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The German farm machinery maker Lemken says it grew its business in 2018 despite difficult trading conditions.
Turnover was €380 million, an increase of 6%, with export sales making up 77% of volume.
Managing director Anthony van der Ley said he is happy with the development of the company’s sales.
“The turbulent weather had a massive impact on our planning and schedules and put our suppliers under severe pressure,” van der Ley says.
“Fortunately, we are a family-run company working in close cooperation with our customers and business partners. Our employees’ commitment and flexibility have enabled us to process all orders and service requests as quickly as they came.”
Germany, where Lemken’s turnover increased by 8%, remains its best-performing market, followed by Russia despite targets not being met. Other successful markets included Japan with a significant increase in sales, and Australia with its newly restructured distribution network.
Sales results were positive in all product ranges, with plough and compact-disc harrow sectors growing well as did seeder and cultivator sales.
Lemken gained a range of mechanical hoeing equipment by taking over the family-run Dutch company Steketee. It sees good scope for this gear, given the demand for sustainable, environmentally sound cultivation methods.
An advanced camera-system makes these machines (up to 12m working width) well-suited for vegetable and grain crops, allowing farmers to opt for chemical-free weeding.
In 2018 Lemken spent €8.5 million on factory expansions and upgrades, notably new logistics for more efficient supply of materials to assembly lines.
Staff numbers grew by 165 employees to 1635, including 49 employees from Steketee and growth in factory workers and extra personnel at Lemken India.
Complementing its existing range of tillage implements, German manufacturer Lemken has introduced the new Onyx subsoiler said to offer working depths of up to 60cm, available in two rigid versions offering three and four metre working widths, the MR/300 and MR/400.
Scheduled for release later in the year at Germany’s Agritechnica Event, Lemken’s new Solitair PT is a power harrow/drill combination designed for farmers and contractors who want to work in a wide range of soil conditions, achieving a good seedbed combined with precise drilling in one pass.
Available as part of the Lemken portfolio, a leading name in advanced seeding technology, Equalizer, sees its CII 8/762N Planter arrive in the New Zealand marketplace via Lemken dealers.
Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST seed drill offers a useful entry into precision farming.
The new Lemken Solitair MR series mounted drills, available in three or four metre working widths, features a 1500-litre tank, which is suitable for fertiliser even in its basic configuration.
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