AL-KO held their annual International conference in Kotz Germany which welcomed AL-KO partners from around the world, including countries such as Sudan, France, Switzerland and many more.

In total some 50 delegates made the trip to visit the new head office to view the new 2016 products from AL-KO including the new SOLO by AL-KO range.

Rochford's Managing Director Stewart Anderson and Mark Rochford, Marketing Director, joined Mr Wolfgang Hergeth, AL-KO Managing Director and Mr Stefan Kober, the company's CEO to discuss plans for the future, growth of the business and acquisitions.


The conference

As the largest International distributor, Rochford Garden Machinery were asked to make the lead presentation at the event held at the AL-KO head office, to share their vision, working methods and strategy with the other partners. Stewart took to the stage to present this and anchored the attention of the partners, with a raft of questions put to him throughout the remaining trip.

Following an excellent lunch in the newly built staff canteen, the group moved outside to view the new Research & Development Centre that is nearing completion, as part of a €15 million investment into growing the Garden + Hobby division in the future.


Product training

The new facility will house over 250 R&D staff dedicated to gardening. The building itself is stunning with no expense spared in any area, while viewing the 24hr testing laboratory and the static free workshops, you have the feeling you are walking around an Audi or BMW laboratory, rather than a Garden Machinery building.


Flagship showroom

The afternoon then moved to product presentations, with stations for each category headed by the lead engineer responsible for designing the product. A huge amount was learned from these sessions compared to traditional-style presentations. Tractors, Riders, Out-Front Mowers formed one station, Robotic Lawnmowers and Walk Behind Lawnmowers another, Battery Technology was another, and finally there was a large station for the newly completed SOLO by AL-KO handheld range of Chainsaws and Brushcutters.

The full range of AL-KO and SOLO by AL-KO is available exclusively from Rochfords.