Tractor traders hoping for better sales in 2025
With annual tractor sales being a barometer for the state of the industry, New Zealand’s machinery importers and distributors, along with their dealerships, will be glad to see the back of 2024.
LAMMA 2025, now considered the main event for those suffering from heavy metal disease, has recently become the favourite venue for new product launches, so visitors weren’t disappointed at this year’s event.
Local manufacturer JCB, headquartered just up the road in Staffordshire, announced a bunch of new models, including a preview of the TM110 – a compact, articulated telescopic loader. The addition to the range has been developed in just 18 months at the behest of chairman Lord Bamford.
Using a bit of lateral thinking, the development team have chosen to use the back end of the 50hp, three-cylinder 403 wheeled loader, complemented by a new front end with an oscillating pivot and a telescopic boom.
This offers a maximum lift height of 3.5 metres, but also allows the TM110 to handle 800kg with the boom fully extended, or 1100kg when retracted. Overall dimensions see measurements an overall width of 1.56m and height of 2.2m.
A two-speed hydrostatic transmission tops out at 30km/h, with axles supplied by ZF and featuring diffs front and rear. The hydraulic system has a 50l/min pump.
In other news, the market leading Loadall Series sees some new additions to the already expansive range. The 560-80 is a 6 tonne, 8m machine and now comes as an Agri Pro with an increase in power 173hp engine. Previously Agri Xtra was the highest spec with 150hp with the Dual Tech transmission and 160l/min hydraulics.
The 542-100 is a new straw stacking orientated handler with DualTech transmission but just as importantly, more lift over the 536-95. The 4.2t, 9.8m newcomer comes in Agri Super, Xtra and Pro versions. There have been changes around the headstock plumbing and the boom end rubbers have been replaced with bristles. JCB has also developed a hydraulic side-shifting bale grab to go with it.
The 538-60 now has the option of Agri Pro spec for the 3.8t, 6.2m lift machine. The 173hp JCB 4.8-litre engine and Dual Tech transmission allows it to travel at 50km/h. This also gets different axles compared to 40km/h version.
At the other end of the scale, the 435S shovel features the same 282hp as the larger 457S - rising from 252hp. Complementing the increased horsepower, the 435 also gains the larger machines torque converter transmission, as well as larger axles with an extra planetary gear. The transmission also gains torque lock up in more gears including five and six and can even kick in on some reverse speeds.
