Goldacres, Ausmix: The best Aussie farming equipment is Aussie made
After the supply blockage brought on by the pandemic, farmers are increasingly turning to Australian-made machinery. See why.
Western District contract sprayer Shaun Breen is getting his money’s worth from his new Goldacres G6 Crop Cruiser Series 2 self-propelled sprayer.
The Ballarat-made machine has clocked up 2500 hours since Mr Breen added it to his Western Ag Services fleet early last year.
Mr Breen is one of thousands of farmers who have increasingly turned to Australian-manufactured equipment over the past two years, in a bid to secure supply and better service.
He, however, has been a die-hard Goldacres devotee since well before the Covid supply chain crunch. This is his 10th Goldacres purchase, and he says its Australian-made credentials are just part of the appeal.
“There is the obvious (positive) that we are supporting local jobs, but that aside it is just the ability to be able to get spare parts,” Mr Breen says.
Long wait times for replacement parts have caused significant down time for some of his fellow spraying contractors.
“Particularly at the moment; they are getting caught out,” he says. “They have a breakdown and there are no parts in the country.
“From my perspective, these (Goldacres) guys are half an hour away, they’re always helpful with spare parts, and can always make sure I can get up and running quickly.
“I’m never out of action if I do break something.”
Breaking something is rare though, he says, because Goldacres machines are put through rigorous testing during development.
SHAKE IT UP
Goldacres operations manager Stephen Richards says keeping firm focus on the unique needs of Australian farmers has helped the company capitalise on the demand surge.
“Farming conditions in Australia are a lot different to other countries. Our machines have been designed around those conditions,” he says. “It is more efficient and I think it suits the customers better. We are at the point where when we go to a field day and a customer comes up with a good suggestion, we can take it on board.”
Development of the company’s new TriTech RivX boom is a perfect example.
Available in 24-36m lengths, with bifold as standard, the boom has a unique construction using rivets instead of welds on its aluminium outer wings to make it three times stronger than its predecessor.
The TriTech three-way suspension allows the boom level to be referenced to the sprayer chassis and not just based on gravity. This allows the sprayer to work across the sides of hills and contours while keeping the boom level to the ground at all times.
Mr Breen says the innovations have made a big difference to operations.
“One of the standout features is the boom for sure,” Mr Breen says. “It is just bulletproof really.
“We spray some pretty rough country; we usually test booms to the limit and we haven’t had any problems.”
Mr Breen has also been impressed by its mechanical drive, fuel efficiency and timesaving features offered by the G-Hub system, which is a screen and button panel that controls all fill and clean functions with the push of a button.
His G6 Series 2 is equipped with a 36m boom and 6000-litre tank. He runs it along with a 4000-litre G4 and 6000-litre G6 Series 1. Launched in 2020, the G6 Series 2 boom and suspension has been the blueprint for Goldacres’ Prairie Pro Series 2 trailing sprayer range, due to launch later this year. “We tested and cut our teeth with these new features on the G6,” Mr Richards says.
“Now we have grafted all those bits and pieces into the trailing version.
“It has made our trailing sprayer probably the most advanced on the market today.”
The Prairie Pro Series 2 8500-litre with 36m boom is in production, with a 10,000-litre 48m boom model and 6500-litre 36m boom model both in the testing phase.
The range will also include a 5000-litre machine with 30m boom.
Goldacres’ success mirrors that of many Australian machinery makers during Covid.
A recent CommBank Manufacturing Insights report showed more than 80 per cent of Australian manufacturers adapted well to the opportunities and challenges created by the pandemic, and 65 per cent – including Goldacres – planned to concentrate on business growth over the next year.
The report also showed more than 50 per cent of manufacturers in the machinery and transport sector increased revenue during the pandemic.
Regional manufacturers in particular were investing in new equipment, expanding their product ranges and working closely with suppliers to improve supply chain, the report showed.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia regional and agribusiness executive general manager Paul Fowler says the figures suggest companies that can exert greater control over their supply chain are proving to be more resilient business models.
“We are seeing a real opportunity for domestic manufacturing being able to establish itself more firmly,” he says.
Goldacres has certainly done so, as has Pakenham tractor attachment manufacturer Farm Implements.
BIGGER, BETTER
Manufacturing implements including slashers, graders and other tractor attachments, Farm Implements wholesales to dealers across Australia and exports to Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
Managing director Tim Alcott says demand has soared for the company’s attachments during Covid, particularly twin- and tri-rotor slashers, pasture toppers and bigger H and XH range grader blades.
“All our products have seen increases,” he says. “Where we’ve seen the largest increase has been our bigger, wider higher horsepower units. Things that probably go on tractors from 85-90hp through to 200hp.”
There was such a demand peak for its Kanga range, Mr Alcott had to reconfigure his new Pakenham factory to devote much more floor area to welding bays and manufacturing.
“We’ve had to put in a mezzanine to get spare parts out of the way to give us more space,” he says. “We had to invest in a stacking system for goods that are either waiting to be painted or waiting to be assembled.”
Mr Alcott also increased staff, invested in new equipment and upgraded the company website to keep in contact with dealers and end customers more efficiently.
But there have been some roadblocks to both companies’ ability to ramp up production in line with demand.
“The biggest challenge has been supply chain,” Mr Alcott says.
Despite the fact the implements are manufactured here, Farm Implements still needs to source component parts, and some – such as steel and gearboxes – come from global suppliers.
The same is true at Goldacres.
Mr Richards says despite meticulous planning, they still struggled with component supply shortages over the past two years.
“On our self-propelled sprayers use a Claas cabin out of Germany,” he says. “We have always kept a constant stream coming in. Then all of a sudden they were held up on the wharf.
“There are other components that are small that will hold the whole machine up. “It has been challenging.”
STAFF ROOM
Recruitment has also been a challenge. CommBank’s Mr Fowler says the availability of labour and the skill sets of the labour pool are the two biggest issues that have potentially held back regional manufacturers from hitting their full potential during Covid.
At the start of the pandemic in 2020 Goldacres had 120 staff. Sales have been so brisk, they have increased numbers by a whopping 40 per cent, now employing 210.
Mr Richards says they would add the same again if they could find another 90 suitable candidates.
“One thing we have increased by about 1000 per cent is our advertising to get people,” Mr Richards says. “People jump to other jobs because everyone is trying to get staff. Skilled workers just don’t seem to be out there.”
Mr Alcott says freight costs and steel prices are also big issues.
“The price of steel in Australia … is not globally competitive. That makes it really difficult,” he says. “One of the greatest issues we have is freight. There are not many implements that fit into the ideal palletised model that TNT or Toll use.
“Trying to get something all the way to Cairns or WA or Darwin, it’s really expensive.
“Some freight assistance for suppliers of agricultural equipment, not just the farmers themselves, would be something that is going to benefit the end-user greatly because they are the one who is paying for the freight.”
Challenges aside, Mr Alcott says farmers have been snapping up his products like never before and business is the best it has ever been.
Transparent communication and the fact the company works with farmers to develop products fit for their purposes and pocketbooks have kept customers loyal, he says.
“The farmer knows what he’s doing. He is the most experienced person on his property,” Mr Alcott says. “He knows what works and knows what he wants. We are quite happy to offer that customised service.”
Goldacres’ Mr Richards says they have been rewarded for taking the same approach.
Plus, investing $25,000 a year to use the official Australian-made logo has helped cement their reputation with buyers, he says.
“In 2019 we signed up for the Australian-made licence,” Mr Richards says.
“Farmers are probably the most patriotic buyers there are. If you can get something Australian made they really appreciate that.
“If we learnt anything over the past couple of years it is that it definitely hasn’t hurt sales.”
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