The company, which designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of agriculture parts, has seen sales increase by over 50% year on year.
William Robinson, managing director, believes the changeable weather, ever-increasing prices of OEM parts and a change in people’s working practices brought on by the pandemic have contributed to the company’s success.
“Despite everything that is going on, we have had a very pleasing start to 2020,” says Mr Robinson. “Our LDX subsoiler system has performed very well, as have many other products, such as our Press Roll Rings. I think Coronavirus has meant many people are planning further ahead in the knowledge that delivery could take a little longer than usual. The unpredictable weather has also had an impact, with rapidly drying spring conditions causing more wear to some part. As well as getting lots of repeat business from existing customers, we’ve seen lots of new customers placing orders, which is obviously, very pleasing.”
The vast majority of Agricast’s customers are based in the UK, but the company has seen an increase in overseas orders in the first half of 2020, with parts heading off to Finland, USA, South Africa and the Czech Republic.
Introduced last year, sales of Agricast’s Press Roll Rings have doubled in the last six months.
“I think we’ve managed to hit the sweet spot with the PRR. They are more durable than other rings, and they are very attractively priced,” explains Will. Agricast’s Press Roll Rings are a direct replacement for many existing packers. Adding small notches to the outside of the rings has improved their drive, and as they are around 20% thicker than other rings, they are more durable.
The other Agricast product that has grown in popularity this year is the Low Disturbance Xtra (LDX) system. “We added tungsten protection and high chrome hardfacing in 2019 to ensure maximum wear life for the wings, which has made the system even more popular with farmers,” continues Will. “The interchangeable tungsten wings are available in 125 and 175mm widths to offer flexibility for OSR establishment or traditional subsoiling with minimum draft and disturbance. The legs are available in either 12 or 20mm thick Hardox500, and an optional top cutter also helps reduce surface ‘boiling’.”
Established in 1987 and based on the family’s Lincolnshire farm, Agricast is the UK’s leading Cambridge roll ring specialist and also supplies a wide range of press rings, disc blades and subsoiler wear parts. The company also offers bespoke alterations and fabrication services.
For more information about Agricast and its range of replacement wearing parts, visit www.agricast.net where you can download the company’s 2020 catalogue.
