Despite an ever more challenging environment, the number of new tractor brands entering the market doesn’t seem to be diminishing. But unlike many of those who have recently joined the fray, the latest to announce plans to seek dealers and customers on both sides of the Irish Sea is offering not just a small selection of mid-sized models, but a range that spans a large power bracket and is supplemented by a full line of tillage equipment – with even a combine in the pipeline.The name on the flanks of the tractors shown recently in Italy is Arbos, an old rejuvenated Italian farm equipment brand, but behind this is the Chinese firm Lovol, a large off-road equipment business best known in Europe as a producer of compact tractors under its own brand and blue livery.
Despite an ever more challenging environment, the number of new tractor brands entering the market doesn’t seem to be diminishing. But unlike many of those who have recently joined the fray, the latest to announce plans to seek dealers and customers on both sides of the Irish Sea is offering not just a small selection of mid-sized models, but a range that spans a large power bracket and is supplemented by a full line of tillage equipment – with even a combine in the pipeline.
The name on the flanks of the tractors shown recently in Italy is Arbos, an old rejuvenated Italian farm equipment brand, but behind this is the Chinese firm Lovol, a large off-road equipment business best known in Europe as a producer of compact tractors under its own brand and blue livery.
In an effort to create higher-powered and more ‘‘western’’ products that will appeal to global buyers, Lovol purchased the defunct Arbos name, which until the mid-1990s adorned a range of combines built in Italy and offered in a limited number of other countries. The new firm has acquired rights to drawings for some of the defunct Arbos designs, and has plans to develop an updated combine from this.
In the meantime, though, it’s tractors that are the centre of current plans. At Agritechnica 2015, Arbos revealed prototypes and details for models from 100hp to 260hp, but it is four-cylinder machines between 110hp and 136hp, which will hit production first, early next year. The target market, says the firm, is farmers seeking simplicity with quality, and it suggests the machines are likely to be priced about 10% less than the ‘‘premium’’ makes on the market.
The tractors will be built in the factory of Italian compact and specialist tractor maker Goldoni, which Lovol has also acquired. There are three models in the 5000 series, all equipped with a five-speed, two-range transmission and two specification levels are available: mechanical shuttle plus two-speed powershift, or powershuttle and three-speed powershift. In the latter specification, the tractors also gain a declutch button on the rear of the main gear lever. Both specifications employ mechanical spool valves, with no electronic option, but there is the possibility to specify electronic linkage controls for the 4,400kg rear linkage. Hydraulic flow capacity is 110l/min.
Full production of the Kohler-powered 5000 series will begin in January 2018. This has allowed 38-75hp models to be added immediately to the Arbos range, while 140-200hp and 220-260hp Arbos ranges are in development. Original plans suggested these latter machines would be powered by Deutz engines, but there is now a plan to use FPT motors, while transmission will be a 30F/30R semi-powershift, forward speed numbers being doubled if a four-step powershift is specified.
“We believe there is a market gap beneath the premium, high-spec makes and above the very basic specification tractors available,” suggested Massimo Zubelli, Lovol Arbos sales and marketing director.
Cheaper
“By focusing on simple specifications such as conventional semi-powershift transmissions rather than full powershift or CVT, we believe we will be able to price our tractors at around 10% cheaper than premium alternatives. For those seeking systems such as guidance and auto-steering, though, we have a partnership with TopCon.”
Zubelli revealed that Arbos plans to attend either or both of LAMMA and Cereals next year, with plans shortly to be confirmed.
“Our aim is to set up subsidiaries where we believe the potential for market turnover to be in the region of at least €8m to €10m (£7.1m to £8.9m). From there, we will look to appoint a network of dealers to retail and support our products, and we have already begun this in Italy and other countries such as Spain. We already have a sales manager based in the UK to oversee Matermacc precision drill sales, so have a presence on which we can build.”
Management
The new operation is managed from Italy by a team headed by CEO Andrea Bedosti, formerly with Same Deutz-Fahr, Landini/McCormick parent Argo and Merlo.
The Arbos name comes from a famous Italian combine manufacturer which ceased production in 1994, and Lovol Arbos plans also to re-enter the combine market.
Designs for a straw-walker machine are in the early stages, and awaiting approval from the parent company, but few further details were revealed.
However, potential customers and dealers were able to view the machines at work and try out the full line of arable equipment Arbos is offering, which is primarily the fruit of another Italian acquisition by Lovol – that of seeding specialist Matermacc. The latter is now producing piggyback drills, precision seeders, twin-disc fertiliser spreaders and mounted sprayers, in addition to 800- to 1,200-litre models with 12m to 18m booms and 168l/min or 200l/min pumps. A trailed range is planned for launch at Agritechnica this November.
Available in 4.5m and 6.0m versions, the Arbos AS-F min/no-till seeder is a tine-based unit with small wing points which, says the firm, creates minimal disturbance as the seed furrow is opened and the seed dropped down behind the leg before press wheels close the slot. The seed cart is axle-mounted at the rear of the unit.
Among the Arbos line of precision drills suited to sowing crops such as maize and low rates of oilseed rape is the MS Twin. This places seed in staggered twin rows, a pattern claimed to maximise light penetration into the crop, and hence help to boost photosynthesis.
MK power harrows are available in 3m and 3.5m working widths, and can have the firm’s MSD 2.0 Combi drill mounted on to them. Lastly – at least for now – Arbos is also offering a range of twin-disc fertiliser spreaders with capacities of 1,260 to 4,200 litres and spread widths of 18m to 36m.
An auto-calibrating non-stop weighing system uses four load cells to monitor fertiliser weight.
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