There were plenty of Irish manufacturers at the largest agricultural machinery show in Europe in Hanover. Agritechnica was host to the most modern agricultural machinery and latest technology available to both European and international audiences, including some very well respected and recognised brands from Ireland.

CROSS AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

Simon Cross of Cross Agricultural Engineering said: “The European and International market is very important to us, which is why we are here to meet as many customers and importers as possible.

“The German market in particular is an area of focus as so much beet is grown for use in anaerobic digester (AD) plants. Our beet washing and handling equipment is well received here. We have in excess of 100 beet-washers working in Germany.” He said there is big interest from France also, with more beet being grown there for use in AD plants. Cross said: “We have spoken to a lot of customers from both countries over the past few days.”

On display was an Alligator beet washer which has a capacity of 60-80t/h of beet.

Dirty beet can be washed completely and chopped if required by the one machine.

Also on the stand occupying a sizeable footprint was a large tri-axle 46m3 split chaser-bin. This model has a 32t load capacity and two folding unloading augers which he was marketing to both German, eastern-European and international customers.

The farm size in some regions of Europe and further eastwards requires machines of this size to get the grain from the large-capacity combines often operating in fleets in fields. The twin-spout design means the chaser bin can also be used for filling seed-drills quickly come seeding time. Remote control means the augers can be controlled from ground level.

The hopper can be split if required to fill both seed and fertiliser from the one machine if required.

GROUP EFFORT FROM ENTERPRISE IRELAND

Enterprise Ireland has a cluster of Irish manufacturers displaying their wares, including Abbey Machinery. Clodagh Kavanagh, MD of Abbey Machinery, said: “It’s our first time exhibiting here, but from the interest we have received about our products, it won’t be our last. Speaking to both customers and importers, there is definitely merit in being here such is the number of visitors. It’s a huge market and our products are well received here.” Abbey displayed a VF2100 diet feeder which has a 21m3 capacity and uses twin-augers to mix the ingredients. Some other companies under the umbrella of the Enterprise Ireland stand included Mastek agri-machinery and innovation. The products Mastek displayed included umbilical pumps, hose-reelers, dribble-bars and macerators. Slurry handling equipment is big business across many European countries. Germany is a notable example, with some dairy herds housed permanently, meaning more slurry spreading and pumping. Pig and beef herds add to this also.

Mayo company Malone Farm Machinery also displayed some grassland products. The Procut 900-disc mower has a working width of 2.90m and weighs 710kg. To follow this, the Tedd-Air 840 was folded out on the stand for potential customers to see. This is a six-rotor machine with a working width of 8.40m. It folds to 2.98m for transport.

CASHELS BALE-SAFE

Cashel Engineering from Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo displayed a number of products, including the Bale-Safe. It is a round bale-handler designed to carry two bales with the option to release each bale individually from the carrier. The bales sit into a large cradle and keeping them in place is a large gate that closes down over the bales. The advantage of the grab is the bales are very securely held, especially during transport.

MCHALE REACHES FARTHER

McHale had a large stand with its full range of grass equipment including the newly launched R 67-78 centre delivery rake. This twin-rotor rake can gather up to 7.8m of grass at maximum working width. This was exhibited alongside the Fusion 3 Plus combination baler-wrapper fitted with film-on-film technology, round and square bale wrappers, mowers, bale handlers and straw blowers. Paul McHale said the company’s products are very well received in Germany and across Europe. “We meet customers from all over the world here in Hanover and it’s vital for us to be here is we want to reach into more international markets. The footfall on the McHale stand would suggest its products were generating a lot of interest.

ALLTECH-KEENAN

Keenan displayed its range of diet feeders including the self-propelled MechFiber 345SP but unusually not the vertical auger machines. The Irish Farmers Journal met Mick Keogh of Alltech and asked him why. “We have built up a huge market share with our horizontal paddle machines and one we are growing continually. We are seeing huge success in other markets with our vertical-auger machines but the German and greater European market is extremely competitive in the tub-feeder market. I counted approximately 37 different tub-feeders at this show alone so we will focus our energy on the horizontal feeder market.”