Combine enterprise puts growers on hire ground
Combine enterprise puts growers on hire ground
If its the performance and reliability of a new
combine you require but dont want to pay a
kings ransom for the privilege, harvester hire
could be the answer. Andy Moore takes a look
behind the scenes at Agricultural Plant Hire
HIRING rather than buying a combine is becoming an increasingly attractive option for growers unable to justify the high cost of a new machine, says Stephen Allen of Agricultural Plant Hire (APH).
He believes lower farm incomes and higher machinery capital costs have encouraged more growers to think seriously about hiring a new or second-hand combine.
"Many growers who want to buy used combines discover that the number of good quality second-hand machines are becoming limited," says Mr Allen, who runs APH near Coates in Cambs. "The trend is to operate combines over more years and replace two machines with one higher capacity model."
This situation has prompted APH to now offer over 50 new and second-hand New Holland combines for hire.
To keep hire costs in check, APH hires out two or three-year-old combines – all of which have been meticulously maintained.
The company is able to supply new machines, but prefers to offer used machines to avoid the high depreciation cost normally suffered after a combines first season.
"Hiring out used combines is more competitive, allowing growers to keep operating costs down to between £10 to £15/acre," he says. "Depending on the machines age, condition and capacity, hire rates are £5000 to £19,500/season."
Mr Allen also points out that an ever greater number of hire customers now comprise two or more growers who have joined forces on the harvesting front to benefit from the economies of scale.
Having a choice of combines gives growers the flexibility to hire a machine to suit their acreage and growing season which can fluctuate from one year to the next.
Combines can also be hired on a part-season basis to suit those who cannot justify running two machines over a full season.
This allows the customer to utilise the harvesting capacity of, say, two combines at the start of the season and return one of them mid-season should harvesting demands reduce.
The combines are supplied with a 24-hour breakdown service provided by APHs mobile service engineers. If the combine cannot be repaired on site, the company can supply a replacement machine within 48 hours.
At the end of the season, each hire combine is put through a rigorous maintenance schedule, with components such as belts and bearings removed and replaced. In addition to the hire business, APH offers a combine servicing enterprise which is carried out on over 200 customers machines in the UK.
Accounting for 30% of the companys turn-over, this service includes winter maintenance, fabrications, overhauling and rebuilding work.
APH started its combine rebuild service four years ago and has the capacity to overhaul up to 20 machines/year from its workshops.
Combines, which are completely stripped and rebuilt, are often re-sprayed.
"After the painting process, the combine is reassembled and tailored to meet the customers requirements," says Mr Allen. "Most rebuilds are carried out on customers own machines and they can spend as much money as they wish."
The majority of re-builds cost between £5000 and £15,000 depending on machine condition and age.
In addition to the hire and combine service, APH has seen significant growth in its retail parts division over the past five years.
"Since opening in 1996, the parts division has taken off in leaps and bounds because we can supply genuine replacement parts at a lower cost than dealers throughout the UK," he claims. "We buy parts in bulk from all over world which allows our retail prices to be kept to a minimum," says Mr Allen
The company is able to supply parts for Claas, New Holland, John Deere, Deutz Fahr, MF and Case combines. *
Back to the assembly line… APH has the engineering resources to restore up to 20 combines/year.