There are a couple of important of announcements for our dealer readers in today's Weekly Update.

Firstly, a reminder about the open consultation that the Government has been running on the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill. For any dealers who want to have their say on this important piece of legislation affecting our sector, you need to make your contributions via the official Government website by midnight next Thursday (July 13th).

It seems crucial that expert voices such as our readers are heard in this consultation, as it's precisely you who holds the specialist knowledge around this subject and indeed you who will be affected by any future changes to the law. We've been contacted by manufacturers who have told us that if this bill is passed it will have "significant impact" on dealers.

Our anonymous columnist, The Sprocket, meanwhile in their latest piece in our magazine, describes the thought of the bill as an "incredible nonsense" and goes on to say, "There is no question that preventing equipment theft should be a priority, but it seems somewhat naïve to encourage legislation that requires immobilisers to be fitted post production and only for the UK."

So if you do feel that you have something to say on the subject, now is the time to let the powers that be know. I guess it is impossible to say how much influence an individual comment will have, but similar to when it comes to voting in elections, if you don't make use of your democratic right, you can't really complain about the outcome.

Service Dealer Conference & Awards 2023

Anyway, on to a more exciting and upbeat announcement today, and that's the confirmation of the theme for this November's Service Dealer Conference.

It's always an exciting time of the year for the team, when we can begin to share details of what has been going on behind the scenes to prepare for our event dedicated to the independent dealer network. It has now been revealed that the Conference this year will be entitled Taking Care Of Business and will address the topics of sustainability and the retail experience. 

As we have been promoting, alongside the announcements of our wonderful sponsors for this edition, the day has shifted to a new, much larger capacity venue - the Crowne Plaza at Stratford-Upon-Avon - in order to cope with the increased demand for spaces. We are expecting more dealers than ever before to join us for what is shaping up to be an incredibly valuable day.

The team pulling together the programme of events, based as ever on feedback received from previous attendees, tell me they are super excited about what they have lined up. Similar to that Government consultation that's looking for comments from those in the know, the best people to ask regarding the shape of a conference dedicated to dealers is - surprise, surprise - dealers. And following on from the feedback forms received after 2022's event, as well as speaking with panels of dealers throughout the year, a schedule examining sustainability and the retail experience feels completely on-point for the current business climate.

We will be announcing plenty more in the run up to the Conference, including unveiling who will be delivering the keynote address this year and what the seminar and breakout sessions will entail.

Also, of course, stay tuned to this Update, our social channels and the magazine as we will be launching 2023's Dealer Of The Year competition soon. All the info you need regarding this year's categories and how to be in the running for a prestigious prize will be explained in due course.

Until then, make sure you mark up Thursday 30th November 2023 in your diaries as the day for learning, sharing experiences and celebrating with friends and colleagues. 

We can't wait to see you there.

Service Dealer is delighted to announce that theme for this year's Conference will be Taking Care Of Business.

Duncan Murray-Clarke

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke said, “Every year, your feedback helps to inform our future plans - helping us to make the next conference and awards bigger and better - and, most importantly ensuring that what we deliver is what you need. This year, we may have a new venue, but we intend to keep things down to earth and just as relevant for the dealer industry.

“Taking on your feedback from 2022 we know that the topics of sustainability and the retail experience are important to you. That’s why we came up with this year’s theme - Taking Care Of Business.

“At the 2023 event, we aim, through a great line-up of speakers and sector leading workshops to equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to help your dealership, not only to function but to thrive.

“With speakers and interactive workshops addressing the challenges of business today, and considering opportunities for development and growth, the Service Dealer Conference 2023 will cover all you need and more to support you on your journey. Don’t miss the opportunity to invest in your business by joining us for a day of learning, networking and Taking Care Of Business.”

This year's event will be taking place at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-Upon-Avon on 30th November 2023.

On Wednesday this week (5th July 2023) Rea Valley Tractors (RVT) signed heads of terms to acquire neighbouring dealer Teme Valley Tractors (TVT). 

TVT has a reputable and long-standing history supporting the New Holland and Kuhn ranges say RVT, who issued a statement explaining this acquisition "will combine a wealth of technical knowledge and understanding of the brands to help better serve the local agricultural community."

The statement continued, "Customers will benefit from an enhanced offering in the region with more choice of New Holland and Kuhn equipment available within the larger group. There will also be an expanded product range from a single provider, offering additional brands such as JCB materials handling equipment, Bailey Trailers and domestic ground care products like Milwaukee and Stihl that are all core franchises held by Rea Valley Tractors."

TVT Welshpool

Both TVT Welshpool and Knighton branches will continue trading from the current locations, and TVT employees from both businesses will transfer to Rea Valley Tractors at the completion of the deal, targeted to be the end of September. This will include Graham Probert and Martyn Hall who will continue in key management roles within the business. 

Rea Valley Tractors made a number of changes to the business in November last year including being appointed the New Holland Agriculture dealer over a larger trading area with three new branches, and the expansion of its JCB territory into Cheshire. The three new branches are located in Middlewich (Cheshire), Ormskirk (Lancashire) and Denbigh (North Wales).

TVT Knighton

Simon Clarke, Chairman of Rea Valley Tractors said, “The agricultural machinery industry has been through a period of substantial change; RVT has been at the forefront of that. I am delighted to have reached an amicable agreement with Graham and Martyn to acquire TVT. This acquisition will benefit all our stakeholders: customers, staff and suppliers. I look forward to working with Graham, Martyn and the TVT teams over the coming years”.

With this acquisition, Rea Valley Tractors will operate from a total of nine locations, with each branch being a fully functional sales, service and parts operation that can independently serve each local area. 

 
RVT and TVT say they will continue to work as usual, while making the necessary preparations for the future collaboration and integration.

Teme Valley Tractors began in May 1983 before expanding into Welshpool in 1993, with Martyn Hall and Graham Probert managing the Welshpool and Knighton businesses respectively.

Graham Probert, managing director at TVT Knighton commented on the acquisition, saying, “We’re welcoming the agreement, as it brings clear opportunities and benefits for both our customers and our respective teams. Both companies have the same shared family values and dedication to understanding and focussing on the customers needs; each with a well-established and knowledgeable team, and we look forward to the next chapter with Rea Valley Tractors”.

As highlighted by our columnist The Sprocket in the most recent issue of Service Dealer magazine, the Government has been running an open consultation on the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill.

Time is now running out for dealers and industry members to have their voices heard on the subject, with the deadline for contributions being 11:59pm on 13 July 2023.

The Government says the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill was introduced to prevent the theft of machinery and equipment used by the agricultural sector, in particular quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The bill allows for the requirements to be extended to other equipment via secondary legislation.

In the recent column The Sprocket said of the Bill, "For the UK to be considering an aftermarket modification that could affect the operating systems of equipment is an incredible nonsense when it could contravene existing legislation."

In the introduction to the request for feedback, the Government says, "The aim of this call for evidence is to consult on technical details for secondary legislation such as the specifications for immobilisers and forensic marking, as well as extending the bill’s requirements to other large agricultural equipment and power tools.

"We are seeking views on a number of detailed matters associated with the potential extension to the scope of the bill. The responses we receive will inform proposals for secondary legislation."

The call for evidence aims to seek views on:

• the definition of ATVs and agricultural equipment
• a requirement for removable Global Positioning Service (GPS) systems to be forensically marked
• the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) threshold of tools to be marked
• specifications of immobilisers, and any implications for type approval
• specifications for forensic markings
• specifications for registration on databases

The Government says they want to hear from:

• dealers
• manufacturers
• retailers
• forensic marking companies
• trade associations
• tradespeople
• law enforcement practitioners

Contribute to the call for evidence before midnight next Thursday (July 13th 2023) here.

In the final wave of their 2023 dealer realignment, GreenMech have announced the appointment of 1st Base Plant and Machinery as a full sales, service and parts partner for Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

In addition, Cutting Edge Machinery have joined the network to provide service support to customers in Worcestershire and the West Midlands, while Hunts Engineering will be extending their service dealer coverage to customers across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire.  

Specialising in new and used plant machinery, GreenMech say 1st Base of Warrington have built a reputation for providing quality product and the right advice and support to their varied customer-base. As approved dealers of Avant Wheeled Loaders and Messersi Construction equipment, the dealership says they are are well placed to reach customers across the groundworks and industrial sectors with access to the full GreenMech pedestrian, road-tow and tracked woodchipper range. 

Cutting Edge Machinery’s team of engineers meanwhile, will now offer servicing, repairs, parts and fault-finding in Worcestershire and the West Midlands. From their workshop near Redditch, the team say they have built up more than 25 years of experience working with domestic and commercial garden, arb and groundcare brands.

Finally, and extending their current service dealer territory, is Hunts Engineering who will be serving customers across Warwickshire in addition to those in Oxfordshire. A well-known name with over nine decades of combined experience within the team of trained technicians, Hunts say they also offer a fleet of dedicated service vehicles.

The family-run agricultural parts supplier, Independent Agri Parts (IAP), has opened a new Powered by Kramp store in Filey.

The IAP team

It becomes the 11th Powered by Kramp store to open in the country. The store provides the local agricultural community with spare parts and products from a range of brands. 

IAP is an agricultural parts and wheels business, sourcing and selling replacement and wearing parts for all agricultural and plant machinery models and makes. The Durkin family took over, re-located and re-launched the business in April 2022 and have since continued to develop and grow the business. Now supplying Aztec Oils, Exol Oils, LWC agricultural attachments and Marshall Trailers, they have expanded the company with the addition of the Powered by Kramp retail store. The new store will offer locals over 3000 agricultural parts and accessories in stock, plus access to the entire online Kramp range.

Steven and Jay run IAP alongside the family farm with the support of their parents, Paul and Debbie Durkin. Having a lengthy background in agriculture and currently rearing 4000 pigs, doing contract work for other local farmers as well as restoring and repairing machinery, the family have an intimate knowledge and understanding of the demands of agriculture.

“We celebrated the store opening with an open day,” says Jay. “Since then, we have seen an increase in footfall. It has been a mix of our regular customers and new ones introduced to IAP on the open day. There is not anything like this in the area. 

“We chose to partner with Kramp because of our relationship with our account manager and the service and support we receive from them. If we ever have issues, there is always someone to talk to. Even if our account manager isn’t available, we can call their head office, and nine times out of ten, we speak to the same person we always do. 

Kramp retail consultant John Sumner added, “Our job is to identify businesses with lots of retail potential and to support them to grow their retail offering. We love getting to know the business owners and look forward to seeing the IAP shop develop. The team there are incredibly knowledgeable and ambitious. We look forward to continuing to support them in their venture.”

Knight Farm Machinery, the Rutland-based manufacturer of self-propelled, trailed and mounted crop sprayers, has appointed Agwood as its dealer for Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The manufacturer says the appointment fills one of the few gaps in its UK network, as they seek to build upon significant recent growth in demand across its product range. 

The agreement with Agwood, which took effect from July 1st 2023, covers the full line of Knight machinery, which also includes a selection of cultivation equipment. The heart of the product offering, though, is the sprayer range, which is designed to meet the needs of the full span of farming types and sizes.

Founded in 1978 at Swingfield, Dover, by Ian Wood, Agwood expanded over the following decades into a three-branch business, in 2006 becoming a full-line Massey Ferguson dealer with a full set of complementary franchises. In 2022 Agwood Ltd became a division of the Crawfords Group. With a team of 30, the business covers Kent, Surrey and Sussex from branches in east Kent, at Swingfield, near Dover, in west Kent, at Linton, near Maidstone, and at Billingshurst, West Sussex.  

“We’re delighted to have appointed a dealer of the calibre of Agwood to cover this part of south-east England,” says Paul Harrison, overseeing network development at Knight. 

“The growth of Agwood and Crawfords over recent years shows their ambition to be a key supplier and supporter of farm businesses in the south-east, matching our own ambition.”

Nunzio Rio, group sales director of Crawfords Group, says the Agwood team is keen to make their first demonstrations and sales in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. 

“The Knight range complements our other Agwood franchises really well, particularly in terms of the sprayer types, technologies and capacities it offers. We are really pleased to add another strong name to the Agwood franchise list."

The PS3 Pro chain from STIHL is an innovative full chisel saw chain offering up to 20% higher cutting performance. 

Compatible with any STIHL professional chainsaw with a power output of 1.6 kW – 2.0 kW, the PS3 Pro chain is available in 3/8 P pitch and 1.1mm drive link gauge and features a narrow kerf designed to reduce resistance while cutting.
  
This new geometry results in a chain that not only cuts faster than the previous 1.3mm gauge chain but is less sensitive to pressure too. For cordless chainsaw models, the increase in cutting efficiency also allows more cuts to be made per charge, improving productivity.
 
The 1.1mm Light 04 guide bar has been specifically designed for use with the PS3 Pro chain, offering increased durability and optimum balance. In addition, the drive links on the PS3 Pro sit deeper inside the Light 04 guide bar compared to ¼ P 1.1mm chain, further decreasing the likelihood of the chain de-railing. 
 
Available in 12” and 14” lengths, the PS3 Pro chain and Light 04 guide bar come as standard with the new MSA 220 C-B, or separately as an easy upgrade for models such as the MSA 220 T and MS 201 TC-M. Furthermore, the PS3 Pro is compatible with all standard 3/8 P sharpening accessories. 

For more information on STIHL's new PS3 Pro saw chain, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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