Since the introduction of GRIMME machinery in Ireland, the farm machinery manufacturer has gone from strength to strength. The company are almost four years in their new premises in Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
The premises consists of a retail sales department, service workshop, parts department and ancillary offices. Celebrating 160 years in business, GRIMME employs over 2,700 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 Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Great Britain, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Turkey and USA.
The name GRIMME stands for innovative potato and vegetable technology. No matter if separating, planting, cultivating, harvesting or storing of potatoes and vegetables, for more than 70 years the red machines are renowned for high quality and high output in the potato and vegetable sector.
GRIMME Ireland managing director Cecil Morgan said that since the move to the new premises, business has increased year-on-year. “The larger premises allows us to stock more spare parts, increase our service output with the aim of providing the best possible aftersales package. Our focus is 100% on root crops with no other distractions,” he commented.
“Quality is the key word when it comes to sales, but we place as much of an emphasis on our aftersales as we do sales. 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.
“Although there is a core of machinery that we manufacture, the technology is improving all the time and basically this is to the farmers’ advantage as they can get increased productivity with less downtime. We all know the time constraints in the farming industry and how weather dependent it is.”
The GRIMME family-run business also manufactures handling equipment for the potato industry with the likes of Receiving Hopper, conveyors, store loaders, web graders and box fillers available.
There is also a wide range of vegetable technology and through their subsidiary ASA-LIFT and partnership with STANHAY, GRIMME have developed efficient, gentle handling and ground protecting machines for the industry.
Cecil paid tribute to the team in Dublin: “Michael Hutchenson supports me in the sales department, Jamie Doyle is our service manager and heads a team of five engineers, Steven Rogers, Jack Flynn, Mervyn Hunter, James Madden and Thi Fanning. Maeve Larney, Eamon O’Neill and Matthew Morgan look after the spare parts department, while Pat Kavanagh manages the accounts and day-to-day running of the business, supported by Gwen O’Connor.
“They are all extremely valuable members of the GRIMME Ireland team.”
Looking to the future, it is all about the customer for Cecil and the rest of the team.
“We have service vehicles on the road which are fully equipped and each holds specialist testing and diagnostic equipment as well as spare parts. Our fully trained service personnel allow reduced diagnostic time for in-season emergency breakdown repairs,” he continued.
“We also offer customers pre-season appraisals on their equipment with a discounted parts and labour prices in order for them to have their machines in top condition for the coming season. We would have in the region of €1 million worth of genuine parts stocked at our headquarters all year round.
“Over the last few years, we have noticed a move to four-row planting and harvesting. This allows larger growers to make savings on labour and without the expense of a second harvester and planter. 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 move from trailed harvesters to quality used self-propelled machines. This is largely down to 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 that we are a retail division of GRIMME with a direct link from the factory to the grower with solutions and machines for every budget.”
GRIMME Ireland
Unit 6&7
Stephenstown Industrial Park
Balbriggan,
Dublin
Tel: 01 8433440
Web: www.grimme.ie
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 9 No 4, July/August 2021
