Claas rings up some big numbers
The Claas Group finished fiscal year 2023 with a substantial leap in sales that reflected the high demand for agricultural equipment.
Patent number 372140 won’t be very important to many, but to one of the world’s largest manufacturers of harvest equipment it was a building block to the future.
The patent for a knotter to bind straw was granted to Claas in 1921, and to this day it remains part of the company logo.
That knotter was used on stationary balers in the early years and became part of the company’s first pick-up baler in 1934. Claas recently its 300,000th machine, a Rollant 454 Uniwrap round baler.
In 1958, Rheinhold, son of founder August Claas, built a factory at Metz, SE France, as the home for Claas forage equipment, particularly balers.
Now 400 employees turn out 5000 balers a year, badged Rollant, Variant and Quadrant. The factory produces 21 different models, sold to 100 countries.
These harvest 25 different crop types: old standards such as wheat, barley and oat straws, cotton in South Africa, peanut haulm for cattle feed in America, flax in Eastern Europe and the likes of miscanthus and reed canary grass in France.
The 300,000th machine will be used for promotional purposes.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
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