institute, RUAS Society and an Honorary Life Member of Harper Adams Ireland.

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, said “It has been apparent for some time that there has been very little dedicated media supporting our colleagues in the groundcare and ag dealer sectors in Ireland and we hope that Service Dealer will be able to fulfil this role for the skilled servicing dealer community here. Like in the UK, Service Dealer Weekly Update Ireland will be distributed free of charge and rely on support from commercial partners and advertisers”.

There's some more general info on Service Dealer here

If you know of any colleagues who would like to receive this Weekly Update then please ask them to visit www.servicedealer.ie/subscribe and make sure you check the Ireland version box.

If you have any news (new franchise, open days, personnel appointments etc.), you wish us to include (subject to availability of space) please email the text and photos (jpeg) to myself as follows:

liam@depaor.ie

Service Dealer Weekly Update Ireland

C/o Loreto Road, Carrickane, Cavan, H12 F659, Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0) 49. 4361158 (Office Hours: Monday-Friday - 9 AM to 5 PM)

Mobile: +353 (0) 86. 2557643

Latest data from the Revenue Commissioners for tractors registered is that new tractors are up 19% for the Jan to April period - as can be seen from the table hereunder:

"This is most encouraging," says Service Dealer Weekly Update Ireland editor Liam De Paor, "as bad weather, a shortage of grass and forage this spring all had a very negative impact on farmers' confidence."

However this data may be somewhat misleading as there can be a significant time lag between tractor sales and the actual registrations of tractors for tax.

Some of these increased registrations probably refer to sales made late in 2017.

According to the FTMTA the poor weather and fodder shortage last spring did have a severe impact on tractor sales early in 2018.

This flagship event for Ireland’s farm machinery trade took place at Gurteen Agricultural College near Birr on 17 May. This is a very central location so it always attracts a large crowd and the good weather also helped the attendance. More people from Northern Ireland would also attend if the date did not clash with Balmoral Show.

In total there were around 130 trade exhibitors. Over 20 leading firms demonstrated their ranges of silage-making and grassland care and reseeding equipment across 100 acres of grassland. It is estimated that there was €35m of machinery on display at t Gurteen. The addition of an extra grass demo area, allowed the FTMTA to allocate additional space to many previous exhibitors, as well as plots for exhibitors demonstrating for the first time.

A number of major brands demonstrated their loading shovels and telehandlers on the silage pit and at the dung heap. The silage pit is always an attractive location as visitors take their turn on the viewing platform to watch the machines in action. The dung spreading demos are a great opportunity to view the spreaders in action and to see the telehandlers filling these machines.

You can see some videos of these demos and an interview with Gary Ryan the CEO of FTMTA here

Now that the recession is over new lawnmowers and the more expensive models are selling well in Ireland.

Ireland’s population has been getting steadily older since the 1980’s.In Census 2016, 37.2% were aged 45 and over, compared with 34.4% in 2011 and 27.6% in 1986.

This means that the older customers are looking for an easier life and a more pleasant experience cutting their lawns. In some cases they are hiring contractors who will of course have the ride on mowers or tractor models.

At the very least they want easy to start machines, the lawn cut quicker and would prefer not to pick up the grass so mulchers are gaining in popularity as are the robotic models. It is not all about cash prices or trade in allowances. Good advice is what the potential customer really needs.

Mowers can be catalogued as push and self-propelled, rotary mowers, and cylinder mowers, hover mowers, ride on mowers, or garden tractors. So with this wide choice potential customers need expert advice from sales people who actually know about cutting lawns.

Flat rotary blades are extremely popular, as set to users choice of sward height, they can scythe through long grass, and apart from needing regular sharpening, are good value and easy to maintain. With standard cutting heights of 2 – 7.5cm, they will satisfy most gardeners.

Rotary mowers with rear rollers are available. A rotary or cylinder mower in electric form is perfect for a smaller garden under the 3000 sq ft. mark. The handle height is important as mowing with a small low mower can be a cause for an excruciating backache. Adjustable models are great for a family where different people will mow the lawn.

If a customer has a medium sized garden with any sort of gradient, a self-propelled lawn mower is vital. Recommend variable speed models to suit your customers gait. A relatively large deck of 40cm plus can whip up and down a straight sided, sloping garden.

If the garden is a cluttered or a complexly planted third of an acre, greater manoeuvrability and a neater deck in the 30cms might suit your customer better.

It’s not just about the cut, and as the machine grows larger and one mounts up, the mechanics and ease of operation and emptying are key to customer satisfaction.

Variable cutting heights operated from a standing position, or a seat can deal with a close, shaggy or uneven lawn, but the major decision for a gardener is tracking down the horsepower to suit the job.

Robotic Lawnmowers Get Even Better

Improved technology including GPS assisted navigation, variable cutting heights, smoother turns to increase the efficiency of the run, longer operation times from a single charge and seasonal adjusted calendars of cuts - they really can take on the full duties of maintain the lawn year round.

With grass cut regularly and left relatively long, the results are a lovely, healthy, routinely mulched sward, set within an easily installed ground-dug, boundary wire.

Recommend a robotic machine with PIN code information, and at least if it’s stolen, a higher risk nowadays it won’t run outside for anyone else.

Kilkenny Quads, an experienced All-Terrain (ATV) and Side by Side Vehicle (SSV) dealership based in Kilkenny, is joining Bombardier Recreational Products’ (BRP) UK and Ireland authorised dealer network as its first dealership based in the Republic of Ireland.

This new partnership is part of Can-Am off-road’s ongoing expansion plans to increase its share of the utility market in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Established in 2010 by Paul Nolan, Kilkenny Quads currently employs five people with the potential to add more staff in the future as the agreement to take on the Can-Am Outlander and Traxter ranges will strengthen its product portfolio, enabling the business to grow. 

Mike Loach, BRP commercial manager UK & Ireland, says, “The Irish market for utility ATVs and SSVs is one of untapped potential and we are delighted to welcome on board Kilkenny Quads. Paul and his team understand their customers' requirements, and we’re pleased that they chose Can-Am to help them take the next step to realise their growth plans. We look forward to supporting them as their business grows and for the team to assist us in expanding our market share in the utility sector, bringing more Irish users into the Can-Am family.”

Paul Nolan, Kilkenny Quads owner, adds, “When we found Can-Am’s products, it was not at a show but while I was on holiday in Spain. The thing that stood out for me was their rugged design and first-class drive quality. My sons David and Derek are the driving force behind the business, so once we had completed our research, we decided to take on Can-Am’s utility range. The reason for signing on with the brand was quite simple, we felt that the models available best suited our customer base and the specifications they are looking for in an ATV or SSV. We’re confident the brand will assist us in continuing the growth we have experienced year on year since the business opened.”

Users of CLAAS products fitted with Telematics as standard will be able to benefit from a completely new, free, function – Remote Service as from June 2018.

The manufacturer says a high level of service and support has always been an important element in the relationship that CLAAS has with its customers. Through the intelligent networking between machine and dealer, the new Remote Service package will enable CLAAS dealers to take this to a new level and provide an even higher level of service to customers, so helping reduce downtime especially during peak periods.

The new Remote Service function has been incorporated as standard on all CLAAS LEXION, TUCANO, JAGUAR, XERION and AXION models from October 1st, 2017, and the system will go live with dealers by the end of June 2018, so that its fully ready for this year’s cereals harvest.

The service will be free-of-charge and applies for the first five years of the machine’s life, irrespective of whether the owner decides to subscribe to the full Telematics machine monitoring package. All they have to do is register the machine when purchased and agree to the use of Remote Service with their machine.

Using Remote Service, the dealer will be able to continuously monitor the machine to ensure that it is functioning correctly. In the event of a problem, the machine will initially alert the operator and simultaneously send an error message to the dealer.

When they receive the alert, the dealer will be able to assess the severity of the problem and remotely diagnose the fault, establish whether any parts will be required and arrange for the fault to be quickly rectified.

A further benefit of Remote Service according to the manufacturer, is that it will enable routine service and maintenance to be planned and carried out. Ahead of time, the machine will flag up with the dealer any upcoming routine maintenance requirements. This ensures that routine maintenance is not only carried out when required, but can also be planned in advance, saving time particularly during the crucial harvesting windows.

John Deere is confirmed as a partner to The Solheim Cup which is taking place at Gleneagles from 9th-15th September 2019.

John Deere will be the Official Golf Course and Turf Maintenance Machinery Event Partner at Gleneagles for the 16th edition of the biennial match. Machinery and back-up will be provided by Sandy Armit and his team at Double A in Cupar, Fife.

John Deerehas a long association with professional golf having been a title sponsor on the PGA Tour, Official Supplier to the PGA Tour for 25 years, Official Supplier to the Ladies European Tour and a partner at numerous Solheim Cup events.

In addition, John Deere is also the partner of choice for Gleneagles, where the company exclusively provides golf course maintenance machinery and equipment for use across all three golf courses.

John Deere’s partnership at The 2019 Solheim Cup will include on course branding, a display of John Deere products in the Spectator Village and utilising the association and event collateral for customer promotions and incentives at dealerships worldwide.

Carlos Aragones, John Deere European turf sales & marketing manager, said, “The Solheim Cup is one of the biggest events on the 2019 sporting calendar and we are delighted to be a part of it. We are very proud of our history of collaborating with major golf events and our association with both The Solheim Cup and Gleneagles is very important to our brand. The countdown is now on and we are very much looking forward to next year’s event.”

Ross Hallett, IMG Executive Tournament Director, added, “As we build towards The 2019 Solheim Cup, we have been overwhelmed with interest from within the golf industry. Announcing John Deere’s support today is another important step as we work alongside VisitScotland in fulfilling their ambition of hosting the best Solheim Cup to date.”

The recently appointed European Captain and VisitScotland Ambassador, Catriona Matthew, will be looking to return the trophy to Europe in 2019 after an inspired USA team retained the trophy by 16½ to 11½ points, in front of record crowds in Iowa. Organisers are now aiming to set a new record for a European edition in 2019.

Husqvarna Automower has been awarded 'Best in Test' and 'Best Premium Choice' by testing site Price Runner UK in a robotic lawnmower comparison test.

Husqvarna Automower 315 received the Best in Test accolade in this year’s assessment. It was praised by an independent panel of testers for its excellent terrain-handling abilities along with its ease of use, intelligent design, low noise level, reliability and its excellent app function.

The feedback received stated the 315 as "a very good purchase for anyone who wants a reliable and easy to manage robotic lawn mower."

Automower 430X, which was also awarded Best Premium Choice, was complimented on its many strengths - "excellent terrain-handling abilities, a phenomenal problem-solving capacity and lots of intelligent functions".

Testers commended the robotic lawn mower, stating "it's very easy to install as a result of clear markings and a straightforward connection method. It has no problems with cutting the stated maximum surface area. It doesn't even need to go out cutting often to achieve an excellent result. And it always finds its way home."

The website says all robotic lawn mowers were tested over a period of several months on several types of lawns and in different weather to ensure test results were as reliable as possible. The assessment focused on the following characteristics - performance, effectiveness, reliability, ease of use, design, construction quality, functionality and safety.

On the company's achievements, Husqvarna UK Sales and Marketing Director Ken Brewster said, “For Husqvarna Automower to be recognised for its outstanding abilities three years running is fantastic. The feedback received from the test was great to hear. It highlights our commitment to the continued development of Husqvarna Automower and robotic lawn mower technology to make it much more time efficient and easier for customers to maintain their lawns.”

For the full test results click here

Massey Ferguson have announced that their IDEAL combine harvester has been awarded in the Red Dot Design Award category of commercial vehicles with the title of “Red Dot: Best of the Best”.

The company says their newly developed combine harvester "blends unique design, with cutting-edge, connected technology which opens unexplored harvesting frontiers to farmers around the world."

The jury recognised the forward-thinking design and quality of this new generation of combine harvester. Acknowledging IDEAL’s innovative features and its unique, elegant graphite livery.

The Red Dot Award: Product Design stands for one of the most distinguished awards for design and innovation.=

Francesco Quaranta, Vice-President Sales, Marketing and Product Management Massey Ferguson, Europe and the Middle East, said, “Since its launch, IDEAL from has not stopped harvesting great results. At Agritechnica 2017 the combine received the DLG Silver Medal for Innovation, it was named Machine of the Year 2018 and it was assigned as well the Public Vote Award.

"The Red Dot Award: Product Design 2018 'Best of the Best' is another important milestone that proves the success of AGCO in providing brand-new designs and superior innovation."

Francesco continued, "The range sets new levels of efficiency in the field and includes three models from 451 to 647hp.

“With the biggest grain-tank capacity now available on the European market, the fastest unloading rate and the largest threshing area, it’s exciting to see yet more top-level recognition for the exceptional new features. Among these outstanding new features, the combine offers full connectivity, a complete and automated adjustment - IDEALharvest and Real Time Crop Flow visualisation.

"IDEAL has, at its heart, the most efficient processing system ever designed by AGCO. It is set to outperform on grain and straw quality, grain handling, power efficiency, and capacity in a wide variety of conditions.”

Over 6,300 products from 59 countries were entered in this year’s competition.

All of these products were assessed individually by an international jury of 40 independent design industry professionals. The award ceremony will take place at the Aalto Theatre in Essen, Germany, on July 9th.

“We are now in the process of finalising the full training of dedicated IDEAL from Massey Ferguson teams in our Dealer networks across all markets within Europe and the Middle East in sales and after-sales,"  says Francesco Quaranta.

"We are also developing for the 2018 Gold Harvest Season, the most ambitious and game changing demonstration programme in France, UK, Germany, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania."

Following transformation of its state of the art factory in Pertuis, France, the Pellenc group has been presented with the Industry Showcase of the Future award.

Pellenc factory

Pellenc has established itself in the 'Zero Emission' professional power tools market. The company has seen rapid growth since 1973 and in the last five years Pellenc has doubled its turnover. With a policy of investing 10% of its turnover back into research and development, the group say they are committed to continually developing its industrial processes and this led to the transformation of its factory.

Pellenc’s factory transformation objectives were to not only improve operations but also to enhance the working conditions for employees - increasing their safety and optimising the comfort of the workstations.

The transformation of the plant has already proved to be hugely beneficial, say Pellenc. Assembly times have been significantly reduced, while service rates in the workshops and production line areas have also been greatly improved. In turn, the teams involved feel better prepared and trained for the various stages of production.

Pierre-Antoine Barre, Pellenc Industrialisation Methods Manager says he was delighted to have achieved such large-scale objectives: “Transformation of the Pertuis site means that the Pellenc group's capacity and industrial flexibility has grown, and the competitiveness of its product range has improved, building on French know-how, a symbol of industrial excellence and a source of employment reaching +7% a year.”

Aurélien Blanc, technical assistant in the portable power tools shop, offered a great insight from an employee’s point of view: “The changes in the plant have reduced movements needed and distances covered. They provide real improvements in ergonomics, productivity and quality of work.”