THE third biggest player in the Australasia/New Zealand farm machinery industry believes it has the products our farmers need to meet Asia’s ever-swelling population levels, and its growing demand for food.
The chief executive officer, PFG Australia, Bruce Nixon, was in an optimistic mood at the Kioti-Daedong dealer national sales at Tangalooma Resort, Moreton Bay island, near Brisbane.
His cause for optimism was further buoyed by the unveiling of:
• Five new tractor models.
• Four new ride-on mowers.
• A brand new utility vehicle.
While more than 60 percent of the PFG Group’s product is still sourced from Europe, it looks to be ramping up its association with Kioti-Daedong, increasingly being noted for its presence on the world tractor stage.
Outside Korea, Kioti-Daedong has factories in the US, has just opened a facility in China, and plans to expand its Dutch-based European operations by 2010.
PFG Australia’s Bruce Nixon said the group was well positioned to meet the region’s growing demand for food as the world moves out of recession.
TRACTORS:
PFG Australia’s Craig Maber flagged how the company is serious about making inroads into the higher horsepower end of the tractor market.
Generating most interest on the day was news of Kioti-Daedong’s latest 56kW and 67kW (75hp and 90hp) machines, augmented by the addition of a new 75kW (100hp) range-topper. Equipped with a wet clutch forward/reverse power shuttle transmission, it has a 40kph top speed capability.
They are designated the DX7510, DX9010 and DX100 respectively.
“We are starting to go into a whole new area we haven’t competed in before,” Mr Maber said.
As well, there is talk of more powerful tractors, ranging in capacity from 82.5kW to 97.5kW (110hp to 130hp), down-the-track.
“Over the next years we will be looking at heavier, stronger tractors, possibly powered by six-cylinder engines with power shift transmissions and bigger hydraulics,” Mr Maber said.
Australian farmers are on track to snap up 1000 Daedong tractors this year, underscoring the point its push into the higher horsepower sectors can only but boost sales.
Farmers in Australia and New Zealand also have the choice of five new models including a 33kW (45hp) utility machine known as the DS4510. It will give the company a stronger foothold in the hobby farmer market by offering slightly fewer features than otherwise would be expected from a quality product.
UTILITY VEHICLE:
Meanwhile, Kioti-Daedong’s brand new utility vehicle looks to be a cross between the heavier and lighter machines currently on offer from the three key players in this sector.
Triggered by the gargantuan 250,000-plus market in the US, the objective is to capitalise on the steadily building 1,200 units sold in this country annually, principally by offering a contender that costs less than $20,000.
Aggressive styling, a canopy as standard, also a front-mounted brush cutter are topped off by a 500kg cargo bed. And the ability to carry three small square bales sideways certainly will appear to the horse-owning fraternity.
Power is via a 16.5kW (22hp) three-cylinder diesel engine with the transmission classified as a CVT type and ground clearance a handy 304mm. An independent adjustable rear suspension, central instrument cluster and turning radius of 3.69m make for an impressive level of technology.
MOWERS:
The new four range ride-on mower line-up from MTD sports an easy-on-the-eye nomenclature that sees the first two digits representing horsepower, the latter two denoting cutter deck width.
So, enter its DLT1538, DLT1942, DLT2350 units, plus its DZT2354 zero-turn machines which are badged with Kioti-Daedong decals – a move that further broadens PFG Australia’s ever-broadening footprints across this country’s farm machinery industry.
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