KIRKLAND
Keeping ahead of the game Kent-based specialist machinery supplier has played a vital part in helping the growth of the viticulture industry. While the rise and rise of wine making in the UK has seen many companies rush to take advantage of the new opportunities in this exciting industry, others have supported its growth from the beginning. One such is Kirkland UK, the Kent-based specialist machinery supplier that has played a vital part in helping the growth of the viticulture industry in this country and continues to lead the way in ensuring growers have the best tools for the job. From the simplest trailer to the £275,000 state-of-the-art Gregoire grape harvester now sitting in the yard outside Maidstone, Kirkland UK researches, supplies and provides a quality after care service for everything a vineyard owner could need. The research is vital, ensuring Kirkland UK can advise growers not just on the best machine for each job but on the manufacturer best suited to the application
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in hand. It involves visiting numerous trade shows all over Europe each year – and inevitably coming back with another new product. “We are committed to keeping ahead of the game and knowing what’s up and coming in the word of viticulture,” explained company director Scott Worsley. We go to all the shows, we talk to people, we do plenty of research and we pride ourselves on knowing what’s out there. “It means that when one of our customers says to us: 'I need a bit of kit that can do this particular task', we can give them reliable advice on what they need and the manufacturer we think they should be looking at.” Scott and sales manager Ben Devine understand their customers so well, and have such confidence in the industry, that they let Vineyard into a secret. “We don’t have
a customer lined up for the grape harvester outside, but it’s such an amazing machine that we are confident it won’t take long to sell,” said Scott. “It’s a remarkable bit of kit, it’s the future of harvesting and we know that it won’t take long for growers to realise how much it will improve their efficiency and reduce their reliance on manpower, which is an increasingly difficult area at the moment. As the UK importer we are also confident that we can get hold of more machines in time for next year’s harvest if growers want to take advantage of this outstanding technology.” The ongoing search for the best equipment in Europe means that Kirkland UK now supplies – and is in many cases the sole UK importer for – machinery including tractors from Antonio Carraro, Friuli sprayers, Hol Spraying Systems, Krolik, Olmi, Giant, Ilmer << and Corvus.