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GoldAcres Prairie Advance Machine of the Year
The award, sponsored by the Tractor and Machinery Association, seeks to promote excellence in Australian manufactured agricultural machinery. The judging panel described the Prairie Advance as a sophisticated machine embodying the latest spraying technology and the highest manufacturing standards. Engineering manager Roger Richards was delighted with the recognition of his team's efforts. "We put in over 6000 hours of engineering time and made more than 500 design changes. This really is an advanced machine. The previous model won widespread farmer acclaim but this one does everything even better." "We have always had leading boom technology but the Advance goes even further. The 3TS system gives farmers a wide range of speed options while still keeping within the optimum nozzle operating pressures. The dual boom lines function either independently or together, providing three operating modes." "Operating pressures are kept low to avoid drift and the new Raven SCS4400 controller automatically manages all functions." Managing director John Richards, who started manufacturing GoldAcres sprayers over 20 years ago, said the award highlighted the advantages of Australian designed and built agricultural machinery. "Most of the changes in the Advance are the result of farmer feedback. We are close to our customers. They get on the phone and tell us what they want, talking directly to the people who make the decisions." "That doesn't happen with overseas manufacturers. Foreign-built machines are often a compromise. They have to work in various countries and conditions." For more information call (03) 5477 3900 or e-mail info@goldacres.com.au. Isuzu ownership change
Formed 1999, I-GM was a joint venture between Isuzu and GM that provided specialised distribution and marketing of Holden-badged Isuzu light commercial vehicles and trucks in Australia. In 2001, responsibility for light commercial vehicles was transferred back to Holden, leaving I-GM to focus on the truck market. I-GM president and managing director Yuki Murata says it will be "business as usual for the staff of I-GM and the Isuzu dealer network." McCormick restructures
McCormick says there has been a significant decline in significant tractor markets across Europe – down up to 20 per cent compared to 2004, with the French market up to 10 per cent down on last year. "As a manufacturer, we cannot ignore the evidence of these figures," said Alberto Negri, general manager, McCormick Tractors International. "Fortunately, we have an organisation that can react quickly and decisively to such trends in the market, perhaps more so than many of our competitors." McCormick’s UK headquarters plant, in Doncaster, currently employs over 400 people. Just over 700 employees work at the French factory, in St Dizier, which makes transmissions. "At St Dizier we have embarked on a program of actions that, for legal reasons, necessitates the guidance and assistance of local government bodies to provide a swift, yet controlled realignment of our business," Negri said. "These actions will not affect the supply of transmissions to McCormick’s Doncaster assembly plant or the output of finished tractors." PFG merger
The company says the new structure is designed to improve efficiency and service levels. "The company's management changes will support its relationships with dealer customers and continue to give them access to specialist sales, parts and service people," PFG Australia managing director Craig Maber said. Management, sales and administration have been moved to a new purpose-built building in Derrimut, Melbourne, while the former EuroAg building becomes a parts and service centre. PFG Australia imports tractors from Europe, Korea and Canada and front-end loaders from Sweden. Tractor brands include McCormick, Landini, Daedong and Versatile. By revenue, it is the third-ranked company in the Australian market, behind John Deere and CNH.
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