Expanding red line suits all soil types
New range for Kongskilde
FURTHER rationalisation in the European farm machinery industry comes with the launch of Kongskildes new range of cultivations and drilling equipment.
It includes tackle from the three companies acquired last summer by Kongskilde Industries of Denmark. They were all part of the Danish conglomerate Cormall, and include Juko of Finland, Becker of Germany and Danagri-Pol of Poland. All three are incorporated into Kongskilde Industries this month.
According to managing director, Per Michelsen, his company wanted to expand its range of soil-working equipment and drills. "We need a full-line programme with a range of machines to suit every soil type around the world."
The company had also reached the limits of its manufacturing capacity in Denmark and planned to use some of the capacity in the factories it had purchased in Poland and Finland.
"One of the benefits of manufacturing in Poland is its lower production costs. Also this country, with 18.6m hectares (46m acres) of farmland, is one of Europes fastest expanding agricultural markets," said Mr Michelsen.
It will also strengthen Kongskildes longer-term strategy of expansion eastwards. The company plans to become a major player worldwide, said Mr Michelsen. "We will continue to show an interest in acquisitions when the time and conditions are right." Machinery which could be added to the companys range include fertiliser applicators, power harrows and soil compaction equipment, he said.
The three new companies are expected to add 25% to the groups turnover which has risen from £26.5m in 1993 to this years forecast of £58m. Over the same period profits will have increased from less than £177,000 to more than £2.04m.
Although tillage equipment and drills account for the bulk of Kongskildes profit, its business success can also be attributed to three other areas: Grain handling equipment, heating and industrial conveying equipment, said Mr Michelsen.
Kongskildes managing director, Per Michelsen: "A full line-up of machines to meet every soil type."
Expanding red line suits all soil types
UK FARMERS will benefit from Kongskildes extended red line of cultivations and drilling equipment this year.
The groups UK company based in Holt, Norfolk, will offer the Becker- and Juko-made equipment alongside its existing line-up.
New tackle available in the UK will include six machines from the Becker range including the Optimator, heavy-duty cultivator, Demeter Universe pneumatic cereal drill, Demeter Aeromat precision maize drill, Demeter Centra sugar beet drill, Ratiomat lightweight seed-bed cultivator and Rigid Flex stubble cultivator.
Two drills will be added from the Juko stable. Those are the Demeter Multiseed disc drill and the Combiseed grain and fertiliser drill.
The Optimator fills the gap in Kongskildes range for an autumn cultivator. For use on strong land it comprises a heavy-duty mainframe with rear transport wheels and optional drill linkage.
The front loading bars are followed by crumbler rollers, four rows of straight tines and two rows of packer rollers. Five types of front rollers are available to suit different soils: They include crumbler, cage, crosskill, coil and packer. Four models will be available from a 3m (9.8ft) unit at £11,500 to a 6m (19.6ft) model costing £22,950; power requirements are 100hp and 160hp respectively.
Combination
The 6m Optimator is designed to work with the Demeter Universe drill as a combination unit with a 900-litre hopper mounted on the tractors front linkage. Power requirement is 180hp.
Germanys top selling maize drill, renamed the Demeter Aeromat, is expected to appeal to contractors in mainly livestock areas. Available with up to 18 rows, the drill uses a system of compressed air and cell wheels to meter the seed accurately in rows from 250mm (10in) upwards.
Meanwhile, for UK sugar beet growers, Kongskilde and British Sugar are to test the performance of the Demeter Centra precision drill this spring. It will be available with six to 18 rows, with granular application and tramlining available as accessories. Prices range from £8000 to £21,000.
Front press wheels and rear transport wheels on the Demeter Multiseed trailed grain-only or grain and fertiliser drill reduce power required by 15% compared with similar disc drills on the market, says the company.
Three models are available 3m (9.8ft), 4m (13ft) and a prototype 6m (19.7ft) version. Power requirements are 105hp, 125hp and 155hp respectively. The drill units comprise a number of individual sections which can be adjusted independently using a weight transfer system. It ensures adequate penetration of the disc coulters and a constant sowing depth. Prices are £17,800 (3m) and £22,500 (4m). The prototype 6m is likely to cost about £32,000 said Kongskilde UKs managing director Charles Moulton. *
New to the Kongskilde camp, the Optimator cultivator is designed for autumn use on strong land. Working widths are 3-6m.
British Sugar will be involved this spring in performance tests for the Demeter Centra precision drill.