European scene: tractor news dominates French SIMA show.

The French tractor market remains one of the largest in Europe. Last year, some 38,192 new tractors were sold, an increase of 7.7% over 2001's total of 35,641. With this in mind, it will come as no surprise to learn that tractors featured strongly at last month's SIMA show in Paris, France. Here, the 180,000+ visitors were treated to two concept tractors--Massey Ferguson's very first CVT/cab suspension tractor and a McCormick's 200hp+ tractor. In addition, there were new tractors from Zetor, Belarus and Renault, and John Deere's long awaited 5020 tractor has finally been launched to the European market. Landini too, took the opportunity to unveil its very first 200hp+ tractor, although there is more to this one than meets the eye. However, all this was overshadowed by the announcement at an international press conference staged during the event that Claas has officially acquired a 51% stake in Renault Agriculture.

Claas has not only acquired a 51% stake in Renault Agriculture, but also the option to increase this share by another 29% to 80% by 2005/2006, and the possibility to purchase the remaining 20% after seven years, to give it 100% control of the company.

However, at this stage, both concerns stress that the deal still needs the approval of the anti trust authorities, a process which could take up to three months.

Although Clans is not prepared to go into the amount it paid to take the share in Renault, it is described as a 'modest' investment.

It is also worth noting that although there are certain synergies, it is not a move that is seen as a cost saving exercise. Claas executive president Rudiger Gunther even commented that this is not the reason for the joint venture.

No, the real reason is that Clans was forced into action to beat off a bid from Agco. It needs stressing that Clans had no choice but to take the path it has chosen , given the fact that an Agco/Renault deal would have placed Clans in a very difficult position in France, a country which accounts for 20% of Claas' revenue.

Nevertheless, the deal creates yet another new alliance in the agricultural machinery world. For example, when you add the two turnovers together for last year (Claas Euro 1,265 million/Renault Euro 635 million), the result is a group with a turnover of Euro 1,860 million, and a net income of Euro 37 million.

Currently, 91% of Class' turnover comes from harvesting equipment. Together, this drops to 74% with 20% of the business coming from tractors.

Speaking at the press conference, executive vice president of Class for sales and service, Lothar Kriszun, says that although there is still a great deal of work to do, it is a win-win partnership, which will strengthen Claas' position in Western Europe, particularly in France.

"Also, it makes us more attractive to dealer networks as 65% of the dealers, income comes from tractors and harvesting machinery," he says.

Of course, there are still many unanswered questions, the most burning of which is whether the two dealer networks will run side by side, and whether existing Clans dealers will be forced to drop the likes of JCB, Valtra and McCormick in favour of Renault? Also, Renault might have made 9,343 new tractors last year, but 7,700 of these ended up in France. The second biggest market is the UK with just 600 units. Clans will obviously be looking to improve on Renault tractors sales in the rest of Europe, including Eastern Europe, the Far East and the US.

Kriszun stresses that it is still too early to talk about future plans, as the deal has still to be approved. However, on the subject of whether Renault tractors will at some point be badged as Claas models, and sold as such in the US, however, he hints that Renault and Clans are very strong brands.

"We need to keep them both," he says. "Providing there are no objections then we need to talk to all our importers and distributors to sort out the best way forward. We hope to have some answers by May/June."

I asked him whether Renault tractors would continue to be fitted with John Deere engines. "This is something that may come up for discussion in the future' he says.

Finally, if Claas does eventually obtain the full 100% stake in Renault Agriculture, then it also acquires a 50% share in the Gima transmission facility in Beauvais, which is jointly shared with Agco. This really is an amusing scenario!

However, he stresses that the Agco/Renault partnership has been a good one and there is no reason to change this.

Chairman and CEO Guy Povie of Renault Agriculture was also at the press conference. He described the move as a partnership between two major players in the two most important markets.

"Claas and Renault fit together well in terms of product ranges and networks," he says. "It completes the missing link in our business."

MF's first tractor to be fitted with a CVT transmission and cab suspension was on display in prototype form at the show. However, visitors found that the company is still not prepared to reveal too many details. What we do know is that the hardware part of the CVT comes from the Fendt 700 Farmer Vario series, although the software is said to be completely different.

The cab suspension part of the tractor makes use of an air bag system. As to the suspended front axle, this is identical to the Quadlink system currently used on both 6200 and 8200 tractors.

MF officials will not be drawn on the exact launch date of this tractor. However, we are told that the company will move as quickly as possible. This suggests a commercial launch at Agritechnica with the first tractors ready for delivery by the first quarter of 2004.

McCormick used the show to unveil a concept model of its very first 200hp tractor. Called the ZTX range, it looks like there will be three models--215, 240 and 260hp-- although we shall have to wait for the full-blown commercial launch at Agritechnica for the full model numbering. Availability is expected from January 2004.

It is interesting to note that the tractor is fitted with the same Gima transaxle as the larger MF and Renault tractors, which seems strange when you consider the fact that the Argo group has its own transmission facility at St. Dizier, France. A Funk full powershift is also included in this latest tractor.

Furthermore, a quick look at the rear of the tractor confirms that a hydraulically operated cab suspension system is employed. The front axle suspension is the same Carraro system as fitted to the larger MF tractors.

McCormick reckons that the bigger tractors give the firm more leverage to attract new US dealers.

Landini's first 200hp tractor was possibly one of the biggest surprises of the show, especially when you consider that it is not a Landini development, but the Buhler Genesis tractor! Known as the Starland, the official Landini line is that Buhler wants to sell more tractors and Landini needs a 200hp+ tractor; reason enough for the two to enter into a marketing agreement to sell the tractors in Europe. There are three models--210, 240 and 270hp--all of which are identical to the Buhler tractors. The marketing agreement does not cover the Buhler articulated tractors.

Renault premiered its new Celtis tractor range at SIMA. There are four models--426 (72hp), 436 (80hp), 446 (90hp) and 456 (100hp)--which are designed to supersede both Ceres and Cergos ranges, and the smallest Temis model--the 90hp four-cylinder 550. Fitted with DPS PowerTech engines (Tier II compliant), features include a choice of four transmissions, and a low cab version of just 2.50m in height. A new feature is the optional external control of the rear lift arms. Mounted on the rear wing of the tractor, the mechanical system is designed to simplify machine attachment.

The July introduction of the Tier II engine emission regulations means that European manufacturers are hard at work making sure that their tractors meet the requirements. One of these includes Belarus, which used the show to unveil its 105hp 1021 tractor. The company says it has developed a Tier H engine for this tractor, which is still in the homologation pipeline.

Providing it meets the requirements, then the tractor should be available shortly. A feature of the four-cylinder tractor is the new bonnet styling, which gives the tractor a more modern appearance.

Zetor's new range of Forterra tractors has been previewed at a number of shows during the six months, and the firm used the SIMA to unveil a new top model--the 130hp 11741.

Finished in similar modern exterior styling to the smaller versions in the range, a feature of this top model is the 24F x 1 8R three-stage powershift transmission. Offering a top speed of 4okph, and a rear lift capacity of 6,800kg, prices have yet to be released.

A feature of this 350hp ROC tractor is the way the cab turns electrically in just 10 seconds between road and fieldwork where it operates in reverse drive. This is even more impressive when you consider that the cab is suspended at front and rear.

Unveiled in prototype form, a feature of the Italian-made tractor is its light weight of just 6,430kg. Although this makes it unsuitable for heavy draft work, the maker feels that it is ideally suited to drilling and light cultivation tasks, as well as forage maize harvesting and mowing operations.

Offering a 5t lift capacity, the hydrostatic transmission offers a top speed of 45kph. The machine costs around Euro 154,000.

One of the most striking machines at the SIMA was undoubtedly the Telebras handling system from Lamy, which is designed for those farms looking for extra lift height than a tractor loader, but not the expense of a telehandler.

Shown in prototype form, it is designed for fitting to the rear of 100hp+ tractors with an oil supply of at least 100lit/min. The telescopic arm extends by 1.7m, to provide a lift capacity of 2t to 7.2m, and all this for around Euro 15,500!

A feature of the system is that at the rear, two hydraulic rams allow the unit to be moved from side to side by 25 degrees. To connect or disconnect the loader, rear support legs are lowered, and the arm is swung out to the side to allow the tractor to be driven away.

A technique that was originally designed to allow wheel chair operators to negotiate stairs, could pave the way to a new wheel/track design on a commercial tractor at some point in the future.

Israeli-company Galileo Mobility Instruments has developed a system where the rear tractor tire can actually be converted to a rubber track!

Described by the maker as a reinvention of the wheel, obvious benefits include running the tractor in the tyre format at high speeds on the road, and then converting the system to tracks in the field.

Taking two years to develop, the prototype makes use of a polymer track, which is pushed out into work by two electrically operated arms. The firm is confident that it can make a track strong enough to take 300 to 400hp.

It remains to be seen whether the concept will ever make it to the commercial stage, as the company is currently seeking a tractor partner to take the idea further.

Merlo took the opportunity to reveal a prototype of what could be the new shape and colour of its telehandlers in the future. Shown here fitted to a 4t 7m model, fitted with a Deutz Tier II 140hp engine, the company hopes to be in a position to launch this first new-look Panoramic model next year.