Firstly, welcome back Kress as Principal Sponsor of the Service Dealer Conference & Awards! It's great to have the guys back on board for our event dedicated to the dealer network. And stay tuned, because there's more information regarding what's in store for November incoming . . .

But back to this week, and phew what a scorcher!

With the warm weather, I do hope our domestic machinery dealer readers saw some customer interest, from those looking to spend some quality time in their gardens?

The weather feels like it's been all over the shop so far this year. The extremes that it has swung to, will have directly affected the end user customers of agricultural, commercial and domestic machinery dealers alike. At different times, and in different ways. But nonetheless, dealers of all specialisms will have experienced its knock-on effects - as they do every year.

It's been said forever, but it still holds true. Whenever we ask you, our dealer readers, for the most influential factor on your business' success or otherwise in a given season, there is only one answer that dominates. And it's the one that nobody has any influence over!

Show season

One way that dealers can arm themselves will all the latest product information that can help their businesses, whatever the weather, is of course by attending industry events and shows.

Following on from the agricultural focused shows we've seen recently like Cereals, Groundswell, the Game Fair and the plethora of county shows up and down the land, once we get through August it'll be time for the professional turfcare machinery sector to take centre stage.

As happened for the first time last year, 2024 again sees two shows catering for a similar audience and featuring a crossover of exhibitors - taking place within weeks of each other.

New kid on the turfcare block, GroundsFest, presents its sophomore effort on 10th and 11th September at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire.

Whilst the GMA’s long-established SALTEX will be celebrating its 78th edition from 30th to 31st October at the NEC Birmingham.

Whether this is the new normal, time will tell. The question remains whether the industry wants and is able to sustain two comparable exhibitions, within quick succession of each other. Not forgetting that BIGGA’s BTME show also follows only a couple of months after SALTEX closes its doors.

Of course, organisers of both would argue that their two shows are different and distinct from one another – and to be fair, each does indeed have its own identity and unique selling points. 

A decision to be made

Whilst each show undeniably has their own distinct personality and standalone content on offer to visitors, there is no getting around the fundamental fact they are principally professional turfcare machinery shows, taking place within a short space of time of each other.

For our dealer readers, choices will need to be made. Do they attend both? One or the other? Or neither? Dealers will weigh up if all the brands that they represent in store are at both shows, or will their manufacturers have decided to commit their budget to a particular event? Meaning of course, potential separate trips if a dealer wants to catch-up with all their marques.

Autumn is traditionally a busy time for the network. September especially tends to see many supplier-run dealer conferences and roadshow events, which our readers will want to attend.

Time availability away from the dealership is likely to be the deciding factor. Dealers will be considering attendance at one, two or zero shows. 

Clearly both can be valuable days out but, looking forward, will this be a tricky choice that dealers will be faced with each and every autumn?

Service Dealer are proud to announce that Kress will be providing Principal Sponsorship of the Service Dealer Conference & Awards, for the third consecutive year.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "We are absolutely delighted to welcome back our friends at Kress as Principal Sponsors once again.

"To team up with a company who so clearly share our values regarding the vital importance of a thriving independent dealer network, is key to our event's ongoing success.

"We thank Tony and the team for demonstrating the high regard in which they hold our specialist delegates."

Tony Macer, Kress sales director for the UK & Ireland, added, “Kress are proud to be Principal Sponsor of the Service Dealer Conference & Awards once again this year, for the third year in a row. Our dealer first policy remains strong, and we are proud to help support their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to delivering exceptional knowledge and service when called upon. This dealer first policy underlines our commitment to our partnership program with our dealer partners.

"Kress continues to see exceptional growth, and we would like to thank our dealer partners for their continued support, we hope that you are all having a fantastic season so far. Our commitment to delivering market leading innovation each year ensures that our dealers continue to benefit from great margins and profit.

"Together we are building a stronger and more vibrant community that benefits everyone involved, we look forward to seeing you all in November at the Service Dealer Conference & Awards”

The theme for this year's Service Dealer Conference has been announced as Driving Success and it will take place, along with the Dealer Of The Year Awards, once again at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-Upon-Avon on Thursday 28th November 2024.

For more information on how you can be a part of the event and to stay updated on conference news visit our website or follow us on social media @servicedealer

A Cornish golf club has become the first in south-west England to invest in a satellite-guided John Deere sprayer to help keep its course the in the best possible condition. 

Head greenkeeper, Dan Kendle with Masons Kings' turf area consultant, David Barnes and turf business manager, Elliot Prior

Newquay Golf Club took delivery of the John Deere HD200 ProGator precision sprayer during July after identifying the machine as a tool to reduce costs and enhance its environmental profile. 

The state-of-the-art unit is the first of its kind to be installed in the region and was supplied by local dealer Masons Kings. 
 
Head greenkeeper Dan Kendle said the purchase was all about sustainability. 

“We like to keep up with advancements in technology because they can make us more efficient and do things more accurately,” he said. “Sustainability is the big thing on golf courses as far as I’m concerned and the GPS functionality in the sprayer allows us to be more targeted in our applications and therefore reducing the impact on the environment. 

“Over time, it will enable us to use fewer chemicals, less water and save on fuel and time which are also big plus points.” 

Masons Kings’ dedicated Integrating Technologies Team carried out the installation with Dan and the club’s greenkeeping staff, ensuring that the sprayer is fully operational and ready to deliver top-tier performance. 

Dan added: “We are extremely grateful for the support from entire Masons Kings team which has been instrumental in bringing this revolutionary equipment to Newquay Golf Club.” 

STIGA have announced that they have donated a number of products to Bridgnorth Community Garden Project through their We Care That You Care campaign.

Andrea Morris from Farm & Garden Machinery (Bridgnorth) Ltd presenting some of the Bridgnorth Community Garden Project team with their products

The project is a community centred gardening group, that aims to improve where the local people and project team live by working together

Andrea Morris from Farm & Garden Machinery (Bridgnorth) Ltd, a local STIGA dealer, kindly helped by delivering the products to the group. The dealership is a family run business, serving Shropshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. 

Andrea said, "Neil and myself started Farm & Garden Machinery (Bridgnorth) Ltd in 2003 and celebrated our 20th anniversary last year. We have been main dealers for both Stiga and Mountfield from the start. 

"We are very happy to support the Bridgnorth Community Garden Project," continued Andrea. "It is lovely to see all their hard work paying off around the town with the beautiful flower borders and the tidying up of unloved areas."

Helen Beevers of the Bridgnorth Community Garden Project said, "Many thanks to Stiga and Andrea from Farm and Garden Machinery. The equipment they have given us will make the work we do around Bridgnorth much easier and quicker. We had our second AGM and put them on display for all to see. They will be used to create beautiful spaces for all to enjoy in and around Bridgnorth."

Products donated  were a Collector 136e, SC100e pruner and a BL 300e blower.

On 25 July 2024, following 25 uninterrupted years of manufacture, the 100,000th Fendt 700 Vario rolled off the production line in Marktoberdorf.

 
Since its conception in 1999 it has received 33 awards in nine categories from nine countries.
 
Ed Dennett, retail market manager, Northwest Europe, said, "The 700 series is a true allrounder. It has evolved over the last 25 years to provide more power, improved fuel economy and better manoeuvrability whilst being the epitome of comfort."
 
Launched on 30 August 1998, Fendt presented the Favorit 700 Vario series with its stepless transmission and range of four-valve engines. Fendt was the first manufacturer to introduce machine operation via joystick and terminal in the 115 to 160 hp power class. 10,000 of the first model were manufactured and the series won the "Tractor of the Year 1999" award.
 
In 2003, the "Favorit" name was dropped and a new Tractor Management System (TMS), which controlled the engine and transmission, optimised the injection quantity and engine speed, was introduced.
  
The ensuing third generation brought track guidance and a fully automatic guidance system which made precision field work the norm. Generation four had a new appearance featuring the curved VisioPlus cab and a multifunctional armrest for the first time. New SCR technology saved up to 10 percent diesel and in 2012 the 724 Vario, had the best result in the DLG-PowerMix Test performance class.
 
The fifth generation 700 featured a Coated Soot Filter (CSF) and external exhaust gas recirculation, reducing diesel consumption and halving AdBlue consumption. However, the sixth generation featured its new FendtONE operating system.
 
Today, the Fendt 700 Vario Gen7 offers up to 300 horsepower.

Developed in collaboration between engineers at the CNH tractor plant in St. Valentin and TU Wien, a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Steyr concept tractor has recently made its public debut.

Steyr and TU Wien have unveiled the FCTRAC biogenic hydrogen–powered tractor project

The FCTRAC was developed as part of a national research project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and led by the Institute of Powertrains and Automotive Technology (IFA) at TU Wien. Based on a standard Steyr 4140 Expert CVT tractor, the development was a collaborative effort between CNH’s St. Valentin-based engineering team and their project partners from science and industry, who worked together to design, create, homologate and test the tractor and its hydrogen fuel cell power unit.

The Steyr FCTRAC hydrogen fuel cell tractor project aim was end-to-end sustainability, via a BioH2Module developed to complement the tractor. This produces hydrogen from biogenic raw materials and residues, meaning 15-16 kg dry biomass is needed to produce hydrogen equivalent to around 3.5 litres of diesel. The power unit only emits water vapour, and the company says there is no compromise in terms of power - with the tractor meeting the  requirements of agricultural work in the same manner as a diesel-powered equivalent.

The FCTRAC, which has a 14 kWh high-voltage battery and 400 V electrical system, develops 95 kW, matching its diesel equivalent. The fuel cell and electric drive systems take the place of the diesel engine, while the fuel tank is replaced by a compressed hydrogen storage system and a high-voltage battery.

Marco Lombardi, head of Case IH and Steyr brands EMEA, said, “The Steyr FCTRAC attracted considerable attention recently at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, venue for the Austrian State Prize for Technology awards, for which it was nominated in the ‘Mobility Technologies category, a section which honours groundbreaking Austrian technical innovations.

“The category focuses on the research and development of sustainable, climate-neutral and intelligent mobility technologies. We were delighted to play a crucial role, together with TU Wien, in developing the FCTRAC, and it was an honour to participate in the ceremony. This tractor not only embodies the sustainable future our industry strives for, but also solidifies CNH’s position as a leader in alternative fuel innovations. We are looking forward to further working on this very exciting project,” he concluded.

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