After the literal shot in the arm of good news we received on Tuesday, let's bring us all back down to earth with a bump by discussing Brexit! 

I cannot pretend to understand all the ins and outs of what's going on at the moment. From what I can gather following Wednesday's dinner between Boris and Ursula, Sunday is now the deadline for a deal or no deal scenario. What happened to the oven ready deal, I'm not sure? Apparently that was for something else. And now this morning all the headlines are telling us to prepare for the strong possibility of a no deal. Sigh . . .

Anyway what isn't in doubt is that Brexit is upon us in one form or another and it will very much effect our working lives, just as much as it will every other facet of our society. 

Here at Service Dealer we have been hearing from senior members of the industry over the last few weeks about preparations our sector has been taking ahead of January 1st. One thing that should be stressed here of course, is that it's very difficult to prepare for something, when the parameters of that thing are not actually yet fully known!

Thankfully for dealers, the message that people who know way more about these sorts of things than I do, seem to be saying is that it's mostly a subject which manufacturers and suppliers, rather than dealers themselves, need to be overly concerned with.

On a video call with us a couple of weeks back, director of BAGMA Keith Christian said that if some dealers did have specific areas of concern themselves with import / export matters, the Association are putting together quite a lot of information for dealers on their website and are sending it out digitally, to steer the network in the right direction. 

The AEA's Ruth Bailey also told us on the same call that they have been conducting a series of webinars for their manufacturer members over recent weeks and months. These have been concerned with trying to distill the generic information that is available into what might be applicable to our industries. Ruth told us the these have been well supported and have generated positive feedback from those who attended.

Keith reiterated the point that it's the manufacturers who are more likely to feel the effects of Brexit than dealers this past week on Service Dealer founder, Chris Biddle's Inside Agri-Turf podcast. Keith told Chris, "We have had a lot of questions from dealers and many of them focus around how do people deal with import/export when they’re not used to it. Our advice at the moment is for them to seek out an agent that can handle it for them – because it can be a complicated process and it will add cost. 

"Bigger companies and manufacturers, they will have people internally that are dealing with this. Therefore a lot of the work, the dealers may need to know about, but don’t need to actually do anything about themselves – it’ll be done by their suppliers."

Also speaking to Chris was Service Dealer's agricultural machinery editor, Martin Rickatson. Martin spoke about the concerns he's picked up from the ag equipment industry lately, saying, "There's a terrific amount of uncertainty out there - particularly amongst those who import goods into the country. Those who rely on a regular supply of parts and wholegoods are very concerned. It is quite unnerving. A lot of people are running out of patience."

Preparations

Going back to Service Dealer's call, we heard various manufacturers tell us that extensive preparations have been taking place within their companies, to make sure they are as ready as possible. These include mundane but important matters such as changing labelling and getting new paperwork prepared in anticipation of the transition.

Obviously a key concern these past months for dealers and manufacturers alike, has been the supply of stock. We heard that already, pre-Brexit, there have been some major issues regarding logistics. The port at Felixstowe for example, was described by one importer as a "disaster" at the moment. They were currently re-routing via Southampton, they said, in an attempt to mitigate its impact. What this will be like post-Brexit, who knows?

To help lessen impact for themselves and their dealers, it seemed that suppliers who were able, were attempting to bring product in from outside of Europe. This it was felt could help with delays and certainly could help with new customs costs - because if we're under WTO rules, every package imported would now have a cost attached to it. Where it's currently zero, it was thought to be between £35 and £50 we were told. For companies who are receiving multiple small packages a day, these additional costs simply wouldn't be feasible. Companies may look into pooling orders in order to lessen these costs. Not ideal, but possibly necessary.

What we didn't really hear were tales of suppliers stockpiling warehouses ahead of Brexit, as we did last time it seemed a change was imminent. It wasn't clear exactly why this was? Once bitten perhaps? Or more likely, they've simply been dealing with many more immediately pressing matters this year!

None of us has a crystal ball, so it's very difficult to predict with any degree of certainty how Brexit is going to affect Service Dealer's readers. Hopefully with the preparations that have been able to take place, any negative impacts will be minimised. 

One thing's for sure, the first quarter of 2021 is going to be interesting!

John Deere Power Systems and Deutz have announced plans to jointly develop and source components for a low horsepower range engine up to 130kW.

In a joint statement the companies said that through working together, they will be able to close a gap in the market by developing an engine that provides customers additional value upon initial purchase while retaining "reliability, versatility and performance".
 
John Deere and Deutz say they bring different perspectives and capabilities to the table and, through this collaboration, they believe they can broaden their supply base and benefit from global scale – ultimately translating to increased market and customer value.

The co-development and co-sourcing scope includes engine hardware and design, from which each company will customise its product to meet customers’ specific needs through engine software and controls. Engine manufacturing and distribution will be done independently by John Deere and Deutz.
 
Pierre Guyot, senior vice-president, John Deere Power Systems, said, “Through combining our complementary knowledge sets and focus areas, we are excited to offer John Deere and Deutz customers a reliable, cost-effective engine option in the low horsepower range.”
 
Deutz CEO Frank Hiller added, “The fact that John Deere chose Deutz as a collaborator for this engine project underlines our strong position in off-road engine applications. This collaboration is an important step in establishing a business relationship between the two companies. We are very excited about the opportunity to join forces with an industry leader like John Deere, thereby creating value for our customers.”

Stiga have announced that their dealers in the UK are in the process of receiving the new sixth generation of Park front mowers.

Stiga UK md Gary Whitney with the new Park 340 PWX

The company say that the machines in the new range are largely petrol powered, with one battery option, and have confirmed that all have been modernised and upgraded.

The manufacturer is marketing these new machines with the tagline 'Powered By Stiga' because, although some use Honda or Briggs & Stratton, the majority are powered by new Stiga engines.

Gary Tully, sales and marketing director of Stiga UK Limited told Service Dealer this week, "This new range is a distillation of all those years of experience and establishes completely new high standards for front mowers.

"We have incorporated the latest technical innovations allied to a very strong emphasis on delivering a smoother and safer ride for the user."

Gary went on to confirm that the new mowers will be rolling out to the Stiga UK dealer network before Christmas.

In total there are nine redesigns in the range and of those models seven are powered by Stiga and one each of the redesigns by Briggs & Stratton and Honda. Retail prices range from £3578 for the Park 320P to £13,648 for the Park PRO 740.

Colne, Lancashire-based GGM Group say they are ending the year on a high, celebrating raising over £10,000 for charity over the past two years - despite the restrictions caused by the global pandemic.

Chris Gibson, top left, with GGM's initiatives

The business selected three charities to support, pledging to raise over £10k through an intensive programme of activity. After a great start in 2019, the business was determined not to be hampered by lockdown restrictions in 2020 and came up with their own ingenious ways to fundraise.

Their annual charity walking event was rethought with md Chris Gibson travelling from his home town of Lancaster to the businesses’ head office in Colne and then back again covering a distance of 104 miles -  through a combination of cycling and walking. He was joined at different points on his journey by different members of staff undertaking different legs in pairs, to enable social distancing.

        
The business say they have also thought further outside of the box in its fundraising efforts with a team of staff pledging to lose weight in aid of charity. 

The fundraising has raised money for charities who are finding themselves cash-strapped during these difficult times. Greenfingers is the company charity for the second year running, dedicated to supporting children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens for them to relax in. In addition, funds have also been raised for St John’s Hospice in Lancaster and Pendleside Hospice in Burnley.

Chris Gibson said, “It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the community and we are delighted to have been able to achieve our charity target, despite these difficult times. Now, more than ever, charities need our support and we are delighted to have still been able to help”.

The GGM Group has worked hard to find ways to keep the business operating this year, and throughout the pandemic has worked hard to keep the whole team together, maintain its commitment to customer service, and, where it was safe to do so, keep machines operational for professional and domestic customers throughout the season.

The company has also started recruiting again and are aiming to help some of the younger members of the local community with apprenticeship opportunities.  

In addition, the business made a pledge during lockdown to become an eco-friendly organisation and strive to improve its green credentials even further through a range of initiatives.

Chris concluded, “There is no dispute that this has been an incredibly challenging year for most businesses. I’m incredibly proud of how our team has pulled together and hitting our charity target really is the icing on the cake. Like most people, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel and I’m confident of a bright 2021."

John Deere has announced the retirement of Howard Storey manager, market development for John Deere Golf after 35 years of service with John Deere and 45 years in the industry.

Howard Storey (front right) with staff and volunteers at the 2011 Solheim Cup in Killeen Castle

Manny Gan director, global golf and sports turf said, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Howard for his loyalty and dedication to the company and for the contributions he has made over his many years of service. We wish him and his family all the best in the future".
 
Announcing his retirement, Howard commented, “It's time to lift up the cutting units and return the machine to the shed. My last official day with the John Deere company was on the 30th of November 2020. It has been a 35 year and 9 months rollercoaster ride with some amazing highs and luckily for me very few lows.

"I have had the pleasure of working with and doing business with some fantastic people from around the world. I look back to the early days of joining the company as the agricultural demonstrator / instructor for the UK and Ireland demonstrating some of the biggest toys you could buy, to living and working in Ireland and Germany. I then became part of the golf group from its earliest beginnings.

"I have been fortunate to travel the globe more than once or twice and gain life experiences I will always treasure.
 
"I am not done yet! In the New Year when we have wrestled Covid-19 to the ground, I will be looking at what else life has in store or has on offer.”
 
All at Service Dealer wish Howard all the best for a long and happy retirement.

The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) say they are experiencing a high rate of enquiries for membership and a big increase in members applying for professional registration.

“At IAgrE we have introduced a host of new measures to help and support our members in these challenging times," said Charlie Nicklin CEO of IAgrE.  "We are now releasing regular podcasts on topics ranging from soil geography to the benefits of professional registration. 
 
“We are also holding lunch time technical lectures online. Presenters have included Tim Chamen talking about Controlled Traffic Farming and we are working on a 12 month programme of lectures for 2021."

IAgrE also say many of their branch meetings are now recorded and available to the membership via their YouTube channel. Examples are the Wrekin Branch meeting on the World’s Fastest Tractor and the Northern Ireland Branch Meeting “Developing an Offshore Wind Farm. 
 
The Institution says that in an environment where many people are sadly losing their jobs becoming professionally recognised can improve employment prospects. Members, they say, have the opportunity to become a registered engineer or chartered environmentalist through the Engineering Council or Society for the Environment.  
 
“Achieving professional registration can increase a persons’ credibility and career progression and the trend in people wanting to be professionally registered continues to rise confirming registration is an investment in your future,” concluded Charlie. 

Offering localised precision farming support, Trimble have appointed two new resellers covering East Anglia and northern England.

SymAgri of the Thurlow Nunn Group will be covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and North Essex from 1 January 2021, while Manterra will cater for farmers in northern England.

“We are delighted to be part of the Trimble Agriculture network,” says Chris Tew, sales director at SymAgri.

Farmers will have a wide portfolio of products to choose from, including display screens, assisted and autopilot steering, as well as implements control and data management.

“It’s the ethos of SymAgri to provide independent advice to ensure our customers receive the right precision technology solution for them, with support coming from a team of experienced trained Trimble Engineers,” added Chris.

In the North, Manterra has specialised in precision agriculture for over a decade. Andrew Manfield, managing director at Manterra said, “We are focused on support and service in precision agriculture and we recognise that for most operators this is the level of backup they need in what can appear to be a slightly daunting and complex area of technology."

Both resellers will be providing a full service of Trimble’s precision agriculture range, from consultation to installation and support.

“We’re excited to have SymAgri and Manterra on board; both specialise in precision agriculture and have years of experience under their belts,” says Hamish Wilkie, EMEA, CIS & Russia sales director at Trimble Agriculture.

“As we continue to increase our offering to customers in an ever-changing industry, it’s great to have more business partners on the ground to better serve UK farmers.”

New Holland Agriculture has announced that they have reached the significant milestone of 30,000 large square balers produced since it entered the market in 1987.

The landmark BigBaler 1290 Plus was produced at their plant in Zedelgem, in northwest Belgium. The 30,000th baler bears a commemorative decal created by the company to celebrate the milestone.

Carlo Lambro, New Holland brand president, said, “Reaching the milestone of 30,000 large square balers is a big accomplishment for New Holland, and in particular for all the people who have built this rich heritage of innovation, and kept our large square balers in the number one position to this day. I would like to thank the people here in Zedelgem who are keeping this legacy alive, building the BigBalers for our customers across the world, and designing the balers of the future.”

Luigi Neirynck, New Holland plant manager at Zedelgem, commented, “This is an impressive achievement, and all of us at the Zedelgem plant are very proud that the BigBalers designed and built here continue to set the benchmark for the industry."

The new 322HD60 petrol hedge trimmer bridges the gap between domestic and professional usage in the Husqvarna hedge trimmer range. With features found on the professional models, this 60cm hedge trimmer is a powerful and durable machine perfect for farmer and landowner usage.

A multi position rear handle allows for better ergonomics in longer working periods. Low weight and Smart Start® means less strain on the operator.

4,400 cuts/min delivered through hardened steel blades and a durable gearbox provides enough power for demanding hedge trimming tasks such as trimming boundary hedges on a more frequent basis. 

The hardened steel blades boast a 30mm teeth opening for larger diameter material and stay sharper for longer. The blades can be set into optimum position for sharpening using the manual gear rotation feature. 

 
The new 322HD60 will be available from January 2021.

For over 30 years, Tyre-Line have been one of the UK’s leading suppliers of High Speed Trailer & Touring Caravan tyres, wheels and accessories to both the Original Equipment and Aftermarket sectors, partnering with trusted manufacturers such as Ifor Williams, Brian James, Nugent, Swift, Elddis, Logic and many others.

Supplying both Tyres, Wheels and pre-assembled Tyre & Wheel units, Tyre-Line offer a comprehensive range of fitments for most High Speed Trailer & Touring Caravan fitments, from 8” to 16” and with fixings for both UK and European trailers with Radial & Crossply tyre constructions available. They offer tyres from popular brands that include Compass, Wanda, Nankang, GT, Ovation and more, with wheels available from Vlukon, Mefro, Lemmerz etc. They also offer a range of complimentary Accessory products including Un-braked Stub Axles & Hubs, Couplings, Clamps, Jockey Wheels & Mud Guards.

Tyre-Line also supply Tyres, Wheels & assemblies for ATV & slow speed trailer applications, with patterns including Knobbly, Utility, Zig-Zag, Stud / Diamond and Multi Rib.  For ATV trailer applications, both standard and high load tyre options are available with “E” marked, road homologation available in select sizes. New to the UK is the 22x11.00-8 Wanda P334 Utility ATV tyre which boasts high load capacity, directional tread, square shoulder design for enhanced stability and a low rolling resistance rubber compound for exceptional milage and fuel efficiency. 

Tyre-Line’s extensive experience allows them to work together with customers to supply wheels and tyres to meet specific requirements. Extensive stock inventory allows fast deliveries as well as supply to a 'just in time' manufacturing schedule, all from their centrally located warehouse and distribution centre in the centre of England. 

For more information, contact their specialist high speed wheel division on 01327 701020, visit their website at www.tyreline.com or email them at aftermarket@tyreline.com

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