WARNING - NEW RULES FOR FRONT END LOADERS AND SLASHERS
New guidelines for Front End Loaders and Slashers drafted in New South Wales under the guidance of Work Safe and Work Cover N.S.W. bring a new focus on Machinery Safety and Regulation
Ian Goding, Chairman of the Farm and Industrial Machinery Association attended the National Ground Meeting in the Adelaide this week and warns of the need for Sellers, Owners and Operators of this equipment to be aware of the new guidelines. Front End Loaders are recommended to incorporate a level lift function to prevent loads falling back onto the operator. New definitions of Rated Capacity for Front End Loaders are also spelt out. Rated operating loads will now be calculated to take into account the recommended 3 Point Linkage Counter Weight. The Tare weight of these components is then deducted from the Tractor Manufacturers Maximum recommended weight for the Tractor, to arrive at the Rated Operating Load (ROL) This has seen loaders formerly rated at 820 kg lift now having a ROL of 650 Kg with similar reductions on all sizes. There are many other aspects to the guideline falling under the headings of the responsibility of Designer, Manufacturer, Supplier and User, which cover inspection, training and use.
Ian Goding said that while the guidelines have been introduced in N.S.W. only at this stage, a move to have all States working under a single National Banner by 2012 will inevitably see this form of Guideline adopted Nationally. While Manufactures had been given a Twelve Month Moratorium to Comply we have seen a rush of Front End Loader “Deals“ with Manufacturers desperate to clear non compliant stock before the new guideline is adopted.
New Product is or should now be compliant. The Sting in the Tail is how we are to handle the thousands of Non Compliant Loaders in use in the field or offered for trade in or sale. Under the guideline they are inherently unsafe and we will be working to try and establish a realistic way of dealing with these loaders. These guidelines will also drastically reduce the value of existing equipment or render it unsafe for use or sale
Under the heading of suppliers a private sale would constitute a supply, and the Private Seller is liable under the guidelines as is Machinery Re-Seller. For a contact point on where to go for further information or update, contact Godings at Whittlesea on 0397169000 or sales@godings.com.au.
BRENT TAKES THE REINS AT GODINGS – AUGUST 2011
Growing up in Alexandra District and with 34 years of experience in the repair of Agricultural and Construction Machinery made Brent Henderson the obvious choice to take up the Service Managers Role at Godings Whittlesea Service Centre.
In a move to strengthen their service offering Godings have taken advantage of Brent’s technical skills and training to ensure repairs are carried out in the most efficient and reliable way. Ian Goding said Brent has led our Service Team for over ten years as a technician and later workshop foreman. We have separated the administration functions to keep the technical knowledge where it is most needed on the shop floor and dealing with customers. Brent said with six Service vehicles and nine Service staff our Service department is a very lively place. It is certainly an interesting role, as no two jobs ever seem to be the same and we are regularly being sent to technical training to lift our product and service knowledge. We have always trained apprentices who have come through as highly skilled technicians and the life blood of our service operation.
Some of the Turf and Excavation equipment lines we distribute and service state wide and in Tasmania, and then of course there are the demands of seven days per week emergency service on hay machinery which brings its own challenges. The service philosophy here has always been to keep our customers working which sets a very high standard of response. Brent has a solid team to support him, Noel will continue to handle service enquiries and administration. Leading hands will focus on one key area of Service support each, New Holland Hay and Harvest, Turf Machinery and Kubota and Workshop Service all are very experienced in their fields. The addition of a fifth person in the Spare Parts Department will provide extra support for the Service Technicians and counter service. After a very successful year, Godings are planning on significant growth again into 2012 which will keep Brent and all of the Service staff busy.
I guess living on a farm and having a rural background really helps to have an understanding of our customers needs. It is interesting that most people have no idea of the size of our business and the volume of equipment that we handle Brent said.
TESTIMONAL - GRAEME'S A POWER SHIFT CONVERT - JULY 2011
Graeme Fern with his wife Elizabeth run their prestigious 600-acre commercial beef property at Highlands. With 150 Angus breeders due to calve soon, so time is at a premium and Graeme is full of praise for the added efficiency his new Kubota MX125 tractor has brought to their operation.
Having tried various Tractor brands, when he set out to purchase a new tractor he was cautious to ensure that his purchase was the best available match for his needs.
'I have been dealing with Godings since 1988 who recommended the 125HP Kubota but still needed to be sure it was the right choice, so they arranged a demonstration on our property doing the work I had in mind. It was most impressive, easily pulling my 9 tine ripper and 3 meter Multi disc stubble Mulcher. It was so easy to drive, controls were convenient and vision from the cab excellent. The Power Shift was the real winner, it is so easy and efficient to move up or down through the gears without needing to use the clutch. You can also keep it working at its optimum output by setting the transmission to automatically change gears it will adapt to changes in work loads and conditions. This is probably one of the reasons it uses so little fuel, certainly in comparison to what we have experience in the past.
I am extremely happy with our Kubota and the ongoing service support that Godings provide'.
Kubota have an extensive range of M Series tractors ranging from 50 to 135 HP from the most basic to the most advanced. The latest 108HP model is one of the first Agricultural tractors worldwide, able to meet the demanding new Tier 4 emissions control standards.