Following too many Weekly Updates lately that were required to focus upon the more doomy and gloomly aspects of the industry so far in 2024, it's a delight again this week to feature a big, positive story that will impact plenty of members of the UK dealer network.

It was a privilege last week to be invited along to the official opening of STIHL's new Contra House headquarters in Camberley, alongside many of their fantastic dealers from around the country. The facility is undeniably impressive and the organisers of the official opening gave it the ceremony that it justifiably deserved.

Contra House

But much more so than simply the fancy bricks and mortar, what struck me as being truly celebrated last week was the enduring relationship between STIHL and their dealers. There was a tangible sense that it was their partnership which was the real star of the day. Clearly both manufacturer and dealer rely upon each other for their continued success and prosperity and, as an outsider, this appeared to be acknowledged and honoured by both sides throughout the event.

Some of the invited guests

Dealer support required

GB managing director Kay Green began the day by addressing the invited guests, saying that this was indeed a celebration, with the theme for the day being 'Backing the Best'. Kay explained how the company had seen continual growth since they had established a GB base, and how they they expected this to continue. This would be achieved she said, through converting both professional and domestic customers to battery products, whilst at the same time remaining a leader in petrol machinery.

Kay Green

For the company to fulfil this aim, Kay explained that they absolutely needed the support of their dealers, with their expertise and specialist knowledge paramount. 

National sales manager, Wayne Stone, also emphasised this point, saying how professional customers need to be introduced to and educated upon the range of battery options that are now available to suit their requirements. He stressed to the dealers, how the company is keen to work with them to run events and open days, to present to their commercial customers the benefits of these tools, in order to encourage them to convert to battery.

Wayne Stone

To illustrate what the Commercial Solutions team can offer, we were shown a video of an event with dealers Masons Kings which the dealership said had helped to further their relationships with local professional users. This short film seemed to be a great way to bring to life the two-way-street nature of the manufacturer / dealer relationship that was at the forefront of everything throughout the day.

We also heard from head of marketing, Simon Hewitt, who explained that through their vast research, they are able to speak to all their customer groups across the domestic and professional spectrum. In terms of this latter group, Simon said their messaging was "laser-focused" on getting them to convert to battery.  He also said that 2024 was set to be their biggest ever in terms of TV advertising, with a significant emphasis also placed on digital 'on-demand' viewing. 

Simon Hewitt

Again reiterating how crucial the company's relationship is with their network, Simon stressed how they needed dealers' assistance with marketing. They are keen, for example, for dealers to repurpose STIHL produced material via their own social media channels. He said how effective social media promotion can be for local businesses and how it doesn't require big budgets. Carmen Rosten, marketing content manager, continued this theme, telling the dealers to decide who they want to target, identify their goals, and try something new as there are always different approaches to be taken. She explained how the company have many ways to help, including ideas such as pre-written posts that they can share with dealers, and how they are always keen to support local marketing efforts.

Further presentations were given by STHIL team members on training options available to the network, on new products, on parts and accessories and on service. We were even treated to a catwalk fashion parade of branded clothing - which I must say was a first for me at an industry event.

Fashion parade

This regard in which the GB network is held, was illustrated further in the speech given by the man at the top of the corporate tree who had travelled over to Camberley for the opening, Dr. Nikolas Stihl. He described the new building as "the cornerstone of our future" and gave a "firm commitment" to the dealers that this future was dependent on having "you by our side."

Dr Nikolas Stihl

In a nice touch Dr Stihl also gave a personal welcome and thanks to the representatives of the Charles Hill dealership who were in attendance, for being the first dealer in the country to ever sell STIHL saws - and who have demonstrated loyalty ever since. The respect which Dr Stihl clearly held for the dealer network shone through.

Impressive facility

After the speeches and the chainsawing of the wooden ribbon, all guests were taken on small group tours of the new facility. Every dealer I spoke with afterwards, without exception, appeared genuinely impressed with what they had seen.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke joined in with a Timbersports demonstration on the tour

The modern offices, meeting spaces, training rooms, workshops and broadcast studio were all splendid - but I think it was the ginormous warehouse that received most comment. The huge Raiders Of The Lost Ark-style shelving aisles were stocked with product, and were so tall it was explained that drivers of the forklifts featuring elevating cabs to take them up to the top, each have an abseiling kit in case of a breakdown! 

The huge warehouse

It was the robot pickers though that seemed to get guests buzzing. Seeing them trundle around up high, then delve down to collect requested parts out of the tens of thousands available, within the stacked up a giant cube of trays, was quite the sight. And if they add to efficiency of delivery to dealerships, then everyone agreed the system will be money well-spent.

Robotic pickers

Look, I'm not a STIHL dealer and equally I'm not privy to the ins and outs of every relationship between each dealership and the manufacturer. I'm sure, like in every relationship, there are moments when the two parties bump up against each other and don't quite see eye-to-eye. That will have happened in the past and will in all honesty crop up on occasion in the future. But last Thursday's event wasn't the time nor place for discussions of that nature. It was a celebration of what the partnership can be at its best. A collaboration of mutual benefit that both sides should wish to aspire to and preserve.

For me, to see that level of investment and belief in the GB market - and specifically in the abilities of the home dealer network - was most heartening.

STIHL GB held the grand opening of its new, purpose-built head office and state-of-the-art distribution centre named Contra House last Thursday (April 25th 2024), saying it ushers in "a new chapter of innovation and service excellence for the business". 

Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the STIHL Group, presided over the opening ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the company's long history. Named Contra House in homage to the iconic Contra chainsaw invented by founder Andreas Stihl, the company says this 11,500m2 facility reflects their dedication to providing unparalleled support to its dealers and end users. 

L-R: Kay Green, managing director of STIHL GB; Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the STIHL Group; Sarah Gewert, executive board member for marketing and sales; Councillor Pat Tedder, Mayor of Surrey Heath

Home to more than 100 staff, the company says Contra House is designed to enhance operational efficiency, customer service, and employee well-being. The new site features dealer training facilities and a studio, collaborative workspaces, an on-site restaurant, and a fully-fitted technical workshop, ensuring support for the company's 700-strong Approved Dealer network. 

At the heart of the operation lies the 9,000m2 distribution centre, which boasts next-generation picking and storage systems. STIHL say this consolidation of logistics onto one site enables them to streamline operations, resulting in a speedier and more efficient delivery service.

Guests at the opening ceremony

Kay Green, managing director of STIHL GB, said, "The unveiling of Contra House symbolises a significant step forward in our commitment to product innovation and providing exceptional service to our customers and dealer network. We are thrilled to unveil the new facility, which not only embodies our rich heritage but also stands as a testament to our vision for the future.”

The company boast that Contra House also has a "dedication to sustainability". The facility has achieved BREEAM Certification, with features such as photovoltaic solar panels covering two-thirds of its roof area and 21 electric vehicle charging points.

The official opening event, attended by more than 150 guests, also outlined the company's partnership with Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping people in horticulture. The STIHL team will volunteer in a wide range of fundraising activities to help the charity provide free and confidential advice, information and support to people working in, or retired from, horticulture and their families.

After more than 40 years with the company, Amazone Ltd have announced the retirement of their managing director, Simon Brown.

L-R; The retiring Simon Brown with incoming managing director, Matt Smith

Christian Dreyer, Chairman of the Board and owner of Amazonen-Werke, said, "It will be odd not having Simon around supporting the business after so many years. We are though extremely happy that Simon has used his foresight to build up a professional team around him which will secure an efficient handover to the following management."

Matt Smith, currently national sales manager, will take over the role as managing director following Simon’s retirement. Matt said, "I am delighted to be taking on the role from Simon and in the past few months the business has been evolving to function without him which means that we are well placed to continue supporting both customer and dealer."

Other staffing changes include Jane Braun taking over in the new role of operations manager, looking after parts and whole goods distribution and Becky Drobnica joins as admin & HR manager. Additionally, two new Harper Adams graduates have joined the team with David Thomson coming in as marketing specialist and James Rogers as business support specialist.

The retiring Simon Brown added, "We have such a great, long-serving team here at Amazone who have a vast depth of knowledge and experience and the beauty of Matt taking on the mantle is that it ensures the continuity of the business for next generation and I wish him all the best for the future. Of course, I will still be keeping an eye on things from the outside making sure they are doing it all properly."

The Tallis Amos Group (TAG) servicing teams at each depot have been actively promoting farm safety by contributing £15 from every harvest machinery safety expert check throughout the winter to The Farm Safety Foundation.

Members of the TAG team with Sophie Marsh from The Farm Safety Foundation

Prior to Farm Safety Week, which takes place from July 22-26, they have announced a total raised of £705 to support the foundation.

Sophie Marsh, farm safety campaign coordinator from The Farm Safety Foundation, said, "We continue to hear too many tragic stories of farming-related accidents, with a particularly high number of fatalities in the industry this year alone. Vehicle incidents remain the leading cause of deaths and serious injuries in British Agriculture, resulting in numerous major injuries such as amputations and fractures. Shockingly, UK Agriculture accounts for 16% of all workplace deaths."

Improving safety in the farming workplace is crucial and can be achieved through raising awareness of safer working practices, providing education and training, and improving day-to-day working environments to mitigate injury risks, says the Foundation. Ensuring well-functioning and maintained machinery is particularly critical for improving farm safety, especially during wet weather conditions.

TAG say they have a fully qualified and expert team of technicians covering an area from the Cotswolds across the West Midlands and Wales each conducting a comprehensive TAG Machinery Safety Expert Check with every service that evaluates all mechanical safety aspects of a tractor, including checks for track rod play, kingpins, wheel bearings, neutral start circuits, lights, and pick-up hitches. These t examinations aim to minimise accidents keeping machinery seen maintained to a high standard.

Agricultural vehicles, trailers, and equipment are regulated by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). Compliance ensures workplace safety, including proper maintenance and employee training. Vehicles used on public roads must meet the Construction and Use Regulations 1986 and the Road Traffic Act.

CNH Industrial has announced the appointment of Gerrit Marx to the role of CEO effective 1st July 2024.

Gerrit Marx

He succeeds Scott Wine, whose request to leave the company at the end of the current three-year business plan cycle to pursue other interests, has been accepted by the Board.

Gerrit Marx rejoins CNH from Iveco Group where as CEO he led the company’s drive into what they describe as "a new era of connectivity, integrating the latest digital and data technologies with Iveco’s product offering." Prior to first joining CNH in January 2019, Gerrir worked for 20 years in senior roles at McKinsey, Daimler Trucks, and Bain Capital, living in Brazil, China, Europe and Japan.

During the more than three years of Scott Wine’s tenure as CEO, the manufacturer has shifted focus to purely agriculture and construction following the Iveco Group demerger and is now solely listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Among his achievements, the manufacturer says Scott has delivered three straight years of record revenues and EBIT margins while overseeing the improved performance of the company’s Agriculture segment, the turnaround of the Construction segment, and the 2021 acquisition of Raven Industries, the precision agriculture technology business.

CNH’s Chair, Suzanne Heywood said, “We’re delighted to welcome Gerrit back to CNH as CEO. We look forward to him bringing the same energy and focus he has demonstrated so effectively when leading Iveco, to his new role at a time when CNH is navigating the current end-market downcycle with an emphasis on managing inventory and costs, expanding margins, and harnessing the full potential of the newly established tech stack. On behalf of the Board, I would also like to thank Scott Wine for his leadership and considerable contribution to CNH’s progress in these years and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Scott Wine will continue as the company’s CEO until the end of June. 

Club Car has opened a new 3,300sqm factory in Poland to, they say, meet increasing demand for its electric vehicles.

 
The state-of-the-art Club Car Manufacturing Facility located in Mielec, Poland triples European production lines and increases capacity for the manufacturer to supply a growing and diverse customer base.  
 
Marco Natale, vice president EMEA, said: “The addition of this new factory in Poland strengthens our ability to respond to increasing global demand for compact utility and low-speed consumer vehicles. 
 
“With this investment, Club Car will better serve customers in the European utility market, where many industry and manufacturing, leisure and tourism, and municipal organisations are modernising and electrifying their fleets.”
 
Club Car now operates two major factories in Poland, having acquired the Melex manufacturing plant - virtually next door - with the 2022 purchase of Garia, a Danish producer of low-speed vehicles which had bought Polish utility company Melex the year before.
 
“This increase in production capabilities is great news for our dealers and customers in Europe, who will have access to a wider range of zero-emission on- and off-road vehicles at a variety of price points,” Marco added. 

Boss ORV has announced the appointment of dealer J&R Agricultural Engineering Ltd. in Cornwall as the latest to join the Corvus team.

Phil Everett and Jonathan Philp

J&R Agricultural is a tractor and machinery sales and repair business incorporating ATV and UTV sales and service. The company is based in the Looe area in South East Cornwall and has over thirty years in the industry covering Cornwall and South Devon. They will sell and support the full Corvus Terrain range of diesel and electric UTVs. 

“I would like to give a big welcome to Jonathan, Ann-Marie, Richard, and all the team at J&R Agricultural Engineering,” said Boss ORV MD Phil Everett. “Their joining in the Corvus dealer network perfectly fits our goal of providing Corvus coverage, sales, and service into the furthest reaches of the UK.” 

J&R say they pride themselves on their personal touch with sales and service being predominantly covered by the same people, giving a seamless connection to the end user. This, they say, has proved to be a successful approach in securing future business and building a good relationship with customers. 

“Phil Everett at BOSS ORV is also focused on personal service and customer care,” says J&R’s Jonathan Philp, “which appealed to us at J&R and we were delighted to be given the opportunity to offer the range of Corvus UTV’s to our customers."

Dr Mark Moore, director government affairs AGCO Ltd, is the new president of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).

Dr Mark Moore
 
Mark joined AGCO (Massey Ferguson) in 1990 as a technical training instructor from Cranfield University where he obtained a 1st Class Honour’s degree in Agricultural Technology and Management.
 
During the past 30 years plus Mark has worked in different roles including product development, where he was responsible for understanding the challenges faced by farmers and identifying solutions to enable profitable farming and sustainable food production. 
 
In 2012 he joined the Africa team and focused on the Future Farm project, which brings modern agricultural practices and technology to Africa through a range of practical demonstrations and educational programmes.
 
“My agricultural engineering skills and knowledge has led to my current AGCO role of director, government affairs," said Mark. "The aim is to increase awareness amongst policy makers on the opportunities to increase food production while mitigating climate change. I work closely with the European Farm Machinery Trade Association (CEMA) and act as secretary to the CEMA strategic committee.
 
“Given the change that is happening within agriculture, I sense there has never been a more exciting time to be an agricultural engineer. Policy makers are looking to us for the solutions to enable sustainable farming practices while maintaining food security and profitability for farmers and other stakeholders in the food supply chain. The challenge for agricultural engineers is to increase the recognition for the contribution we make to food security and climate change through innovation like precision farming,” he added.
 
Charlie Nicklin IAgrE’s CEO added, "Mark has been a member of IAgrE for many years and I am thrilled that he has now taken on the role as president for the 2024 to 2026 period. Mark's government affairs role and extensive experience at AGCO, coupled with his strategic involvement in CEMA will bring unquestionable value to IAgrE in the president's role. I look forward to working with Mark over the next two years and him supporting the IAgrE and its members in its strategic aims"

Segway Navimow are now looking for new dealers across the UK to represent the brand.

Following on from our hugely successful premium H Series launch in 2023 and the introduction of our highly-competitively priced i Series, starting at £949 retail, Segway Navimow are now looking for new dealers across the UK to represent the brand.

Our distribution in the UK through Barrus and their Area Sales Manager team means we are here to support you in building sales of one of the best wireless robot ranges in the UK. Dealers will be supported by a full range of point of sale, brochures and a stand, if required. Technical support is also available from the team at Barrus.

To become a dealer please email segway@barrus.co.uk

The aim of Segway Navimow is to provide a user-friendly experience for customers, starting with a clear and easy set-up process. Everything can be set-up virtually via the Navimow app, with customers able to mark virtual boundaries and identify off-limit areas in just a few taps, getting them up and running within minutes; there is no boundary wire to be installed; making life easier for you as a dealer. 

Segway Navimow also provides hassle-free and intelligent mowing through a uniquely developed positioning system with vision enhancement, an AI-powered assistant mapping function and smart features such as scheduled mowing. A diverse range of lawn layouts can be handled.

George Ren, CEO of Segway Navimow BU, commented: “With the Navimow i Series we wanted to create a robotic mower that caters to everyone, from customers that have zero experience with robotic or even traditional mowers, to green-fingered gardening experts. We believe that our latest offering delivers mass useability, with a host of smart features delivering an easy-to-use product experience and a competitive price point that makes the i Series more accessible than almost every other robotic mower on the market.

“The i Series perfectly complements the H Series models that launched in 2021, allowing us to service all segments of the market with precise wire-free cutting. Since its launch in Europe, the H Series has proven immensely popular, recording cumulative sales of over 40,000 and making Navimow one of the industry’s most sought-after names. We’re optimistic that the i Series will propel our growth in the gardening space, establishing Navimow as a true innovator in the sector.”

Phil Noble, Divisional Sales Manager of E.P Barrus commented: “We believe that having quality products from a well-recognised brand combined with market leading prices will mean that many first-time gardeners can enjoy the freedom of owning a robotic mower. This can only be a good thing for dealerships and the market in general.”

Check out the full lineup at https://navimow.segway.com/uk/

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