BA Pumps expand
Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the iconic Milk Bar mobile calf feeder products, alongside calf and feed trailers.
Farmers, fruit or vege growers, vineyard owners or rural contractors -- most either know of or own gear made by Bertolini, whose distinctive blue tanks make them a standout in any field.
The company has recently changed its name: from June 1 it was renamed BA Pumps & Sprayers, under the same ownership and business model.
Bertolini Australasia was formed in 1989 by Mark, Penny and Guy Rendle, with Richard Skeates, when they secured the rights to sell Bertolini pumps in New Zealand from Iddromeccanica Bertolini SpA of Italy.
They went on to develop a range of equipment using the large range of agricultural and industrial pumps available to them, and developed a wide range of sprayers and pressure cleaning equipment.
Today the range includes sprayers, pressure cleaners and fertiliser spreaders, and the company is the sole distributor of Iddromeccanica Bertolini pumps, Collard vineyard equipment, Boisselet under-vine equipment and TeeJet agricultural products.
If customers can’t find what they need, the in-house design and engineering team can custom build gear to order.
Custom-built sprayers are popular with rural spraying contractors, especially those built for truck or Toyota Landcruiser; an extensive array of options includes 1000L or larger tanks, hydraulic spray booms with wing lift, GPS, ABSC autorate controllers and airbag suspension.
The business has remained loyal in using as many New Zealand suppliers as possible, rather than outsourcing manufacturing and quality control overseas; most products are certified as NZ-made.
Growth prompted a move in 2017 to a new, purpose-built facility 5km from Cambridge; staff numbers grew and production capacity expanded.
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
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