A market-leader in Ireland and the UK for auto-reset grass subsoilers and grass disc drills since 1995, Erth Engineering is now exporting its products to New Zealand, Australia, Holland and Norway. Managing director David McCoubrey explains more.
From its state-of-the-art manufacturing and profiling facility near Downpatrick in Co. Down, Erth Engineering produces a range of machinery, including its market-leading Panbuster Grass Subsoiler and Agriseeder Grass Drill. The company prides itself on building simple, functional, robust machines that can outperform all comers in the field.
Having worked as a sales manager in the UK for McConnel and Simba, David McCoubrey returned home in the mid-1990s to set up his own farm machinery business. Erth Engineering has since become a household name in the Irish and UK subsoiler and drill markets, and has experienced a surge in sales since it began exporting to New Zealand, Australia, Holland and Norway within the last two years.
“It’s an exciting time for our company,” David enthuses.
“2017 has started off well for us after a few difficult years and I would put that down to the overseas sales. We only started exporting to the UK eight years ago and to the other four countries in the last two years. About 70 per cent of our business is done outside Ireland now, with the UK market accounting for up to 50 per cent. But I would expect that figure to change in the coming years as we increase our profile overseas. Both New Zealand and Australia have very substantial drill markets which we are beginning to make inroads into.”
David believes his Agriseeder Grass Drill is ready-made for the New Zealand market, which is nearly six times the size of the Irish and UK markets combined.
“There are 300 new drill units sold in New Zealand a year compared to 60 units in Ireland and the UK,” he explains.
“The Kiwis are big into their drilling and grass-based systems – they just want to sow grass. The average drill in New Zealand will hit 4,000 acres in its first season. By contrast, the average drill in Ireland in its first season will cover 400 acres. Our machines are especially suited to New Zealand because the climate and landscape is so similar to ours. Our Agriseeder drill is designed to adapt to damp and wet conditions.”
David continues: “There are five other manufacturers in New Zealand, so we’re no illusions about the level of competition that’s there. It’s going to be a steep learning curve, but the early reaction has been very positive. Some of the lessons we learned at home and in Holland and Norway, we can apply over there.”
Erth Engineering’s three main products are the PanBuster, Agriseeder and Super Press / front press. The PanBuster is a mounted machine available in 2.5 or 3m widths and equipped with four or five legs accordingly. The legs are made from Hardox steel for high-wear resistance and fitted with replaceable shins and low disturbance points for grassland work.
In a shear-bolt set-up, those legs can operate down to about 500mm, while the most popular hydraulic auto-reset version allows working depths of 350-400mm. The auto-reset system is designed to protect the machine and the tractor from unseen objects, and to lift if an object is encountered. It can also deflect sideways by up to 150mm to bypass that same object.
The design includes high-specification Nikrom rams which have a small internal volume and large ports to allow quick reaction to objects, and marine-grading plating on the ram spears to resist pitting. Depth control is via a full-width smooth roller assembly at the rear of the machine which incorporates a hydraulic-nitrogen accumulator to allow smooth movement over undulating terrain.
Additionally, the roller can be controlled by the driver to achieve clean ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ to maintain a good finish in the paddock. Up front, a disc assembly provides a clean entry for discs in harsh or trashy conditions, and uses a unique geometry to maintain constant but adjustable disc pressure from 150 to 250kg per disc.
David says using a PanBuster where ground conditions are suitable can have a marked effect on annual production of dry matter, preventing roots from becoming waterlogged in a wet spring, but free to move through the ‘eased’ soil profile in a dry summer.
The Agriseeder is a flexible grass drill with the ability to sow into existing grass or burn off. Its full in-cab monitoring system enables review of application rate and area covered, while its auto-contour system gives a superb depth control on undulating ground. There are a number of options available, including sprung-loaded eradicators, larger hopper, hydraulic fan, Farmflex roller and bout markets.
The Super Press is a front press featuring a number of add-ons which enhance performance. Available as a barrel press, cast ring press or tyre press, features of the Super Press include hydraulically adjustable tines and levellers which enable maximum performance regardless of conditions; sprung tensioned axles to reduce wear; roller steering and grooved headstock to minimise swinging of roll frame; consolidation in tractor wheels to improve tractor grip; under 3m transport width; maximum cultivation and consolidation; increased quality of seedbed; reduced fuel input; increased output.
“We’re constantly evolving and coming up with new products to suit our customers’ needs,” the affable managing director says.
“We initially manufactured cultivation machinery, similar to what I was selling for Simba, and still produce the Super Press, but we quickly realised Ireland is a grass-based country and so began specialising in designing and manufacturing subsoilers and seed drills. We’re currently developing a cereal drill which incorporates elements from both.
“Our main focus is to grow our export market and to create new employment opportunities (Erth Engineering currently has eight staff on its books), while making sure our existing customers continue to receive a top-class product and service.”
Erth Engineering Ltd
22 Dunnanew Road,
Seaforde,
Co. Down
BT30 8PJ
Telephone: 028 44 811992
Mobile: 07803 950333
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.erthengineering.co.uk
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 6, September 2017
