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TAMA president Kyle Baxter.
As we crank in to 2022, NZ’s agricultural tractor and machinery industry seems to have mirrored the automobile sector with record breaking sales in 2021.
Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president Kyle Baxter says that the industry is showing massive resilience, but notes many challenges have to be dealt with – almost on a daily basis.
“The number of new tractors sold in 2021 was just under 4,200 units, which could have been more but shipments arriving in late December just couldn’t be dispatched to customers before the holidays. However, it does mean that most distributors will get off to a good start for the New Year,” Baxter explains.
“Looking forward, as an association we believe that the numbers for 2022 are likely to go higher, but of course they might get restrained because of availability from the supplier factories. The fact is most of the factories have full order books, so it means there is very little wriggle room for placing new orders for production in this calendar year or beyond.”
He adds that with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Europe and its recent arrival in New Zealand, TAMA members are taking steps to ensure they have workforce continuity, taking lessons from their partners in Europe.
“They report that production is being adjusted on a day-by-day basis, with workers checking in sick and, in many cases, off work for many days,” Baxter says
In other industry matters, TAMA is finalising plans to make a ‘Critical Workforce Border Exemption Request’ to the Ministry for Primary Industries, to address the dire shortage of heavy machinery diesel technicians and the need to fast track more into the country.
On a lighter note, the TAMA 2021 Awards have seen Oliver Bertram, a technician at Tulloch Farm Machines in Masterton, presented with the Plasback Emerging Talent for Service Award, while James Mitchell of Norwood took out the Trade Me Emerging Talent in Sales Award.
TAMA also announced details of its Ron Gall Scholarship for industry leadership.
Sponsored by Tulloch Farm Machines in memory of the organisation’s late general manager, the award offers a one-off $2,000 prize – to inspire industry leaders, allowing them to attend a course, workshop or conference to further enhance their abilities.
Global tyre manufacturer Michelin has extended its agricultural trailer tyre range, with the introduction of its new WorkxBib series, designed for tipping trailers, slurry tankers and manure spreaders.
Following the record-breaking success of its hydrogen-powered Hydromax, JCB is ramping up its investment in the business, key to the first major change at the executive level of the business, with George Bamford stepping up to the post of joint chairman, alongside his father Lord Bamford.
During calf rearing, logistics can play an important role in getting the job done quickly and efficiently.
Massey Ferguson has announced a strategic supply partnership with International Tractors Limited (ITL), a manufacturer of low-horsepower and compact tractors, with recognised brands such as Sonalika and Sollis, to expand its portfolio with a new tractor range.
With the biannual Italian EIMA machinery Expo less than a month away, Case IH has taken out a Technical Evolution award for the Advanced Vehicle Suspension system available on its Optum 360–440 series tractors.
The Advanced Vehicle Suspension system, available on Optum 360, 390, and 440 models, responds to changing conditions, automatically adjusting how the suspension reacts to absorbs shocks and controlling vehicle movement.
In operation, sensors monitor the vibrations transmitted from the tractor chassis to the operator cabin, allowing the system to adjust suspension damping in real time. The control system incorporates key priorities, such as comfort at lower speeds and stability as speed increases, while also reacting to factors such as lower tyre pressures, where the tyres absorb more of the initial shock.
Case IH said as suspension requirements change throughout the working day, as tractors move between the paddock and road transport, the system manages suspension response in the background as tasks, speeds and conditions change, leaving the operator without the need to make manual adjustments.
Richard Hollins, Optum series tractors global product manager, said: “Pioneering technology must earn its place in the working day. Farmers and contractors will judge an investment by what it delivers, including manageable ownership costs, dependable up-time and the versatility to tackle different jobs. With AVS, we are putting intelligent control to work for comfort and stability, without giving the operator another setting to manage.”
Organised by FederUnacoma, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, the contest has been part of EIMA since 1986, with the Technical Evolution distinction awarded to products that introduce original improvements to solutions already manufactured or patented.
www.caseih.com
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