Blaney Motor has launched a new mini loader – the BIONIC  S1 035.  The new Blaney BIONIC though small in size has the capability of tackling many tasks throughout the farm.  This new superhuman helper can lift six times that of a man and 12 times what is recommended we should lift.  It is less than 1500mm long and can fit through most stable doors.

Following extensive customer consultation the BIONIC has been developed to be compact, mobile and manoeuvrable with the ability to do a variety of tasks.  What makes this mini loader so handy is that you don’t have to climb into this machine or open doors.  You can quickly and easily step on and step off, moving from job to job.

CARRE and KRM (Keith Rennie Machinery Ltd) have announced an agreement to distribute the full range of CARRE products in the UK market with immediate effect. 

CARRE is a leading European manufacturer of mechanical weeding equipment for any crops including comb harrows, rotary hoes and inter-row weeding hoes with or without precision camera guidance. Established in 1938, CARRE is a family owned company and is already known in the UK for it’s Prairial grassland rejuvenator, Econet inter-row weeders and Strip Till cultivators. 

If proposals in Defra’s Clean Air Strategy are adopted, covering slurry will be a requirement in England from 2027. This will cause concern for some farmers who will need to seek new slurry storage. However, a flexible, scalable solution is already available in the UK that will keep slurry not just covered but entirely contained. 

Dutch company Albers Alligator have been manufacturing bag tanks for more than 35 years. These tanks represent a cost-effective and flexible solution to contain slurry in small and large volumes. 

The Haith Group has introduced a new service and maintenance department.

Customers taking out a service agreement for their Haith machines or needing help to maintain their equipment will be supported by a proactive new team, headed by service director, Chris Haith and Darren Wilcock, service team leader, who is celebrating his 36^th year at Haith.

The specialist vegetable handling and processing machinery manufacturer has recruited extra people to work in the new department. Newly appointed service technicians Andrew Elmhirst, Josh Finelli and Michael Hampshire will work alongside long-term service engineers, Karl Smith, Chris Walsh and Jonathan Oliver.

An important two-way technical communications role between the Argo Tractors factory and independent dealers supplying Landini and McCormick products has been taken on by Andrew Starbuck, a new recruit to the growing team covering the UK and Ireland.

“As product manager, my principal role is to communicate technical information to our dealers about the features and benefits of the tractors so they are fully informed when talking to customers,” he explains.

Agricast will be introducing visitors to this year’s Cereals event to its brand new range of bolt-on assemblies for disc harrows and presses.

Known for its high-quality range of replacement wearing cultivation parts, Agricast introduced the new service in March this year.

“Farmers are incredibly busy people, and sometimes it’s simpler, more convenient and quicker to ask someone else to refurbish their assemblies,” says William Robinson, Agricast’s general manager. “We introduced this new service following several enquiries from people in this situation. So far, we’ve delivered completely refurbished axle assemblies for people using Dowdeswell, Gregoire Besson and Simba machines”

Michelin is expanding its X Multi family of truck tyres, with the launch of the new X Multi HD (heavy-duty) D (drive) tyre in 315/80 R22.5 and 315/70 R22.5 sizes.

Targeted towards solid bulk, agricultural and specialist transport operators – including fleets used for milk collection and animal feed deliveries to farms – the tyre manufacturer says the X Multi HD D is designed to be the most robust tyre in the market for versatile applications requiring a combination of high mileage potential and traction.

OPICO has appointed Dan Barnes as new UK Technical Support, to cover the South West, Central South of England and South and mid Wales. 

A farmer’s son, Dan brings both practical and technical experience to the After-Sales team. Since gaining his National Diploma in Land-based Engineering in 2013, he has built upon his knowledge, securing service and technical positions with Class, Case and AGCO dealerships.  In 2015 he followed the US grain harvest for 6 months gaining invaluable practical experience.  Dan will work on all OPICO, HE-VA, SKY, Strautmann and Maschio brands across his area. Dan will be based from home, in Dorset.

A recent study published estimates the agricultural sprayer sales to surpass 3 million units by 2020. The study finds that technological transformations and digitization of the agriculture industry, along with demand for new tools and production methods, will remain key to growth of the agricultural sprayers industry.

According to the study, leading manufacturers are adopting cognitive technologies to meet growing end-user requirements for more efficient, productive, and precise agricultural machines. More than 75 million IoT-integrated agricultural equipment & machinery will be sold by 2020, according to the World Government Summit. The shift in end-user preferences for modern farming techniques and equipment has led to an upsurge in the sales of next-generation agricultural machineries, in turn influencing growth of the agricultural sprayers market.

Coleg Cambria college has signed-up to a new partnership with Kubota, the Japanese tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer.

Together they have launched the Kubota Apprenticeship Scheme, a three-year block release programme which will blend education at the innovative Denbighshire facility with on-the-job experience.

Simon Parker, an Agricultural Engineering Lecturer at Llysfasi, near Ruthin, says teaming-up with one of the giants of agricultural and construction equipment manufacturing will give their learners a head-start on entering a career in the sector.

The UK agricultural engineering industry needs to continue finding ways to retain and attract young talent, not just from within but also from outside the industry, according to the newly-elected President of the AEA.

Adrian Winnett, Managing Director of Argo Tractors operations in the UK and Ireland, said: “It is a terrible shame that beyond our own circle neither of the words ‘agriculture’ and ‘engineering’ resonate in terms of a career choice with the majority of young people.

Plant breeders Limagrain have appointed Jonathan Tann to the new role of UK Business Area Director, based at the company’s UK headquarters at Rothwell, Lincolnshire.

Limagrain is a fast-growing farmer owned international co-operative group, specialising in both agricultural and horticultural seeds, and in cereal products. As the fourth largest breeder and seeds marketing company in the world, it employs 10,000 people with a turnover of more than 2.5 billion euros annually. 

Dutch machine builders Schuitemaker and Veenhuis have announced they intend to merge this year.   After a review of company strengths both companies agree cooperating would offer substantial  benefits in marketing, sales, innovation and production.  

To facilitate growth and boost product development Schuitemaker announced in November last year that a private equity firm was buying a 36.25% stake in the company.  The aim was for Wadinko to stimulate business and employment in Overijssel, the Noordoostpolder and Southwest Drenthe.

UK vegetable harvesting and handling equipment manufacturer, Scotts Precision Manufacturing, is celebrating after receiving its biggest ever order from Canada.

The Lincolnshire company sent seven Evolution cleaners to Allan Potato Equipment Manufacturing Ltd., Canada’s largest designer and manufacturer of potato harvesting equipment.

Allan will be incorporating the unique Evolution cleaning system into its own unique system – a ground-breaking, three-row electrically-driven harvester.

British spraying manufacturer, Househam, is launching a new customised product support package at Cereals 2019. 

Designed to reassure customers that there will be long-term care in an uncertain agricultural climate, with continuity of parts and maintenance, the five-year product support package will result in increased productivity and reduced costs. 

“We’re positive that we will have continuity of supply and services going forward, whatever the political outcome, and launching a personalised support package for our 100% British-manufactured sprayers will help farmers to get even better value and longevity from the machines,” says Robert Willey, Househam managing director. 

Leading Cornwall and Devon agricultural machinery dealership, Vincent Tractors & Plant, has been appointed as a Kverneland dealer for Cornwall and South Devon.

This means that its branches at Fraddon and Smithaleigh (Plympton) now have Kverneland-trained engineers and an extensive stock of parts and machines, meaning that it is able to provide after-sales and service for both new and existing Kverneland customers.