Latest news and offers from Ness Plant
Ness Plant - Manitou UK 2010 Parts Winners
Manitou UK run every year a themed Customer Service Challenge designed to encourage the UK dealership to sell more Manitou parts. Last year 2010 was the Tundra and many dealers did extremely well. Manitou UK take all the figures at the end of the year and issue four trophies for the winners in each category.
They have trophies for the Best Growth ,Best STK/VOR and the most Targets achieved throughout the year. The fourth trophy is a special award for the dealer that has achieved excellent results in every category which also takes into consideration the general running of the dealers parts department.
Ness Plant have excelled with results in 2010 and were awarded the Aftersales Challenge Cup at the recent Manitou UK Dealer Conference.
Congratulations to Steven Henry, Ness Plant Parts Manager for this award.
The need for good housekeeping for fuel
From 1 January 2011 the red diesel supplied for use in agricultural tractors and vehicles will contain lower levels of sulphur and will commonly be referred to as ‘sulphur free gas oil’ by fuel suppliers. Red diesel presently can contain 1000 parts per million of sulphur but there is a new requirement (EU Directive 2009/30/EC) that it must contain no more than 10 milligrams of sulphur per kilogram of fuel. This change is coincident with the introduction of new Stage IIIB engines to meet the emissions regulations and these engines will require lower sulphur fuels to ensure that control systems will not be damaged.
It is not yet known whether the fuel refiners and distributors will supply road quality diesel that has been marked (dyed red) or a separate fuel of slightly different quality (also dyed red) with a lower cetane level but in either event the fuel will actually be more refined than the present red diesel and of itself should provide no performance issues. However the fuel specification for road diesel permits suppliers to add biofuels up to 7% and users need to be aware of possible issues arising from this. Basically what is required is a higher standard of housekeeping on the parts of those storing the fuel and an understanding of problems that could arise.
The oxidation stability of this fuel will be poorer than that of current gas oil. Over time oxidation can precipitate solids with potential to block filters in fuel distribution systems or in vehicle fuel systems. To minimise the likelihood of this occurring, it is recommended that users take particular care to ensure a fuel turnover period of once every 6 months and, in any event, no longer than once every 12 months.
Sulphur free gas oil containing biodiesel will also be more prone to bacterial contamination than current gas oil. Bacterial growth can also potentially result in blockage of fuel filters and increased corrosion. Prolonged use of contaminated fuel could result in damage to engines. Bacterial growth can be prevented by eliminating water from fuel storage tanks and conducting monthly checks that tanks remain free of water. Where a bacterial growth outbreak has occurred, this can be addressed either by emptying and cleaning the tanks, or by seeking specialist help to tackle the outbreak with biocide additives and filtering.
Sulphur free gas oil containing biodiesel is a better solvent than current gas oil. As a result it may pick up deposits already in fuel storage and dispensing systems and in fuel tanks. To prevent those deposits from blocking filters, a one-time replacement of storage tank and vehicle fuel filters, outside the regular service interval, after 2 to 3 tank throughputs of sulphur free gas oil is recommended. Fuel seals in sight gauges on older fuel storage tanks may be incompatible with sulphur free gas oil, irrespective of whether it contains biodiesel, and may require replacing. Users should examine sight gauges following the switchover to sulphur free gas oil. If there are signs of leakage they will need a one-off replacement of these seals. If they are having fuel storage tanks serviced in advance of the introduction of sulphur free gas oil, it would be worth their while getting fuel seals replaced as a precaution.
One final observation is that subject to supply heating oil may continue to be supplied at l000ppm sulphur (this depends on the willingness of refiners and distributors to continue to supply it). Users would need to have separate storage for the two types of fuel and under no circumstances should these be mixed. Modern engines could be adversely affected by anyone illegally using this fuel and vehicles equipped with Tier IIIB engines could suffer significant damage.
New Kinross Depot
6th September 2010 see's the opening of the new depot at Kinross. From this depot we are able to meet all customer needs in the sales and after sales of the Manitou and Case Construction franchise. Please pop along and see us or give us a call to discuss any requirement. See Contact Us page for details.
With the opening of the new Kinross Depot Graeme Gauld has been promoted to Sales Manager from his previous Product Specialist role. This follows the company preffered option of promotion from within. Please give Graeme a call for any Manitou sales enquiries or Douglas for any Case Construction enquiries.
New Regulation Means New Cab
To apply the European Directive concerning tractor certification for its agricultural telescopic models, Manitou is developing its MLT range.
As from the 1st July 2009 the new directive requires that the cab has 45cm either side of the steering column and it be possible for an emergency exit in 3 places. Also the range must be fitted with a folding rear view mirror, trailer braking device and registration plate lights.
This will change a number of areas on the machine which include an overall with increase to 2.4m (instead of 2.34), an increase of cab volume by 15% and the cab will be enlarged by 9cm towards the left.
These changes have started to come through on some models, and by the end of 2010 should be on the rest of the 6 & 7 metre range.
Directors receive commemorative plinth.
Directors John Milne and Jim Johnston formed Agricar in 1986 following a successful management buyout. After 23 years of trading they have decided to take a less active roll in the day to day running of the company. As Manitou have had an important part in the success of the company, Peter Smyth of Manitou presented them with die cast Manitou models on a commemorative plinth.
Ness Plant – story so far
With the Manitou product being such an important part of the company it was decided to open up a separate specialist branch. Ness Plant was therefore formed in 2003 with the Manitou product for Tayside and Perthshire. Continued investment has led to the growth of the Manitou product in this area which led to Ness Plant being No1 for Manitou sales in Scotland and 4th in the UK in 2008 .With the success of the sales team a new branch manager Mike Ritchie is now in charge of developing the after sales side of the business, to give customers the utmost attention to their Manitou machine.
