Since the introduction of GRIMME machinery to Ireland, the farm machinery manufacturer has gone from strength to strength thanks to its cutting-edge potato, sugar beet and vegetable technology, and superior aftersales service.
GRIMME Ireland was established in 2012 to support GRIMME customers for parts, sales and service in Ireland. Since relocating to a state-of-the-art premises in Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin eight years ago, the Irish operation has grown in tandem with its customer-base and the machinery of the day. The premises consists of a retail sales department, service workshop, parts department and ancillary offices.
“We started with a team of three and are now up to 17. That number includes 11 technicians,” GRIMME Ireland managing director Cecil Morgan explains.
“We plan to add three bays to the workshop over the coming year plus extend our display yard with machine shelter sheds. Our focus is on providing a 24/7 in-season service for root crop growers.”
As well as providing growers with a full range of GRIMME products, GRIMME Ireland offers advice, support, expertise and a comprehensive back-up service that is second to none, including machinery servicing, repairs and reconditioning.
In an effort to make sure that every need of the end-user is met, they even organise operator training days at their HQ where customers or prospective customers can avail of detailed courses in how to get the most out of GRIMME machinery – all of which is packed with the latest technology and capabilities to ensure that productivity is increased and downtime is kept to an absolute minimum.
“Quality is the key word when it comes to sales, but we place just as much emphasis on our aftersales. There is a big repeat customer-base here and it is our job to ensure that they are satisfied with the service we provide both before and after a sale, whether it is new or used machinery with factory reconditioning,” adds Cecil, who sold his first potato harvester in 1998.
“We have a 90% share of the potato field market which can be attributed to our unrivalled 24/7 service and parts availability. Our full focus is on GRIMME products and ensuring there is no such thing as downtime for our customers. We all know the time constraints in the farming industry and how weather dependent it is.”
The name GRIMME is synonymous with the development, production and sale of a vast range of innovative machines that deliver cutting-edge technology to potato, beet and vegetable growers worldwide. Trading for almost 165 years, GRIMME employs 3,600 people around the world and their machines are sold in over 120 countries by local dealers. The company has its own subsidiaries and service agencies in their target markets of Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Turkey and USA.
Both GRIMME and its subsidiary ASA-LIFT build a variety of innovative, efficient, gentle handling and ground protecting machines that are in use across the globe. With over 150 machine types, they offer the most comprehensive and widest product range in the potato, beet and vegetable cultivating sectors. GRIMME Ireland also has close ties with potato box tippler manufacturers WIFO and Haith washers and packhouse equipment. In addition, the Irish arm sells handling equipment for the potato industry with the likes of receiving hoppers, conveyors, store loaders, web graders and box fillers available.
As farms get bigger, so too does the machinery and GRIMME Ireland has the equipment to suit every size and budget.
“Over the last few years, we have noticed a major shift towards four-row planting and harvesting. Since taking delivery of our first four-row self-propelled harvester in 2019, we have sold 18 of them. The big seller in the four-row is the Varitron 470 seven-tonne harvester. Its double-track system allows it to onload on the move and travel in very hard conditions with low compaction,” Cecil outlines.
“The Varitron 270 two-row seven-tonne bunker machine also onloads on the move, while the Varitron 220 is a two-tonne buffer bunker machine. Four-row machines allow larger growers to make savings on labour and without the expense of a second harvester. The goal is to get the work done more efficiently and inside the optimum window when soil temperature and weather conditions are at their best.
“There has also been a big move away from trailed harvesters to quality used self-propelled machines. This is largely down to the labour shortage and our challenging weather conditions, but also improved operator comfort. These machines go through our workshop where they are reconditioned to the customers’ requirements. This gives the customer the peace of mind they have purchased a machine that is not only reliable, but has been spec’d to suit their specific crops and land type.
“We pride ourselves on being the retail division of GRIMME with a direct link from the factory to the grower with solutions and machines for every budget.”
Business is booming for GRIMME Ireland who had record sales in self-propelled machinery last year.
“Coming off a very wet 2023, we sold 22 self-propelled machines between new and second hand. We sold five four-rows and 17 two-rows,” the affable managing director reveals.
“2025 will be a more considerate year. To counteract imports, we need to grow more salad potatoes and chippies in this country rather than focusing on one variety of potato, there is a need for more home-grown varieties to cater for demand right here on our own doorstep.”
Cecil concludes by giving a shout out to his hard-working team.
“Our people are our greatest asset,” he stresses.
“Steven Rogers is our sales manager and Michael Hutchenson is our service manager. Michael is ably assisted by Mervyn Hunter, Thi Fanning, Sam Flynn, Niall Kennedy, James McLoughlin, Peter Dunne, James Madden and Andrei Scripcaru. Jamie Doyle is our product technical manager, Eamon O’Neill is parts manager, while Pat Kavanagh manages the accounts and day-to-day running of the business, supported by Gwen O’Connor.
“It’s a real team effort and they are all extremely valuable members of the GRIMME Ireland team.”
GRIMME Ireland
Unit 6&7,
Stephenstown Industrial Park,
Balbriggan,
Dublin.
Tel: 01 8433440
Web: www.grimme.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/grimmeireland
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 13 No 2, Autumn 2025
