We are almost three weeks into 2021 and I am curious to know how dealers and distributors in Ireland are managing in the new era of Brexit.

Service Dealer Ireland spoke to a few dealers around the country and most are ordering their spare parts from depots in Europe. Those that have to obtain parts from the UK are finding it a bit challenging, both cost wise and logistically. Importing goods from the UK are now subject to Irish Vat rates, depending on the value of the item, as well as UK rates. Before the 1st of January it was only UK VAT rates that were charged. One UK company had discussed this issue with their European and Irish distributors asking them to absorb the extra VAT cost for the moment, which they agreed to do, though this could change at any time.

Another problem being experienced is the amount of extra paperwork that needs to be done - goods clearance at ports etc. One distributor said, “You would almost need to employ an extra person to deal with all the paperwork that is required”. Many dealers prepared in advance by sourcing equipment parts from European countries. Some had started doing this several months before the January 1st deadline, thus minimising the amount of paperwork needed.

One manufacturer told Service Dealer Ireland, “All credit must be given to Enterprise Ireland and Irish Revenue for being on top of everything in advance of Brexit. They had all the necessary documents ready to use and made training videos available, which made it easy to understand what needed to be done for the 1st of January 2021 deadline”. 

Paying a visit to Rosslare Europort just after New Year’s Day brought home the reality of freight travelling directly to mainland Europe (instead of lorries crossing to Wales, driving to Dover and then into Europe). Seeing three cargo ships docked out in the open sea waiting for their turn to dock was very unusual, a sight never witnessed before. Looking at the lorries coming and going, I wondered did any of them have tractors inside on their way to be sold to the Irish market?

This increase in European traffic has forced one ferry company to reduce sailings to the UK due to lack of freight. Some lorry drivers going to and from the UK were complaining about how long it takes to get custom clearance (up to 4 hours). 

Since restrictions began last March, people have saved like they never did before. Holiday’s abroad, buying daily sandwiches and coffees while out working in offices, having a meal out and socialising have been dramatically curtailed, due to the lockdowns. This has led to people not spending as much as they used to, allowing them to put money aside. Whenever we do get back to normal living, maybe by this summer, when most people have received their vaccines, it is anticipated that there will be a surge in spending, mainly on the items mentioned above. This should be good news for our domestic dealers as garden mowers and equipment could be in great demand because of all this available money. The Spring season normally sees an increase in sales for these items anyhow but with the extra cash in people’s pockets, it could lead to a more than normal demand. Let’s hope that this will be the case.

The organisers of Cereals 2021 in the UK say they are on target to open their doors to physical visitors on 9-10 June this year, following a series of meetings with farmers, exhibitors and health and safety advisers.

After a year of online-only events due to Covid-19, Cereals is set to become Comexposium’s first physical European event of 2021, when it returns to Lincolnshire in June. “All of our farmers and exhibitors are so keen to get back out into the field and meet real people again,” says event director Alli McEntyre. “The site is drilled up and growing nicely, and with our new farmer advisory board we are now formulating the seminar programmes and live action exhibits.”

Organisers say the safety of visitors and exhibitors remains paramount, so the team is following the latest health and safety advice, with Covid measures likely to include social distancing, hand sanitisers, open air theatres, and more entry points to reduce queues.

“We will update exhibitors about our biosecurity plans in early March and early June,” said Alli. “Although navigating the site might feel a little different, we are extremely positive about our ability to deliver a vibrant and bio-secure outdoor event.”

New features at the event this year are planned to include the Market and Farm Diversification theatre - dedicated to grain marketing topics and diversification advice - and the Sustainable Solutions theatre in association with the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs. This will focus on sustainability in all of its guises, from financially strong family farm structures to environmentally friendly practices.

Other new features will include the Innovation and Tech demo ring - which will have working demonstrations of the latest novel equipment - and a practical drainage area.

The Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena will also be back with a more challenging track to reflect real farm conditions, while the NIAB Soil Pit, crop plots and working machinery demonstrations will offer plenty to see and discuss. “We’ve even got a new 4x4 driving track, where visitors can get behind the wheel of the latest off-road vehicles and put them through their paces,” Alli added.

“Of course, if national health measures change, we will deliver the event online again, which we did with such success in June and November 2020. But we are very hopeful and looking forward to getting back out in the field and meeting everyone face-to-face again.”

Tickets will go on sale on 1 February.

Bernhard and Company Ltd has appointed GMS as its international marketing agency.

The company, headquartered in Rugby, England, supplies sharpening systems to over 65 of the world’s top 100 golf courses and over 75 of the top 100 US courses. It also holds an exclusive license to distribute SubAir and Turfbreeze systems to golf and sports facilities across EMEA and parts of Asia.

“At Bernhard and Company, we have amazing partners and associated stories, most of which have not yet been told to their fullest. We’re therefore very excited to partner with such an experienced and reputable agency as GMS,” said Angelique Crosnier, Marketing and Internal Sales Manager at Bernhard and Company. 

“We’re thrilled to be activating what is an extensive brief from Bernhard and Company,” commented Sam Elder, Director at GMS. “Through our recent discussions with them, myself and the wider team at GMS have been hugely impressed by the company’s commitment to providing exceptional products and services, but also their vow to continuously improve when it comes to sustainability, conservation and its relationship to golf course and turf maintenance.

The partnership, effective January 1, 2021, sees GMS take on the role of global marketing agency for Bernhard, with an emphasis on PR and content production services.

New Holland has been honoured with the prestigious Good Design Award in the Industrial Category for its BigBaler 1290 High Density from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The BigBaler 1290 High Density was one of the product designs selected by the jury from a record number of submissions from manufacturers around the world and industrial and graphic design firms from over 48 countries. The award recognises the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial, product, and graphic designs, and the selection is based on the criteria of quality design of the highest form, function, and aesthetics. As a winner of the award, the BigBaler will feature in the Good Design Yearbook for 2020-2021.

Carlo Lambro, New Holland brand president, said, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award. The BigBaler 1290 High Density is a winning example of how the collaboration between the CNH Industrial Design Team and our Product Engineering Teams enable New Holland to keep raising the bar on performance to the advantages of our customers. I would like to thank the design teams who developed this exceptional product and our manufacturing team at our Center of Harvesting Excellence in Zedelgem.”

David Wilkie, CNH Industrial design director, added: “The design vision for the BigBaler 1290 High Density stems from nature, inspired by the flowing lines of crops as they sway in the fields. It  incorporates the natural flow vision denoted by its sinuous, sleek lines that encapsulate the functionality of the machine and enhance the efficiency of the machine’s components.”

The new Eclipse 360 ELiTE from Jacobsen features lithium-ion batteries that the company says can cut 50+ large greens on a single charge.

Noise during operation is reduced to virtual silence and this is combined with zero air pollution. Fuel consumption is reduced when cutting with the diesel/gas hybrid.

The Patented Frequency of Clip Control ensures a consistent cut by linking the reel speed to the forward speed. By having the reels turning in time with the wheels, users able to keep a consistent frequency of cut regardless of who is mowing but still have the option to increase it without reducing the mowing speed. This control is taken further with individual unit control that can adapt the cutting configuration to vary wheel runs and truly eliminate triplex ring.

Attention has also been paid to the access and maintenance aspects of the machine. The unique swing-out center cutting unit has been retained for quick and easy cleaning, maintenance, or swapping the unit. No tools are required to swing the unit out with the removal of a lynchpin that is then used to hold the unit in the swung-out position all that is needed.

All of these changes were made following a 360-durability review that has also included the addition of new brushless lift actuators that have ten times the lifespan of the previous option.

Seven, nine, eleven, or fifteen blade reels are available for the E360 ELiTE to allow for varied applications of the machine from golf greens and tees to sports fields and ornamental gardens.

With the full effects of the Stage V Emission Regulations coming into force in June 2021, GreenMech say they will be introducing a range of new engine options across their Quad and Arborist collections, along with some more additions to their EVO series. 

The EVO 205D woodchipper from GreenMech will feature a Stage V compliant 50hp Kubota diesel engine and new Greenmech “Smart Sense” controller

With June being the revised cut-off date for the manufacture and sale of pre-Stage V engined units, the company say they are ready to introduce new compliant diesel engine options along with extending their petrol offering across some of their most popular ranges. 2021 sees the introduction of a 25hp Kubota diesel engine in the QuadChip and QuadTrak 160D models (replacing the non-compliant 34hp engine), along with a 37hp petrol option for the QuadChip and QuadTrak 160P. 

Further up the range is the introduction of the new Arborist 200P – powered by a 57hp Kubota petrol engine. The Arborist 200P will feature the a 200mm x 280mm letterbox opening, making it suitable for handling large quantities of bulky material.    

Alongside engine upgrades, GreenMech will also be launching further expansions to their EVO 165 series. Joining the line-up in early-2021 will be the EVO 165PT - a fixed-track model with the 37hp petrol engine – and a SAFE-Trak variant of the original EVO diesel model which will become the EVO 165DST. 

In addition to the new tracked models, the EVO range will be extended further with a new 8-inch product line. The EVO 205D will feature a Stage V compliant 50hp Kubota Diesel engine and new GreenMech “Smart Sense” Controller – for intelligent feed speed and a Smart Economy option for optimising fuel economy.

Available at launch in road-tow format, SAFE-Trak and SURE-Trak versions of the EVO 205D are due to follow later in the year as replacements for the 19-28 models.  

Redexim have launched two new additions to their scarification portfolio. Extending their Verti-Cut range, 2021 sees the introduction of two larger working widths with the launch of the Verti-Cut 1600 and Verti-Cut 2000. Both of the new models offer scarification to depths of up to 50mm.

The Verti-Cut 2000 from Redexim

The new Verti-Cut 1600 offers a 1.6m working width which makes it suitable for smaller, undulating surfaces such as golf greens while at 2.0m, the Verti-Cut 2000 lends itself to the scarification of larger spaces such as sports fields. 

Both new models are tractor mounted and PTO driven, with the drive system utilising chains to ensure constant drive to the blades - even when working at depth. The adjustment of the working depth can be done through alterations to the front roller, which also helps to negate scalping when working on undulating ground. As standard, the Verti-Cut comes with 2mm blades operating at a spacing of 30mm, though this can be increased to 58mm if required. 1mm and 3mm blades can also be specified as an optional extra. 

The new models will be available this Spring.