This year, Kane Engineering celebrates 45 years in the farm trailer business. The company was set up by brothers Noel and Colin Kane at their farm near Ballynahinch, Co Down, to make silage trailers back in 1969.
The business emerged from a silage contracting business set up by their late father, James Kane.
Back then, timber-sided silage trailers were very popular. The market leaders in Ireland included the McGee 6t, produced by McGee’s of Ardee, and Lee Trailers, made in Waterford.
Kane’s first trailers were fully steel, similar to trailers being used in Britain.
These first models included 10x6 silage and grain tippers, a few of which remain in regular use on Irish farms to this day. The trailers were characterised by their strength and lightness.
Today, the company is run by Richard Kane, a third-generation Kane family member.
Richard said that, over the 45 years, the firm has produced some 20,000 trailers.
The Kane-branded trailers are now working on farms across the world, from New Zealand to Scandinavia.
The Kanes’ trailer business has always been grounded in farming. The Kane brothers farm a combined 900 acres of arable and poultry operations.
Integral
Richard Kane said that the farms are an integral part of the business model. They allow them to identify needs and test the performance of the trailers before new products come to the market.
The company used the occasion of the 45 years celebration to join with Britains models to produce the fourth Kane-branded model in the Britains range.
The new Kane beaver tail low-loader trailer was launched at the factory last week.
The models in the Kane range have helped the company achieve success in foreign markets.
The Kane-registered design has been replicated exactly on the model trailer, with the underbody hydraulic cylinders and mechanical lock.
For their 45 years celebrations, Kane Engineering had local diorama model maker and livestock farmer John McCall from Clough build an impressive diorama display of the modern Kane Engineering factory.
Britains representatives were on hand to launch the new trailer model with children from local schools.
Kilkenny Model Toy Show
Model collectors and enthusiasts will have a chance to enjoy their hobby at next week’s Kilkenny Model Toy Show, which takes place on Sunday 2 November at The Hub, Cillin Hill, Co Kilkenny.
There will be 50 diorama exhibitors, collectors and model makers from all over the country as well as an exhibitor from Scotland.
The show opens from 11am and the entry price is €7 for adults and €15 for a family ticket.
Irish Farmers Journal Vintage Diary
Date Vintage event County Phone number
2 November Kilkenny Model Show, The Hub Cillin Hill, Kilkenny 087-2765714
2 November South Eastern Auto Jumble Ardattin, Carlow 087-6556370
2 November Solsborough Vintage Club Road Run Wexford 086-2009519
6 November Monaghan Vintage Auto Jumble Monaghan 087-6051362
11 November Harry Ferguson Lecture Night Down 0044-7720262530
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