Latest News - June 07
18.03.07 - BONNEL AIM TO BUILD SIMBA BRAND IN FRANCE
Simba is aiming to break into the French market with its cultivation equipment by signing a deal with Bonnel, the Normandy-based plough and cultivator manufacturer, which is keen to generate more business in the reduced/minimal tillage market.
The deal was announced at the SIMA show, where Bonnel exhibited a 4.6m X-Press painted in the French company’s pale blue livery. Commenting for the French company, Pierre Bonnel – the fifth generation of his family to run it - said:
“We are very interested in the X-Press and Solo and hope to sell perhaps 20 or 30 machines a year. We have a big job to do as Simba is not well known yet in France, but we have an active working demonstration and show programme, and believe the machines will work very well. We are very happy to be importing them”.
For Simba, the deal will enable them to break into the large French market, working alongside an already well-established name. The appointment marks a further significant development for Simba’s European-wide business, says Export Manager Simon Revell:
“French farmers face similar financial pressures to their British counterparts, and like them are responding by looking for lower cost crop establishment systems. We expect well proven machines like the X-Press and Solo ST range to appeal to them”.
European exports were worth £2.4 million to the company during 2006 – a 60% increase on the previous year – with Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states and Scandinavia all being highly active markets. The SIMA Show proved a good start, he says:
“We are very pleased, received a lot of enquiries and are already quoting for a 10m X-Press. We are impressed with Bonnel, their highly professional, well-motivated sales force, and with the strength of their dealer network across the key arable areas of the country and look forward to working with them”.
