First up, I'd like to draw your attention to a survey we are running today, regarding women working in dealerships.

We have a few brief questions which we'd really appreciate receiving as much feedback on as possible, from our dealer readers. We are hoping to gain a sense of what the situation is currently like out there.

As ever, we will publish the results and a selection of your comments in the next edition of Service Dealer magazine. Thanks in advance for your help.

TAKE THE SURVEY

AEA Conference

It was the AEA's annual conference this week, which once again took place amongst the salubrious surroundings of the Institution of Civil Engineers building at Westminster. It was a well attended event, with plenty of dealers present amongst the delegates of manufacturer and supplier representatives who make up the Association's membership.

The format of the day saw a variety of speakers address the conference, followed by a lunch and further talks by the incoming president and specially invited presenters. There should in fact have been an even greater variety of speakers with Conservative MP, Mark Spencer, Minister of State Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs due to talk. However, "urgent business" drew him away at the 11th hour shortly before the conference began - but thankfully the first guest, TV and press political pundit, Andrew Neil, was happy to speak for longer and take questions from the floor.

We'll have more detail about what Mr Neil and the other speakers had to say in the upcoming edition of Service Dealer magazine.

Attracting and retaining staff

Following the speakers, pre-lunch, the AEA's incoming president, Martin Hamer, national sales manager for Fendt, gave his inaugural address.

What I found particularly interesting was his concentration on how the industry needs to attract and retain more team members across the board. 

Martin said, "I believe the AEA is making great strides to get our industry noticed by those we need to run our businesses in the future. And making the case that our industry is at the top, or at the very least on, the career aspirations list for those in the education system."

Martin was keen to stress that the industry shouldn't just be attracting the offspring of farmers, ". . but the broad base of potential product specialists, marketers, parts managers, purchasing managers, engineers, I.T specialists, accountants, machine operators, and people managers to name but a few." These are people that Martin said the industry needs to make businesses in our sector succeed and prosper in the future.

Martin continued saying that he believes that the AEA’s We Are Land-Based programme is " . .leading the charge to spell out opportunities and clear career progression and qualification pathways, to attract the widest possible cohort of interested people – right from school through to university and those considering a career change."

He challenged the many business leaders of large organisations in the room on Tuesday to ask themselves, what were they doing to attract and retain staff?

He went on to say "I’m a firm believer that achievement leads to contentment. I also believe that you can’t just motivate people to achieve. But you can create an environment where they are motivated and happy, which leads to achievement."

He concluded, "As leaders we have to reflect and put ourselves in our employees’ shoes, our dealers’ shoes and our customers’ shoes. Is it clear what’s expected of them? Do they see where they fit in? Do we train them and give them the skills to understand and enhance what we want them to do? Are we creating the right environment?"

I thought Martin hit the right tone with his speech and I think all reading this today would agree that attracting and retaining staff is one of, if not the, most challenging and vital tasks facing dealers and manufacturers today.

Hopefully Martin raising this subject in a room full of influential industry figures both indicates that recruitment is at the top of the AEA's agenda - and will act as inspiration for the listening employers to redouble their efforts to raise the profile of our sector.

Easter break

Next Friday is Good Friday, so the Service Dealer Update will be taking a week's break.

Speaking to dealers and manufacturers this week, it's clear that everyone has fingers crossed that the weather situation will improve in order for the bank holiday period to give the season the kick-start it so desperately requires.

Hopefully when we reconvene, spring will have well and truly sprung!

Bobcat is now offering the line of Ryan turf care equipment in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Lawnaire Aerator

Part of the company’s new ground maintenance equipment (GME) range now available from their network of authorised dealers, the expanded portfolio of machinery includes aerators, power rakes and dethatchers, an overseeder and sod cutters.

The Ryan brand has been on the market for over 75 years and is well known amongst turf professionals in Europe and North America. 

Daniele Paciotti, attachments & GME product line director for Bobcat, said, “By entering the turf equipment segment, we now offer a very competitive product range for work on grass in all the sports pitch, municipal and cultural institutions, as well as the rental and landscape industries. The products are also relevant for private home owners who have to manage sizeable estates and are serious about taking their lawns to the next level.

“As well as Ryan Turf Equipment," Daniele continued, "the GME range in EMEA includes compact tractors and mowers, in addition to Bobcat’s existing ranges of mini track and small articulated loaders.

"Following on from our success in the North American market, Bobcat has set ambitious goals of being ranked within the top three GME players in Europe and to double growth in the global GME market by 2027."

The Ryan turf equipment line comprises:

• Lawnaire Aerators
• REN-O-THIN Power Rakes 
• Mataway Dethatcher
• Mataway Overseeder
• Jr. Sod Cutters 

Martin Hamer, national sales manager for Fendt has become the latest president of the Agricultural Engineers Association - taking over from Iseki's David Withers, whose year at the helm has come to an end.

Martin Hamer

Speaking at the Association's conference that took place in Westminster on Tuesday this week, in posing the question of what he can do in terms of guiding the AEA for the coming year, he invoked one of JFK’s great quotes – ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country’.

"So what can I do for our organisation?," asked Martin to the assembled manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and guests in attendance. "Well to start with, I’m confident the AEA can continue to supply our members with accurate and up-to-date business information and statistics - so you can measure and plan your business performance, based on solid data. And you can see immediately industry trends and plan accordingly."

Martin continued, "The AEA will also make sure manufacturers and importers are armed with the latest information that will allow them to make sure the products they sell are compliant with the latest UK, EU or rest of the world standards, regulations and obligation requirements. We will ensure this information is supplied in plain English and easy to understand – which I believe to our members is a massive bonus."

Martin also confirmed that the AEA will continue to use its position to lobby government and to make sure the rules and regulations passed are appropriate, " . .and that where possible, they enhance business, rather than tie it up in ever tighter red-tape."

Martin also pointed out, "Lobbying is also an excellent example of our synergy with BAGMA. And the AEA will continue to develop and support BAGMA so it can grow to its full potential and offer first-class support to its dealer members."

Husqvarna has announced it has become main partner for the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed 2023 golf tournament.

The company says this partnership marks an important step for themselves as they further expand the Husqvarna brand into the golf industry. The agreement makes the manufacturer main sponsor through 2025.

This year the tournament takes place at Ullna Golf & Country Club in Stockholm, from 8-11 of June. As main partner, Husqvarna say they will have a significant presence throughout the tournament, providing an opportunity to showcase its autonomous solutions to a global audience of golfers, greenkeepers, and industry leaders.

Glen Instone, president Husqvarna Forest & Garden Division said, "This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our innovative technology to a wider audience and demonstrate how our products can bring benefits not only to homeowners but also golf courses with exceptional expectations on turf management."

Henrik Hilford Brander, COO, Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed said of Husqvarna, "Their innovative technology and commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our values and we look forward to working together to provide an exceptional experience for our golfers and spectators."

New Holland Agriculture has announced they are to return to the World Biogas Expo 2023 in Birmingham, the trade show dedicated to anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas.

The manufacturer participated in the event in 2019, focusing on the alternative fuels concept, then again in 2022 with the production of the T6 Methane Power Tractor. This year, New Holland will return to the Expo together with Bennamann, the UK-based expert in solutions to capture, repurpose and store fugitive methane emissions from manure slurry lagoons for energy use.

New Holland’s relationship with Bennamann started five years ago and recently CNH Industrial announced a further investment in the company, taking a majority stake.

New Holland will once again display the T6.180 Methane Power tractor with Electro Command transmission, which is still the only methane fuelled tractor on the market -

In conjunction with New Holland’s methane tractors - specifically the T6.180 but also the recently announced T7 Methane Power LNG prototype - Bennamann say their infrastructure can deliver a carbon negative system that fully supports a circular economy in farming.

Mark Howell, New Holland Agriculture alternative energies global product manager said, “We have been investing for a long time in biomethane and we still believe this is currently the best possible solution to provide our customers with more sustainable and efficient products for their farms. This is the reason why being at the Expo is so important to us, as a way to contribute to the better development of research on this theme and as a way to create a bigger network and awareness around the biogas technology industry.”

Commenting on their collaboration, Dr Chris Mann, Bennamann’s chairman and chief technology officer, said, “Synergies between our two companies in our commitment to clean energy and helping farmers drive down emissions are clear. CNH Industrial’s recent investment in us will help our joint aspirations to become a reality through the accelerated scale-up in the deployment of our integrated technologies worldwide, dramatically changing the environmental credentials of livestock agriculture”.

New Holland say their next step, due to the collaboration with Bennamann, will be the creation of an “Energy Independent Farm”. The company believe that utilising waste and biomass to produce fuel not only for heating and electricity generation, but also fuelling on-farm and off-farm vehicles, was once a dream but is now the future.

A spokesperson said, "With the help of this technology, farmers can use agricultural waste to produce Biomethane, then used it to fuel the tractor. It can also be a possible additional revenue stream if sold into local and national biomethane markets, or through the export of electricity to a power grid. In addition, by using biomethane, farmers can achieve a negative carbon footprint and use the by-products of biodigestion as natural fertilisers on their fields."

2023 sees the team at GreenMech celebrating 30 years in business.

While much may have changed in terms of products and features, the company have called The Mill Industrial Park in Warwickshire their home since the company was founded in 1993 by, now chairman, Tony Turner. From here, over 14,000 products have been designed and manufactured, with more than half of the total product exported to customers globally. Success around central Europe, say the manufacturer, has also seen the establishment of GreenMech France and GreenMech Germany, to facilitate tailored sales and support in these markets. 

Jonathan Turner, son of Tony and current GreenMech managing director said, “We are incredibly proud of our achievements but are even more positive and excited about our future. We look forward to supporting our existing customers while continuing to develop industry-leading new products, designed to perform without compromise.” 

The team will be commemorating the occasion with colleagues, customers and friends at events across the calendar, starting with their attendance at The Arb Show, at Westonbirt in May. GreenMech at 30 also forms part of wider celebrations for Turner R&D Ltd, for whom 2023 marks 60 years of trading. 

Väderstad has announced its increasing its factory size in Sweden by another 12,600m2. The expansion provides additional surfaces for assembly and painting, with the aim of a production capacity of 10,000 machines annually by 2028.

Artist's impression of expanded factory

The manufacturer says it has been experiencing a strong increase in demand for its products in the last few years, with turnover increasing from 237 MEUR in financial year 2017 to 550 MEUR in 2022. In 2021 they announced the building of a new factory center, an investment of SEK 125 million, which will be ready for use later this year. 

“The continued expansion of our factory in Väderstad is in line with our growth targets, and will benefit both our customers, our dealers and help create more job opportunities, as well as create a more efficient flow in our production,” says Henrik Gilstring, CEO of Väderstad Group.

The production in Väderstad currently produce machines for all global sales regions, except from North America, where production is located at its factories in Langbank, Canada, and Wahpeton, USA.

The two housing blocks being added and connected to the existing factory in Sweden are each of 6300m2, creating a total production area of approx. 70,000m2. 

The decision to expand was taken at a board meeting in the end of January. Construction will start on April 1st 2023 and the new buildings are planned to be in full use by autumn 2024.

Toro is excited to introduce our new professional handheld products run on our 60V* Flex Force Power System® and work with our entire line of Revolution commercial grade handheld tools and walk-behind mowers. The backpack, available as a power source for our blower, string, and hedge trimmers, is built for comfort and ready to keep jobs moving all day. It has the capacity for you to swap batteries, so when one battery is done, you’re not. Our 60V power comes to you fast: just 50 minutes to charge our largest battery to 100% and easily outpacing the charging speed of larger, lower voltage batteries.

Revolution Trimmer

• Rugged solid shaft designed to withstand anything you dish out.
• 41cm (16″) cutting width and 24mm line come standard with increased line capacity.
• Bump-feed/easy-load head keeps you moving without any threading hassles.
• Rear-mounted, high-efficiency brushless motor optimizes performance and torque.
• Always shows up to work with up to 240 minutes of runtime.
• Variable 2-speed operation produces 5300 or 6400 rpm to match the demand.
• Included shoulder harness eases the load.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Hedge Trimmer

• 66cm (26″) bar with 3cm (1.2″) cutting capacity cuts through the thickest bushes.
• Dual-sided cutting blades run both directions to work more efficiently.
• Reverse mode for quick unjamming.
• 180° rotating handle for vertical or horizontal cutting with the flick of a wrist.
• Top side blade guard for plant gathering.
• All-day runtime up to 600 minutes
• Variable 2-speed operation produces 3200 or 4100 spm to match any size job.
• Backed by a 2-year warranty.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Backpack Leaf Blower

• Comfortable, sturdy backpack with integrated handle, LED battery diagnostics and capacity to carry two batteries.
• Interchangeable arm cannon or power tether
• Powerful blower, 730 CFM at 160 MPH for massive air volume that makes easy work of every pile.
• Variable speed trigger with turbo boost and cruise control lets you effortlessly match power to the situation.
• Included storage strap for compact footprint.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.
• Tool only, batteries and chargers sold separately.

Revolution Powerlink Tether

• Keeps your backpack power source connected to your commercial Revolution tools.
• Removes battery weight from tools: faster work and less fatigue.
• Doubles handheld tool battery capacity so you always have power at hand.

60V MAX* Flex-Force 10 AH Battery

• 33% more capacity over our current largest 60V battery.
• Interchangeable in all 60V Revolution commercial grade tools.
• Easy to remove and quickly swap to keep you powered and moving.
• Integrated carrying handle.
• Increased over-mold for more rugged operation and drop resistance.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.

60V MAX* Flex-Force 6-Pod Charger

• 12 AMP rapid charger to repower fast.
• 6-pod battery charging capacity.
• Charges any combination of 60V Flex-Force Batteries.
• 2 charge modes: sequential rapid mode charges a 10 Ah battery to full in 50 minutes; standard equal mode steadily brings batteries up to full charge in unison.
• 6 battery charging pods to keep you charged and moving.
• Part of the 60V Flex-Force Power System® that works with a full line of commercial grade tools.

For more information on Toro, please visit www.toro.com/en-gb or to become a dealer of Toro U.K. Limited, please email our sales team.

*Battery manufacturer rating = 60V maximum & 54V typical usage. Actual voltage varies with load.

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