We are proud to include a couple of stories today straight out of Service Dealer Towers.

Firstly we have some important news regarding the good cause that will be supported at the Dealer Of The Year Awards ceremony that is taking place in a couple of weeks' time.

Called Safe Fields For Ukraine, rather than an established charity it's a Crowdfunder initiative that is developing a new automated system for clearing agricultural fields that have been laced with landmines by the Russians. The scheme has as its intention, allowing Ukrainian farming to begin to get back on its feet once again, by making safe these vital territories. Apparently the Russian armed forces have mined land in more than six regions of Ukraine, using anti-personnel as well as anti-tank mines.

Louisa and Jonathan Elwes who are driving the Crowdfunder explain that the new tech they are developing works by a purpose-built drone determining the boundaries of the agricultural field and identifies foreign objects (including mines and missiles), generating safe navigation lines for an unmanned vehicle. The drone map then loads onto the control system of the automated vehicle, allowing it to move directly through fields to the dangerous objects already identified. Further identification of the objects and location can then take place, leading to the de-mining or neutralisation.

This project should pique the interest of our dealer and manufacturer guests at the Awards ceremony on a humanitarian level, but alongside this one feels it should also appeal to their natural interest in the development of new and innovative powered outdoor equipment. To be a part of helping towards the creation of a new solution to a hideous and very real problem, is a project that I think a room full of dealers and manufacturers will be keen to get behind.

New module launch

This inherent fascination that our dealer readers hold in exploring new avenues of innovation that move the boundaries of the sector onwards, also ties in with our other in-house story today. This being the exciting launch of the latest module in the Dealer Digital Toolkit.

This endeavour was launched as an entirely complementary service to the network during Covid - offering help and advice in a selection of areas, all geared towards the successful running of an independent dealership. Packed with video content featuring real dealers addressing real dealership issues, everybody involved in the creation of the Toolkit has the sharing of insight and wisdom as their guiding intention.

The module that has gone live today considers what's needed to build the dealership of the future. Looking at three key areas of what does a future dealership look like, the rise of robotics and how a dealership can be a force for good, it's all about offering up advice that can be put into practical application, safeguarding the business for the next 5, 10, 15 years.

One element of the new module for example, gives consideration to what does the modern premises need to offer customers who, as Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke says in his introduction, have ever higher expectations? We hear from dealer Anthony Deacon of MKM, who following on from their devastating fire, is deep into the process of building a new facility from scratch.

Clearly having plenty of up-to-date, real-life experience to impart, he believes a key element is having a building that you can grow into - one that allows scope for expansion over the coming years. Also starting from scratch allows for thought to be given to environmental considerations such as your carbon footprint, including elements such as rainwater harvesting and electricity charging points.

Other progressive dealers also share their expertise in further insightful videos - all in easily-digestible, well formatted sections.

Please do have a look at the new module today. You can log-in with your details from before - although if you're like me and you can't remember how you accessed in the past, you can simply request a new password or register for the first time.

In these uncertain times, I genuinely believe that any help or inspiration that's offered up, is well worth checking out. Of course not everything will be relevant to everyone - however, you'll know what suits your business. You'll be able to identify that nugget of gold that you can shape and apply in your own way to your own situation.

Like I say, the service is entirely free and exists solely to benefit the dealer network. Visit it here.

Service Dealer has launched the latest module of the free Dealer Digital Toolkit, entitled Building The Dealership Of The Future - this time offering expert advice on future-proofing the dealership.

The module, which can be accessed through the Service Dealer website, covers the subject areas:

• What does the future dealership look like?
• The Rise of Robotics
• Doing Good

The module offers practical advice as to how you might future-proof your business to meet the needs and wants of your customers in the next five years. It explores what things might look like in five years’ time, including the changes to the physical shop, the advances in robotics, and the social impacts and attitude changes the industry has to make.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke says, "Several elements are key in this module. Technology, and keeping up with it of course, is vital. Also the look and feel of your dealership, with consumer expectations getting higher and higher, means we have to keep pace with that.

"We also must think about sustainability as this is a topic that is becoming more and more important not only for businesses, but also for individual consumers. And finally we need to consider how to attract the right people to work in our dealerships - and then how to motivate and retain them."

As ever this module contains video content from real dealers, offering real-life advice.

Anthony Deacon of MKM is one of the progressive dealers offering advice

Dealers can access the content through the Service Dealer website, using their login details from before - or if you've forgotten your password, simply request a new one.

The organisers of the Service Dealer Awards have announced the good cause that the ceremony will be supporting this year.

This year it’s a crowdfunder rather than a charity, with the raffle on the night generating funds for Safe Fields For Ukraine - which has been established to raise money to help develop equipment for the disposal of landmines

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "Earlier this year, it was heart-warming to see so many across the industry coming forward to support or fundraise for those affected by the war in Ukraine. With battles on-going, we therefore felt it only right we continue to build on this support.

"After losing the battle of Kyiv Russian troops indiscriminately scattered mines in agricultural fields in about 20% of Ukraine, killing many farmers and crippling the industry. Current methods to remove mines are labour intensive and dangerous – relying on this system alone would take over a decade to clear the vast area involved.

"Safe Fields Ukraine, is fundraising to support the development of an innovative new system - being developed by a group of leading agricultural IT specialists, together with the Technical University of Vinnyt’sia - which will reduce the risk to life and speed up the process of returning land to production.

"The development of such equipment will not only hugely reduce the risk to life in bomb disposal, it will also allow fields to be returned to productivity much sooner."

Initially Safe Fields Ukraine are helping to raise funds for a prototype, on completion of the project, the working prototype will be gifted to the Ukrainian government and put to work.

You can learn more about the initiative on their Crowdfunder page.

Following on from its launch in the North American market, Bobcat’s line-up of ground maintenance equipment (GME) is now available to customers across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

The news was announced at Bauma 2022, which took place recently in Munich.

Gul Nalcaci, senior product manager for the company’s GME range, said, “Bobcat aims to rank within the top-three GME manufacturers in Europe. To achieve this ambitious goal, we are rolling out our ground maintenance machinery across the region.

"Bobcat’s EMEA offering will include compact tractors, zero-turn mowers and turf equipment, which is supplemented by the company’s existing mini track and small articulated loaders.”

Compact Tractors - The company is offering three compact tractor platforms - the 1000, 2000 and 4000 series - which feature nine new models. Each model varies in size and engine horsepower, with the option to choose between manual and hydrostatic transmissions, and open canopies (ROPS) and cabs. 

Mowers - Following the acquisition of Bob-Cat Mowers, Bobcat is introducing a large family of mowers, wth models including ride-on, stand-on and commercial walk-behind mowers, aimed at both lawn-care professionals and residential users.

Loaders - Bobcat’s GME range includes the recently launched MT100 mini track loader, and L23 and L28 small articulated loaders that entered the market last year.

Turf Equipment - Following its acquisition of Ryan Turf Equipment, the company is offering an expanded portfolio including aerators, power rakes and dethachers, overseeders and sod cutters.

Gul Nalcaci concluded by saying that Bobcat's GME customers will benefit from their "already-established service and logistics network, which covers every corner of the EMEA region."

According to figures released by the AEA, the number of agricultural tractors registered in the UK in October was up by more than a quarter, compared with the same month last year, at 926 machines.

Agricultural economist at the association, Stephen Howarth, commented, "That is the fastest year-on-year rise since August 2021 and the monthly total is the largest for the time of year since 2016."

October was the third month in a row when registrations were above the seasonal average over the previous five years, with 10% more tractors registered this year than in a typical October.

Stephen continued, "It remains to be seen whether the upturn is just a short-term one or if it indicates that supply chain disruptions are beginning to ease. These have meant 3% fewer tractors have been registered so far this year than in January to October 2021, despite demand remaining strong."

Boss ORV, the UK distributor of Corvus Off-Road Vehicles has announced a new partnership with Godstone All Terrain Ltd.

L-R: Karen Olsson and Nikki Gunner of Godstone’s and Phil Everett MD of Boss ORV

Established in 2020 Godstone's customer base is in the south east of England covering the broad area of Surrey, Sussex and Kent with a showroom in South Godstone, Surrey, 15 minutes from Junction 6 of the M25. They offer an extensive range of 2wd and 4wd quad bikes and utility vehicles for farm and off-road use, now also offering the Corvus Terrain UTVs, road legal 2wd and 4x4 utility vehicles. 

In addition to sales, Godstone has fully equipped onsite workshop facilities with a team of trained and experienced technicians. 

“We now have Corvus coverage and expert support in the Surrey and Sussex areas,” said Boss managing director, Phil Everett, “and extend a big welcome to Graham, Karen, Nikki, David and all the team at Godstone All Terrain Limited. We all look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”   

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) say they are continuing to grow their Can-Am off-road dealer network with the appointment of Cowan Bros NI Ltd in Northern Ireland.

The manufacturer says the new addition is part of their ongoing expansion plans to increase their share of the utility market.

Cowan Bros, a family-run business with over 50 years’ experience in the construction and agricultural sectors, will be adding the Can-Am off-road line-up to the products sold at its two depots based at Mallusk (Co.Antrim) and Eglinton (Londonderry). The agreement will enable the business to meet the growing demand for utility ATVs and SSVs in the sectors in which its customer base works. At each depot there is a dedicated team on hand to help new and existing customers find the right ATV or SSV for the job at hand.

David Cowan, director, Cowan Bros NI Ltd, says, “We viewed the Can-Am brand at several shows we attended and were impressed with what we saw. We did our own research and saw that the ATVs and SSVs were premium products and met a need for our customer base, so we decided to add the line-up to our portfolio. The teams at both our depots are looking forward to working with Mike and the rest of the Can-Am off-road team as they open up new avenues of sales for the business.”

Major Equipment International have welcomed Wildwood Machinery as the newest member of their dealer family.

They will represent the Major brand of professional groundscare machinery across Dorset and South West Hampshire. This includes the Contoura golf and sports mower, plus the Swift line of roller mowers, flail collectors, and deck mowers.

The East Horton business is managed by turf care professionals with over 50 years of combined experience with clients in golf course, sports clubs and amenity.  Founder, James Bastian, said, “My years overseeing East Horton Golf Club ensure that I understand precisely what turf-care customers require from a machinery servicing, repairs and sales partner."

A Major spokesperson added, "Their commitment to sales and after-sales service aligns with the values of reliability, performance and efficiency that we stand for here at. We look forward to working together and growing the business in the region."

Long-time owner of the Krone Group, Dr.-Ing. E.h. Bernard Krone, sadly passed away after a short serious illness in Spelle, Emsland, on October 14th, 2022, at the age of 82.

The Krone Group say his passing is not only mourned by his family and relatives as well as more than 7,000 employees, but also the international agricultural engineering and European commercial vehicle industry. 

Dr Bernard Krone was regarded as a visionary man of action. He continuously developed the company and made ground-breaking decisions to diversify the business. In addition to entering the commercial vehicle sector, he established, among other things, self-propelled technology in agricultural engineering and specialised the Krone company in forage harvesting technology. He thus shaped the corporate group over many decades, developed products and set the course before officially retiring from the operational business in 2010 and handing over the helm to his son Bernard Krone. 

His most important advice to his successor: "Always remain the blacksmith from Emsland like your great-grandfather, your grandfather and your father."

His commitment had an impact far beyond the boundaries of the company. He was also fully devoted to association work: at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the Agricultural Machinery and Farm Tractor Association (LAV), as President of the European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association (CEMA), in the Association for Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA), as longstanding Vice President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and as Chairman of the "Trailers, Special Bodies and Buses" manufacturers' group. His achievements have been recognised time and time again. 

Dr Bernard Krone grew into the company from the very beginning. From childhood, he was often allowed into the factory and to visit customers. As a 6-year-old pupil, he told his teacher that he could learn more in the workshop than at school. Of course, he continued to attend anyway, completed an apprenticeship after graduation and then began his academic training as a mechanical engineer in Cologne in 1959, as the youngest student at that time. Three years later he successfully completed his studies and joined the company. His father then sent him to Ireland to spend time abroad. He wanted to prepare him as early as possible to take over the company. In 1970, his father passed suddenly and much too early. As sole heir, he took over the company's agricultural machinery production in Spelle. His father left big shoes to fill for Dr Bernard Krone, but it was a matter of course for him to take on the responsibility.

In his private life, the father of three and multiple grandfather was committed to the interests of nature in his home region and beyond as a passionate hunter and farmer. Active participation in and promotion of local associations were an integral part of his work. 

The family, the entire company management and all employees will continue his life's work with commitment for generations to come.

SAGE has announced Weibang as the main sponsor of their trade show for the sports and grounds maintenance industry, which returns to the Three Counties venue in Malvern, Worcestershire, on 19th - 20th July 2023.

As well as sponsoring the event, Weibang say they will be exhibiting at the show, where they will be taking advantage of the live demonstrations and experiences opportunities on offer.  

Of the sponsorship, Lewis Anderson from Weibang commented, “For us, SAGE is an event where we can show and, most importantly, let our customers get hands-on with the product.

“We believe that allowing customers to try and feel products in the real environment they are designed to work in is invaluable. We see the sponsorship of the show as a commitment that we have at Weibang to getting the industry together to allow end users to share knowledge, information and the opportunity to try products to ensure that they are purchasing the best machine for their application.” 

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