History
Simba started in 1976 when the founder Keith Burton identified a growing market for equipment to suit large (300hp+) tractors entering the UK.
Development of the Company was rapid, and its products soon gained a strong reputation within the market place, particularly with professional farmers who were often involved with development work.
Whilst more established names within the industry faltered in the 80's and 90's Simba took advantage of opportunities such as the introduction of the straw burning ban and became a major force in the UK market during this time. Exports developed and the Company now has a strong presence in Europe, the Middle East, and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. Sales have also recently been made into the USA and Japan.
Horsch Maschinen GmbH is a German Company with a very similar ethos to that of Simba's and in 1999 the two Companies entered into a reciprocal trade agreement.
By doing this the two Companies worked in Partnership to market the two product ranges alongside each other in their home market. At the time Simba's drill range was coming to the end of its commercial life and the Horsch drills were seen as the perfect replacement to this aging range.
By 2005 Simba was a major force in the cultivator drill market within the UK and with the innovations continuing within the Simba product range, the company now has arguably the widest and most comprehensive range of equipment it has ever had. New Simba products targeted at 80 - 100hp tractors open up further opportunities to the company and now many more farmers can benefit form the innovations built into these machines.
Improving manufacturing efficiency and reduction of production costs has not been overlooked.
Besides a manufacturing facility at the Headquarters in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Simba's products are also manufactured in Hungary and Portugal the choice of location often dependent on the final destination of the product and the exchange rate ruling at the time.
Today Simba still has a reputation for strength, which in the early years was related to the products, today it's in all areas, such as the use of technology to provide the innovations, manufacturing facilities in different locations and a strong Management team.
With the Company now supplying its innovative components such as DD Rings and Aqueel's to original equipment manufacturers, the next stage of the Company's development has already started and it is sure to offer further growth opportunities for the company over the coming years.
Besides intrinsic growth Simba is continuing to develop its sales by marketing other products and this is set to continue. In July 2006 the company signed an exclusive marketing deal with CHK to market the unique and patented Spread-A-Bale range of products.
This range has recently been awarded the Gold Medal by the RASE which confirmed Simba’s own research that this is a very special product delivering cost savings as well as improving the welfare of both animals and operators, both key factors going forward. The Agreement is worldwide so this range will be offered to all Simba dealers and importers over the coming months.
It is the intention of the company to develop this ‘green’ line to sell alongside the cultivation and drilling equipment.
