Mergers and buyouts have seen the number of independent tractor brands greatly reduce over the last 20-30 years. Agco, CNH, SDF and Argo are parents to over a dozen brands with facilities all over the world. John Deere is perhaps the only big brand that has maintained its independence.

Niche brands such as Valtra and Steyr are now part of much bigger companies. Many would argue that their identity has been diluted as a result. The drive to cut costs and use common components has pushed them together. A few survive though, and Austrian firm Lindner is one of them.

Within the last decade a number of Irish firms have made attempts to bring Lindner to Ireland, all unsuccessfully until now. The brand has finally arrived here through Plant Systems Ltd from Balrothery, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.

Plant Systems Ltd is owned and run by three brothers – Darren, Tommy and Shane Plant. The company has secured the Lindner franchise for Ireland and has been evaluating a number of Linder products over the past months.

Lindner history

The Lindner factory is located in Kundl, Tyrol, Austria. It has produced tractors and transporters for mountain and pasture agriculture, forestry and local government use since 1948. Lindner remains a wholly family-owned business.

Its success could be attributed to a number of factors. Among these is the loyalty of its Austrian customers.

This loyalty is not misplaced, as Lindner places a strong emphasis on development and innovation as well as quality. As a result, it produces innovative, high-quality products which are highly sought after.

At the Agritechnica 2013, Lindner launched its Lintrac 90 with CVT transmission and four-wheel-steering. With the tractor’s tight turning circle and CVT transmission, this machine is ideal for inter-row crop work.

The firm even refurbishes older tractors and Unitrac vehicles if required, to return them to near-new condition for resale. There are not too many tractor manufacturers doing that.

In total, Lindner makes around 1,500 vehicles per year. Last year, it produced 1,350 Geotrac tractors and 180 Unitrac vehicles. About one third of its production is exported.

The Plant brothers have worked hard to acquire the Lindner franchise for Ireland.

Darren explained why they chose Lindner: “I began talking to Lindner three years ago. It boiled down to quality. I wouldn’t want to put my name to just anything. It would have to fit a certain business model we would like to have going forward. Quality and reliability are very important. You are what you sell.”

The operator’s environment is also important: “The cab is very important. It’s where you sit and where you work. Tractors on the outside can look pretty, but it has got to be well laid out and well presented inside the cab for ease of use. The Lindner products are.”

Plant Systems Ltd will operate as both dealer and distributor according to Darren. “We’re going to look after our own area and are looking for dealers to cover the rest of the country,” he said. “People buy from people they know so someone from Kerry or Donegal mightn’t necessarily know me but would have a relationship with their local dealer.”

He said customers need to have confidence both in the product and in their local dealer to provide the appropriate service. That confidence extends to Darren and his team all the way back to Lindner in Austria.

Since Plant Systems Ltd was appointed Lindner agent for Ireland last June, the firm has brought in three distinct products. Two of these are tractors while the third is a Unitrac – part tractor, part truck.

Geotrac Alpine74 EP

The smallest tractor at Plant Systems Ltd in Dublin is the Lindner Geotrac 74 EP. There are five base models in this series from 76hp to 106hp. The Geotrac 74 Alpine EP develops a maximum of 76hp from its four-cylinder Perkins engine.

Its engine is a Tier 3b unit and utilises a DPF-diesel particulate filter unit as part of its emission control package. Four-cylinder Perkins engines are used in all Lindner products.

The transmission is ZF-Steyr with 16-forwards/16-reverse speeds, two-speed powershift and dual-dry clutch. A four-speed PTO is standard, as is electronic lift control and electronic display. Twin hydraulic pumps provide 50 and 30 litres/minute in two circuits. The cab is Lindner’s own and has suspension.

Prices for the Lindner Geotrac Alpine 74 EP start at around €44,000 plus VAT. Darren feels this model is priced well to compete within this sector. Higher specification models with 16/8 transmission and power-shuttle are also available.

Unitrac

Lindner’s Unitrac combines the truck and tractor features in an agricultural package. Four-wheel steering, wishbone suspension all-round plus a central pivot make the Unitrac both extremely manoeuvrable and comfortable.

There are three models – the Unitrac 82, 92 and 102. They are all powered by Perkins engines and develop powers similar to their model numbers.

Transmission is also 16-forwards/16-reverse speed with an optional crawler unit bringing this up to 20/20. Top speed is 50km/h.

A number of hydraulic options are available to power different systems from spreaders to mounted silage wagons. A mechanical mid-mounted PTO provides drive where required, while multiple hydraulic options cater for all manner of machines. The tipping body can be de-mounted quickly if required, allowing a change in system to something like a salt spreader or silage wagon.

Plant Systems Ltd’s demo Unitrac was the 82 EP version, with three-way tipping body. Depending on bodies and specification/wheelbase, payload is pretty decent at around 4,000kg. Darren expects some interest from county councils and airport authorities, maybe even the agricultural or horticultural sector.

The Unitrac is expected to cost in the region of €68,000 plus VAT, again very much depending on specification.

Lindner 134 EP

Finally, the Lindner 134 EP is the firm’s flagship tractor, with bells and whistles to match. The slightly smaller 114 EP is its only stablemate, and both are powered by four-cylinder Perkins engines developing a maximum of 133hp and 144hp respectively.

The specification level of Plant Systems Ltd demo Lindner 134 EP impresses from the outset. It has front linkage and PTO, front suspension, air with air cab suspension.

A ZF-Steyr 32-forward/32-reverse transmission incorporating power-shuttle and four-speed power-shift comes as standard. Auto shifting is standard within the powershift group. Top speed is 50km/h, while multi-disc pressure lubricated wet brakes provide the stopping power. Four-speed PTO is standard, as is a 120 litre/minute hydraulic system. The demo tractor has two mechanical double-acting spool valves plus one electronic. Lift capacity is in excess of 6.6t at the rear and 3.5t up front.

Inside the cab and you are bombarded with high-tech displays and controls. Within the dash is the firm’s IBC-Intelligent on-Board Computer. This displays all machine functions and settings, which can be changed using a menu system to the screen’s right. Within the rearview mirror a second display shows time, day and date or an image from the tractor’s reversing camera system.

An armrest-mounted joystick allows many functions to be controlled. These include direction, lift and much more. Lindner’s control options are numerous and allow for preferred-choice operation of many of the tractor’s functions from forward/reverse transmission shuttle to lift control.

The top-spec Lindner Geotrac 134 EP costs around €85,000 plus VAT. Darren expects a reduced-spec version (less air, joystick, front PTO, etc) to retail somewhere around €72,000 plus VAT.

There is much more to this tractor and very shortly the Irish Farmers Journal will get to test the Lindner Geotrac 134 EP in full. We will report our findings to you before Christmas so you can get a stocking big enough for one.

Contact details: Darren Plant -Plant Systems Ltd 01-8834322 / 087-6862136.