XtraBlatt Issue 01-2023

Yet, compared with commercial trailers, farm
machines are more difficult to assess in terms of
value development and hours clocked – which
doesn’t make the math easier. However, digitalisation
and data collection will help us get there.
This said, we must bear in mind that the leasing
business requires enormous financial backing,
which is anything but petty cash. And these costs
must show on the bill – and customers must be
willing to pay them with the lease. It all comes
down to TCO – Total Costs of Ownership of a
machine. More and more contractors and farmers
are thinking down that line as they compare costs
holistically and realistically. This trend could be
accelerated by the current interest rates.
XtraBlatt: Speaking of new thinking and new
solutions for the future – what is your opinion
on grassland farmers paying contractors not by
the number of hectares or bales but also by the
level of forage quality or nutrients in the feed?
After all, the technology is available today ...
Ole Klose: An intriguing idea, indeed. Yet, it’s
not just a matter of technology ...
XtraBlatt: But of what ...?
Ole Klose: … a new quality of collaboration
between farmers and contractors. Should contractors
at all agree to such a billing scheme, they
would probably also ask to have full control of
the harvesting process, which means the entire
grassland management would be in their hands –
something which I find hard to imagine – at least
for the German speaking countries. And even if
they had full control, they couldn’t control the
weather as the single most important parameter.
By introducing the
electric axle and
a sensor-specced
kingpin from Trailer
Dynamics, the Krone
logistics division has
made great advances
towards reducing the
carbon footprint of
commercial trailers.
The innovation offers
exciting potential for
further digital and
electronic innovations
that will add value to
existing products – a
growing trend that
is also observed in
the farm machinery
industry.
Also, there is the issue of calibrating the weighing
systems and NIR sensors that are integrated in
the machines and also the issue of acceptance by
national legislators. Yet, you are right – this is a
very exciting idea. If customers wish this, it will
be feasible I think.
This takes us to your first question, the question
of strategy. Digitalisation offers huge opportunities
but also huge challenges, especially for
medium-sized companies like Krone. Thanks to
our experiences in the utility vehicle sector and
thanks to the transformation of our group and
the formation of the new Silver Crown division
(see the following article), we are now in the
position to set the right course. To keep in the
trope – the telegraph is set to “Full speed ahead”.
«
TREND SCOUTING
Speedboat on
course for
success
A strategic task for Krone is scouting the markets for trends
and challenges we will be facing not tomorrow but only after
tomorrow and develop suitable solutions as early as today.
XtraBlatt talks to senior members of the new “Silver Crown”
business unit to get an idea of what it is all about.
Ole Klose leads the group together with
Chief Executive Officer David Frink
(middle) and Chief Operations Officer
Stefan Binnewies (COO).
Krone whishes to partner
up with innovative companies
whose business activities
go beyond the actual
field of engineering.
Johannes Hennewig,
Executive Director of Silver Crown
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