Page 19 - Machines Italia Vol. XIII Next Generation Manufacturing

The cab in New Holland’s methane-powered tractor offers ergonomic operation and comfort.
Making light work of the heaviest jobs
Heavy-duty machinery for farming, construction and wood- working must not only be tough, but energy efficient, capa- ble of multitasking, and able to provide information about how it is functioning.
To meet these demands, Italian heavy equipment manufacturers are rapidly integrating new technology into their machines, including electronics, renewable sources of power such as methane, and en- ergy conservation tools. Their new machines are also nimbler, easier to use, more comfortable for the operator and capable of integrating with other machinery.
Electronics in equipment take a load off farmers
Mark Hatloy and Ken Nordstrom’s Hamilton Systems Inc. (Drayton, North Dakota, USA, www.hamiltonsystemsinc.com) had been North
American dealers for the corn and sunflower headers from FANTINI Srl (Medole, Italy, www.hamiltonsystemsinc.com) for several years when an opportunity arose in 2019 to buy the northern Italian company. Could two farmers from America’s Heartland make a go of running a company that’s 4,600 miles away, rooted in a different culture, and whose distribu- tion in North America amounts to 5% of its annual sales?
That slice of market share looked like a glass half full to Hatloy. He and Nordstrom bought the company in November 2019. “I saw it as an opportunity (because) it’s a high-quality piece of equipment and (its availability in the United States) means you don’t have to buy from the majors,” Hatloy said.
Not only does Hatloy praise the Fantini quality, he hopes to keep intact the company’s “wonderful relationships” with its suppliers and can’t say enough good things about his new workers.
HEAVY-DUTY MACHINERY
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