As tractor prices continue to increase, many livestock farmers are looking at more cost effective tractor options for farms, where the annual hourly usage levels are often no more than 300 hours.

There is now a new, keenly-priced and Indian-sourced tractor option on the Irish market from Ireland’s long-standing importers of the popular Landini and McCormick brands.

D & S Machinery, the Dublin-based tractor distributor, is offering two models from the Indian Sonalika company, that manufacturers the Solis range. The tractors, called the Solis 75 and Solis 90, are sourced directly from India and are fitted with a Turkish manufactured cab. The cab, which is modern and bright, is produced by Hisarlar. This company also supplies cabs for some New Holland tractor models.

The Solis tractors use their own 4.1-litre, four-cylinder engines, derived from a Zetor longer stroke design, according to Michael Devane, managing director of D & S Tractors. These engines are Stage IIIb (Tier 3b) and because of the power levels they can be sold here up until September 2014. By then, Solis will have a Stage IV (Tier 4) engine available, which has almost completed its testing programme.

These engines are matched to an Indian-built Carraro gearbox, rear and front axle all of which have many features common to some of the recent Landini Technofarm tractor designs. The gearbox is a 12 forward and 12 reverse speed unit with a mechanical forward and reverse shuttle. For D & S Machinery, that means parts supplies are already in hand for some of the new tractor features. The company and its dealers have significant experience to support the tractors.

The Solis tractors will be fitted with Irish-built Dromone Engineering pick-up hitches. Tyres will be sourced from India, either through BKT or Starmaxx. Both brands are well established on the Irish market.

D & S Machinery has tested the new tractors in Irish conditions in recent months in advance of their full introduction. D & S Machinery have shown the tractors to their dealers in the past week and are confident that they will fill the demand in the sub-100hp tractor sector.

Larger

Sonalika is planning to introduce two larger tractors in the near future. A new 110hp tractor with a Sonalika engine is planned for production this year, while a more powerful 120hp tractor, fitted with a 3.6-litre Deutz engine producing 120hp with a power shuttle, is also be planned. Both of these larger tractors have a 4,500kg lift capacity and will be fitted with a new cab for the European market.

D & S Machinery will offer an Irish-made Rossmore loader option with the tractors. The Solis models on show in England at the LAMMA Show were fitted with an Indian-manufactured MX loader, which will not be offered in Ireland.