SHOWING EMPATHY With your customers by Service Dealer Ireland Editor, Alan Mahon
For some, the advances in technology can be quite traumatic, especially for the older generation.
The development of new technology has made our daily lives an easier place to live. After all, where would we be without our car, mobile phone, or the internet? For some, the advances in technology can be quite traumatic, especially for the older generation. Some of them can find it difficult to adjust to working with this new technology.
The advances in farming technology, in particular, has been ground breaking and has made the growing of crops a lot more time and cost effective. However, this advancement in machinery technology is proving challenging for some, especially within the older farming community. Some of the machines that they have been familiar with may need replacing. The new equipment that is replacing their old ones are a lot different from what they have been used to. GPS controlled sprayers, and robotic seeders are some examples of what they may be faced with. Some have embraced this new technology with open arms but others are finding it difficult to grasp. Even ordering spare parts online can be quite a challenge for them.
As dealers, we should be mindful of those customers. Even though this new technology will make their farming operations much more efficient, it might not always be the case that it will make their life easier. In fact it could have the opposite effect by creating a lot of stress in their lives. Spending the time to explain how this new technology works by visiting them on their own farm and giving a demonstration of the machine would go a long way to ease their minds. Another way of encouraging them to learn about new farming technologies is to recommend them visit trade shows where they can talk with dealers and manufacturers about what is new in the market. Offer them complimentary tickets to the shows (most shows will have free entry but restricted to trade only).
Speaking of trade shows, there are many coming up within the next few weeks. First up is SALTEX, which takes place this Wednesday and Thursday at Birmingham NEC. If you are exhibiting at SALTEX, I hope you have an enjoyable and successful time there. This is a good event to see what new machines are in the market and learn about the latest technologies and product developments.
The Service Dealer Conference and Awards is also getting very close. It takes place in just over three weeks' time, on the 24th of November, at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry. The theme of this year’s conference is Sustaining Dealerships and will focus on Recruitment, Retention and Succession. These are three important topics that are challenging within dealerships. To find out more about the Service Dealer Conference and Awards visit www.servicedealer.co.uk/2022-awards
Another show that will be soon taking place is LAMMA. Like SALTEX, this will also be held at Birmingham NEC but happening on the 10th & 11th of January 2023. I am delighted to hear that the show organisers are, once again, accepting entries for the Young Engineer Award. This is open to anybody under the age of thirty five who has created or worked on a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology which significantly improves farm efficiency, profitability or sustainability. If such a person exists in your workplace, you should encourage them to enter the competition. It’s free to enter but entries close on the 18th of November. Good luck.
Casey Tractors will operate from their depot in Garryhinch, Portarlington, Co Offaly and will offer a range of the manufacturer's products and parts including tractors, telehandlers, balers and New Holland branded Implements. Full service and aftersales support will be available in the area.
Owned by Denise and Bob Casey, this family run business embarks on its’ first partnership with a full line manufacturer having served the local farming community for over three decades selling machinery, parts and spares. New Holland say they are very pleased to be able to partner with Casey’s to continue the development of the dealership over the coming years in the area.
Denise Casey, dealer principal at Casey Tractors commented, “We are delighted to have been able to expand our agricultural operations with the New Holland brand. We look forward to working with all of the many loyal New Holland customers in the area and wish them a warm welcome to Casey’s as we grow our business in the area together with New Holland”.
Pat Smith, New Holland business director for UK commented, "As a small, family-owned business with a long history in the area, Casey’s will provide a local service to local people which has been central to the principles of the New Holland dealer network over many years. We wish the owners and staff at Casey’s every success at the start of this exciting venture together.”
Service Dealer spoke to Kress's Todd Zimmerman on their stand at U.S trade show Equip recently, to find out about their newly launched battery that takes 8-minutes to fully recharge.
Service Dealer Ireland owner Duncan Murray-Clarke spoke to Kress's Todd Zimmerman on their stand at the U.S trade show Equip recently, to find out about their newly launched battery that takes 8-minutes to fully recharge.
Long-time owner of the Krone Group, Dr.-Ing. E.h. Bernard Krone, sadly passed away after a short serious illness recently.
Long-time owner of the Krone Group, Dr.-Ing. E.h. Bernard Krone, sadly passed away after a short serious illness in Spelle, Emsland, on October 14th, 2022, at the age of 82.
The Krone Group say his passing is not only mourned by his family and relatives as well as more than 7,000 employees, but also the international agricultural engineering and European commercial vehicle industry.
Dr Bernard Krone was regarded as a visionary man of action. He continuously developed the company and made ground-breaking decisions to diversify the business. In addition to entering the commercial vehicle sector, he established, among other things, self-propelled technology in agricultural engineering and specialised the Krone company in forage harvesting technology. He thus shaped the corporate group over many decades, developed products and set the course before officially retiring from the operational business in 2010 and handing over the helm to his son Bernard Krone.
His most important advice to his successor: "Always remain the blacksmith from Emsland like your great-grandfather, your grandfather and your father."
His commitment had an impact far beyond the boundaries of the company. He was also fully devoted to association work: at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the Agricultural Machinery and Farm Tractor Association (LAV), as President of the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association (CEMA), in the Association for Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA), as longstanding Vice President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and as Chairman of the "Trailers, Special Bodies and Buses" manufacturers' group. His achievements have been recognised time and time again.
Dr Bernard Krone grew into the company from the very beginning. From childhood, he was often allowed into the factory and to visit customers. As a 6-year-old pupil, he told his teacher that he could learn more in the workshop than at school. Of course, he continued to attend anyway, completed an apprenticeship after graduation and then began his academic training as a mechanical engineer in Cologne in 1959, as the youngest student at that time. Three years later he successfully completed his studies and joined the company. His father then sent him to Ireland to spend time abroad. He wanted to prepare him as early as possible to take over the company. In 1970, his father passed suddenly and much too early. As sole heir, he took over the company's agricultural machinery production in Spelle. His father left big shoes to fill for Dr Bernard Krone, but it was a matter of course for him to take on the responsibility.
In his private life, the father of three and multiple grandfather was committed to the interests of nature in his home region and beyond as a passionate hunter and farmer. Active participation in and promotion of local associations were an integral part of his work.
The family, the entire company management and all employees will continue his life's work with commitment for generations to come.
Sustainable technology and environmentally friendly solutions will be on show at the NEC.
A line-up of demonstrations featuring sustainable technology and environmentally friendly solutions has been finalised for this year’s SALTEX Eco Village display.
Sponsored by SGL, manufacturer of LED lighting and monitoring systems, the demonstrations will feature green technology for grounds care.
Six manufacturers will be putting products through their paces in daily demonstrations.
Starting each morning off from 10.00 to 10.15 will be Avant Techno with its Leguan Lifts.
At 11.00 to 11.15, sponsors, SGL will be demonstrating their new product - the LED50 that is equipped with SmartBox and the latest LED technology.
Next on display from 11.30 to 11.45 will be the Campey AllTrec 100% Electric Mower.
This will be followed at 12.00 to 12.15 by another mower - this time the Overton Rival Zero Turn - the latest mower in Mean Green Mowers’ new ‘evolution’ series.
A robot mower will be the next to show its paces at 12.30 to 12.45 – this time the Kress RTK Robot Mower. .
An electric solution for loading is the last demonstration of the day at 13.00 to 13.15 when Avant Techno will put their Electric E6 Loader under the scrutiny of visitors.
In addition to the daily demonstrations industry experts will be on hand to offer advice on green technology and how it could benefit current working practices.
SALTEX takes place at the Birmingham NEC on Wednesday and Thursday this week, November 2-3.
Manufacturer says the agreement will enable them to meet the challenges of tomorrow's agriculture.
SDF has announced they are taking a majority stake in VitiBot, the French specialist in robotics for the vineyard care market.
They say the two companies will join forces to develop and market a range of solutions for a new increasingly sustainable precision viticulture.
VitiBot is a French startup based in Reims that was founded in 2016. SDF describe the company as a leader in the emerging market of vineyard care robotics with Bakus, a 100% electric and autonomous straddle tractor.
Cédric BACHE, CEO of VitiBot said, "“We are delighted with this agreement, which will enable us to meet the challenges of tomorrow's agriculture, the genesis of our project."
Lodovico Bussolati, CEO of SDF added, "Sustainable and digital agriculture is a key factor of our development. After some thorough searching, we realised that VitiBot is the best vineyard solution to enrich our tractor offering with self-driving and zero-emission electric vehicles.
"Now the goal is to support development of the company and the product, satisfying a market with huge growth potential."
SDF say within their structure, Vitibot - like the group’s other subsidiaries - will retain full autonomy in terms of technical, industrial and commercial development.
The European market for grassland equipment showed a stable number in sales units in the season July 2021-June 2022.
CEMA, the association representing European manufacturers of agricultural equipment, reported that the European market for grassland equipment showed a stable number in sales units in the season July 2021-June 2022.
The world market for milk products led to a good margin for dairy farmers, and their willingness to invest in professional implements to harvest grass. The total volume would have been bigger than last season if manufacturers had no disruptions in their supply chain. Grassland equipment includes the product categories loader wagons, mowers, rakes and tedders.
Although the drought in multiple regions might temper the actual presales, the market forecast of dairy products is very positive. In this balanced market, combined with the developments in farming practice to focus on harvesting good quality grass, manufacturers have confidence in the season 2022-2023.
New smart technology and increased capacity will honour the farmers’ demand. Only increasing purchase prices and delivery times for raw materials and components might cause disruptions.
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