In June of this year, Limerick man Sam Shine’s pioneering three-in-one Samco system claimed the prestigious Innovation Award for International Distinction at Fieldays in Hamilton, New Zealand. We take a closer look at this multi-award-winning innovation which is changing the face of crop farming forever – not just in Ireland but worldwide.
Samco Agricultural Manufacturing Ltd. was established seventeen years ago in Adare, County Limerick by Sam Shine, the inventor and patent holder of the game-changing Samco 3-in-1 machine. Sam developed the machine to guarantee local farmers a crop of quality forage maize in a cool, less than favourable climate for maize corn growing.
In a nutshell, the Samco System offers farmers a cost-effective way of growing maize in regions where the crop could not traditionally be produced due to the climate and soil conditions.
The revolutionary system involves the use of an integrated 3-in-1 machine that sows maize corn seed; sprays a pre-emergence herbicide on the soil; and lays a thin layer of degradable mulch film over the soil, effectively providing a mini-greenhouse effect – increasing air and ground temperature and protecting the young seedling from adverse weather and late frosts. The Samco System can be used in a range of climatic conditions.
As well as manufacturing the machine itself, Samco also manufactures the degradable film for its system and is actively involved with other companies in the research and development of mulch film types, maize corn varieties and weed control formulations, with many trials carried out each year to ensure total customer satisfaction.
The Samco System is successful because in regions where the soil is too dry the film retains moisture and where the climate is too cold the film provides a heated glasshouse effect. The film’s pin-holed effect allows greater air circulation during the growing period.
The system boasts the triple benefit of allowing the seed to grow while covered with film, protecting the plant in high temperatures and yet providing the correct environment for the plant to mature and in turn provide the farmer with cost-effective, high-quality feed.
As well as the Innovation Award for International Distinction in New Zealand, Samco has also been recognised closer to home as Best Business in Region, 2013 by Limerick Chamber of Commerce and was a finalist last year in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
On the strength of its ingenious system, Samco has broken into export markets in a major way. The Samco System has provided a solution to produce high-energy, high-yielding, home grown animal feeds in regions around the world where it was previously very difficult – and in some cases simply impossible – to grow maize. 90% of output is now exported to a range of countries including France, Canada, Russia, Chile and Japan.
Samco is now producing 4 row machines, 2 row machines suitable for vegetables, and 6 & 8 row versions to suit the larger acreage markets. Samco has also diversified into other areas related to the successful growth of maize and is at the forefront of the battle to combat soil compaction – one of the main factors militating against the successful growth of maize in Ireland.
If maize is to be grown successfully, sub soiling has to be undertaken in order to break the hard upper pan which can exist at a depth of ten to twelve inches. By ripping this hard pan, the maize roots can grow deep into the soil for fertility and water is drained through the soil during the growing season, keeping the maize plant in the correct warm environment, resulting in higher yields. For this, the Samco Sub Soiler is by far the strongest and most robust on today’s market.
Samco has also pioneered a radical method of grass seed preparation with the introduction of the new Samco Groundbreaker – a truly heavy-duty land leveller. Designed to suit tractors in the 120–180hp bracket, the position and angling of the front blade gives the Samco Groundbreaker the ability to cut into the ground and create its own soil – a unique feature which separates it from any other land leveller on the market.
Another innovative machine developed recently is the Samco Bag Press. It provides extra farm feed storage space wherever required with no waste and easy access to top quality silage as needed.
The man whose vision has led to the genesis and extraordinary growth of the company since its inception in 1997 reveals that Samco will continue to move forward at pace: “We are in the throes of planning the construction of new purpose-build premises here in Adare, which will allow for increased production of the various machines,” Sam Shine notes. “We are also working on some new R&D programmes and we have some new designs on the way, so we are going to need a bigger manufacturing facility.
“We design all of our degradable film here in Adare and the manufacturing is currently done in China. The plan is to bring at least half of the production back here to Ireland inside the next four years, which would generate an additional 25 jobs. One of the reasons for this is that the costs of transportation and import duties have risen, so it would make more sense to do some of the manufacturing at home.
“However, we will also continue production in China as it offers us access to a number of key markets. For example, we sold our first machine in China last year and the Canadian and Japanese markets are also growing.”
Powered by a dedicated team of employees across every department, from administration to design, assembly and sales – many of whom have been with the company since its inception – Samco is growing rapidly, currently achieving growth in the region of 20% per annum. “The world is a big place,” the managing director continues. “We have broken into the New Zealand market, which is ‘off season’, and it is important to be involved in the southern hemisphere as maize production is seasonal and they are ‘on’ when we are ‘off’. Selling the system into both hemispheres will enable us to remain at maximum production capacity all year around.”
The success of Samco did not happen by chance. Years of toil – of blood, sweat and tears – were invested in getting the system right so that this family business could develop into a viable concern. Today, Samco’s maize-growing innovation is used in over 20 countries and the company employs 35 people, with a turnover of approximately €11m.
“The machine, the film type, the herbicide and the selection of varieties all had to be right,” says Sam. “It was no good having one, two or three – all four had to be right. When we started, it was a slow and arduous process to get the machine and the system right for working in various soil types, to get the film right for the operators – and the weed control issue was a big ask.
“There were many hurdles to be overcome and we had many bad days … and years. But, with constant R&D and a large number of trials around Europe, we got it right in the end. Once you could grow a crop where previously you couldn’t grow a crop, we knew we were on to something.
“Maize is the second-biggest crop in the world after rice – and is important in milk and beef production – so we knew the system would have worldwide appeal. Maize complements grass but is high in energy whereas grass is high in protein. Our system is sold on the periphery of maize-growing regions, where traditionally maize would not be grown.”
Crop growing around the world is changing; Samco is playing a big part in this change.
Samco Agricultural Manufacturing Ltd.,
Adare,
County Limerick.
Tel: 061 396176
Fax: 061 395123
Mobile: 087 2597033 / 8569919
Email: [email protected]
www.samco.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 2 No 4, September 2014
