We're currently putting the finishing touches to the next issue of your favourite publication dedicated to the independent dealer network - which if you don't see our physical version, published six times a year, you can subscribe to for free.

This upcoming edition of Service Dealer magazine as well as being packed full of all its regular features has, by coincidence rather than design, become somewhat of an anniversary special.

I won't spoil too much ahead of it hitting your desks, but inside you'll find four major features celebrating businesses in our sector reaching some remarkable milestones. We speak to companies hitting 40, 60, 100 and even 175 years trading.

Those numbers are impressive enough on their own. Yet as we've been working through the issue, it struck me that perhaps the bigger picture isn't the anniversaries themselves, but what they say about our industry.

Now, these companies aren't isolated exceptions. We regularly report on dealerships, manufacturers and suppliers marking significant birthdays. Often quite hefty ones. Which I suspect isn't something every sector can say.

So what is it about outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery and plant and construction kit that produces so many businesses built to last?

My guess would be that fundamentally, dealer business is based around the formation of customer relationships. Independent dealerships aren't fly-by-night operations chasing the latest trend. Many remain family-owned businesses that have spent decades building trust within their local communities. Customers often buy from the same dealer generation after generation, knowing that advice, service and support won't disappear once the sale has been made.

Continuity matters to customers. However sniffy it is possible to be about the value of heritage in this digital and AI-infused age, it will still carry weight. But only, of course, when it's backed up by consistent service and genuine expertise.

But equally, as you'll see when you read the articles, none of these businesses are resting on their laurels and merely pointing to the sign above their door that states the date they were established. All are pushing onwards. Finding ways to develop and grow - and yes, they will be utilising new online or AI tools where appropriate and promoting the very latest in technological developments. But crucially these are being underpinned with physical bricks and mortar expansion, plus investment in people. They know what enduring principals to cherish and nurture, but also where to push into the new.

These dealers and others like them throughout the network, fully grasp that the ethos that made them successful originally - trust, service, technical expertise and long-term relationships - remain every bit as important today. Those concepts don't need replacing, rather they give them a great platform from which to push on.

Perhaps that's the real takeaway we can glean from a magazine full of anniversary stories? Longevity isn't about doing things the way they've always been done. It's about recognising which values should never change, while having the confidence to adapt elsewhere.

And that to me sounds like a trait which everyone involved in our sector can feel rightly proud.

As I say, if you only see this Weekly Update, but would like to receive a free copy of Service Dealer magazine six times a year in which to read these articles and many more like them, please visit our website to sign up.

John Deere Electronics has announced it is making its Vision Processing Unit (VPU) available to European machine builders and OEMs, giving manufacturers access to the same vision-based computing platform used in the company's See & Spray technology.

See and Spray camera

The hardware is designed to support autonomous and semi-autonomous machinery by processing camera data on-board in real time, enabling applications such as navigation, obstacle detection and situational awareness without relying on cloud-based computing.

Originally developed for agricultural use, Deere says the VPU has been engineered for harsh outdoor environments, featuring an IP67-rated enclosure and an air-cooled design that eliminates the need for liquid cooling or internal fans. It also supports multiple high-resolution camera inputs and standard machine communication protocols, including CAN and Ethernet.

The manufacturer says the technology is suitable for a wide range of sectors beyond agriculture, including construction, forestry, mining, robotics, material handling and other specialist vehicles. The system will be available in several configurations, allowing OEMs to select the level of computing performance needed for their application.

Kerry Koisti, business development at John Deere Electronics, said the company has a history of developing its own technology where suitable commercial solutions do not exist. "Once it's in production, we consider offering it to other OEMs as hardware, providing tried and tested technology with John Deere quality and robustness, and enabling innovation in new applications," he said.

Kerry continued, "The VPU is really rugged and has been developed to solve a real-world challenge. The flexibility of the system is pretty incredible in terms of types of problems it can solve and it builds on decades of knowledge and experience in outdoor mobile machinery.

"We believe lots of European companies could benefit from this technology. The VPU enables real-time decision-making in the field and we provide expert guidance to ensure smooth integration with their systems."

CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and HAE (Hire Association Europe) have agreed a reciprocal membership arrangement, strengthening cooperation between the two UK trade associations.

Under the agreement, each organisation will become a member of the other, which they say will create a stronger platform for sharing insight, coordinating activity and working together on issues affecting their members and the wider industry.

CEA represents around 150 businesses across the construction equipment supply chain, including OEMs, component and attachment manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and specialist service providers. HAE represents approximately 700 members across the hire sector, including around 100 OEMs and suppliers.

The two associations say the agreement reflects the close relationship between the construction equipment manufacturing, supply and hire sectors, and builds on areas in which the two associations and their members already share common interests.

These include equipment crime prevention, asset management and the continued development of the CEA-owned CESAR Scheme, the UK’s official construction and agricultural equipment security and registration scheme.

The reciprocal arrangement will also support closer information-sharing, policy discussion and cooperation on future industry priorities.
 
Viki Bell, chief executive officer of CEA, said, “There is a natural fit between CEA and HAE, with both organisations representing businesses operating throughout the construction equipment supply chain.

“This agreement gives us a stronger basis for sharing knowledge and working together on the issues that matter to our members. Closer cooperation between our associations will help ensure that manufacturers, suppliers and hire companies have a more joined-up voice as the industry responds to the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
 
Paul Gaze, chief executive officer of HAE said, "HAE already works closely with the CEA on a range of topics including theft, asset management and taxation, so reciprocal membership is a logical next step. We have many OEM and supplier members, so this relationship underlines our commitment to supporting the hire supply chain. Trade bodies working together can achieve so much more."

The two associations say they expect the reciprocal membership to develop into a wider programme of cooperation, supporting their respective members and strengthening links between the construction equipment and hire sectors.

GGM Group have now confirmed the funeral details for their colleague, Scott Grieve, who sadly passed away recently.

The funeral service is at East Lancashire Crematorium Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 4EU on Wednesday 19th August 2026 at 11:30 AM and they say it is very much intended as a celebration of Scott’s life.

Full details can be found on the link below which also includes a fundraising page on behalf of the Northwest Air Ambulance Service if you would care to make a small donation in memory of Scott.

Tribute to Scott Grieve, 1978 - 2026

GGM md, Chris Gibson, said, "If you are planning on attending in person if you could please let Alex Halissey know so we can assist the family with number for catering."

SCAG in the USA have started a Breast Cancer Awareness scheme, involving limited edition machinery specifically produced in the recognisable pink colouring, and with a sum from each machine sold going to Breast Cancer Awareness in that country.

UK importer STM Co in Warwickshire now say because of a personal involvement, they are also going to follow this incentive. Management have chosen to offer a Pink Warrior machine in a prize draw, with tickets being available here.

Phillipa Mason, wife of Dominic Mason, the STM CEO, said, “I am incredibly touched by Dominic’s generosity in this campaign. We went through a very difficult time when I had breast cancer; we owe such a lot to Cancer Research UK and we are pleased to have an opportunity to demonstrate our thanks."

All proceeds from this STM prize draw will be going directly to Cancer Research, specifically breast cancer research.

The tickets are £5.00 and the draw will be held at SALTEX, 11th -12th November, Stand QO60.

Professional machinery dealership Wildwood Machinery has added another manufacturer to its growing portfolio of brands.

L-R: James Bastian, Wildwood Machinery managing director with Nick Thornton Tru-Turf general manager

The company is now the exclusive dealer for Tru-Turf Golf & Sports Turf Rollers in London, Surrey and West Sussex. 

Wildwood Machinery managing director, James Bastian, said, “As a groundcare specialist in the south of England, we’ve set out our stall to represent and support the world’s best turfcare products, and to ensure we offer our customers the optimum solution for their specific tasks and challenges. The opportunity to work with Tru-Turf in this region is a perfect fit for that strategy, particularly with the success of their market-leading electric rollers.”  

Tru-Turf general manager, Nick Thornton, added, “We are very excited to bring the team at WildWood Machinery on as one of our dealers in the UK."

He continued, "Wildwood is surrounded by a superb golfing region in England, and the region is home to some of the world’s best courses. We know that this new partnership will provide them with great sales and service expertise."

The Claas Foundation has announced it is to expand its support for young engineers to mark what would have been Helmut Claas' 100th birthday in July.

Founded by Helmut Claas in 1999 with the specific aim of recognising and supporting young agricultural engineers and supporting international research projects at higher education institutions, the Foundation also works to promote initiatives in schools designed to inspire pupils enthusiasm for science and technology.

To mark what would have been Helmut Claas' 100th birthday, the Foundation has instigated two initiatives to support young talent.

Firstly the funding for the international Helmut Claas Scholarship, which supports students in producing outstanding bachelor's theses in the field of agricultural engineering, has been increased with the first place award now 10,000 Euros, up from 7,500 Euros.

Secondly the scholarship is to be expanded with a new Helmut Claas Scholarship being launched for students in the USA, where the Foundation will work in cooperation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which is one of the leading universities for agricultural engineering in the USA.

In making this announcement the Foundation quoted its founder, Helmut Class, who said, "Agricultural technology needs the best minds in the world - and the best minds in the world need an opportunity. Supporting the next generation is not a luxury; it is our responsibility towards the future of agriculture."

Ibcos has introduced a new Gold Cloud package that brings together cloud hosting, built-in tools and ongoing platform support to help machinery dealers work more efficiently and get more value from their Gold system – today and as the platform continues to evolve.

Gold Cloud is Ibcos’ new cloud-hosted version of Gold. It brings dealership systems, tools and services together into one connected platform, helping teams work more efficiently, access real-time data from anywhere and deliver a better customer experience across departments.

The new Gold Cloud package has been developed to provide dealers with a stronger operational foundation, combining cloud infrastructure with a growing range of capabilities designed to support everyday dealership performance.

The package includes access to key Gold solutions such as Customer Connect, Gold eSign, Parts App, Gold Sales and WIP Boards. Together, these tools help connect activity across sales, parts, service and administration, reducing manual processes and improving visibility across the business.

Gold Cloud also includes remote access, updates and security enhancements, helping dealerships reduce IT burden while keeping their system supported and ready for future development.

For dealers, this means Gold Cloud is no longer simply a different place to host Gold. It is a clearer route to more capability, more connected working and ongoing innovation across the Ibcos platform.

As Gold continues to evolve, our Cloud solutions will provide the foundation for future developments, including new products, enhanced integrations, deeper automation and AI-powered capabilities.

Steven Brown, Senior Product and Initiatives Manager at Ibcos, said: “Gold Cloud is about helping dealers unlock more from their Gold system. It brings together the tools, services and platform foundations that support more efficient operations today, while giving customers a clearer path to what comes next.”

To find out more about the new Gold Cloud package, visit the Gold Cloud page or contact the Ibcos team.

Contact: sales@ibcos.co.uk | +44 (0) 1202 714200
Web: www.ibcos.co.uk

EGO’s new ARC Lithium MAXTM battery has been developed to showcase the full capability of battery power, giving dealers a compelling response to the most common question: Will it keep up with petrol?

As the leader in battery-powered outdoor power equipment, EGO understands that dealers need products that not only deliver petrol-matching power but also make it easier to demonstrate the benefits battery technology can bring to their customers’ businesses. 

That’s the thinking behind the ARC Lithium MAXTM, which maximises productive uptime through faster charging, fewer battery changes and improved performance, enabling professional users to complete up to 20% more work* over the course of an entire working day. The result is a battery that gives dealers a compelling solution for customers looking to transition to battery-powered equipment with confidence. 

Andrew Frohock, IoT Product Manager for EGO, commented: “As more professional users look to reduce emissions and work with lower noise and vibrations, dealers need products that remove the barriers to battery adoption and create opportunities to move customers into premium battery solutions. 

“Built on EGO’s industry-leading 56V platform, the ARC Lithium MAXTM battery provides a much higher power output than a standard-cell battery, delivering the dependable all-day performance professional users expect and helping businesses improve productivity, take on more jobs and maximise the return from every project.” 

Designed around the demands of professional users, the battery delivers greater confidence that equipment has the power and durability to perform for a full working day. With reduced heat generation, the new battery delivers a 40% higher power output** and faster charging, enabling more work to be completed per charge. Compatibility with EGO’s full product range also means users can integrate the ARC Lithium MAXTM into their current inventory.

Andrew continued: “As a battery-first brand from day one, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of cordless performance. Integrating tabless cell technology into our platform is the next step in that journey, and as a result we have created a battery that sets a new benchmark for battery-powered performance and allows users to spend less time waiting and more time working.”

When paired with the PGXTM Power Bank, a compatible ARC Lithium MAXTM battery can be charged from empty to 100% full in as little as 20 minutes, while its tabless cell technology means that it has twice the cycle life of an equivalent EGO standard-cell battery. Together, these innovations help dealers address the barriers that have kept some professional users reliant on petrol-powered equipment.
 
The 8Ah BA4480X ARC Lithium MAXTM battery is available now, with additional 3Ah and 6Ah capacities planned for 2027 as EGO continues to expand the technology across its battery platform. 

To learn more, visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/about-ego/technology/arc-lithium-max 

*Based on a modelled comparison of ARC LITHIUM MAXTM with PGX against a selected competitor fast charge battery platform, using a representative professional workload.

**Compared with equivalent standard-cell EGO batteries

The latest independent research showed that on average, each Garden Trader dealer will be sent 114 new customers (or people with a buying intention walking through your door) per year.  This works out at 83p for each new customer. A subscription rate designed to be all inclusive delivering unrivalled online results.  

This site was purpose-built just for skilled servicing ground care dealers by the team that bring you Service Dealer Magazine. It is easy and quick to register and costs just £96 + VAT per year for a full listing.

Since the site launched over 7 years ago, it has raised the profile of listed dealers to well over half a million potential customers and as the site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues have continued to be reinvested into promoting the site online and so supporting the dealer network.

Join the country’s only independent specialist website, created by the team that bring you Service Dealer. Join our subscribed Garden Trader dealers now by clicking on “Register Dealership” and let's fight back against the zero value retailers.

Map of dealerships registered with Garden Trader

FIND OUT MORE