FTMTA Farm Machinery Show 2017 update

Preliminary site work has started this week at Punchestown Racecourse near Naas in advance of the upcoming FTMTA Farm Machinery Show to be held at the venue from 9 to 11 February. Substantial work is under way to install a tarmac base and new roadway to facilitate the installation of an additional marquee of nearly 2,000 square metres which will give the show a new, fourth, pavilion.

The additional pavilion is a development made by FTMTA in response to the growing level of demand by exhibitors for space at Ireland’s flagship farm machinery event and this innovation has been justified by the fact that all space in the new structure is fully booked. Interest from potential exhibitors in this year’s show has been at record levels and is a strong vote of confidence by machinery manufacturers and distributors in the prospects for the trade in the coming year.

Online tickets sales which are available from a link via the FTMTA website at www.ftmta.ie have been moving well in recent weeks. FTMTA encourages all visitors to avail of the savings offered, with the online tickets available at €15 each, which is a saving of €5 over the price on the door.

FTMTA training

FTMTA intends to offer a number of tailored and industry-specific training courses to member firms during March and April in the areas of sales skills, parts department management and service department management. Full information will be issued to member firms in the coming weeks as details are finalised.

European industry cautiously optimistic

The latest CEMA Business Barometer issued in mid-December shows cautiously improving sentiments from the European farm machinery industry. CEMA is the representative body of the European agricultural machinery manufacturing sector and each month provides an insight into the current business climate of the European agricultural machinery industry through a survey called the CEMA Business Barometer.

The December report reveals that the short-term outlook has improved for almost every single European market with the strongest confidence in Spain and the UK. However, the mood of German, French and Italian manufacturers is still uncertain.

In terms of international markets, the highest growth potential for 2017 is seen in the Oceania region with growth also expected in the US and Canada. Interestingly, the European industry is less positive about prospects in their home, European, market than they are about all export markets which highlights the importance of global trade to manufacturers worldwide. In summary, the European farm machinery industry forecasts a slight increase in sales for 2017.