Forth, Sustainable Northwest, Wy’East RC&D, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation have partnered to launch Oregon’s first electric tractor demonstration to evaluate and demonstrate the potential of this new technology. The project will serve as an important test case to explore best use cases and areas to develop while increasing knowledge, access, and adoption of electric farm equipment to help farmers save money and reduce on-farm emissions.

The state’s first electric tractor arrived at Rusted Gate Farm outside Central Point, Oregon on March 4. Rusted Gate Farm is the perfect first location to test this new technology. They are a non-profit farm that experiments with traditional, alternative, and innovative farm practices. Their mission is to identify a mix of income-producing activities that can increase average farm income and ensure long-term financial security for small farms in Oregon’s Rogue River Valley. Rusted Gate will use the electric tractor in their truffle and apple orchards, food gardens, and for extensive grounds maintenance.

“We are thrilled to be the first farm in Oregon to test-drive an electric tractor. Our farm staff will conduct side-by-side comparisons to the gas and diesel-fueled equipment already in use. We’ll be able to track job time and fuel costs differences and also provide feedback on routine maintenance, ergonomics, and ease of use, “

said Jo-Ann Shannon, Executive Director of Rusted Gate Farm.

The project team has secured funding for a total of three electric tractors to be shipped to Oregon for initial testing and configuration in 2021. Tractors, installed with remote sensors that will collect usage data and measure on-farm savings potential, will start making their way around Oregon. We’re interested in learning where the tractor performs best and about opportunities for further agricultural equipment electrification.

While there have been great advancements in the electric passenger vehicle market, as battery technology and other innovations increase range and usage, electric vehicle adoption in the agricultural sector is relatively new but fertile for growth. The team hopes to share emission reduction, health and safety, and savings information with the 2021 project.

“People traditionally associate electric vehicles with cars in urban areas, but I’m looking forward to learning about the benefits and best use cases for electric tractors and finding ways to further transportation electrification in rural areas,”

Erin Galiger with Forth says.

The team looks to evaluate and scale a variety of electric agricultural technologies as part of a broader electrification effort that supports Oregon’s natural resource sectors and communities outside of urban areas. This includes expanding electric charging infrastructure at businesses, farm stands, and publicly available charging stations across Oregon.

“Farmers and ranchers have to make a lot of decisions based on unknown variables, and profit margins can be thin. This effort will demonstrate many anticipated benefits of electric agricultural equipment, from fuel savings, reduced maintenance, and downtime, reductions in diesel emissions, to increased health and safety. We hope to prove this technology is a win-win for Oregon’s farming community,”

says Robert Wallace with Wy’East RC&D.

Connecting people to the technology is a critical component of this project, and these tractors will be available for demonstration field tours, county fairs, and other public events starting Summer 2021. The team will work directly with individual agricultural producers, school districts, county fairgrounds, and demonstration farms.

“Conversations with farmers and ranchers in rural and tribal communities, from orchards and livestock operations to vegetable farms and indoor riding arenas, have resulted in growing interest and excitement about this new technology,”

notes Bridget Callahan of Sustainable Northwest.

The post Oregon’s First Electric Tractor Arrives at Rusted Gate Farm for Demonstration appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Roger Simonsson, Aquajet managing director, said:

“Aquajet is committed to providing the best equipment and customer support in the industry. That’s why we continually work to improve our products and solutions. Recent expansions to our equipment, parts and service facilities allow us to up our game and provide even better service and support for our North American customers.”

Shared with Brokk Inc., the recently expanded Stanhope, New Jersey, equipment distribution and service facility offers the company more space for increased equipment inventory. Additionally, the added space allows the Stanhope team to offer demonstrations onsite, providing an ideal setting for customers to experience Aquajet’s versatile and innovative Hydrodemolition robots and choose models and attachments best suited to their needs. The Stanhope facility also offers select equipment servicing by appointment.

In addition, recent upgrades to the parts warehouse in Monroe, Washington, enhance parts availability for Aquajet Hydrodemolition robots and accessories. An ample inventory of parts ensures fast delivery – often overnight under normal circumstances. In addition to swift delivery, Aquajet provides experienced technicians available by phone at 1-800-621-7856 to help customers quickly identify issues, recommend required parts and process the order over the phone. This direct service significantly reduces downtime.

The demonstration and service center in St. Joseph, Missouri, houses a complete service complex with a wash bay, workshop and welding station. A staff of full-time technicians provides the best possible solutions, reducing lead times on services from troubleshooting and routine maintenance to repairs and refurbishment. The process starts with a thorough inspection and analysis of all critical machine components. From there, technicians and owners can walk through the various options to match machine capabilities to operation needs. The service team welcomes customer mechanics to assist in repair or refurbishment of their equipment, allowing them the opportunity to learn more about the care and maintenance of their machines. Replacement parts are backed by a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects. The facility also offers space for equipment demonstrations and training opportunities.

Aquajet representatives are located throughout the U.S. and Canada and can quickly travel to a work facility or jobsite for training, which is included with the sale of each machine. Trainers guide the whole team through safety practices, operation and service of the equipment. Upon successful completion of training, operators receive an operator license. Aquajet representatives also travel to jobsites for troubleshooting assistance.

Simonsson said:

“We understand that unscheduled downtime means lost revenue. Our service team makes sure our customers not only have the necessary training to properly operate the equipment, but have quick access to parts inventory, equipment evaluations, and repair and refurbishment services to keep their operations up and running.”

The post Aquajet Offers Increased Aftersales Services for North American Customers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“How you support customers after a sale is what sets manufacturers apart. Whether it’s unexpected downtime or routine maintenance, we understand fast, convenient service options are vital to our customers’ success. To best support our customers, we’ve gathered the people and tools they need all in one centralized location.”

said Lars Lindgren, president of Brokk Inc. 

The St. Joseph facility includes a full-service shop with a wash bay, workshop, and welding station. A staff of four full-time technicians provides an array of service options from routine maintenance to repairs and refurbishments. The Demonstration and Service Center also houses an extensive inventory of Brokk machines, attachments, and parts, as well as a number of hydro demolition robots and products for sister company, Aquajet.

In addition to repair services, the Demolition and Service Center offers certified refurbishment for older Brokk and Aquajet models. The refurbishment process starts with a thorough inspection and analysis of all critical components including hoses, hammer seals, outrigger pads, and arm bearings. From there, technicians and owners can walk through the various upgrades to match machine capabilities to operation needs.

General service takes approximately one to two weeks, depending on whether parts replacement is needed. Machines that require extensive repairs take three to four weeks to be job-site ready. Refurbishment timelines vary based on the extent of upgrades and if parts need to be custom ordered for older models, such as the popular Brokk 150 or 250.

As an added convenience, Brokk arranges transportation to and from the center and, when necessary, provides replacement equipment from the Brokk service fleet. The service team welcomes customer mechanics to accompany equipment and assist in repair or refurbishment, creating a valuable opportunity for customers to learn more about care and maintenance of their machines.

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