GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY KICKS OFF NEW SITE

With nearly 50 years under our belt (that’s right, we turn 50 in 2025!), we celebrated yet another major company milestone on 19 May. It included a spade, a muddy paddock, and the rain.

The weather didn’t stop an enthusiastic crowd from Landpower and CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury gathering for the official ground-breaking ceremony to kick off the construction of our new purpose-built site at Yaldhurst, Christchurch.

So much larger than our current locations, the new facility brings together our local CLAAS Harvest Centre, New Zealand Support Office and South Island parts distribution warehouse.

Ground and foundation work has now started and we look forward to moving into our new home mid-next year. Before ‘breaking the ground’, Richard Wilson thanked everyone for coming together and enthused about how important the site is to support our future growth.

Richard

WHAT’S INSIDE 4

On Systems

Gearing up for growth.

5 11 SPOTLIGHT

Farm World

The CLAAS Harvest Centre Gippsland team went all out to put on an exceptional display for their customers and other show-goers at the recent Farm World event. The team took out ‘Best Agribusiness Exhibit’. Farm World is Victoria’s premier agricultural Field Day and lifestyle event. It has been running since 1963 and attracts over 500 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors.

Wheely Wheely Awesome Event

If it’s got wheels or tracks, then chances are it would have been at New Zealand’s largest machinery eventWheels at Wanaka. Held every second Easter on a 50 acre site, CLAAS Harvest Centre Otago had a prime spot as sponsor of the show’s highlight - the Tractor Pull competition.

Regional Branch Manager, Michelle Nicolai says it provided “phenomenal exposure for CLAAS Harvest Centre. Our sponsorship secured us such fantastic visibility with our marquee right there and our name constantly broadcast as sponsor.”

Our Otago and Southland teams had connected with customers through their sites at the recent Waiau A&P Show and the Wanaka A&P Show, so enjoyed catching up with them at Wheels at Wanaka.

Michelle thanks everyone who helped make such a success of our site, including Peter Henderson, Sales

Riverina And Fnq Field Days

It was another great showing from NQ Agricultural Services (above right) at the recent Rotary FNQ Field Days held in Mareeba, North Queensland. Owner, James Fisher and the team are recognised as “true legends” by the Field Day organisers for their commitment to the success of this important local event. All money raised from the event is donated to charities and community groups.

Each year, the Riverina Field Days showcases the best of agricultural machinery. JJ Farm Equipment (above left) put on another great display for the over 11,000 visitors to this much-enjoyed annual Griffith, New South Wales event.

Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Southland. CLAAS tractors featured in some great Tractor Pull competition wins:

Standard Over 11T - 2nd to Steve Woodhead driving a CLAAS AXION 870

Standard Under 11T - 2nd to Murray Miller driving a CLAAS ARION 660

Monster Class (over 16T) – 1st to Jonty Collins from Dalmore Farms driving their CLAAS AXION 930 TERRA TRAC

Pete Collins from Dalmore Farms test-drive

– won Best Tractor in Class with his CLAAS AXION 930 TERRA TRAC.

South Island Field Days

Mud, rain and wind didn’t stop us taking home a hat-trick of wins from the recent South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD): ‘Best Large Site’, ‘Best Overall Site’, and ‘Best Overall Demonstration’. The Landpower Vegetable Centre also wowed visitors with the impressive GRIMME Varitron 270 on display. The SIAFD is one of the oldest and largest agricultural events in the South Island. Thanks to all the team members from right across the country (some in the above photo) for such a great result.

Goodbye Spaghetti Junction

If there’s one thing that Covid’s done for us, it’s brought video-conference meetings out of the future and into the everyday for everyone to be able to ‘e-meet’. A huge step towards getting the right people from far-flung corners of the Tasman (and world) together to get stuff done.

Following the success of MS Teams in Australia, our IT team is now rolling it out site by site in New Zealand. It’s getting everyone on the same page with the same tools to make it easier for us to work together. It’s also part of Our Compass Goal: ‘Easy to Use Systems’.

MS Teams is already well used for chat and meetings. This step is connecting everyone to the phone calling feature. Desk phones and old telephony systems will be replaced by late this year. And with some on their last legs, the change can’t come soon enough.

HELP... THE PHONE JUST DIED!

Rodrigo has put together a carefully scheduled roll-out plan with Spark for site-by-site changeovers and training. But that went out the window one Friday morning when CLAAS Harvest Centre Hawke’s Bay sent an SOS to say their phone system had completely died. Rodrigo, his IT colleagues, and the Hawke’s Bay team dropped everything to team up for a quick solution. That afternoon the branch was switched to MS Teams with phone calls up and running for that essential customer contact. Nice job everyone!

TELL US YOUR STORY.

Systems Getting Geared Up For Future Growth

We’ve experienced significant growth in recent years, and to get ready for the next round of growth, our systems need to be ready. That’s the challenge for recently appointed General ManagerTechnology, Helen Drijfhout.

Helen has come into this new role from PGG Wrightson (New Zealand’s leading farm supplies company) where she was Chief Information Officer.

Throughout her career, Helen has designed and managed significant system changes for branch network teams and customers. It’s that level of experience that will move us forward for our people, customers, and suppliers.

Helen says she enjoys working with a wide range of people making the complex world of IT simple to understand and delivering real value to the business.

“We have some serious talent across our teams leading innovative and value-adding technology improvements. Our people are passionate about what they do and committed to growing the business. I’m looking forward to helping unlock the opportunities technology can bring.”

We love to hear and share your stories. Email marketing@landpower.co.nz with what you’re up to along with photos for the next issue.

RACK ‘N ROLLING IN ESPERANCE

Welcome to the newly revamped parts warehouse in CLAAS Harvest Centre Esperance. The team has seen considerable growth during the past few years, increasing revenue from strong sales and growing the stock holding to over $3M in 2023. With this in mind, it was time to overhaul the parts warehouse.

Working In It Together, a combined Landpower Australia and New Zealand team joined the Esperance team recently to complete the refit.

It included new racks, high-density storage cabinets, fully barcoded shelves, a new layout and a separating wall between the workshop and parts. Topped off by relocating 5,243 part numbers.

End result? Improved workflow, efficiency and setting up the team for what it was all about – providing even better service to our customers.

KATANNING KAN’T WAIT!

There’s a huge amount of building action happening in WA, and the CLAAS Harvest Centre Katanning team can’t wait. For now they’re working out of temporary portacoms watching the action as their brand-new facilities are being built.

The site upgrade started in May with the office building demolished. The new build is now underway with plans to shift in around July. Also on the plans are a new carpark and large concrete works due to be completed around September / October this year.

SPUDTASTIC STUFF!

Next time you open a bag of Bluebird potato chips, you might be tucking into a product harvested by New Zealand’s first GRIMME Varitron VA470TT.

The first 4-row potato harvester arrived in New Zealand in May, hot on the heels of four operating in Australia. This one was specially built for the three-generation potato/onion growing family business of ST Growers in Pukekohe (one of the largest vegetable growers in the country).

One unique feature is the picking table fitted to help clean the product before it goes directly to the Auckland Bluebird factory. Some more facts:

Weighs in at 33,000 kg.

16 metres long but ‘turns on a dime’ thanks to the 15 deg track steering and 68 deg front wheel steering.

Has a powerful 460 hp Mercedes IIIA engine.

The large 7 ton nonstop bunker is designed to unload on the go.

Splatter Fun At Paintballing

5 MINUTES WITH… SAM RASMUSSEN

Sam’s been in Dalby pretty much most of his life where he currently lives with his family on a farm. He started his apprenticeship with CLAAS Harvest Centre Dalby almost four years ago – so a qualification is just over the horizon. Outside of work Sam likes to go hunting for feral pigs, help on the family farm and hang out with his mates.

Tell us about yourself –why did you apply for an apprenticeship with us?

I’ve always liked the agricultural industry and farming. I enjoyed the work experience I did while I was in school, so I applied for a school-based apprenticeship. What’s the best thing you’ve learnt during your apprenticeship?

The best thing is probably learning how to communicate better with farmers and working together with them to fix problems.

As you’re heading towards being qualified, what are you most excited about as your next step?

I’m looking forward to learning more and getting more experience to try and help customers easier and faster, as well as getting out and seeing different places.

3 Summers For 3 Canterbury Service Techs

It’ll be three back-to-back summers for three CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury Service Technicians who’ve just started work at CLAAS UK. (Left to right below) Bryn Rogers, Nathan Douglas, and Lachine Hazlett were selected to take part in the Canterbury team’s long-standing Technician Exchange Program.

Lachie and Nathan have been placed at Bury Saint Edmunds and Bryn at Halesworth where they’ll be until early September. Then it’s back home ready for summer #3! Huge congratulations and we look forward to hearing all about their learnings and experiences.

Aside from necessities, what’s one thing you couldn’t go a week without?

I never go for a week without talking to my mates. If I’m away, I’ll often give them a call. Where’s your happy place?

Before: Ready to go.

It was Gippsland vs South Gippsland at their recent annual (post) Christmas outing. Camoed up, the teams enjoyed a paintball competition ducking and diving around the woods with plenty of laughs and ending the day completely exhausted. Result? Team Gippsland came out on top (this time…).

After: Is it time for drinks?

Which of our three Our Way (Front Up, In It Together, Keep Growing) do you most like, and why?

My favourite would be In It Together. It’s good knowing you have a team and farmers behind you, all working towards the same goal.

My happy place would probably be at home with the dogs and other animals.

If you’re a Service Technician keen to grow your skills and future through an exchange with a Northern Hemisphere CLAAS dealership, it’s never too early to have to chat with your Manager.

The Landpower | CLAAS Harvest Centre People & Culture team’s 2023 program is closed but planning is underway for 2024. So raise your hand!

Connecting With Global Agricultural Leaders

Some of the world’s top agricultural thought leaders and influencers descended on New Zealand in March for the prestigious Nuffield Triennial Conference. And we were there front and centre as Platinum Sponsor with CLAAS every step of the way.

Spending time with these global leaders increased the visibility of CLAAS and reinforced how we’re gearing up our customers with solutions for their challenges and opportunities.

Our team members who joined the delegates enjoyed powerful and insightful conversations around the hot topics of: regulations/ legislations, irrigation, productivity, climate change/emissions, trade agreements, and public perception.

Since 1947, Nuffield has awarded over 1000 scholarships to global food and rural innovators. Around 200 of these scholars from Australasia, North and South America, the UK, Europe and Japan attended this event. And as part of our sponsorship, we also presented alongside top international speakers at the Conference Summit day. Having spent time with the delegates, Bruce Rankin, Branch Manager, CLAAS Harvest Centre Bay of Plenty reinforced how valuable the conversations were. Particularly around the implications of changing farming practices to meet consumer demands, along with environmental and regulatory requirements.

Safety Matters

Thank you for helping keep each other safe and well.

MANGO ON THE GO – GET ON THE APP

Remember those recent Mango Moment emails showing you how to check your login and download the Mango App on your mobile device? If you haven’t done it yet, take a Mango Moment to learn:

How to log in to Mango – check your emails from 28 March.

How to find and download the Mango App from the App Store –check your emails from 4 April.

“It’s important we stay up with how the industry is changing to meet society’s needs for today and tomorrow.”

Lexion Knowledge Goes Up A Notch

Keen participants from Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales got all over the CLAAS LEXION during their recent training session.

Dieter Thresh, Technical Specialist – LEXION says they covered structure, function, adjustment, operation and maintenance including:

Introduction to the current CLAAS LEXION product range available in Australia

Understanding crop flow

Basic maintenance tasks

Setting up for different crop types

Main hydraulic and electric systems components

Machine settings and adjustments using CEBIS (ie, setting up the auto contour / pre-set height, machine adjustments/learning procedures)

Using the CLAAS hydro tester for basic pressure checks, logging / saving / reading graphs in CDS

Thorough pre-delivery and post-harvest inspection

Big shout-out to Chris Radford, Kent Arthur and Jack Jordan-Hill for helping with the set-up and training delivery.

Mango is where we capture our hazards, incidents, injuries, and near misses. It helps us understand what can harm our people an d improve what we do to keep our people safe.

Need help? Email natalie.lilley@landpower.com.au and she’ll guide you through the login and App download process.

Once you’ve got the Mango App, it’s easy to simply submit a rep ort on the go. Answer just six quick questions, and even take a few photos of what you’re reporting. They attach to your report whi ch saves you writing a whole bunch of words trying to explain things!

LEARN MORE ABOUT MANGO ON OUR HARVEST HUB INTRANET.

Avoid A Serious Ring Finger Injury

Serious finger injuries are common for people wearing wedding bands (or other rings) when working outdoors, on mechanical stuff, doing electrical work, playing sports or at the gym. Strains, dislocations and even loss of fingers can happen if your ring catches on something, particularly under force.

Did you know – there’s a safe way to keep wearing a wedding band / rings while looking after your fingers. It also stops you r ‘real ring’ getting knocked about.

Google ‘silicon wedding ring’ and you’ll see a bunch of low-cos t options in different colours (including metallic), designs and widths. They’re tough, long-lasting, but most importantly, tear if they get caught to prevent finger injuries. Get one for yourself and your loved ones.

SAFER TOGETHER WORKERS’ FORUM – WHAT HAPPENED?

The Australia and New Zealand Forum meetings were held late May / early June. So catch up with your local rep to get an upd ate on what was discussed and continue the conversations with your teams. CLICK HERE and go to page 8-9 in the last Over The Fence to see who your local Safer Together Workers’ Forum rep is.

Kylie Petronio Safety & Wellbeing Business Partner

QUIZ: WIN, WIN, WIN

Think you know your H&S? You could win one of three awesome prizes.

Email natalie.lilley@landpower.com.au by end of Friday 30 June – entries with all three answers correct go into the draw. Prizes will be sent out in July.

1. I need to report a hazard to help keep my workmates safe, so I: a. get an Apple iPhone b. put it in Mango c. go bananas

2. Our Safer Together Workers’ Forum is mainly to: a. organise safe social gatherings b. just keep an eye on how people drive around here c. help share information to improve health, safety and wellbeing practices across the network

3. The most common body part injured as reported in Mango is: a. hands b. legs c. heads

5 MINUTES WITH... TAHLEE GLASGOW

Tahlee’s a relatively new member of our team and is in the first year of her apprenticeship with CLAAS Harvest Centre Waikato. Joining as a new apprentice has opened up a whole new world to her.

Tell us about yourself – why did you apply for an apprenticeship with us?

I applied for an apprenticeship with CLAAS Harvest Centre because I really wanted a mechanical job and to learn about agricultural machinery and how they function. Now that I’ve been working as an apprentice for these past few months I have really enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would.

What’s the best thing you’ve learnt this year so far?

Working with different people on different jobs I’ve learnt all types of useful techniques from every person working on the machines. Also learning how to use tools in more ways which is pretty handy.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice anyone has given me is to take my time and don’t rush things. And it’s OK not to know everything straight away because everyone started at square one at some point and time in their life.

Which of our three Our Way (Front Up, In It Together, Keep Growing) do you most like, and why?

It’s too difficult for me to pick one when they’re all very important and equal to me.

Aside from necessities, what one thing couldn’t you go a week without?

Food - because I love it so much!

Where’s your happy place?

My happy place is at home in bed sleeping in on a Saturday.