Tag Archive for: Machinery

Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

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Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall: Monty’s Machinery has been appointed as an authorised dealer for Etesia UK, strengthening the brand’s presence across Cornwall and the wider South West.

Founded in January last year by Adam Hicks, Monty’s Machinery may be a relatively new name, but it is built on more than 16 years of industry experience.

Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

Monty’s Machinery appointed Etesia dealer for Cornwall

“I’ve been in the groundcare trade since leaving school,” says Adam. “I did my apprenticeship in the industry and worked locally for many years. When my previous employer closed, it gave me the opportunity to set up on my own and continue supporting the customer base in this area.”

Today, the business works with a broad range of customers, from local councils and housing associations to schools, independent contractors and domestic users, providing sales, service and support across Cornwall.

“I’ve always noticed Etesia from afar,” Adam explains. “I already knew how good the product was, so when we were approached about becoming a dealer, it felt like a fantastic opportunity to showcase the machines to our customers. We were looking for a commercial mower that could rival other strong brands in this area, and Etesia ticked the boxes.”

For Adam, one key factor stands out – performance in challenging conditions.

“The big selling point for us is cut and collection in the wet,” he says. “Cornwall gets a huge amount of rain, so we need machines that can cope in all weathers. Etesia is a standout when it comes to cutting and collecting in damp conditions.”

Etesia’s range spans pedestrian and ride-on mowers, including petrol and diesel options, as well as specialist equipment such as the Attila brush cutter range and mechanical weeders. Adam believes this versatility will strike a chord with his varied customer base.

“We’ve got schools cutting sports fields, and the diesel Hydro 124 will be a great fit there. Independent gardeners are often looking for something compact that can fit in the back of a van, so the Hydro 80 is a good option. We also deal with local water authorities working around watercourses, and the Attila could be ideal for that type of application.”

Monty’s Machinery has already begun introducing the range to customers, recently carrying out its first demonstration with a local housing association.

“We demonstrated a range of mowers and also the MBR50 mechanical weeder,” says Adam. “They’re not allowed to use chemical sprays on pathways anymore, so everything has to be removed mechanically. The weeder performed really well and generated a lot of interest.”

Equally important to Adam is the strength of the support behind the product.

“There’s no point supplying a machine if you can’t back it up,” he says. “We’ve visited Etesia’s premises, met the team and seen their parts stock levels. That gives us the reassurance that we can put the product into the market and properly support it.”

Monty’s team has already attended product training, and ongoing backing from Etesia will include assistance with demonstrations, shows and customer events.

Looking ahead, Adam sees the partnership as a key part of the company’s long-term growth strategy.

“We’re trying to grow the business and there’s a massive opportunity here,” he says. “We’ve got a strong customer base and a good area to develop. Over the next 10 years, we’d like to expand further, possibly even open a second depot. Partnering with Etesia gives us the confidence to compete with the bigger brands in the region.”

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on X @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK

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John Deere named as Solheim Cup Official Machinery Partner

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John Deere named as Solheim Cup Official Machinery Partner: John Deere has been confirmed as the official golf course and turf maintenance machinery partner of the 2026 Solheim Cup taking place at Bernardus Golf, the Netherlands, 7 – 13 September 2026, bringing their considerable experience in world-class course preparation and adding to the events sustainability credentials.

The agreement places John Deere at the heart of one of the biggest events in women’s sport. It formalises a partnership that brings together the global machinery manufacturer, Dutch dealer Kraakman, and the team at host venue Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.

John Deere named as Solheim Cup Official Machinery Partner

John Deere named as Solheim Cup Official Machinery Partner

Paul Trowman, John Deere’s Golf and Turf Business Manager, said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term commitment to the professional game. “This is a chance to demonstrate how advanced machinery, data-driven management and high service standards can support top-level sport,” he said. “Bernardus Golf is an elite course which is presented by a team that’s at the top of its game. With John Deere machinery at its core, its greenkeepers have the tools and the expertise to ensure a global audience sees the venue in the best possible condition.”

Bernardus Golf’s local John Deere dealer, Kraakman, will supply all the equipment as well as delivering on-the-ground technical expertise before and throughout the event. The dealership is already working closely with the host venue to ensure all the right machinery is on site and has committed to a full training and monitoring programme for staff working at the venue. Back-up parts will be provided and service technicians will support the course’s mechanics.

Wim van Remortele, Commercial Manager for Golf and Turf at Kraakman, said: “Tournament preparation takes months of thought, planning, and expertise to ensure the course is playing to required regulations and looking its absolute best for a world-wide audience. Our role is to optimise the quality, efficiency and accuracy of operations, and we will be there before, during, and after the event because we have a long-term partnership with Bernardus Golf. The Solheim Cup is the pinnacle of Women’s golf so every machine, technician and process will be in peak condition. We are very proud to represent John Deere on home soil, and for what is a landmark moment for the John Deere brand.”

The 2026 Solheim Cup will be the 20th edition of the biennial competition between the best women pros from the USA and Europe and has the ambition to set a new benchmark for eco-friendly sporting events. As well as adding in John Deere’s expertise, sustainability plans include replacing general on-site parking with low-emission travel options, integrated ticketing, and last-mile solutions like the bike route experienced today. Other initiatives include renewable energy use, waste reduction, circular material sourcing, local catering, water-smart operations, and active nature restoration.

Bernardus Superintendent Niall Richardson said the partnership brings confidence and clarity to the months of preparation ahead. “I rely on equipment that performs every single day. With the Solheim Cup ahead, partnering with John Deere gives our team the reliability and support we need to prepare the course to championship level. The electric and hybrid technologies, along with the data they provide, help us work more efficiently and sustainably, key factors in how we manage the course today and into the future.”

John Deere’s market-leading technology and electric and hybrid innovations mean it is a perfect fit for the Solheim Cup’s sustainability values and ambitions. Equipment such as mowers, bunker rakes and utility vehicles will all utilise full or hybrid electric drives, and satellites will guide sprayers to accuracy in application of just 2.5cm. The whole fleet and its operators will be supported by John Deere Operations Center PRO Golf – a cloud-based course management system enabling the assignment of tasks, machinery management, and whole-course budgeting.

The Solheim Cup takes place at Bernardus in the Netherlands in September 2026.

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Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

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Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity: Farmers need more confidence in the industry before they can plan their next business investments.

That was the sentiment of exhibitors at the new-look Midlands Machinery Show which took place at Newark Showground last week.

Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

Midlands Machinery Show finds farmers still wanting clarity

Redesigned into a one-day format, thousands arrived at a chilly – but dry – show to talk to suppliers, gain CPD points, and socialise with their peers.

With budget day on the horizon and still no government announcements over the future of environmental schemes, exhibitors networked with land and business owners who are tentative about major investments.

NFU President sets out the challenge

One of the draws to this week’s show was the NFU’s Midlands Environment Conference.

Tom Bradshaw, NFU President, opened by stressing how high the stakes have become for farm businesses trying to navigate environmental policy. He pointed to recent public attention on the human impact of current inheritance tax rules and said the union is doing everything possible to turn that scrutiny into political pressure.

He warned that Defra’s environmental schemes remain in a state of flux, with SFI and Countryside Stewardship decisions creating clear winners and losers at a time when farmers need certainty. He called for transparency around the remaining ELMS budget and a clear plan for how farmers will be prioritised as more than 10,000 agreements expire in 2026.

Tom said environmental delivery will only succeed if farmers have confidence to invest in productivity, which is why the NFU continues to push for a workable SFI offer, rollover support where needed, and long-term clarity on the shape of future schemes.

Sentiment felt on the stands

Sharmans Agricultural, which took first prize in the Best Agricultural Trade Stand class, brought a broad range of machines to the show, including a Krone BiG Pack baler, Amazone Pantera self-propelled sprayer, and JCB telehandler.

Group Marketing Director Sally-Ann Hazard said the show is on the “home patch” for the Sharmans’ Grantham depot and was an opportunity to meet customers with the next 12 months in mind.

“The stand was built to give customers a proper look at the machines they are considering for the year ahead, and a chance to talk through plans for the coming season,” she said.

“Footfall was stronger than expected and conversations were upbeat. We understand why people are cautious but engaged, and the show offered a rare moment where the industry felt forward-looking again.”

David Musson Fencing took the best allied trade stand with a display that showed why the business has become a fixture at the Midlands Machinery Show.

The company’s Kerry Smith, who oversees purchasing, said agriculture remains a core market alongside equestrian, domestic and commercial work, and that the past year has seen strong demand for their products, underpinned by capital grants for fencing.

Kerry said the show is one of the best opportunities they have to see both long-standing customers and new faces.

“Footfall was good and the conversations were productive, with visitors willing to spend time talking through projects in a way that is impossible when they come to collect products from the yard or going to a job,” she said. “The overall mood feels more upbeat than expected and offered a welcome sign that confidence is still there beneath the uncertainty.”

Investing in efficiencies

Alan Parry, a software development manager with farm compliance app MeritAgCheck, said the challenge facing farming was driving investment in efficiencies.

“We used the show to give demonstrations of how our app can cut down on bureaucracy and paperwork, which always results in unnecessary costs for farm businesses,” he said.

“When profitability is under pressure you look at where you can shed costs, and adopting technology is one of the routes to achieving that.”

Similarly, first-time exhibitor Fireward, used its show presence to demonstrate how proven fire-suppression technology could prevent losses caused by machinery fires, particularly to balers and combines.

Marketing Manager Ben Robinson said: “Our systems have been used in construction and other major plant equipment for years but we’re now seeing how it can cut insurance costs and also the cost of losing farm equipment to fire damage.”

The Midlands Machinery Show has run for more than a decade and is organised by the Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.

Events and Development Manager, Elizabeth Halsall, said: “We all know the challenges facing the industry, and that goes for the show’s visitors and exhibitors alike. But there was positivity to be found at the show, and a strong turnout is testament to the resilience of the sector and the need for events such as this to bring people together.”

The 2026 Midlands Machinery Show will be held on Wednesday 18 November.

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Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

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Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground: Rare exhibits and landmark anniversaries will take centre stage at this weekend’s Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. 

Event organisers the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society (NNAS) is calling on enthusiasts and families to book their last-minute tickets ahead of what promises to be one of the standout heritage events of the year.

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Vintage machinery memories to light up Newark Showground

Over 1,000 pieces of machinery are being shown by enthusiasts to a crowd exceeding 10,000 people.

Alongside the diverse array of tractors, commercial vehicles, and stationary engines will be a whole host of trade stands and food stalls.

Vehicles, implements, and parts will be sold off as part of Saturday’s auction, and a Sunday Sortout will give owners the opportunity to buy and sell parts which are too good to scrap.

Remembrance Day will also be marked with a traditional service on Sunday morning.

A show full of celebrations

This year’s show is packed with milestone celebrations, from Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary to 80 years of the Fordson Major E27N and the Field Marshall Series One.

It’s also 60 years of Cummins engines and six decades since the first imports of Zetor equipment into the UK.

The show will reflect on one of the most defining moments in tractor industry history: the 40th anniversary of Case’s takeover of International Harvester.

Philip Ponton, who worked for International Harvester at the time and later continued his career with Case IH, says the significance of the change cannot be overstated.

“The main feeling at the time of the takeover was shock. It was a buyout with worldwide consequences,” he said. “Our immediate thoughts were about what was going to happen to the Doncaster factory where the International Harvesters were made. It was eventually divested as part of the takeover to Landini, which went on to produce McCormick tractors there.”

He expects many former IH and Case staff and supporters to gather at Newark. “There are lots of people involved in the Case IH Club who will be coming down to Newark this weekend and I expect there will be some good stories about the history of the company. There will be no shortage of machines for people to see on the stand too.”

Eye-catching commercial vehicles on show will include a rare Ford D Series Chinese Six, marking 60 years since its launch.

Believed to be the only original surviving example of its type in the UK, the 1980 twin-steer lorry belongs to Hertfordshire enthusiast Brian Gardner.

Originally used by Tetley Brewery in Hull, the lorry had passed through several owners and was in poor condition when Brian acquired it in 2017. Rather than settle for patch repairs, he and his family stripped it down to the chassis and rebuilt it piece by piece.

“It had been partly done, but I wanted a full restoration,” says Brian. “I stripped it right back to the chassis, rebuilt the engine, replaced the body, brakes and tyres, and fitted a new cab that I sourced from Dorset. My boys, my wife and my father-in-law all helped. It’s really been a family restoration.”

The result is a striking and authentic survivor that will appear on the Fordson Club stand and is expected to be one of the talking points of the weekend.

The NNAS says the show’s appeal lies not only in the machines but in the community and stories behind them.

CEO Simon Eccleston said: “If you want to experience mechanical history up close and hear first-hand stories from those who lived it, Newark is the place to be this weekend.”

Gates open both days at Newark Showground. Children aged 16 and under enter free. Tickets sales are online at www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com

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Machinery and live demos at Midlands Machinery Show

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Machinery and live demos at Midlands Machinery Show: Farmers and contractors are invited to step out of the yard and into a full day of machinery, technology and hands-on innovation at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show, taking place on Wednesday 19 November at Newark Showground.

Now in its eleventh year, the show returns with a new one-day format that puts machines, demonstrations and innovation at the heart of the event.

Machinery and live demos at Midlands Machinery Show

Machinery and live demos at Midlands Machinery Show

Free to attend, exhibitors’ stands will showcase new tractors, implements, ATVs and engineering solutions, alongside expert-led talks and opportunities to earn BASIS and NRoSO points ahead of year-end.

“Having everything all in one place and all in one day is our vision for this year’s show,” says Elizabeth Halsall, Events and Development Manager at the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society, which organises the event. “Time away from the business is precious, so we want to give visitors a productive, information-packed day, as well as a social and networking opportunity with their community.”

Ticket registration is free at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com and visitors are advised to pre-register for fast entry.

Those attending can expect to see machinery that’s never been to the show before, as well as a host of demonstrations in the dedicated arena, plus a hands-on experience of all-terrain vehicles.

New kit and features

New for 2025, attendees can get behind the wheel of the Can-Am Traxter HD9, with its heated cab and 65hp Rotax V-twin engine, on the showground’s off-road track. Driving experiences are being provided by 158 Performance.

Chandlers will present two AGCO tractors never before seen at the Midlands Machinery Show – the powerful Valtra S Series and the Fendt 832 Vario Gen 5.

AMTEC will make a high-profile appearance with its new Torox range of heavy-duty discs, which the company says has been built for tough soils and engineered for versatility and precision.

Taylor Attachments returns with new buckets and muck grabs accompanying its proven range of heavy-duty attachments.

Long-standing exhibitor Russells will – alongside its stable of New Holland, Polaris, Stewart and Teagle produces – bring the Horizon DSX drill to show in the demonstration ring.

Debuts for service sector exhibitors

Several new exhibitors will make their debut this year.

Fox Engineering brings its expertise in LOLER, PUWER and PSSR safety inspections, helping farms stay compliant and avoid costly downtime.

Fireward joins the show for the first time, raising awareness of automatic fire suppression systems that prevent machinery and combine fires through instant pneumatic detection and targeted extinguishing agents. “At the moment, not enough farmers realise that fire suppression systems are an option,” says Caroline Wilson, Fireward National Sales Manager for Agriculture. “Our focus is on education – showing that there are affordable, practical ways to protect people, machinery and infrastructure.”

Beyond machinery, the show offers a packed day of networking, learning and advice designed to help farmers make confident decisions for the year ahead.

The NFU Midlands Environment Conference, chaired by NFU President Tom Bradshaw, will explore ‘Adapting Farming for the Future: Sustainable Production, Products & Markets’, offering practical insight into policy changes, sustainability and business resilience. With agricultural policy at a crossroads, these expert-led sessions provide essential guidance to strengthen farm businesses across the region and beyond.

Exhibitors are also ready to help visitors tackle the industry’s wider challenges. Openfield, the UK’s only farmer-owned grain marketing cooperative, will share expert insight on planning ahead amid market volatility and changing support payments. “There’s never been a more important time to talk about what goes in the ground,” says Jerome Fielder, Head of Farm Business Team at Openfield. “We’ll be there to offer straight-talking advice, whatever the question.”

Optimal Risk Group will launch its Rural SafeGuard Programme, providing security training and risk management solutions to help farmers protect their assets from crime. “We help farmers not just respond to rural crime, but reduce the opportunities for it to happen in the first place,” explains Frank Cannon, Senior Consultant at Optimal Risk.

Visitors can also find confidential guidance from The Farming Community Network (FCN) on topics from mental health to succession planning. “There are so many factors outside farmers’ control right now,” says Rachel Davey, Marketing and Events Officer at FCN. “We’re here to help them find a way forward and secure their businesses for the next generation.”

“Whether you’re exploring new machinery, looking for smarter solutions or simply catching up with suppliers and colleagues, the Midlands Machinery Show is a day built around real conversations and quality connections,” says Elizabeth. “We look forward to welcoming visitors to Newark this November for a day that truly celebrates innovation, resilience and the future of British agriculture.

“Register in advance online now for smooth, free access to the event on the day.”

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