As we set off the New Year at the usual Hortec speed ….(Dan, Liam and Ray Servicing and Repairs, Steve Installing with help from Neal, Ray in the workshop getting 2nd hand machines ready & Cat and Kate in the office keeping it all moving)…. it seems as good a time as any to look at what is coming from Hortec in 2025.
Hire
It looks to be another busy year for hire with many repeat customers on the books already. Hire machines are available for short or long-term use, but it is best to book early. In 2024 we added quite a few new machines to the fleet – mostly because people end up keeping the old ones! They are serviced between each customer by our engineers. Call us to discuss your needs and we can advise you on the best options.
Hire to buy is always an option – just ask. Hire from Hortec
New Machines
We have stock machines for immediate availability, but we are also seeing an increase in bespoke machinery projects and installs. Lead times can vary so if you have need for the coming seasons then you need to be planning for that now. Speak to us to get the latest prices and lead times for Potting Machines, Tray fillers, Bale Breakers, Robots, Trimmers and Conveyors Products & Solutions
Second hand machines remain popular, but availability is currently low. We do have some machines, but are on the lookout for any machines you may wish to sell back to us. One cautionary note – second hand machines purchased from abroad can often look attractively cheap, but we have many tales of woe from customers caught out. All our machines have been refurbished with genuine JAVO parts, our expertise, and come with commissioning and warranty included.
Servicing
People outside of the industry often say to us “you must be quiet at this time of year!” to the contrary it is our busiest time for servicing, with many customers wanting servicing done “before week 6”. We work hard to fit in as many as possible before potting starts, but inevitably some will slip due to unforeseen issues – flooding, snow and illness already in the first few weeks of 2025. Service & Parts
Parts
The Parts Store is always busy – keeping in stock items for service and breakdown. We will always do our best to help and advise. We appreciate that sometimes people will look elsewhere to source parts. While we would rather you didn’t – if you do, then please make sure you order a like for like and are confident in swapping out parts correctly. It might be difficult for us to support machines where repairs are done without correct parts. Recently a customer ordered chain from an agri dealer which wasn’t correct (right chain, wrong length) and ended up damaging their machine and costing them more – broken machine, down time and still needing to source the right chain.
Trade Shows
With IPM Essen just around the corner, it won’t be long before the HTA National Plant Show and Four Oaks will be here. Preparations are already underway. Steve will be at IPM alongside our JAVO colleagues. At HTA Hortec will showcase the best of our JAVO machines and Stolze conveyors. JAVO and Stolze will both joins us on our stands at Four Oaks again this year. There are lots of new developments on the horizon that we can’t share just yet – but it is exciting to have seen the new things on the way!
