CLIMMAR is a European organisation for dealers, distributors and repairers in the agricultural and garden machinery sector.

There are 16 national association members, which collectively represent over 19,000 dealers and distributors across Europe. Sadly, Ireland is not one of them. I hope that Ireland will become a member soon. Looking on their website, CLIMMAR is involved in many activities, which include lobbying for EU legislation and regulation; their own new CLIMMAR index, which monitors current and expected turnover of machinery companies throughout the 16 member countries; their annual Congress (the 2019 event took place last week in Thun, Switzerland).

CLIMMAR’s Report on Activities 2018 – 2019 makes for interesting reading. Two items caught my attention. The first was their Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI). This index began in 2011 and it investigates how its members - European dealers and distributors, evaluate their relationships with tractor manufacturers. The aim of the DSI survey is to improve relationships between tractor dealers, distributors manufacturers (in the agricultural and horticultural sector) and the end users. Eleven countries currently participate and use the same questionnaire. The maximum score is 18 points for each topic surveyed. Ten tractor manufacturers were surveyed and here are some of the results.

                                        2018       2017
Financing offers:             11.5        11.1
Theft protection:              8.9          8.3
Profitability contribution: 12.1        11.9
Overall brand average:  12.7         12.6

CLIMMAR report that they are happy with the results but will be encouraging tractor suppliers to improve their performance further as the average scores are still far from the maximum of 18 points. It was noted also that the willingness of tractor suppliers to improve on their weak points scored 11.6 in 2018 compared to 11.8 in 2017, a decrease of 0.2 points.

The second item that interested me on the CLIMMAR Report was the importance of recruitment, retention, development and job promotion. They have a draft position paper, which aims to identify and address the challenges concerning Recruitment, Retention and Development of mechanics and technicians. This is a real concern, especially here in Ireland. The draft highlights the need for the industry to step up its general recruitment campaigns and provide a European wide template for the recruitment of new people to the industry.

Also mentioned in the draft is the need to address retention of qualified people. Areas such as career development, salaries and opportunities should be looked at in an effort to encourage staff to remain working with their employer.

CLIMMAR encourage structured training programmes such as apprenticeships, further education, higher education and manufacturer’s training programmes. They also state that the dealer networks and trade associations need to engage more in what is being offered by manufacturers, and should encourage manufacturers to be involved in a more generic industry programme for the recruitment and retention of people.

Dealers and distributors in Ireland need to encourage new people to join the industry, which include mechanics, sales people and office staff. Ireland is practically in full employment and there are many careers that young people can choose to go into. Dealers need to offer reasonable salaries and job benefits if they want to attract the best staff on board.

You can view the entire CLIMMAR report by clicking here.

The Executive Council of the Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) accepted two further companies into membership of the association at its October meeting.

Ballyealan Engineering (trading as Blue Bull Machinery) and Blackwater Agri Sales & Services.

A bale lifter manufactured by Ballyealan Engineering

Ballyealan Engineering is an agricultural engineering company that was founded, in recent years, by Darragh Egan. The firm is based at Beechill, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. It manufactures a range of machinery, including bale lifters, feeding equipment and loader implements.

Blackwater Agri Sales & Services - based at Keereen Lower, Co. Waterford. The business was founded by Sean Cotter in 2006 and is now a dealer for Redrock, Bomford, Trioliet, Malone and other brands/manufacturers. The entity also imports used tractors.

The FTMTA’s chief executive, Gary Ryan, commented: “The addition of these latest firms to the ranks of the association continues the efforts to grow membership to represent the sector as comprehensively as possible.”

New Holland has announced that Buckley Agri Ltd, based in Listowel, County Kerry, have been appointed to cover the territory comprising County Kerry and County Clare.

Owned and managed by Henry Buckley and based at Tanavalla Industrial Estate, Listowel, Buckley Agri will provide the brand with a Kerry based dealer outlet for the first time in many years, while providing local coverage in the previously open territory of Clare.

The dealership will supply a range of New Holland products including tractors, balers, telescopic handlers and implements and will bring to customers in the area a great level of agricultural equipment knowledge and customer assistance.

Henry Buckley, Dealer Principal at Buckley Agri commented, “Myself and my team here in Listowel are looking forward to this new challenge. We want to grow the business and establish New Holland as the number one brand in our territory. Our primary aim is to give a complete service to all New Holland customers in Kerry and Clare”.

Pat Smith, Business Director for New Holland UK & ROI, added: “The area of Kerry and Clare have not had a resident New Holland dealer for many years, so it was important to us to establish a depot in the area and that our new partner in the area was a skilled and recognised name. We look forward to supporting Buckley Agri in their growth, confident they will offer the best products and service to our customers in the area”.

Honda has announced that they are set to enter the cordless lawn mower market for the first time for the 2020 season, with the launch of two models, which they say build on their IZY platform.

The Cordless IZY ON 466XB from Honda. Photo: Honda

The manufacturer says that carrying over the same qualities, build standards and traditional styling as IZY, the HRG416XB and HRG466XB ‘IZY-ON’ models offer 4.5Nm and 6Nm of torque respectively. Both will feature a new brushless motor design which contributes to noise ratings of 91dB(A). The larger HRG466 model will also offer integrated on-off selective mulching - which Honda claim is a first in the cordless lawn mower market.

Providing the power for the new cordless models will be a choice of three batteries - 4Ah, 6Ah and 9Ah - which make up the ‘Universal Battery System’ for Honda cordless products. Featuring ‘Thermo-Smart’ control technology to keep the battery cool, the company says these units offer high performance and long life, with the professional-grade 9Ah version capable of delivering up to 45A of current for heavy garden work, and fully weatherproof to the IP56 standard.

Steve Morris, Head of Power Products at Honda (UK) said, “Lawn mowers are absolutely core to the Honda Lawn & Garden business. With customers increasingly moving towards cordless products and battery technology, now so advanced that it offers no compromise compared to petrol-power, it’s a natural fit for us to introduce premium cordless models alongside our petrol and robotic lawn mower line-up."

Continuing on a similar theme, the 2020 season will also see Honda introduce a new range of cordless handhelds consisting of a hedgetrimmer, brushcutter and leaf blower. Using the same choice of three batteries available in Honda’s forthcoming cordless lawn mower range, the new handhelds will extend the application of the universal battery system.

2020 will also see two new additions to Honda’s robotic mower line-up, Miimo, with the introduction of the HRM40 and HRM40 Live. Designed for smaller gardens of up to 400 square metres, the ‘Live’ version offers full smartphone connectivity through an app, voice control via Alexa and adapts automatically to weather conditions.

Also new for next season Honda has announced new engines for their lawn tractor models; the IZY range will be powered by the latest four-stroke Honda GCV engines; and they have added a new model with extra power to their 4-stroke brushcutter range, the UMK450.

Kuhn Farm Machinery has appointed the agricultural machinery and farming supplies business Alexander Mills as a dealer for Northern Ireland.

The appointment, which came into effect from October 2019, confirms the Benburb-based company as an official stockist and service support dealer for Kuhn’s full range of agricultural machinery. Alexander Mills will complement the existing dealership arrangement that Kuhn has with Ballymena-based D. S. Logan.

Film binding technology on Kuhn’s FBP 3135 BalePack combination was included in the Alexander Mills Quality Forage Solutions events

A prominent force in the agricultural supply trade since 1945, Alexander Mills is an agent for Case IH tractors and other major machinery brands. With sizeable stocks of spare parts and a team of highly trained mechanics operating from the workshop or on site, the company has a strong reputation for service and sales back-up.

“Alexander Mills is a highly respected business and has the resources and capacity to work across our broad range of livestock and arable equipment,” said Sian Pritchard, Managing Director of Kuhn UK. “We’re delighted to welcome the Alexander Mills team as an official dealer and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Commenting on the appointment, managing director Alexander Mills said it marked another important milestone in the company’s history.

“We already have strong relationships with Case IH tractors, and a number of other leading farm machinery brands,” he says, “and we see this latest development as a great opportunity to bring another superb product range to our customers, whilst also being well placed to service existing Kuhn customers.

“We have previous history of working with the Kuhn brand, selling mowers, tedders and power harrows, so we are excited about this opportunity to work across what is now a far more comprehensive range of equipment.”

Kuhn and Alexander Mills marked their new partnership by jointly hosting three ‘Quality Forage Solutions’ events showcasing some of the more advanced grassland machinery technology available.

They took place at Mahon’s Hotel, Irvinestown (22 October); the Armagh City Hotel (23 October); and Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Ballynahinch (24 October), each event started with refreshments. Visitors received an introduction to Kuhn’s new Merge Maxx 950 belt merger machine, capable of rapid windrow formation whilst minimising soil contamination in the crop and also gained insight into the company’s award-winning film binding system that is available on i-BIO and FBP baler wrapper combinations. The system uses wrap instead of net binding, thereby improving bale conservation quality whilst simultaneously reducing the burden of recycling. Film binding technology, patented by Kuhn, received the accolade of a silver medal at the LAMMA Show Livestock Innovation Awards earlier this year.

John Deere has developed a completely new 6M Series tractor range.

These replace the previous 6M, 6MC and 6RC Series and include four new four-cylinder models from 90 to 120hp, featuring a 2.4m wheelbase. This is a more compact 6M Series tractor than John Deere has offered before, with the low bonnet design presenting a clear view to the front of the machine. In addition, a slimmer steering wheel cowl and the newly designed panoramic window in the cab roof provides full visibility for loader work or operation in confined spaces.

The new John Deere 6120M tractor

Improved manoeuvrability is a result of the short wheelbase, which allows a tight turning circle of only 4.35m on the new four-cylinder models. Despite their slim design, these full-frame concept tractors feature a maximum permissible gross weight of 10.45 tonnes, which means an unrivalled payload capacity in this class of up to 4.7 tonnes.

All these latest 6M Series tractors feature a newly designed cab that is significantly brighter and more modern in appearance, as well as extremely quiet, with a rating of 70dB(A). All the important operating functions are located on the right-hand panel, which has been completely redesigned, while models equipped with the CommandQuad transmission can be optionally fitted with a Compact CommandArm, with the functions located on the armrest.

Up to four mechanical or electric SCVs are available – the latter is a new option available for the first time on these tractors. Switches on the electrohydraulic joystick are fully programmable, and direction of travel can be changed on both this and the mechanical joystick via a push-button. Driver comfort is also enhanced by mechanical cab suspension and the proven TLS (triple link suspension) front axle, while 360° LED lighting is optionally available for perfect illumination of night work.

The four new four-cylinder models are powered by a 4.5-litre John Deere PowerTech EWL engine, while the 6130M, 6140M and 6145M have a 4.5-litre John Deere PowerTech PSS engine. Larger models are powered by six-cylinder PVS engines with a displacement of 6.8 litres. The smaller 6090M to 6140M tractors also feature Intelligent Power Management (IPM) for the first time, which increases performance by 20hp for pto work and transport – so the four-cylinder 6140M develops up to an impressive 166hp maximum power with IPM.

Three different gearbox options are offered on the new 6M Series. PowrQuad and AutoQuad are four-step powershift transmissions, while CommandQuad Plus offers fully automatic gear and range shifting without using the clutch. Thanks to EcoShift, the maximum speed of 40kph is achieved at a reduced engine speed of 1590rpm. In addition, AutoClutch means the operator can comfortably stop and restart the tractor simply by using the brake pedal.

The latest AMS and FarmSight solutions include JDLink telematics, which can be ordered ex-factory with a free five-year subscription. All the tractors can be equipped with a StarFire 6000 satellite receiver and the 4240 or 4640 GreenStar displays. Depending on the level of precision required when using AutoTrac automatic steering, SF3 and RTK signals as well as the free SF1 option are available.

John Deere’s new 6M Series tractors can be ordered from dealers as of the end of September 2019, in Select, Select+ and Premium specifications to meet different customer requirements.

Doosan Bobcat EMEA has opened its headquarters for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa), marking a further expansion in the Czech Republic.

As part of its Dobříš campus, the new building houses the company's management and other employees and complements the production plant and the training and innovation center, where Bobcat machines are created for Europe and the rest of the world.

The company says this year alone, their investments in Dobříš will reach EUR 20 million. In 2018, Doosan Bobcat’s revenue for the EMEA region amounted to EUR 765 million, with the Dobříš factory producing a record 17,206 machines.

This year, the company plans to increase production by 20% and break through the barrier of 20,000 machines for the first time.

Worth EUR 10 million, the three-storey headquarters building covers a surface area of 1,561 m2 and will offer more than 3,370 m2 of office space for 200 employees. Investments were also made to create more than 7,000 m2 of green areas around the building.

Gustavo Otero, President of Doosan Bobcat EMEA, said, “With the opening of the new headquarters in Dobříš, we are completing an investment which - thanks to the concentration of development, production and management of the company in one place - is of socio-economic importance for the whole region and exceptional within our industry.

"During Doosan Bobcat's operations in the Czech Republic, we have invested approximately EUR 120 million, increased production five-fold, and more than tripled the number of employees. In the future, we expect a further recruitment of blue-collar professionals and expert positions in development.”