Technology in machinery has evolved considerably over the years and there are innovations on an almost weekly basis as companies look to get the edge on their competitors with new products.
It takes a certain type of person to not only come up with these ideas, but to also make them a reality as well as something that is beneficial to the market that the product is targetting.
Innovative people are made up of a number of factors including persistence, risk-taking, not afraid of failure and the removal of inhibitions to name a few. One of the world’s most famous innovators Thomas Edison once stated ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.’
In Irish society, there is a common perception that we are an innovative breed as many of us can be found tinkering in the back garden shed trying to make improvements on products we feel we can make better.
However, there are a certain few out there that have made a living out of being innovators and for this month’s edition of Irish Tractor, we profile one such person.
Neil Butterly is the managing director of family run business Leinster Hydraulics Ltd, which is based in Skerries, Co Dublin. Established in 2005, the company provides a hydraulics service that sees manufacture and supply equipment to a large customer base.
The company provide their products to many industries including agriculture, demolition, waste, marine, manufacturing and grass equipment.
As the years have gone by, the business has grown as they have branched out into different types of hydraulic diagnostics and all types of valves, motors and hydraulic fittings, while machinery sales is also provided.
“It was the construction industry at first. Then I got involved in other sectors like the agricultural and marine where a good portion of our work would be focused on today. Business is going well at the moment and many of our customers have been with us years now.”
Since September 2011, Leinster Hydraulics have been a dealer for Farmhand who are exclusive importers of some of the leading brands of grass machinery, tillage equipment, loaders and implements.
“We stock a wide range of equipment here at all times, while we manufacture what the customer wants. The workshop is fully equipped with the latest technology including a plasma cutter, CNC and manufacturing machinery to help us complete a project to the highest standard and ensure that the customer is happy with the product.
“We use the IFM Gates brand of hoses and fittings at Leinster Hydraulics. We have been using them for several years and the quality of their hoses and couplings is unrivalled.”
In 2011, Neil set up a shop and is stocking Teng Tools, as well as Fuchs oil and greases. All hydraulic equipment hoses, fittings, lights and beacons, along with portotecnica pressure washers.
“The shop is quite busy all year round, we have a wide range of products there and our customer base would be vast and wide.”
Neil’s clients know that when they come to him with an idea, it can go from a piece of paper to reality in a short period of time as each project gets his full attention.
“I had a harvester in here which was stripped down and rewired that it could be driven electronically and that was done in about a month and a half. I’m passionate about every project that I take on and I’m 100% committed to getting it done right. Fortunately, many of the customers will just let me get on with the work as they trust that we will produce the right product for them.”
Neil added that they do emergency call outs for their customers which sees him in the van a lot, a situation that he wants to change in the near future.
The future certainly looks bright for the company and with Neil’s forward thinking, there is no doubt that Leinster Hydraulics are set to make even more of a mark on the market than they already are.
Leinster Hydraulics Ltd.
Balcunnin,
Skerries,
Co. Dublin
Tel: 01 8494144
Mob: 086 804 5990
Email: lhsagri@gmail
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 8, December 2017/January 2018
