From strength to strength - a pictorial record of the Simba success story
View the slide show below to see how far Simba has come since the company was founded more than three decades ago.
A Lion is born
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Simba was established in 1976 by its founder Keith Burton. Having spent 25 years farming in Africa, Keith proudly
named his venture after the Swahili word for Lion. Simba was born.
Big is Beautiful
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Through the late 70s and early 80s Simba specialised in custom-built equipment to suit the high horsepower (300hp+) tractors entering the UK from America in increasing numbers. Simba was the only manufacturer at this time to meet
this growing need. The original production facility (shown here) was at Sleaford.
Simba Launches Disc Harrow
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The first machine to be manufactured by Simba was the Disc Harrow. This product was to spearhead Simba's UK and overseas sales in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s.
The Mono leads the way
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The Mono launched by Simba in 1982 was the first cultivator in the UK to combine discs, tines and consolidating roller
in one machine. The pioneering concept led the way for others to follow.
Turning desert into crops
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From the early 1980s, Saudi Arabia offered huge business potential for Simba and even today the Simba name remains highly respected throughout the Kingdom.
Turning desert into crops
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From the early 1980s, Saudi Arabia offered huge business potential for Simba and even today the Simba name remains highly respected throughout the Kingdom.
Simba at work in the mining industry
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Simba specially developed a package of heavy-duty equipment with the NCB in the late 70s/early 80s. These products were designed for the reinstatement of open cast coal sites and included very heavy-duty disc harrows and rippers.
Straw burning ban creates new opportunities
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Our widely respected customer-focused approach to marketing and technical advice allied with the sales opportunities presented by the 1989 Straw Burning Ban firmly established the company as the UK's leading disc harrow and press
roll manufacturer.
New horizons
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Simba quality and innovation was soon in demand overseas and by the mid 1980s the company was exporting
equipment to Africa and Sri Lanka, primarily for use on sugar estates. Into the 1990s, further export markets were
opened up in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.
Simba unveils Toptilth
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In 1988 Simba launched the new Toptilth range of seedbed cultivators with working widths from 3m to 8m.
Simba at The Royal Show in 1988
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A Mono takes pride of place alongside the Freeflow Drill and a set of Cambridge Rolls.
Simba at The Royal Smithfield Show in 1989
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Heavy disc harrows were exhibited on the stand in an answer to the recently announced Straw Burning Ban in the UK.
Simba and Monsanto launch ECO-tillage
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A marketing agreement between Simba and Monsanto in the early 90s resulted in the launch of the ECO-tillage brand, developed to reduce the cost of crop establishment and weed control both financially and environmentally.
Hungary for further success
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The Hungarian market was one of the first Eastern European markets to be opened up by Simba from the early 1990s. Initial sales were made to pioneering UK farmers, but today the company sells through its importer, Axial KFT.
Sowing the seeds for growth
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Simba developed and launched its very first drill in 1992. Available in 3m, 4m, 6m and 8m versions, the introduction of
the Freeflow Drill meant that Simba offered a complete range of cultivation and seeding equipment, i.e. a total cultivation
and establishment system.
Simba Presses on... and on
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First there was the Single Press, then the Double Press and then in the early 1990s, Simba launched the Cultipress. Originally equipped with cast rings, the Cultipress provided Simba customers with an alternative to a power harrow on plough-based systems, as well as a machine that could be used in non-inversion tillage systems in tandem with a Disc Harrow.
A cut above the rest - the new DD Ring
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Simba's pioneering DD Ring was launched in 1988. Its unique, patented design continues to lead the way for pressing efficiency. Fitted as standard on most of Simba's cultivation machinery, DD Rings are increasingly retrofitted to other manufacturers' equipment.
The one and only Solo makes its debut
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Simba launched its first Solo models in 1999. The folding wing 450 and 600 models offered 4.50m and 6.00m working widths, respectively. These were followed by a 3.30m model a year later, and in 2005 by the hugely successful Solo 380 ST.
Pro-Lift offers shattering performance
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Simba introduced the new Pro-Lift leg and wing technology to offer optimum shattering and disturbance of the soil
without requiring excessive horsepower.
X-Press makes a rapid impression
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The turn of the millennium saw another major addition to the Simba range in the shape of the Trailed X-Press, which,
with its short disc design, was developed to replace conventional disc harrows.
Award winning DD Ring
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The DD Ring wins a Silver Medal in the RASE Machinery Awards Scheme.
A show of strength
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Simba exhibited its growing product range including Horsch machines at The Royal Show in 2002.
Solo wins prestigious industry award
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The Solo wins the Gold Medal in the RASE Machinery Awards Scheme 2002.
The Mounted X-Press
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This machine, introduced by Simba in 2005, provided for the first time, a highly effective cultivation solution for smaller tractors (80hp-100hp).
Major investment at Sleaford
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Simba's continued success and confidence in the future prompted a major investment in the Sleaford production plant. Completed at the end of 2007, the project increased capacity by 30% and facilitated a much more efficient parts supply system including online ordering.
The SL Cultivator was launched at Agritechnica in 2007
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The new range of SL cultivators was launched into the European market to universal acclaim for its quality, versatility
and design innovation built around proven components.
The New SL breaks new ground
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Simba's SL range made an immediate impact. Pre-production models covered some 20,000 acres on farms across the world. Supremely versatile and able to achieve a top quality finish on all soil types, the SL can work at depths of
between 15 and 25cms and offers working widths of 4, 5, 6 and 7 metres. This range represented the first products designed by Simba with the European market in mind.
The New DTX 300 - earth shattering performance
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Following successful trials on a variety of soils during 2008, the highly flexible DTX 300 was launched in early 2009. A
3m
wide one-pass cultivator, the DTX 300 fits in between the Mounted X-Press/ST Bar packages, the heavier rolled Solo 330 and the SL400. This machine along with the SL will underpin the company's growth over the coming years.
A leading authority in our industry
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Through a range of practical, comprehensive Technical Guides and other initiatives, Simba continues to lead the way on cultivations advice and support for farmers and agronomists.
Simba joins forces with Great Plains
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On 30th April 2010 two of the world's leading brands in agricultural plant and equipment came together to create a major new force in the industry. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Mfg., Inc, based in Kansas, USA, the Simba product range can only go from strength to strength.
Simba launches the new SLD
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In early 2011, Simba launched the new SLD, a deep-tined version of the SL cultivator available in 4.6 and 6 metre
working widths, which is capable of working down to depths of 300mm.
Simba launches the new TL
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Launched at LAMMA in January 2011, Simba’s new TL tined cultivator is designed primarily for use on lighter soils
and in rotations including root crops and vegetables.
Simba introduces the Folding Flatliner
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Also introduced to the market in early 2011, the new Folding Flatliner is a versatile, high-performance subsoiler
capable of working to a depth of 550mm.
Expansion at Sleaford
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The acquisition in January 2011 of an additional 34,000 sq ft of factory space adjacent to the existing facility will provide the home for the new drill!
Looking to the future
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Whilst the UK will continue to be Simba's single most important market, the company is continuing to develop its export business. France is just one overseas market that offers potential for growth. Other markets are being developed with equal success and today Simba machines are working in over 50 countries throughout the world.
History
Simba started in 1976 when the founder Keith Burton identified a growing market for equipment to suit large (300hp+) tractors entering the UK, having spent 25 years farming in Africa (Simba is Swahili for lion).
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, North America and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
In 1999, Simba entered into a reciprocal trade agreement with German drill manufacturer, Horsch Maschinen GmbH. This relationship was to last for just over a decade before Simba parted company with Horsch to focus on the development of its own Simba-branded drill in partnership with new owners across the Atlantic.
A major force
By 2005 Simba was a major force in the tillage equipment market, both nationally and internationally. With innovations continuing across the Simba product range including new products targeted for use with 80 – 100hp tractors, the company now has arguably the widest and most comprehensive range of equipment it has ever had.
Improving manufacturing efficiency and reduction of production costs has not been overlooked. Besides the main manufacturing facility at the Headquarters in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Simba’s products are also manufactured in Hungary, the choice of location often dependent on the final destination of the product and the exchange rate ruling at the time.
Impressive growth
In recent years the company’s products have been designed very much with European markets in mind, that’s not to say that Simba is neglecting the UK market, more positioning itself to take advantage of the vast potential these overseas markets offer. This philosophy was epitomised by the launch of the new SL Cultivator in November 2007 at the Agritechnica show in Hanover, following a series of regional dealer launches throughout the UK. The tremendous success of the SL contributed to a huge 115% increase in the company’s turnover between 2006 and 2008.
Much has been done to build a European dealer network to support this growth and our global representation is now stronger than ever. A full listing is shown under the dealer section. Our after sales resources have also been increased to provide a level of backup required for professional farming operations throughout Europe and beyond.
Simba still has a reputation for strength which, in the early years related to the products that we offered; now it also applies to many other areas such as the technology we employ to develop and test innovative products, our manufacturing facilities in different locations and the very strong management team based at our headquarters at Sleaford in Lincolnshire.
New product development continued apace. The DTX300 was added to the range along with trailing kits for the 4m Mounted X-Press.
Major research is also undertaken. For example, the company is currently involved with oilseed rape trials throughout the UK.
As has always been the case, the company aims to provide good practical advice to its customers. Our series of technical publications serves to illustrate this point and all have been very well received by farmers, agronomists and consultants alike. This ethos will continue as Simba continues to develop in the future.
A new chapter in the Simba success story
On 30th April 2010, Simba International Limited was acquired by Great Plains Mfg., Inc, based in Salina, Kansas, USA bringing together the product innovation, expertise, experience and knowledge of two of the world's leading brands in tillage equipment. Backed by the vast resources of North America's largest non-tractor, privately owned agricultural implement manufacturing company, the future for Simba, now rebranded Simba Great Plains, looks brighter than ever.
As if to celebrate this new relationship, Simba launched a further three new products in early 2011 that had been under development throughout the previous year; the new SLD, the new TL and the new Folding Flatliner.
A deep tined version of the SL cultivator, the SLD incorporates some of the principles of the well-proven and ever-popular Solo, and bridges the gap between the two machines. Equipped with Pro-Lift hydraulic reset tines that work down to depths of up to 300mms and a DD rear roller, the SLD leaves an excellent finish while also performing an effective loosening operation.
The TL tined cultivator is designed primarily for use on lighter soils and in rotations including root crops and vegetables.
Designed to work alongside cultivators such as the SL 600 or SL 700, the Folding Flatliner 4.5m soil loosener is ideal for customers looking to exploit the power of 210-360hp tractors to the full.
Huge investment in Sleaford and its future
At around the same time these new additions to the Simba Great Plains product portfiolio were launched, Simba announced the acquisition of an additional 34,000 square feet of factory space adjacent to its existing site. This substantial investment represents a major ‘statement of intent’ as regards Simba’s plans and vision for the future.
The new building will host the assembly of several existing Simba products as well as the assembly of Great Plains products destined for the Western European market. It will also be the home of one of the most important new products in Simba’s history – a new Simba Great Plains branded drill.
The teams at Sleaford in Lincolnshire, UK and Salina in Kansas, USA have been working closely together for many months on the design and development of what promises to be one of the most innovative drills the market has seen. The launch of the prototype is on schedule for the Cereals event in the UK in June 2011.
