Focused on farming performance Farmtech

FOCUSED ON FARMING PERFORMANCE

Farmtech is a European leader in the design and manufacture of high-tech all-purpose agricultural vehicles and other machinery. Philip Yorke takes a closer look at a company that is poised for significant growth, and reports on the products that are driving its global expansion.

Farmtech was founded in Slovenia in 1954 and is a subsidiary of the Austrian industrial group Komptech, a leading supplier of machines for the mechanical and biological treatment of solid waste and biomass. Farmtech became part of the Komptech Group in 1997 and has since seen consistent growth and a broadening of its product portfolio. Today Farmtech manufactures more than 1000 farm equipment units per year. In addition to transportation vehicles for the agricultural industry, it also produces equipment for the environmental and recycling industry.

The Komptech Group operates in locations in Austria, Germany and the USA. Today the group employs more than 550 people worldwide, and last year recorded sales of over €100 million. In 2013 Farmtech contributed over €20 million to Group revenues, and currently employs 260 people.

Diversity and innovation

The broad range of products offered by Farmtech is designed to meet the growing and diverse needs of today’s modern agricultural users. The company produces all types of single axle, double axle, tri-axle and tandem tipping trailers as well as all-purpose farm vehicles and manure spreaders. Farmtech’s manure spreader range includes mountain spreaders from 4 and 5.5 tons, as well as spreaders ranging from 6.2 to 12 tons. This is in addition to a special all-purpose spreader produced in sizes from 18 to 22 tons.

With its in-house R&D team Farmtech continues to set new standards in terms of innovation and cost-effectiveness. In addition to traditional crops and bulk materials, there is also a growing demand for the transportation of heavy goods such as sand, gravel, building rubble, soils and

recycling materials. Until now mostly joined trucks were used for the transport of heavy goods in bulk, but Farmtech has made these trucks obsolete with its tractor-drawn heavy-duty dump tipper, the Gravis 2000. This new, all-round vehicle offers unlimited non-slip traction and outperforms all others on the market.

A major characteristic of the company’s latest dump tipper is its massive vehicle frame, which is made of rigid longitudinal and cross beams of 8mm steel.

Thanks to its exceptional construction, this heavy-duty new Farmtech vehicle avoids the need for additional reinforcement beams, enabling reduction of its unladen weight to 7 tons, in turn increasing its maximum payload to 26 tons. Furthermore, the low centre of gravity provides maximum vehicle stability thanks to its unique hollow axle construction.

Today Farmtech uses the latest CAD systems and technology in direct combination with an SAP system to design and construct new models that precisely meet today’s modern farming needs. This has resulted in the flexible development of component modules and new, innovative design options across the board.

On-going investments

Farmtech opened a new purpose-built plant in Ljutomer, Slovenia in 2007 and continues to invest in new technology. This new stateof-the-art plant has enabled the company to take on more complex and demanding

projects. Many new technologies have been incorporated at the company’s two plants, including the latest laser welding equipment and a special chamber for powder coating operations. In addition, fully automated storage solutions are now in place as well as advanced handling systems.

Today Farmtech is a modern, lean and innovative company that operates two modern facilities in Ljutomer, Slovenia. From here the company also conducts its management and sales operations, and provides support to its customers and trade partners. All Farmtech products are manufactured inhouse. However, both plants are responsible for more than just manufacturing alone – they also do product development, backed up by the company’s own group research centre, as well as offering full repair and maintenance capabilities.

Currently Farmtech has more than 80 dedicated dealers located throughout the European market. The company’s biggest markets are Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which together represent over 50 per cent of sales. Other key export countries include the former Yugoslav countries: domestic Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia.

In addition, the company also has its sights set firmly on other growth markets such as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Russia. Farther afield Farmtech is looking at other lucrative markets including Australia and Japan. At the same time it is expanding its product portfolio, and is already serving other growth markets including forestry, the building industry and special project construction equipment.

A spokesman for the company said: “Farmtech is a well-established and trustworthy partner that you can rely on for proactive decision making, fairness and approachability. Our products are costeffective and innovative, and with them we improve the working conditions of our customers by helping them to make their work easier and more productive.” n

For further details of Farmtech’s latest innovative products and services visit www.farmtech.eu