Vogelsang has entered a "strategic joint venture" to develop slurry applicators with Slovenian agricultural machinery manufacturer BeTEC.

As part of the agreement between the two companies, BeTEC will drive forward the needs-based production, design and technical development of the applicators.

All European sales activities outside of Slovenia will remain exclusively with Vogelsang within the existing organisational structures.

According to Vogelsang, the partnership will combine the German company's "comprehensive expertise in sales and after-sales with BeTEC's effective construction and production processes".

Partnership

Vogelsang managing director, Harald Vogelsang, spoke about the agreement between his family's company and BeTEC.

Harald Vogelsang said: "We are very pleased to shape the future of slurry application technology together with BeTEC and to set new standards in precise slurry application - with modern applicator systems for all customer types and price segments,

BeTEC's head of sales, Jure Brecko said: "This joint venture is a milestone in our company's still-young history.

"The core beliefs and values of our two family-owned companies align perfectly. These synergies will enable us to grow together," he said.

New product ranges range

Effective from September 1, the partnership has confirmed the launch of a joint range of slurry application booms, dribble bars and trailing shoes from both companies.

These products will be marketed under the brand name 'Vogelsang-BeTEC'.

As part of the newly established partnership, manufacturing of all slurry application booms will move to the BeTEC Sentjur site in Slovenia.

Vogelsang's head of sales for agricultural technology and biogas in Germany, Henning Ahlers spoke about the reasoning behind this combination of slurry machinery portfolios.

Ahlers said: "Starting immediately, we will be able to offer our customers - from large-scale operations and contract farming businesses to part-time farmers - an even wider range of slurry application technologies, working widths and price segments.

"In this initial phase, our focus is on the pan-European market, which we can optimally serve with our combined expertise and our network of subsidiaries and dealer networks."

UK and Ireland

Agricultural sales lead at Vogelsang, Andy Hayhurst said: "Customers and dealers in the UK will soon benefit from an expanded Vogelsang offering, which will see features from existing Vogelsang and BeTEC products used to offer a comprehensive range of slurry application equipment."

The BlackBird series of trailing shoe applicators will be available in two new models, a RedLine and GreenLine, both of which are built on the Vogelsang framework.

Hayhurst said: "GreenLine, identifiable by green painted parts, is a more price-focused range that will be supplied with the BeTEC OptiCut distribution technology and standard skids.

"There will also be the option of additional packages including DoubleFlow and NightShift," Hayhurst said.

Some existing products inclduing the SwingUp, SwingMax and UniSpread ranges will continue production unchanged.

The Umbilical range will be the UniSpread and the BackPack, which is now offered alongside the Stylo, the Hilly, and the Cameleon and Cameleon Light series of machines.

According to Hayhurst, a new standardised price list for the joint product range has been drawn up and is available on request from Vogelsang.

He confirmed that all enquiries will be managed by the existing sales team in the UK for both dealers and customers.

Spare parts sales and servicing for both existing and new machines will be handled by Vogelsang.

Vogelsang will be showcasing solutions from its new portfolios at EuroTier, which takes place from November 10-13 in Hanover, Germany.