HARDI is preparing for the growth of the future

HARDI is preparing for the growth of the future  

Future oriented HARDI

HARDI has a high level of ambition for the future regarding product development plans, market penetration and the service level towards our end users. All initiatives causing comprehensive investments are part of the HARDI strategic plan. Based on increased market share in present markets and the introduction of new market areas, during the next 5 years, HARDI turnover is expected to increase heavily. As we are faced with the increased demand for new larger sprayers for existing markets, the plan entails the introduction of new products in new product segments. On top of this, development of higher technology for new market segments will be essential.   As you will know, during the past 2 years, HARDI has launched many new products within the various areas of field spraying, orchards, garden and golf. For instance, the New COMMANDER 4400 and 6600 trailed sprayers were introduced in 2006. Since then, this platform has been extended to the larger COMMANDER 9000. The COMMANDER series has achieved international recognition in many countries and has been awarded more the 16 product prizes in Europe and Australia. In other words, the COMMANDER has set a new standard for the sprayers of the future.

During 2006, a new series of a small trailed sprayers – RANGER 2200,  were  introduced. These products are all members of the first wave of HARDI’s new global product strategy.

Launch of more new products

HARDI’s product plans are far more comprehensive. By year-end 2008, HARDI is going to launch another 10 new products. This means that more than 50% of HARDI’s product portfolio will have been renewed within a 5 years’ period. This renewal of the product range emphasizes HARDI’s very high level of ambition within innovation and higher capacity for the sprayers of the future.

Increased market for advanced spraying technique

Another important detail is that substantial structural development is taking place in many of HARDI’s main markets. This means that the farms are becoming larger and the demand for more capacity and higher technology is resulting in an increased demand for trailed and self-propelled sprayers with advanced spraying technique.

Large investments

To adapt to the increased demand from the end users, considerable investments have been planned in the areas of more centralized, efficient, and flexible production.

The most important investments in 2007 are:

• More robot welding facilities in Norre Alslev. Investment in a flexible robot welding facility and more new robot cells will take place to secure a fully automated production of steel parts for the whole product range. This competence will be strengthened in the Norre Alslev factory and utilized globally as the factory will provide robot welded constructions of very high quality for the HARDI group.
• The Norre Alslev factory maintains its leading position by investing in even larger capacity of the laser cutting machines. In the future, we shall be able to laser cut with considerably stronger dimension – more than a 20 mm plate thickness.
• The test center in Norre Alslev will be extended by doubling the Spray Scanner area. All assembled sprayers will be tested according to the BBA and NSTS standard, which is a valid demand for delivery of new sprayers to most of the European markets.
• Building extension of 8,200 ft² in HARDI’s North American domicile in Davenport. The activities in North America have to be strengthened by a wider product portfolio and optimization of the activities for the USA and Canada.
• Test station in Beaurainville, France. In HARDI’s French factory – totalling 200 employees today – considerably increased activities within production of self-propelled will take place. Consequently, there will be investments in new test facilities of assembled machines. These facilities will give the possibility of an indoor functional test of all machines before delivery.