Population Growth Driving Demand for Agricultural Technologies

At the EIMA exhibition held from November 6-10 in Bologna, Italy, the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation (FederUnacoma) hosted a conference presenting a market analysis of the agricultural machinery sector. Several key points were discussed during the event.

Population growth, a major driver of the increasing demand for agricultural technologies, will play a pivotal role in Africa, especially in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While established markets in Europe and North America will continue to invest heavily to maintain high-quality standards, major players in Asia, such as India and China, are expected to stabilize their mechanized farming practices after significant advancements in recent years. However, the most dynamic growth is anticipated in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Regions experiencing rapid population growth will see a surge in demand for agricultural machinery. These areas are undergoing significant agricultural development and require more advanced technologies to address the challenges of feeding expanding populations.

Indonesia is a prime example. With a population approaching 300 million, it ranks among the world’s most populous nations and is poised for continued demographic growth. Over the past 15 years, Indonesia’s imports of agricultural machinery have steadily increased, rising from EUR 140 million in 2009 to nearly EUR 700 million in 2023—an average annual growth rate of 8.6%. Looking ahead to 2024-2027, imports are expected to continue growing at an annual rate of 6.7%.

Other Southeast Asian countries are also experiencing strong growth in agricultural machinery imports. Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, anticipates an annual growth rate of 6.2% over the next four years. The Philippines, home to 110 million people, expects imports to grow by 7.8% annually. Meanwhile, Thailand, with 71 million residents, is projected to shift from a slow growth rate of just 1% per year over the last 15 years to a more robust increase of 6.8% annually from 2024 to 2027.

Population growth will also be a key driver in Africa, where regions like Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to account for 50% of global population growth by 2050. Nigeria, which already has 230 million people, is projected to exceed 400 million by 2050, making it the third most populous country in the world. Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both with populations exceeding 100 million, are also expected to experience significant growth, entering the ranks of the 10 most populous countries over the next 20 years.

In Nigeria, only 46% of cultivable land is currently being used for agriculture, while the Democratic Republic of Congo is utilizing just 10% of its arable land. Expanding agricultural land is a top priority for these countries, and as they look to bring more land into production, the demand for agricultural technologies will increase dramatically. Over the next few years, agricultural machinery imports in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are projected to grow by 7% and 12% per year, respectively, from now until 2027. This growth is expected to accelerate even further over the next two decades.

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The 18,000th PONSSE forest machine was completed at Ponsse’s factory in Vieremä. After its handover, the PONSSE Elk will be operated by VMC Bois in France.

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A Sennebogen 835 E electric material handler now takes care of log handling at the state-of-the-art mill.

At the end of 2020, the 70,000 m² plant in the Wunsiedel Energy Park went into operation, punctually after 11 months of construction. Together with a partner, the successful traditional company invested almost 40 million euros in the new site, at which 1400 solid cubic meters per day will be processed in two-shift operation in the future. Accompanied by the sales and service partner IBS Industrie- und Baumaschinen Service GmbH, an electrically driven Sennebogen 835 E in a unique rail gantry design with a track width of 32 m and a travel distance of 112 m now fits into the processes of the new plant. When unloading the incoming trucks and feeding the saw, the pick & carry machine 730 E with all-wheel drive and 168 kW exhaust stage V engine is also used.

Environmentally Friendly Timber Handling By Eliminating Exhaust Emissions

In many respects, the company is committed to the major goal of sustainable management: the processing of the renewable raw material wood, regional value creation through the neighboring, densely wooded Fichtelgebirge, and low-emission systems and machines that allow the large demand on the market to be well served. The decision in favor of an electric machine was therefore a further step for the managing director Wolf-Christian Küspert towards building a sustainable business.

A Sennebogen material handler with a 200 kW electric motor is used to transfer the logs from the sorting boxes to the stackers and to feed the saw, which enables environmentally friendly timber handling by eliminating exhaust emissions. Another advantage of electric operation is obvious: compared to diesel machines, there are enormous savings in operating and service costs that can be achieved through longer service intervals.

The Gantry Design Of The Electric Material Handler Increases Flexibility

In addition to the cost and emission savings, flexibility also played a major role in the purchase decision. The gantry design in particular gives the operator maximum degrees of freedom: the machine can be rotated through 360 degrees and at the same time making forward, reverse and sideways movements are possible thanks to an integrated trolley, which means that the gantry covers a generous working area. Thanks to the 8.9 m long and curved compact boom of the “Banana” type and a loading stick with a length of 7.9 m, the 835 E electric material handler achieves a reach of 15 m. Attached is a Sennebogen 2 m² hydraulic timber grab, which allows the manipulation of logs up to 6 m in length.

Large Capacity Cab Provides Excellent View For The Operator

Excellent all-round view is provided by the Sennebogen Mastercab industrial cab, which impresses drivers with various features such as a large-area floor window and an air-suspended comfort driver’s seat with seat heating. Manuel Wildgans, one of four machine operators, is apparently satisfied with his new workplace and is particularly enthusiastic about the ease of operation of the electric material handler:

“The SENNEBOGEN 835 E is the first machine of this size that I have been able to operate. In the meantime, all of us drivers have become accustomed to it and are pleased with the simple control using the joysticks. At a height of over 10 m, we can now enjoy the best view over the entire site every day.”

Source: Sennebogen 

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The plant was designed with the aim of producing large quantities of firewood, processing logs with variable lengths (up to a maximum of six meters) and inhomogeneous diameters, and then, stacking it on pallets and in bulk, supply the retailers located on the French territory.

The plant is structured with the following sections:

-A log loader with 30 tons capacity, four chains, 10 meters length and a separator; 

-TLA 18 cutting unit, equipped with 1800 mm diameter disc and 75 kW motor, to process large bundles of mixed material or single logs with variable diameters (up to a maximum of 710 mm) with electronic control of the cutting operations in automatic.

There is a shifter, managed by the operator on the cutting unit, which transfers the cut logs to the independent splitting stations and a 27 tons four columns independent splitting station with laser device for measuring the diameter of the cut log and for centering the splitting grid automatically.

-A 40 ton independent automatic splitting station TB 900 to work diameters up to 900 mm

In addition to that, there’s a cleaning section of processed logs with cleaning rollers that receives all the processed material from the wood splitters (to give flexibility to the system, a cleaning rollers by-pass has been set up in the kindling logs production cycle);

-A feeding conveyor for pallet stacking stations with vibrating hopper for firewood logs recirculation. At the end  there are sloped and suspended conveyors for the transfer/ storage of the processed wood.

Source: Pezzolato

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With the telehandler KT557, Kramer has introduced a new type of machine in the previous range of Mr. Antczak’s equipment because it’s absolutely versatile, efficient and sturdy. Mr. Antczak, together with his brother and son, Sebastian, has been managing their mixed farm since several years. They carry out work around the farm as well as on the 500 hectares of land and the 300 milk cows.

With their first Kramer machine KT557, they could work with greater flexibility, having already proven itself after a couple of months.

“It´s very rarely that our new telehandler leaves our farm yard without a trailer,”

underlines Mr. Antczak.

Most of the time, about 30% or more, the KT557 is used for working in combination with a trailer.

Every second day it pulls two fully loaded trailers with corn silage from fields from over 30 kilometers away. Moreover, it shows exceptionally versatile usage over the different seasons. In general, the machine is often taken for straw bale transport. During the summer, its primary application is transporting trailers with grass bales. Additionally, during harvest, it often pulls two trailers with 9 tons of grain each.

To meet all these work requirements, the machine has been equipped with many other advantageous options. That includes a pneumatic trailer brake, a tractor-homologation, an automatic central lubrication system, a rear view camera, an automatic bucket reverse valve (SRA), and a tilt cylinder shaking function, as well as a height adjustable automatic trailer coupling.

To ensure all that work around the farm can be done quickly, the typical Kramer quickhitch plate with three different attachments. Beside the pallet fork for simple stacking work, with the standard bucket without teeth and the bale grapple also utilized on a daily basis.

“The most important requirements for us to buying a Kramer telehandler KT557 can be concluded in three points: the easy handling and comfort in the cab, the ecospeedPRO transmission because of the smooth ride and above all the most important thing for us is the good reputation, because with Kramer and its dealer Kuhn Maszyny Rolnicze Sp. z o.o., we can life-long count on an on site support without serious failures of the daily used machine. They are robust, reliable and tough,”

summarises Mr. Antczak.

Kramer range of telehandlers with emission stage V

The compact model KT276 complies with the EU emission stage V with a 55 kW Kohler engine and exhaust emission treatment with a diesel oxidation catalytic converter (DOC) and diesel particle filter (DPF). The models KT306, KT356, KT307, KT357, KT407, KT457 (successor of the KT447), KT507 and KT429 are still equipped with the Deutz TCD 3.6 engine with level V and 100 kW power, which complies with the level V exhaust emission. For this purpose, the exhaust emission treatment with DOC and SCR will be supplemented with a DPF as standard. The models with a 5.5 tonne payload, KT557 and KT559, will be fitted with the Deutz TCD 4.1 engine with level V and 115 kW as a standard.

The Outside View

All-round visibility is a crucial consideration for telehandlers, and Kramer offers various options for optimising this. As well as the cabin, the FOPS screen, which protects the driver from falling objects, has also been optimised to provide ideal visibility as a result of the individual braces on the exterior screen now bending outwards in line with the eye’s perspective. This facilitates an uninterrupted view of the attachment and thus makes for safe, precise, working even when the telescopic arm is extended. The protective grating is available as standard for power classes KT457 to KT559 and for models with a payload of 3 to 4 tonnes with the higher cabin.

Additional highlights, such as an additional storage compartment, enhancement of the rear-view mirror, a mobile phone holder with two additional USB ports and an enlargement of the maintenance covers, which can be opened quickly and easily with just two screws and no tools required, all contribute to creating a more comfortable and flexible working environment with a Kramer telehandler.

Source: Kramer

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