News & Events

John Deere Financial has announced two new interest-free finance programmes for UK customers.

The first is available for golf and bowls clubs, who may order any new golf & turf machine from John Deere dealers at any time from now until 31st May 2012. The offer is for 1+1 annual payments at zero per cent interest, with the amount financed limited to 60 per cent of the retail value.

Under the second scheme, all UK business customers may buy any new John Deere compact utility tractor with 1 + 2 annual payments at zero per cent interest, until further notice. In this programme, the amount financed is limited to 50 per cent of the retail value.

As usual, other credit profiles are available on request, and the availability of finance is subject to status and to terms and conditions – further details are available in the Special Offers area at www.deere.co.uk or from John Deere dealers nationwide.

The Richmond Golf Club in Surrey is in the third year of a seven-year equipment replacement plan and its latest acquisition, through a preferred supplier deal with Wokingham based dealer Godfrey’s Golf & Turf, is the John Deere 8000 E-Cut fairway mower.

Course manager Les Howkins had been impressed by the 37hp mower, which features five 18in Quick Adjust (QA) cutting units, following a demonstration, and also reports favourable comments from club members. “They really like the appearance of the narrower cut lines on the fairways,” he says. “The set-up of the machine also means I can use it for cutting the surrounds and approaches and around bunkers, if required.”

The 8000E’s hybrid diesel/electric design produces less engine noise and fewer emissions, and needs less fuel. Les Howkins was convinced to add one to his fleet by the potential fuel cost savings and what the machine could do to enhance the look of the fairways on the 18-hole, 6000-yard course, next to Richmond Park.

“The three-wheel set-up, smooth tyres and the lower risk of hydraulic oil leaks from the hybrid design all added up to a dream machine for the fairways, and so it has proved,” he says. “I favour the diamond pattern of cutting the fairways here – turns with this mower are a lot less harsh, and with the reduced impact their appearance is noticeably crisper. The 8000E does the job just as quickly as a wider machine, because we’ve found the turning plus the lifting and dropping of the reels much more efficient.”

Les Howkins manages a team of 10 fully qualified greenkeepers, and says they have also found the new mower a pleasure to use. All give the thumbs up to John Deere’s uniform mower controls, which makes switching from one cutting job to another much easier.

This is one reason why the club’s equipment replacement plan is “going down the John Deere route”, as Les puts it, and a second 8000E mower was ordered from Godfreys Golf & Turf due to the success of the first machine. “This latest purchase will complete my fairway mowing fleet and ensure consistency of appearance, quality of finish and maintenance in the workshop,” he adds.

John Deere’s PowerGard Maintenance and PowerGard Protection programmes are now available for the company’s full range of professional turf equipment, including golf and commercial mowers, as well as compact tractors (but not Gator utility vehicles). Combining both plans allows customers to budget for all their equipment servicing and repair costs.

“All our professional turf equipment customers in the UK and Ireland can now benefit from a PowerGard plan to help fix costs, budget more accurately and avoid unexpected outlays,” says John Deere Limited’s aftermarket sales manager James Morley.

“These new PowerGard programmes are specially designed to control operating costs, remove the worry and allow users to choose the best plan to suit their individual needs. Not only can the operator save on maintenance costs by locking into current parts and labour prices, he can also save on his own time and labour.”

One of the first golf courses in the country to adopt PowerGard is Allerthorpe Park Golf Club, near York. The club agreed a new package deal with local dealer F G Adamson & Son of Swanland in East Yorkshire, and took out a John Deere Financial lease with PowerGard maintenance and protection cover from day one, giving them a total fixed cost of ownership over five years.

“I was looking for something to cover all our machines all the time, so that we could concentrate on our greenkeeping duties and on improving the quality of the course and its presentation, without having to worry about servicing or parts as the machines get older,” says head greenkeeper Rob Bradley. “What we liked about PowerGard is that you have one set amount to pay every month with no unexpected costs, which makes budget planning that much easier.”

PowerGard is much more than a simple extended warranty programme; it is a complete maintenance and protection plan that allows the user to budget for the full operating costs of the equipment, while ensuring that it is properly maintained throughout its working life to provide years of reliable service.

PowerGard Maintenance is an agreement between the dealership and the customer to do all the maintenance work on the machine, new or used, according to the service schedule in the operator’s manual. Customers can pay at each service, in regular instalments or for the entire contract in advance, with the cost of the plan including all parts, maintenance fluids and routine labour.

In addition, there are two levels of PowerGard Protection plan that cover the cost of machinery repairs for up to five years, and must be bought with a PowerGard Maintenance plan. The basic PowerGard Protection is for limited coverage of the powertrain and engine, while PowerGard Protection Plus provides more comprehensive coverage of all key machine components.

Full details of covered items are available from John Deere dealers. Subject to acceptance by John Deere Financial, it is possible to fund the PowerGard Protection programmes within a finance package; payments will vary depending on the machine, length of the plan and payment option chosen.

“PowerGard customers can also be secure in the knowledge that their machines are being well cared for by a skilled, fully trained John Deere technician using state of the art tools, who is certified by the industry standard LTA programme,” says James Morley. “This in turn provides reliability and performance advantages, and they will have a complete service record book, fully stamped by the dealer, which will add value to the machine when it is traded in.”

In recognition of the company’s 175th anniversary in 2012, John Deere is offering an extra set of either Quick Adjust QA5 cutting units or standard verticut units for just £175 (or 175 euros) with every new 2500B or 2500E hybrid greens mower bought from a John Deere turf dealer. The offer runs until the end of June 2012.

 Back in 1837 John Deere produced his famous plough, designed to cut through the sticky prairie soil of the midwestern United States. That spirit of innovation continues today with the 2500 greens mower, whose offset cutting units, low pressure footprint and hybrid E-Cut technology help greenkeepers and groundsmen to create first class playing surfaces worldwide.

 The extra cutting units are compatible with 2500 greens mower models dating back to 2006 and have no shelf life, so they could either be used to upgrade an existing mower or kept for future seasons.

 First launched at BTME in 2005, the John Deere 2500E was the golf and turf industry’s first hybrid greens mower, combining conventional diesel power with electric motors to produce a quieter, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly machine. Its advanced technology eliminates more than 100 potential hydraulic leak points, without sacrificing overall reliability, power or cut quality.

 Both the 2500B PrecisionCut and 2500 E-Cut hybrid greens mowers are equipped with three 56cm (22in) cylinder cutting units, available with either seven- or 11-blade reels and smooth or grooved front rollers, plus optional greens tender conditioners and rear roller power brushes. Featuring a patented SpeedLink system, John Deere’s QA cutting cylinders provide quick and easy height of cut adjustment from either side of the units.

 Details of the special 175th anniversary offer are available from John Deere dealers nationwide.

John Deere Financial has announced a new interest free finance programme for this autumn, aimed at all golf and bowls clubs in the UK. Under the terms of this latest credit scheme, customers may order any new golf & turf machine from John Deere dealers, at any time from now up until 30 November 2011.
 
The offer is for 1+2 annual payments at zero per cent interest, with the amount financed limited to 60 per cent of the recommended retail list price. As usual, other credit profiles are available on request, and the availability of finance is subject to status and to the usual terms and conditions – further details are available in our Buying & Financing area or from John Deere dealers nationwide.
 
The wide range of machines eligible for purchase under this new scheme include John Deere’s new walk-behind greens mowers, which were featured on the company’s stand at IOG SALTEX 2011 in September.
 
The SL Series PrecisionCut walk-behind greens mowers have been designed to deliver a top quality finish on golf courses, bowling greens and other fine turf areas, and are fitted with a standard 11 blade, 127mm (5in) diameter reel with true cutting widths of 46, 56 and 66cm (18, 22 and 26in) respectively. They feature low noise and vibration levels, a powerful 3kW petrol engine and easy bedknife-to-reel adjustment
 
The mowers employ a fixed-head version of the patented SpeedLink technology now incorporated on the cutting units of all John Deere PrecisionCut machines. This innovative design allows height of cut adjustments to be made much more quickly and easily, from just one side of the mower. In addition, a new patented front roller bracket makes it equally simple to change the front roller when required.

John Deere has entered into a cooperation agreement with the Bank of Ireland to support retail financing solutions for its agricultural and turf equipment in the Republic of Ireland.
 
Effective from 1st August 2011, this non-branded agreement will be administered by the agricultural and commercial finance company Bank of Ireland Finance (BIF).
 
John Deere believes this is an extremely positive step, not only in supporting its business partners but also as a commitment to its growing agricultural and turf customer base in the Republic of Ireland.
 
The agreement enables John Deere dealers to offer customers a full range of flexible machinery financing options.

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The European team captained by Alison Nicholas took time out from their preparations for this weekend’s Solheim Cup match with the US to have their photograph taken with two John Deere mowers in front of the stunning backdrop of tournament venue Killeen Castle.

The 2653B and 2500B triplex cylinder mowers are part of the extensive golf course maintenance fleet, including tournament support equipment, supplied to Killeen by local dealer Dublin Grass Machinery and John Deere, one of the event’s industry partners. The greens team led by course superintendent Mark Collins and assistant Robert Kane, alongside support staff from John Deere and the dealership, are using a full complement of machines to keep the fairways and greens in first class condition for this eagerly awaited contest.

The event is part of the Ladies European Tour, who are also supported by John Deere as the LET’s official supplier of golf course equipment and irrigation products. This partnership with the LET has underpinned the preparations for The 2011 Solheim Cup, the biggest tournament in women’s golf.

Based on a Jack Nicklaus design, the Killeen course’s toughest hurdles are its contouring and often severe undulations, which can make mowing quite tricky. Because Mark and his team often need to change rollers and make adjustments as conditions dictate, they require machinery that can cope with such varying demands - a key criterion in the choice of supplier, says Mark. “John Deere machines are quick and easy to interchange and fit well into the set-up here. I also know we can call on Dublin Grass at a moment’s notice, if necessary, for any size of replacement part, which is invaluable.”

Mark Casey, director of operations for the LET and The Solheim Cup, also stresses the importance of having well-established partnerships with suppliers such as John Deere, who command a strong international credibility. “The LET has worked with John Deere for almost five years now - we needed a company who could support us in different markets across the world, and not be restricted with where and when machines could be supplied, and that is what John Deere delivers.

“We know the enduring strength of the John Deere brand is based on the quality of its products and customer service, and the LET and The Solheim Cup are proud to be associated with the company.”