Watch - Industry focus: 60 years of importing machinery with Farmhand 26 August 2022 Premium

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Peter Thomas Keaveney on 26 Aug 2022

Watch - Industry focus: 60 years of importing machinery with Farmhand

With the company celebrating 60 years in business, Peter Thomas Keaveney sat down with brothers Paul and Stephen Scrivener to chat about the company’s humble beginnings and evolution over the years.

Peter Thomas Keaveney on 26 Aug 2022

L/R- Stephen, John, Sinead and Paul Scrivener.

Over the years, Farmhand moved location several times, but always remained in Dublin, as it imports all of its machinery from mainland Europe, thus proximity to Dublin Port was key.

Despite the first prototype being unveiled to the public in 2000, it was 2009 before the first demonstration BiG X forager was available in Ireland.

In 1968, Farmhand began importing Amazone equipment.

Farmhand became the first importer for Quicke outside of Scandinavia in 1962 .

The first Krone BiG M was sold in Ireland in 1998, while today, Ireland accounts for up to 25% of Krone’s total annual production.

Going from strength to strength ever since, the company is expecting to top a record turnover of over €50 million this year, double that of 2016.

Farmhand currently retail its range of brands through a network of 30 dealers across the island of Ireland.

Farmhand was formed as a 50/50 partnership between Denis and Bernard Krone, grandfather of the current CEO, before the Scriveners bought out the shares in the 1970s.

Well-known Dublin-based machinery importer and distributor Farmhand has gone from strength to strength since its establishment in 1962. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this week, we sat down with brothers Paul and Stephen Scrivener to chat about the company’s history and success over the years.

There are two sides to Farmhand’s business – machinery and parts. On the machinery side, Farmhand retails brands such as Krone, Amazone, APV and Quicke through its nationwide dealer network. Meanwhile, its parts business trades under the Fastparts banner. This company supplies spares to almost every dealer in the country.

Over the years, Farmhand moved location several times, but always remained in Dublin, as it imports all of its machinery from mainland Europe, thus proximity to Dublin Port was key.

History

The brothers’ grandfather, Denis, set up Farmhand in 1962. Denis was of Czech descent and was a survivor of World War II. He moved to Ireland after meeting a Tipperary lady while training with the Army reserves in England.