NEWS |
||||
 |
||||
1. Crowds turn out for 50th Doe Show 3. New Highway 3 set to eat up municipal work 4. New Braintree Branch now open 5. Tractor Hire
CROWDS TURN OUT FOR 50TH DOE SHOW
On the third day, the crowds were still flocking to Ulting in Essex and the Doe Show which was celebrating the 50th occasion of this annual dealer event. The number of visitors attending the first two days was the highest ever, and it is thought that the final number of visitors will exceed the current record of 12,000.
As Colin Doe, managing director of Ernest Doe said, “We wanted to make this year’s event even more special to mark this milestone in our company’s history. We had some very interesting new developments on display, especially from New Holland, Case IH and Ransomes Jacobsen and we are very pleased that so many of our customers have joined us, not only to purchase something new, but also to pick up a bargain.”
What was very much a glimpse of the future was New Holland’s NH2 hydrogen powered tractor which, until 2010, had only been seen in the flesh at the major continental agricultural shows. Experts agree that future drive systems for tractors must be based on electricity. Battery power, as seen in cars and trucks, is not seen as a viable option because of the large power outputs required from a tractor. So the NH2, which produces electricity from hydrogen using fuel cells, is a possible way forward. The only emissions are water and steam.
As this was the 50th Doe Show, the company put together 50 very special deals under a Gold Rush theme. Case IH picked up on this and in their marquee had arranged for a troupe of dancing girls in Wild West costume to perform a routine every hour. Also on the Case IH stand was a Maxxum 140 tractor in a special one-off gold paint finish. This tractor is being sold by sealed bid with all proceeds going to charity. Closing dates for bids to Gerald Silvey at Ernest Doe is 28 February. There is a reserve price of £45,000 plus VAT and any proceeds (bid price less cost of machine) will go to Myeloma UK, a bone marrow cancer charity.
There was great interest amongst groundcare customers for two new products from Ransomes Jacobsen. First there was the new Jacobsen Eclipse 322 greens mower which utilises electric motors and uses no hydraulic oil (which means there is no chance of detrimental oil spillage on golf greens). This machine is hybrid or electric powered. And secondly there was the Ransomes Highway 3 which is lighter than its competitors, compact and highly manoeuvrable. This commercial triple cylinder mower takes municipal mowing to a higher plane
“Trading on used and ex-hire equipment was brisk,” commented Graham Parker, sales director, “and a queue soon formed outside our bargain tent on Tuesday, even though it was raining.
“We are extremely pleased to report that interest in construction equipment was high and we hope that this is a sign of things to come.”
There was a fine display of classic tractors charting developments from 1961, the date of the first Doe Show, to the present day. Not only that, there were classic tractors working in the field, amongst them, two Doe tractors.
Of course it would not be a Doe Show without good working demonstrations of new equipment. Both New Holland and Case IH tractors were working with a variety of equipment from Lemken, Kuhn, Overum and Simba.
Ernest Doe wins 2008 UK Turf Dealer of the Year Award Ernest Doe has been presented with the 2008 UK Turf Dealer of the Year Award from Ransomes Jacobsen at an IOG Saltex awards ceremony held on 8 September 2009 at the Oakley Court Hotel on the banks of the River Thames. Speaking at the ceremony, Greg Spray, Marketing Manager of Ransomes Jacobsen said, “With dramatic growth compared with 2007 in all product sectors and overall an increase of 38% on sales, Ernest Doe showed increased sales focus in all areas of their territory. They promoted a number of marketing initiatives in 2008 with positive results. They won a number of package deals both on the municipal and golf sides of the business. The service parts business has also increased year on year for the past three years, providing a high level of after sales service.” Our photograph shows, left to right: Micheal Payne Groundcare Sales Benington Phil Bush Albourne Branch Manager Steve Alabaster Groundcare Sales Esher Peter Osgood Groundcare Sales Albourne David Watson Esher Branch Manager Grant Buckingham Groundcare Sales Esher Richard Freeman Groundcare Sales Ulting Robin Martin Groundcare Sales Esher Dave Bush Groundcare Sales Albourne Matt Wise Groundcare Sales Ulting Andy Turbin General Groundcare Sales Manager Steve Bush Groundcare Sales Benington Matt Bailey Groundcare Sales Fulbourn Vic Maynard Groundcare Sales Sutton Tim Thornton Golf Car Sales Ulting
Local authorities impressed with abilities of new Highway 3
The launch of the new Highway 3 from Ransomes Jacobsen caused quite a stir at IOG Saltex 2009. This machine is destined to become best-seller in its sector where local authorities demand an efficient and durable machine. Lighter than its competitors, compact and highly manoeuvrable, this commercial triple cylinder mower takes municipal mowing to a higher plane. Taking class leading characteristics from its two successful stablemates Highway 2130 and Parkway 2250, the new Highway 3 provides local authorities and commercial contractors with a highly manoeuvrable, light in weight triplex cylinder mower which provides outstanding performance and productivity.
Demonstration
The Highway 3 is expected to be available from early 2010. Why not contact our Professional Grass Machinery team on 01245 380311 for a demonstration.
We have moved our Braintree branch into new purpose-built premises immediately adjacent to the old buildings in Rayne Road. The official opening was performed by company chairman Alan E Doe at a special event on the evening of Wednesday 23rd September in front of more than five hundred customer guests. In addition to being able to view all the new facilities; showroom, workshop and stores, guests were also able to chat to the many manufacturers’ representatives who were also in attendance. Prior to unveiling a commemorative plaque, Mr Doe talked about the history of the branch, from when he and his father bought what was essentially a field in 1947, through its transformation in 1973, and to the brand new building of today which has been very much the brainchild of his son, Managing Director, Colin E Doe. Also speaking was Richard Spencer, Marketing Manager for New Holland, who explained the requirement for today’s sophisticated agricultural machinery to be serviced and repaired in a modern, well equipped work environment.
Pictured with the commemorative plaque are, from left; Colin E Doe, Managing Director Ernest Doe, Alan E Doe, Managing Director Ernest Doe and Richard Spencer, Marketing Manager New Holland Agriculture
A hog roast supper was provided and a Sales Director Graham Parker led a charity auction which raised £3150 for Macmillan Cancer Support. The new branch has been built with an investment of over £1.3 million and features a workshop which is double the size of the previous facility. The new workshop has lifting equipment integrated into the frame of the building which will bring space saving and productivity benefits.
One of the key features of the new building is that it is one of the first industrial buildings to achieve the BREEAM standard of Very Good. This standard is an all-encompassing environmental standard which takes into consideration everything from transport arrangements, through very high standards of insulation and locally sourced materials, to the energy consumption of the building where a high proportion of the requirement is provided by renewable energy. Managing Director Colin E Doe commented, “Our old premises were nearing the end of their economic life. We would not have been able to bring the New Holland CR 9090, the World’s largest capacity combine, into the old workshop. Now we are in a position to look after the largest equipment in a building which offers excellent working conditions and is energy efficient as well.” The whole of the 13,000 sq ft building is provided with underfloor heating through an electric heat pump which is connected to eleven 90m bore holes. The design promises that for every unit of energy put into the heat pump, 4½ units of energy will come out to heat the building.
The building also has an efficient lighting system. This is provided by effective use of natural light, combined with high bay holophane lights. These lights feature an automatic dimming system which ensures constant light levels (greater than 500 lux) and cuts energy wastage by ensuring that lights are either dimmed or turned off when not needed. The lighting system will ensure better working conditions and help improve productivity. Les Boniface, Braintree Branch Manager said; “We are really pleased to have this new facility. We will be in a position to offer the best in customer service from a state-of–the-art building. A few hurdles had to be negotiated along the way but now we are really looking forward to welcoming our existing and new customers to the new premises.”
Les Boniface, Braintree Branch Manager New parts racking will enable a quicker, more efficient service to be provided and everyone, customers and staff, will benefit from the larger, better equipped facilities. The attractive exterior has been colour coded, with the silver fascia being complemented by the blue and yellow common to both New Holland and Ernest Doe. Automatically opening front doors to the showroom will bring additional benefits to customers, especially those who may be carrying bulky items. This will be setting the standard for all Ernest Doe showrooms.
After a number of years absent from the short term tractor hire business we have decided once again to enter this competitive market. We ran 10 tractors on short term contracts (generally 10 - 16 weeks) during last harvest and have now ordered in excess of 30 tractors to go out for the 2010 harvest period.
Simon Bonfield, our Fulbourn Branch Manager, is running the Doe Hire Fleet, which now consists of 15 combines, 40 trailers and now 40 + tractors both New Holland and Case IH.
Simon said, "We have a number of tractors on long term hire (52 weeks through to 5 year contracts) but with so much demand out there from our customers now seems the right time to return to the short term hire market. Years ago we had over 70 tractors on our hire fleet but it became difficult to sell them all when they returned off hire, that is the key to making this business work."
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
