BAGMA NEWS
BULLETIN BOARD
KÄRCHER BRANCHES OUT INTO LANDSCAPE GEAR
Kärcher has launched a range of battery-powered, professional landscape management (PLM) tools. The new range features products including a lawnmower, chainsaw, hedgetrimmer, leaf blower, leaf blower backpack, line trimmer, brush cutter, multi-tool, pole hedge trimmer and a pole chainsaw.
MAKITA EXPANDS LEADING LXT RANGE
Makita UK is expanding its cordless offering with the launch of the LM001CX 36V LXT Brushless Lawnmover. The LM001CZ is powered by Makita's leading LXT cordless technology so it offers maximum flexibility and increased safety as there is no need to trasport fuel and no emissions are released during operation.
LE-TEC TOP TECHNICIANS ANNOUNCED
Land-based Education and Training Committee (LE-TEC Ltd) is proud to announce the top three winners of their Technicians For 2021 competition. The judges’ top three winners were Laura Bassnet in first place, Lauren Savage in second place and Chris Laidler in third place. The awards were designed to celebrate and find the UK’s best Technicians in the Land-based Engineering sector and entrants had to submit a video as to why they enjoy their day-to-day job so much.
Rebuild starts at business devastated by fire ANTHONY DEACON OF dealership MKM Agri, which was devasted by fire in April, said they are looking to the future as they begin the journey to rebuild the business. Anthony said: “We have made steady progress, but these past weeks have been incredibly difficult. “Fortunately, a couple of weeks ago our insurer accepted liability and so since then I’ve been working full-time dealing with the claim, working out exactly what’s been lost. It’s difficult but we’re getting there.” In the fire – believed to be an accident – MKM lost its entire workshop and another lean-to building, which totalled around 4000 sq ft of space. Following the devastation, the firm has continued to operate out of a separate building which houses their office, showroom and parts storage. “We’re using a small, old shed as our workshop currently, which is about an eighth of the size of what we lost – so far from ideal,” said Anthony A specialist salvage team has been used to remove debris to get ready for the rebuild. “The plan is to design an entirely new purpose-built premises. There is a lot to think about with an endeavour such as this and I would be very interested in hearing from other dealers who might have some thoughts about how we might best achieve our goals,” explained Antho-
ny. He said that the level of support they had received from the industry since the fire had been ‘incredible’. “I can’t thank everyone enough for their kind words and offers of help.” Keith Christian, BAGMA’s Director remembers the incredible fire at Godfrey’s of Sevenoaks many years ago, which destroyed the business. He said lessons needed to be learnt about backing up computer systems so that the business could be restarted quickly – which Godfrey’s were able to do. l Steve Gibbs and Duncan Murray of Service Dealer kindly allowed BAGMA to reproduce this article about the fire at MKM Agri. We all wish to raise awareness of the issues relating to fires on business premises and for people in the industry to offer whatever support they can to get MKM up-and- running again. With supply issues in the industry somethings will not be easy to replace at this time.
Fendt’s new partnership with tyre firm puts them right on track IAGRE HOLD AWARDS CEREMONY ONLINE
The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) held its awards in a virtual ceremony. The IAgrE Annual AGM & Awards Presentation was due to take place on Thursday April 30, 2020, at Amazone Ltd near Doncaster. The coronavirus pandemic meant it was postponed then held online. Winners included Chris Biddle and David Kirschner for their contribution to the landbased sector.
2
All new Fendt 200 and 300 series tractors are to be made available with Continental TractorMaster tyres. The partnership between the two German manufacturers is yet another boost to the investment Continental has made to produce tyres with new technology at their dedicated agricultural production facility in Portugal. The TractorMaster tyres feature N.Flex Technology, a patent pending, heat-treated nylon that sits beneath the tyre rubber to help it return to its original shape after impact and heavy use. A further technological development is in the wire, or
‘bead’, that helps the tyre hold the rim of the wheel. Agricultural tyre specialist Richard Hutchins said: “This partnership with Fendt further strengthens the Continental tyre range for agriculture. It also demonstrates that the research and development we have carried out at our production plant in Lousado has attracted the interest and support of one of agriculture’s most influential brands.” Available tyre sizes for the Fendt 200 and 300 series from Continental include 600/65 R38 and 540/65 R24 as well as 540/65 R34.
BAGMA BULLETIN MAY-JUNE 2021
