n°
1
YEAR IX
SEPTEMBER 2009
The harvesting specialist’s journal
Laverda always makes the news in the field The distinctive red combines of yesterday and today lead their field in every region during the harvest season BENEDETTI RE-ELECTED TO UNACOMA BOARD
page 3
DEBUT OF ITALY’S FIRST ML 800 ARS ON COMMON WHEAT CROPS
page 4
INCREASINGLY HOME-FROM-HOME FOR FRENCH VISITORS TO BREGANZE
page 9
LAVERDA AGRICULTURAL COMBINE MACHINERY AND HARVESTER MECHANICS SUPPORTING SOLIDARITY PROJECT BUSINESS ENTERPRISES FOR CAMEROON
page 13
pages 14/15
Gruppo Industriale ARG
The situation by Mario Scapin
The current climate is putting brakes on the sector but we are ready to open the throttle Like a racing driver forced to brake behind the safety car, Laverda is preparing to get back to business by innovating and improving its technology and sales networks When I step back for a moment and reflect on the current economic and financial situation, the comparison comes to mind with when the safety car comes onto the track during a Formula One race. I picture the driver, leading with just a few laps to go and a huge advantage over the rest of the field when a trivial accident at the back of the pack cancels out all he has achieved, and all the hard work and effort. It is in such circumstances that truly great drivers and their qualities stand out. They lose neither concentration nor motivation, handling their cars carefully during the formation lap to make sure the brakes and tyres are the right temperature when the moment comes to restart the race and accelerate. They make full use of the time behind the safety car to think about the best strategy to employ over the final part of the race and continue to believe in their ability to immediately settle back into a rhythm and go on to win the race. I firmly believe that our sector currently has its own form of safety car in front, and that the difficulties we are experiencing are due to external reasons that unexpectedly slowed down trade and industry and forced us to drastically review our business development plans. The slowdown came out of the blue, but the prerequisites for growth remain essentially unaltered in that there are no reasons to suggest that the increasing need for agricultural products has in any way declined as a result. The global population continues to grow, the need to improving living standards in developing countries requires a change to nutritional and eating habits, and the use of biofuels is increasing. These are all changes that imply an increased requirement for agricultural products and, as a result, more farming land and improved productivity. The overall agricultural machinery market is set to grow and especially harvesting machinery given the
increasing need to concentrate such activities over a shorter time span. Demand will focus on highperformance machines able to offer reliability while keeping operating costs to a minimum. Laverda firmly believes that this is what the future has in store. While acknowledging that the world economy is undergoing a difficult period, we are confident that there will be a return to growth and development in the short term. It also true to say that the current climate is still complex and one of uncertainty. However, the first signs of recovery should not be far away. I am convinced that those companies that can take full advantage of this period by implementing strategies aimed at ensuring financial solidity, investing in products and processes, and strengthening their distribution networks will be those best suited to make a quick recovery and return to normal operations. Laverda is certain of this and committed to working towards the goals outlined above. We invest significantly in our products; not only to update and improve those currently available, but also to enlarge and integrate the overall product range to ensure we can cater to the
customer need for a top-class, highperformance machine. Particular attention is paid to operator needs by improving machine comfort and user interface. Specialised models have always been a main strength of Laverda and a new generation of machinery complete with cuttingedge technology is due to be launched. Our production plants will soon benefit from the installation of a new robotic welding island. This will not only increase production capacity but also ensure the very best quality standards for a number of key machine components. Assembly line operations will be subject to a general review of operations targeted at potential improvements in capacity or greater flexibility in order to produce different models of vehicle simultaneously. A modern functional line for cutting bars is also currently being set up. As far as distribution is concerned, the strategy adopted for markets where we already have a consolidated presence is aimed at providing the best possible technical support for machines. This can be achieved by working alongside those dealers and import agents that are not only structured and organised to manage an elevated number combines but also have a focused customer service approach. Contemporaneously, we are introducing a capillary-style network strategy, setting up new importers to sell our machines in any country in which there is a market for combines. As such, we are ready and waiting to set out once again on our path towards growth and development. Just like the clever racing driver – settled in behind the safety car - knew how to take full advantage of the formation lap, we too can face the future with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we have made the necessary investments, and efforts to achieve more ambitious goals than we ever might have expected.
Mario Scapin managing director
The harvesting specialist’s journal Year IX, N° 1, September 2009 Quarterly periodical Registered with the Court of Vicenza N° 1017 of 5 March 2002
publishing management Mario Scapin Angelo Benedetti Simonetta Lambrocco director in charge Claudio Strati art work Andrea Rosset Piergiorgio Laverda the following persons collaborated: Andrés Moradas Lopez
senior sales manager for Laverda Spain
Fabrice Rondeau
commercial director for Laverda France
Piergiorgio Laverda
curator of the “Pietro Laverda” Historic Archive”
photographs Archivio Laverda spa © by Laverda spa 36042 Breganze (VI) Italy via F. Laverda, 15/17 tel. +39.0445.385311 fax +39.0445.873355 www.laverdaworld.com info@laverdaworld.com Printed by G.N.G.
Via Galvani, 58 - 36066 Sandrigo (VI) Literary rights reserved. Articles and pictures may only be duplicated if source is cited.
To all journal subscribers PRIVACY STATEMENT AS PER ART. 13 OF DECREE LAW D.LGS. 30.6. 003, N° 196 Your identification data have been acquired by Laverda S.p.A. from either you yourselves or from public lists and registers, thus from documents accessible to anyone, for our marketing activities in the future. Laverda S.p.A. will deal with these data on paper and/or by computerized or telematic media. The information will solely be used in our company or by auxiliary bodies authorized by our company for postal purposes, in relation to our need to acquire new customers by sending commercial proposals, also in the future. Laverda S.p.A. guarantees that the data will be treated in the most confidential way and that, upon your request, your data may be cancelled (or corrected) from our archives free of charge. You are therefore entitled to exercise all the rights established by art. 7 of Decree Law d.lgs N° 196/003 and in particular, to wholly or partly refuse to allow the data to be used.
Italy by Simonetta Lambrocco
Confindustria; Benedetti among the harvesting machine board members
Simonetta Lambrocco communication and public relations manager
Laverda Marketing Director re-elected as UNACOMA board member: “One of the objectives must be to motivate the young” Angelo Benedetti, sales and marketing director for Laverda, has been re-elected to the board of directors of UNACOMA, the National Union of Agricultural Machine Manufacturers. The new board of directors for the years 20092012 was elected during the UNACOMA general meeting held last June 24, 2009. The board comprises thirty-one members covering eight specific fields of interest within this Confindustria industrial association, which represents manufacturers of agricultural, earthmoving and landscaping machines as well as producers of components and parts for the sector. The newly-appointed UNACOMA board will face a particularly demanding agenda given the difficult current economic and financial climate that is affecting its own sector, as elsewhere. The 15,635 votes received by Angelo Benedetti testified to the effective way he has spent his previous three years on the board. “My own personal commitment and involvement will in no way diminish over the next three years and I, together with my fellow board members, will be strongly active in a variety of areas”, stated the Laverda Marketing Director. “One of our objectives is undoubt-
edly to relaunch the agricultural mechanisation sector. This will help us face the international market crisis in the best possible way and strengthen the underlying ties between companies, institutions and associations.” Benedetti went on to add, “Furthermore, we will be striving to make our sector a more attractive and appealing proposition among the younger end of the labour market; people who, at the moment, do not consider it a favourable professional opportunity or career.”
A 2009 marked by ups and downs after a positive 2008 The financial ‘meltdown’ has brought to the forefront the contraction in our own reference markets, and those of agricultural mechanisation. Laverda, however, is confident of being able to contain such reductions in 2009 thanks to a consolidated presence in those markets affected to a lesser extent by the crisis, and its ability to tailor its product mix to meet customer demand. In actual fact, the company continues to carry out research and development activities. This established range of combines for lowland areas including the LCS Series, the REV Series, Levelling System and Self-levelling Series, will soon be boosted by the addition of an updated M Series and a new generation of cutting headers. Laverda is also improving both its welding and assembly line operations. Thanks to the synergy between Laverda and Agco and the resulting new ML 800 ARS series combines, the Breganze company can cover a market segment previously left unexplored and cater to the needs of customers requiring non-conventional threshing systems. As far as 2008 is concerned, the Laverda Spa April shareholders’ meeting approved the last financial year (Laverda is a 50:50 joint venture between Argo Spa and Agco Corp. and totally owns Fella Werke GmbH, editor’s note). In particular, Laverda turnover exceeded 124 million, up 25% on the previous year. This was thanks the 1,040 combines sold (+ 28% on 2007), whilst consolidated turnover for both Laverda and the German company Fella GmbH, specialists in haymaking machines, was up 20% at 179 million. The consolidated operating result before income tax (EBT) stood at 10.6% of total turnover.
Italy’s first ML 800 ARS takes to the field Debut on common wheat crops in Ravenna; two-man steering in the hands of local entrepreneur Minelli and Laverda manager Bezzi Sergio Minelli is Laverda’s first customer in Italy to boast an ML 800 ARS on his farm. He was determined to support his range of makes of other conventional machines with this powerful axial-flow machine. The Minelli family-owned business in Ravenna farms 50 hectares of land with crops ranging from corn, soya bean, potatoes and beet, as well as contractor. It was in this latter role as contractor for a nearby 120-hectare farm, that the company ‘inaugurated’ the new ML 800 ARS. At the wheel with Sergio Minelli was Pietro Bezzi, Laverda area manager for Italy, and it was Pietro who had the honour of beginning the threshing with the ML, complete with its 7-metre Free Flow 700 cutting table. Doing so, Pietro Bezzi also had the chance to weigh up the performance of Italy’s first ML 800 ARS on a field of wheat. Minelli, on the other hand, had nothing but praise for the machine, “I really enjoyed the clear difference in terms of quality. I got used to the machine after the initial few days, can now make the most of what it has to offer and appreciate the clear work opportunities this machine can provide me with. Obviously, it means I have had to get up to scratch on some things and review my approach to work; after all, I have been used to working with straw walkers. However, once I understood the settings and specific parameters for, what is for me, a completely different concept of threshing, I immediately realised and appreciated the huge operating potential of the machine.” The ML 800 ARS worked “Bologna” common wheat with a yield of 8 tons per hectare and a straw height of 0.85m. Product humidity stood at 13.5% (14-15% for straw) and was therefore just within the limits of normal harvesting conditions for Ravenna and its surrounds. It is, on the other hand, a type of wheat that is easy to thresh and with little chaff. Performance-wise, the ML 800 ARS worked at a forward speed of 7-7.5 kilometres per hour (max. 8.2 km/h). Net of idle time, the machine worked an average 4.9-5.2 hectares per hour
up to a maximum of 5.7. Product tonnage harvested during operations, net of idle time, amounted to 39.2-41.6 (with a max. of 45.6) tonnes per hour. Waste levels were below average at 0.2-0.3%, with excellent grain cleaning and minimum grain damage. The ML 800 ARS worked a 7-hectare plot of land (approx.), harvesting 570 quintals (weighed) in 1.75 hours, equivalent to a production return of 32.5 tonnes/hour. “Taking these figures and relating them to a theoretical average value of 40.4 tonnes/hour - explained Bezzi - excluding the peak values of 45.6 tonnes/hour, we are left with a performance in the region of 80%. This is an incredible figure if you think that we normally calculate combine yield as ranging between 65, maximum 70% - if provided with good ‘logistic’ support. Machine performance is really satisfying, also thanks to the large 12,000-litre effective capacity of the grain tank, and its unloading speed of 125 litres/second. Machine consumption was also encouraging with top production speed on 4-5 hectares of land requiring just 10 litres per hectare.” And how did Sergio Minelli get on with the machine settings that were new to him? “The first day,” continued Pietro Bezzi, “was slightly hard going because Minelli wanted to set the axial as if it were a straw walker, conventional
PIETRO BEZZI; AN AXIAL-FLOW EXPERT WITH OVER TWENTY YEARS’ EXPERIENCE Pietro Bezzi, Laverda area manager for Italy joined the company in December 2007. He has always had a soft spot for combines, which he saw working the fields as a boy. The first machine he operated himself was a Laverda M 132, without cabin, back in 1979. “Maybe that’s why the Laverda brand name has always fascinated me,” he says smiling, “clearly a case of destiny.” From 16 to 28, Bezzi worked for a service cooperative as an agricultural machine operator, where - in 1985 - he gained his first experience of axial-flow combines. Between the ages of 28 and 32 he took control of running the company before moving into a commercial role at the Agricultural Cooperative of Ravenna for the next ten years. His leisure time activities include motorcycling and dancing.
combine. However, after discussing the issue, we realised we needed to set the machine differently. That’s not all; Minelli wanted me to drive at all costs because he wanted to put me to the test! In the end, however, he was more than happy to take over and drive the machine himself”, smiled Bezzi. Pietro Bezzi has more than 20 years’ experience of axial-flow combines and loves the way they adapt so easily to the operator’s handling style. He says, “An axial just follows the creative input of the person operating it. True, it needs a certain amount of adjustment by the operator initially to get used to the machine, but then it is a real joy to operate. Once you find the right settings, machine performance is 100% reliable.”
Ravenna, Laverda puts its trust in Agri Ubaldi Already present in the areas around Rimini and Forlì Cesena, the dealership looks further afield Agri Ubaldi continues to grow and increase its territorial coverage. Having held the Laverda franchise for the areas around Rimini and ForlìCesena since 2007, in 2008 it added Ravenna to its list. Agri Ubaldi was founded in 2005 as a dealer for Landini tractors in Rimini, its surrounding area, and some municipalities in the Pesaro area. The company is run by the father, Mariano, with the support of his children Loris and Cinzia, partners and highly-involved in the company’s activities. Loris and Mariano follow sales and marketing whilst Cinzia is in charge of administration and accounts. Agri Ubaldi may be a young company, but it boasts more than thirty years of experience in the agricultural sector. “First of all, as agricultural machine users, then as manufacturers of disc mowing and reaping machines for the Roc brand, and then, finally, as retailers,” explained Mariano Ubaldi. “We have always worked in this field and our strength lies in the very fact that we know the machines inside out - from the point of view of both manufacturer and end user.” “This joint experience which we have
gained over time also enables us to offer our customers advice as to which product best suits their specific needs,” adds Loris. “We can also guarantee our customers the fastest most effective technical support imaginable thanks to our technical office and workshop, which we opened some years ago for repairs and assistance to tractors, combines and agricultural machines in general. Our warehouse is well-stocked with original Laverda spare parts and other agricultural equipment in general, and is also of strategic importance.” Agri Ubaldi is also equipped with a mobile
technical office which enables them to provide on-site customer support 24 hours per day. Because when you are in the middle of harvesting, everything needs to run like clockwork. Time is so short… Apart from tractors and combines, Agri Ubaldi can also offer its customers all the necessary equipment to work the land, for haymaking, sowing, seeding, harvesting, mowing, cutting and landscaping, etc. “Talking of customer service,” added Cinzia, “I would like to point that we are able to offer customers favourable credit conditions on both new and second-hand purchases.
Pro-Laverda without a shadow of a doubt The Bagna family from Alessandria has always counted on “Breganze red” Laverda is a member of the family at the home of Mirko Bagna. As a contractor, he has always counted on Laverda to do the job. His father is also pro-Laverda with a 521 and a 3550 AL to help him run his agricultural business. Mirko Bagna began his activity as contractor in Murisengo in the province of Alessandria in 2003 with a 2350 LX LS 4WD purchased from Bonizzoni. In 2007, Mirko replaced his 3550 AL with a 255 LCS and 2008 saw the arrival of an M 304 LS 4WD, delivered in November, to replace his 2350 LX LS 4WD. Together with his Laverda machines, Mirko Bagna carries out most of his work as contractor. He covers, on average, 1,500 hectares per year. Most of it is hillside work with crops ranging from wheat and barley, to sunflower, corn and a little soya bean. ”Last season, I began threshing wheat midJune and finished on the 21st of August,” explained the Piedmont farmer. “By August 24 I was already working on sunflower and corn fields and – I must say, with great satisfaction – was still working corn mid-November.” Laverda guarantees Mirko the peace of mind
that comes with reliability when the harvest season is at its peak. “My 255 LCS was bought in 2007 and has done more than 1,400 hours,” he said. “Once the machine was adjusted to the correct settings, it has always worked perfectly without any problems whatsoever. The only action required is standard maintenance, which is dead easy. The engine works a treat and doesn’t miss a stroke. Here in the company we have big JD and medium-range Landini tractors. But we only use
Laverda combines because they guarantee much better results in terms of reliability and levelling performance.” At the end of July and right in the middle of harvesting, the Bagna family had already threshed for more than 285 hours with its new 304 LS 4WD (with very satisfying results) and for 265 hours with its 255 LCS. But the season still has a long way to go when you are aboard a Laverda machine!
From the combines of yesteryear to today’s ‘jewels in the crown’ The Casonato company grounds recount the development of mechanised harvesting Threshing through the ages: this was the theme chosen for the event held at the Fratelli Casonato agriculture company in Rai di San Polo, close to Treviso. The organizational machine was set in motion several days prior to the event, and the commitment of the Agriosso Rinaldin Group, the Fratelli Casonato company and Laverda was rewarded with an encouraging turnout and interest from people in the sector. Last, but by no means least, a little bit of good fortune allowed the sun to shine on Rai di San Polo on a day when elsewhere in the northeast saw little but bad weather. The event opened with the presentation of an Epple combine dating back to the late ‘50s. Still in perfect condition and fully– operational, the machine filled two sacks of grain in a couple of turns around the field. This machine had no grain tank and required the presence of three operators; one to drive the vehicle and two others on raised platforms to each side of the machine to fill the sacks with the precious cereal as it was harvested. Strange as it might seem, a miracle compared to the harvesting and drudgery of manual hulling that preceded it… Next in line, the Laverda M 132, a model well worth its title as one of the mainstays of Laverda’s worldwide success; 5,268 machines were produced between 1975 and 1982. The machine, with its four straw walkers and 112 HP Perkins engine, went on display for the first time at the Eima Trade Fair in 1974 and was on sale the following year. Of particular note was the central steering position inside a closed cabin - one of the first moves towards improving operator working conditions and comfort. Two turns of the field showed the appreciative crowd that this “lady of threshing” can still put in an excellent performance and then it was the turn of the Laverda 3790. This latter machine was an updated version of the 3700; a five straw walker combine with a
175-HP Iveco engine, and 1,428 machines produced between 1985 and 1991. Its demonstration over, and its owner having assured the audience that his machine still put in an excellent performance, the 3790 handed over to the M 304 Special Power combine. The M 304 Special Power is one of Breganze’s top-of-the-range products and comes equipped with the exclusive Laverda system. This comprises: Gsax, which ensures perfect transversal and longitudinal cutting header adjustment, and maintains automatic cutting height and correct pressure at the base of the header; Pfr for a constant uniform product flow to guarantee threshing regularity and reliable machine performance; Mcs Plus, which can be easily enabled or disabled by means of an electric switch in order to change from a more ‘aggressive’ to a more ‘delicate’ threshing system depending on the type and condition of grain in question; and the Hcd sieves, with their special profile and reverse counter action for unbeatable cleaning and minimum product damage. These features are all well-known to Laverda users and absolutely essential to anyone in search of quality and high performance.
The M 304 Special Power, with its five straw walkers and 275-HP Sisu Diesel engine also finished its demonstrations to the applause of the on looking crowd. However, the most exhilarating moment of the event came at the end of the demonstrations in the field when the machines lined up together in sequence and worked the field together - one alongside another - all captured on film to mark the occasion by the television channel Canale Italia. The outdoor proceedings over, the event continued in the covered area provided by the Casonato family. Having thanked the hosts for their hospitality, speeches were made by Carlo Feletto, chairman of Apima Treviso and Belluno, Vendemiano Sartor, regional council member, Amedeo Gerolimetto, regional councillor, Bruno Andreetta, chairman of Ascom di Uderzo and Galileo Zaninotto, deputy mayor of San Polo. Speeches over, corporate presentations were made by the Agriosso Rinaldin Group and Laverda followed by a marvellous barbecue to round off the evening in pleasant company of friends and colleagues. Simonetta Lambrocco
Rinaldin Group; three sites in Veneto and Friuli regions, and more than 25 years’ experience The Rinaldin Group has its headquarters in Ponte di Piave, close to Treviso, and is a well-established name in the agricultural mechanics sector. For more than 25 years, the company has specialised in the sale, upkeep and repair of agricultural and industrial machines and equipment. Rino Rinaldin was a young talented mechanic employed full-time by a company working in the sector and, by all accounts, a person who did ‘the work of three’. Courage, determination and no lack of skill led him to take the decision to ‘set up shop’ on his own, with the invaluable support of his wife, Gianna. Rino understood from the word ‘go’ that the only way to success was by trading the very best brand names and that quality after-sales technical support was absolutely indispensable. His son Roberto and daughter Chiara joined the company during the ‘90s, adding fresh blood, new ideas and initiative. Soon afterwards, their relative spouses Erika and Thomas also took on important central roles. Investments were made regularly, year by year, the number of products sold grew steadily and the family’s territorial coverage also grew, with a second site at Pordenone opening in 2000. The family contributed enthusiastically to the development of the company, which reached a peak with the opening of the current head offices. “The premises are fabulous; roughly three thousand square metres, welcoming, well organized and dedicated to sales and after-sales support for agricultural, industrial and gardening machines and equipment. The premises include a well stocked spare parts warehouse, technical office and workshop, and a huge open space where we can display both new and second-hand machines,” announced a proud Rino Rinaldin. Last but not least, the Rinaldin Group’s constant passion and determina-
tion to grow saw the company buy a major stake in Agriosso in Palmanova (Udine), a Laverda dealer and company specialized in combines. The group now has a total of three sites in Ponte di Piave, Palmanova, and Pordenone, and an active presence across six provincial areas: Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste, Udine, Treviso and Venice. The company has thirtyfour full time employees and turnover worth 12 million euros. “I am proud of what we have achieved, but by no means wish to stop where we are. And, we will continue to grow, thanks to the team of people we have built and developed,” Rino Rinaldin proudly - and rightly so - points out as he eyes the future with trust and determination.
Fratelli Casonato; non-stop growth since 1987: three Laverda machines and 360-degree investment The Casonato Giannantonio & Fratelli company in Rai di San Polo di Piave is a well established entreprise working in the field of agricultural operations and the landscaping and maintenance of public and private parks and gardens. The company was founded by Giannantonio Casonato in 1987, who discovered a passion for agriculture, farming and a life in the open air when he enrolled at the Vittorio Veneto agricultural college. He purchased his first Laverda combine that same year; a 3350. However, the enjoyment he gained from his work, and the need to guarantee a punctual, efficient and effective service left him no alternative but to expand – and heralded the arrival of brother Luigi. A tractor was purchased in 1988, followed by a second combine in 1989 (a Laverda 3550) and a second tractor in 1991 to carry out maintenance and roadside border cutting. The arrival of the third brother, Massimo, in 1995 allowed the company to not only increase the range of available services it could offer but to also further increase organisational efficiency and response time. The company took the decision to further increase the number of machines in use and hire employees in 1995, and the same year saw the arrival of a new tractor and trailer to transport cereal grains. A third combine arrived in 1996. The fleet of machines currently comprises thirteen tractors, three Laverda combines, and a wide range of machines for activities including ploughing, sowing, landscaping, mowing, three lawn mower tractors, two brush cutters with articulated booms and a huge stock of gardening tools and equipment.
The company continues to constantly renew and increase the available machines and equipment to ensure it can satisfy the market demand and the needs of numerous agricultural firms and public bodies that require the presence of trained qualified personnel able to guarantee a quality job done quickly and well. The company goal is to increase the number of services it can offer and improve efficiency and this led to the decision to expand operations with the addition of one thousand square metres of additional covered space, complete with crane, well equipped technical office and workshop, and spare parts warehouse. It has opened new offices which not only have great visual impact but are also extremely well laid out, with the very latest software and IT equipment to help manage the sales and accounting departments, as well as improving professionalism. “It improves efficiency and helps streamline how we manage all our activities – including our contract threshing work which we carry our with our three Laverda combines,” says Giannantonio Casonato, with a smile of satisfaction.
Mapelli and the abc of a contractor’s activity The Lombardy company carries out roughly one thousand work hours a year and looks to support its 255 LCS with an M 304 Special Power Mapelli is an agricultural company based in Grezzago, close to Milan that primarily works as a contractor. The firm was founded by Enrico Mapelli in 1981 when he left the family business and set up on his own, purchasing second-hand equipment, tractors and combines. The following year, Enrico Mapelli handed over the reins to his son Antonio - the current owner – who founded the current company together with his brother Roberto in 1984. Antonio and Roberto continued to develop the activities their father had begun, with particular focus not only on the company’s own work but also as a contractor, with a view the progressively increasing the number of customers. The brothers’ technical background also enabled them to specialise in the maintenance and repair of all the company machinery: a pedigree pool of machines with various models of combines tracking developments over the period from 1981 to 2007. Mapelli currently employs an L524 and a Laverda 255 LCS. The company carries out a total of roughly one thousand work hours per year, with the L524 doing 400 hours and the 255 LCS the remaining 600. Threshed products include: wheat and barley (300 hectares), triticale (100 hectares), soya bean (10 hectares) and corn (500 hectares). The Mapelli brothers have also noted that the new Laverda model consumes less diesel and less standard maintenance, whereas minimum extraordinary maintenance costs stand at about € 500 per year. Basically, there is no overall cost involved in changing machine. “We achieve excellent threshing performance and great grain quality,” explained Antonio Mapelli. “ The 255 LCS is lighter and easier to handle than other machines we have tried out. What’s more, the extra Laverda
package gives us the guarantee that we can provide a better-quality, improved-performance threshing service. Cabin comfort is good; all in all, a reliable combine that has never given us any trouble in terms of combine power and strength, or its ability to last the distance.” The Mapelli family is also happy with the Laverda staff support, whether commercial advice, after sales support or spare parts. The decision to purchase a Laverda combine, they explain, was based on the need for ease of use and reliability, together with simple, low-cost maintenance. They are already planning their next Laverda purchase – most probably an M 304 Special Power.
Correct nutrition: cereal grain, and apple, too Laverda takes part in the ministry campaign for the consumption of ‘good old-fashioned’ fruit Eat more apples. Laverda was among those who recognised and supported the promotional campaign for healthy eating habits, promoted by Assomela in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies and the European Commission. The Breganze company took the decision to take part in the ‘eat an apple’ campaign because Laverda philosophy is strongly committed to the need for correct healthy eating habits. With more than 130 years’ experience in the field of agriculture, the Breganze company is a firm believer in the wholesomeness of the Mediterranean diet with its daily consumption of cereals, root vegetables, legumes and fresh fruit – without forgetting the importance of the essential proteins found in meat. Thanks to the delicacy with which the Laverda combines work the crop, the grain obtained is undamaged and free from impurity. This makes it ideal for the next step in the operating process when the threshed material passes into the food production chain. Good grain quality is essential in order to achieve the required standards for all derivative food products. Laverda has always paid close attention to issues regarding human wellbeing and health, respect for the natural habitat and environmental safeguards, not to mention any initiatives aimed at promoting ‘Made-in-Italy’. It was obviously delighted, therefore when Assomela
contacted the company to ask it to take part in the project. As a result, the association was given complete access to the company cafeteria and canteen area in order to set up an information point and hand out various types of apples to interested parties. As a result, all regular company canteen users received advice, recipes, information and a free apple every day for a week. Laverda; by your side for healthy eating habits. To see the project presentation on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bkGVcqVgNE
The markets
by Simonetta Lambrocco
Breganze gets more and more ‘French’ Increasingly more French visitors to the Laverda plant: work with just a touch of tourism Visitors from all around the world (more than two thousand alone during the 2008-2009 season) have had the opportunity to look round and admire the Laverda production site in Breganze. Many of them came from France. “Breganze stands out for its production skills and ability. It is an industrial site par excellence and certainly one of the most technologically advanced sites in its sector – and probably the best in terms of combine production,” explained Fabrice Rondeau, head of sales for Laverda France. Unfortunately, it is relatively unknown by French customers and this is why we have promoted trips from France to the Italian headquarters. I have always believed in this form of visibility. In the future, I would like to increase the number of visits, and count on such a modern style of production plant, complete with its ISO certification, to act as a flagship in promoting our brand and know-how.” The increased number of visits from France was mainly due to the partnership between the Italian marketing department and the French dealers, with specific work and welcome programmes planned according to the persons involved. It goes without saying that the visit to Breganze often went hand in hand with a trip around the Veneto region and, above all, a visit to the legendary city of Venice. For example, some promotional initiatives have focused on a sort of “challenge” between sales reps with a weekend visit to Venice and the Laverda plant for two the reward for the agent with the best sales result. Other initiatives have been laid on by dealers themselves for their own staff with the chance to win a guided trip to the Laverda plant and Venice. The company has organised company tours for customers and VIPs, not to mention promotional activities with the chance for a customer to win “a weekend in Venice”. Similarly, it has laid on sales seminars at the Breganze headquarters, where invitees have had the opportunity to get to know not only the plant but also the main cultural and tourist attractions of the area. “All these initiatives have been
organised with the utmost professionalism, creating a welcoming environment thanks to a team of personnel that are always on hand to help, from senior manager down. Visitors are met by people with passion and pride, and a huge desire to help as much as they can – in other words, people who well and truly represent the celebrated ‘made in Italy’,” adds Rondeau. The purpose of these events is to inform, raise awareness, teach, and train customers, agents and dealers alike. “I dearly hope these events will become standard promotional practice for new dealers in order to give both customers and company staff a clear idea of the strength, and development and production capacity of Laverda. Thanks also to this, the perception of Laverda will remain that of a company that likes to treat its customers well,” concludes Rondeau . “I would like to thank all the staff – the men and the women that work hard day by day to reinforce the Laverda image of stability and trustworthiness in France. And a special thanks to our customers, who place their trust in the Laverda brand.”
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Fella renews its product range ‘look’ The German company chooses ‘Breganze-style’ red for its haymaking machines The German company Fella is based in Feucht and specialises in the manufacture of haymaking machines. It has been part of the Italian Laverda group for the last five years, and Fella General Manager took the opportunity to mark the occasion by restyling the company image – in the real sense of the word. The design of all the Fella machines has been updated with a darker red than the one currently used. It has a ‘retro’ feel about it as it was the colour that the Feucht-based company used in the past, and the same tone of red presently employed by Laverda. A perfect match of modern and traditional. “We were 100% behind the decision to move to this new look,” explained Reinhard Brunner, General Manager, “because, doing so, we not only emphasise our strong ties to Fella’s past and its traditions but also recognise and pay tribute to the role of our parent company, Laverda.” Apart from the change of colour, however, the company logo is also set for an imminent restyle in order to improve its impact and
visibility. The “corporate design” preview for all the Fella product range is set to take place at the Agritechnica Trade Fair in Hanover, the most important fair of its kind for agricultural machinery and mechanics. Visitors will have
the chance to see the new Fella machine image “live” from 10 to 14 November 2009. On the other hand, the mission and philosophy of the company remains unchanged; tried and tested technology to satisfy even the most demanding requirements.
Spain served ‘to perfection’ Constant annual increase in market share for ‘the Reds’: thanks also, says Andrés Moradas, to the technical support team The wide open spaces of farmland in Spain are a hive of activity. And, obviously, the Laverda team is busy working to support its customers. “We are getting excellent feedback from customers,” explains Andrés Moradas, Laverda area manager for Spain, “and Laverda combine users have been expressing their satisfaction with the way in which we managed and manage to provide fast effective support during the season. Based on what they are saying, it is clear that they are more than happy with machine performance and have that extra peace of mind thanks to our technical support. Our customers’ success is also our own reward and it is thanks to this that the Laverda brand continues to grow year by year in Spain and is seen as a valid choice when it comes to deciding which combine to purchase.” A well-organised co-ordinated group of motivated highly-experienced personnel is essential in order to deal swiftly and efficiently with the wide range of problems that arise day in day out during the season.
“The Spanish team,” adds Moradas, “is well structured and sized. The coordination and support activities at the parent company headquarters under the guidance of Gianfranco Dal Santo and Gaetano Re are then channelled through to the operational mangement side of things in Spain with our specialist José Manuel Tavira – a really dynamic person and 100% committed to ensuring the combines work as efficiently as possible. Added to this, we have a network of dealers strategically situated around the country with excellent technical skills and able to provide first-class spare part services and technical support. That’s how Laverda offers a real five-star global service!” This, explains Moradas, is one of the underlying reasons why Laverda manages to improve its market share year by year in such a demanding and competitive sector. Andrés Moradas finishes by saying, “To be honest, we are finding that the number of customers coming back for a second, third or even fourth additional purchase of a Laverda machine is continually on the up. We are really
indebted and owe our thanks to the Laverda technical support staff without whom we could never have managed to achieve the excellent results that we are managing to obtain in Spain.”
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The products
AgriCamp; in-field training with the M 306 SP The combine’s productivity and flexibility takes the public by surprise as it works a rapeseed crop Cultivating and producing energy: the rapeseed project. The theme of this year’s AgriCamp 2009 (an annual event laid on by the industrial associations ‘Unindustria Rovigo’ and ‘Confagricoltura Rovigo’) also captured the interest of Laverda. As event sponsor, it took part with an M 306 Special Power combine deployed in field trials and an M 304 Special Power combine on display; both adapted to rapeseed harvesting. The ‘Agriturismo Millefiori’ company, with its 140 hectares (of which 30 dedicated to rapeseed growing) hosted this year’s event. Following the opening ceremony and walk around the display area, the conference focused its attention on the theme of the ”Use and development of rapeseed”. The meeting focused on the technical and agronomic matters involved in sowing and harvesting the crop as well as the more commercial issue of its processing and end use, and saw the involvement of Fabrizio Rossi, chairman of Unindustria Rovigo, Stefano Casalini, chairman of Confagricoltura Rovigo, Marco Caliceti, from the University of Bologna department of agricultural economics and engineering, and Confagricoltura head of bioenergy for Italy, and, finally, Antonio De Lucchi, regional councillor for agriculture. Given the significance of rapeseed in biodiesel production or as a biomass for alternative forms of energy, these were matters of clear interest to Laverda, which has always paid close attention to ecological issues and the environment. While clearly interested in the theoretical part of the event, the public turned out in even greater numbers for the afternoon in-field demonstration. As pioneer and co-sponsor of the event, the company had pre-prepared three plots of land with rapeseed in order to carry out tests and measure relative yield and product humidity. Furthermore, the demonstration included tests for harrowing, tilling and sowing hard ground. The threshing trials also allowed the crowd to assess the quality of the product collected by the Laverda M 306 Special Power; the only combine able to take to the field after the previous night’s bad weather. The onlookers were all experienced in their field and had made the trip from various towns and cities around the Veneto and Emilia Romagna region. However, all showed their clear interest in this top-of-the-range machine from the Breganze company, especially when it successfully worked a crop severely flattened rapeseed under the
observant scrutiny of its public. Such a high degree of productivity under such difficult harvesting conditions is made possible by the exclusive active reel. The special set-up of the Breganze combine for rapeseed calls for the mounting a kit which, once in place, allows the machine to work with no further regulation necessary. Thus the combine can move from wheat to rapeseed and back again several time a day without requiring any special operation by the
operator, a feature which undoubtedly saves time and maximises productivity. The M 306 Special Power turned in a solid performance that showed the versatility and variety of uses that the Laverda range of products can be put to; ready and willing to work any crop in any conditions.
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The events
From the US to Venice and Breganze The Agco board of directors holds its annual meeting in ‘Lagoon City’ and visits the Laverda production plant Italy, and Venice in particular, have always been firm favourites with overseas tourists, among others. If we add to this the chance to mix a little business with pleasure, we are clearly onto a winning formula. It therefore can’t have been a difficult decision for the Agco board of directors to choose Venice for its annual meeting, given that the meeting location generally changes. It was also an ideal opportunity to add a touch of culture and tourism to the week’s agenda, together with a visit to Breganze and the Laverda plant, the company held jointly by both Agco and the Argo industrial group. Worth special mention was the preparation for the event with Simonetta Lambrocco running operations in Italy, in constant contact with Isabella Schoning at the Agco headquarters in Duluth, US. Thanks to their experience and non-stop dialogue, they were able to align participant needs with the opportunities offered by a location of such historical and artistic importance, with the architecture of its buildings not to mention its local industry. The visit to the Laverda plant was arranged for March 13, 2009. The group of Agco executives were greeted by the chairman of the joint venture and Argo, Valerio Morra, who stressed the importance of the visit. He also highlighted the advantages of the environment in which Laverda operates, the dedicated personnel and the excellent working relations and cooperation between the two groups. He noted how these factors had helped the company achieve the encouraging results it had reported for the last financial year. He then handed over to his son Alberto, in attendance together with sister Elena, for the Argo group presentation. Laverda managing director, Mario Scapin, then gave the official corporate presentation of the company – underlining the plant’s production capacity, the quality of its products and the satisfactory operating results achieved. Gary Collar, vice president of the joint venture and Agco senior vice president and managing director, EAME, East Asia & Pacific Region, then briefly greeted everyone and went on to present those members present, with special mention for Martin Richenhagen, CEO and chairman of Agco Corporation. Following this, the management and senior employees of Laverda were also presented, including a brief description of their roles and responsibilities. The company visit was of great interest to all participants and an opportunity to witness firsthand what had been described earlier during the presentation by the managing director, Mario Scapin. The looks of astonishment and amazement on the faces of the people were satisfying confirmation of how the company succeeds in assembling its majestic machines piece by piece in a clean and orderly environment. Then, from production through to the spare parts warehouse – another essential department for the harvesting machines – and on to a demonstration on the artificial hillside, especially created to test run and trial the self-levelling machines. It was interesting here to see how members of the party vied with one another to drive Laverda’s ‘flagship of the self-levelling fleet’ – the Al Quattro – on the steeply inclined slopes. Not to mention the astonishment and applause for the perfectly synchronised performance of both mechanical and hydraulic parts which allows this machine to perform impossible feats of harvesting engineering. Concrete proof of Laverda’s competence and know-how. The day ended with a visit to the machines and equipment of the past and allowed visitors an insight into the creativity and sound business acumen of the original founders of the prestigious Laverda brand name over the course of the years. The welcome and hospitality shown to our important guests, down to the finest detail, is something that they will remember for years to come. Indeed, the end to the visit was marked by sincere thanks and gratitude from all parts – something which will undoubtedly go towards supporting
the ongoing collaboration and dialogue between the parties concerned, and help Laverda to continue to grow and improve the visibility of this historic brand name within a global group such as Agco. Angelo Benedetti The visit to Breganze by top executives from Agco. Above: the group arriving at Laverda. At the centre, Martin Richenhagen, dressed in brown jacket and beige trousers, speaking to Valerio Morra, to his right. To the left of Richenhagen in the background, Gary Collar. Centre: during the corporate presentation Bottom: the group sets off to visit the plant.
13 Laverda, partnering the professionals The new corporate campaign and mission: advanced solutions for each and every business Different needs, projects and visions of the future. Yet more and more entrepreneurs share a common solution. Laverda: customised, specialised, advanced solutions and peace of mind. This is the headline for the 2009-2010 Laverda corporate campaign with, as always, entrepreneurs taking a central position, promoting their message and mission. Previous campaigns focused on one clearlyidentified person whereas this current campaign brings together a number of players, spread – as we can see – around a wheat field. Laverda understands that the entrepreneurs to whom it offers its products and services are people with
very different needs, with different projects for the future, and acknowledges these visions and their specific demands. The promise is clear. Laverda recognises the different requirements and is here to offer each and everyone a solution to their needs, and the specialised skills and know-how to allow them to face their day-to-day working routine and future plans with complete peace of mind. Laverda provides the answer to all those entrepreneurs seen in the advertising campaign because its mission puts the customer in prime position and guarantees a constant development in harvesting technology. This allows the company to offer the widest possible range of specialised solutions to meet the complex demands of modern firms in the field
of agriculture and agricultural mechanics and their relative business plans. The picture is fully aligned with the corporate identity, both in colour and style, created by the previous campaign. It develops an idea, and tells the story, of business people – apparently different, yet with a shared awareness that Laverda can offer them a specialised, reliable and profitable solution.
Scale models are great, but nothing compared to ‘the reds’ face to face Day trip to Laverda for The National Club of Agricultural Machine Modellers It was a special day at Breganze when it hosted a visit by Gaima, the national association of modellers for agricultural machines. The trip was organised by Andrea D’Ippoliti from Argenta - a great fan of the Laverda brand and club founder – together with Laverda PR, Simonetta Lambrocco and company staff. It was the source of significant interest from club members and the visitors were taken aback by the warm welcome they received at Breganze. “I am very fond of my club and knew from previous experience that Laverda would do
me proud if I took a group to visit,” explained D’Ippoliti. The members were, for the most part, farmers and contractors. Following a brief welcome and coffee, they were shown film clips and given a company presentation to learn a little about the history of the firm. This was followed by a tour of the production plant where the group followed all the various stages in the combine manufacturing cycle; from the arrival of the raw materials and parts through to the assembly lines. “Even the tour of the spare parts department
was really interesting,” D’Ippoliti continued, “because we realised what it means to be able to count on a fast effective service.” But what really made the day, he explained, was the display and in-motion dynamic test of the Al Quattro self levelling combine on the artificial hillside. The prized company museum also proved of great interest. Last but not least, a delicious lunch with some of the company managers. “We were very proud to think that the Laverda brand flies an Italian flag,” D’Ippoliti concluded.
The great international Autumn fairs. The Laverda agenda includes France, Puglia and Germany The season begins with the Innov-Agri Grand Sud Ouest show, in the Alta Garonna region at Ondes, France. The fair takes place on September 9-10 2009 as summer winds to a close, with 70 hectares of exhibition space and 25 hectares set aside for in-field in-motion machine displays. Laverda will be present with three machines: an M 306, an M 306 Levelling System and a 255 LCS Levelling System. Attention then turns to Agrilevante, in Bari, October 8-11, 2009. The main objective of the 2009 edition is to place the fair firmly on the international stage as well as making it an important point of reference for Mediterranean Basin, Balkan and Middle east countries.
Laverda will put on display its self-levelling flagship, the Al Quattro, with its 6-metre cutting header, and an M 304 SP LS Integrale with 7-metre cutting header. Finally, November 8-14, 2009 (preview days, November 8-9) sees the company move to Germany for the Agritechnica Trade Fair in Hanover. This international trade show brings together agricultural machinery and mechanics from the sector and provides an excellent opportunity to see the latest innovations, define trends and developments and swap visions of the future.
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The album
Combine harvester sails off in support of Cameroon After thirty year’s of honourable service, a renovated M 100 continues to perform its mission faultlessly for the Carmelite Order Porto de Douala, Republic of Cameroon, Equatorial Africa, December 2008: onlookers’ attention is drawn to the vessel from Italy and the large red machine that gradually makes its exit from the ship’s cargo hold. It waits quayside for the truck that will carry it a further 300 kilometres to the Carmelite Fathers in Nkoabang, close to the capital city of Yaoundé. The above description marked the end to a journey begun in the countryside around Vicenza months earlier. It also marked the culmination of a dream for a group of volunteers who had worked resolutely to provide an African community with a fundamental service. The machine we are talking about is a Laverda M 100 combine purchased for a token price from an agricultural firm in Vicenza after thirty years of ‘honourable service’. Recovered and returned to perfect working order by Claudio Zarantonello with its two cutting headers for wheat and maize, the machine was hoisted aboard a truck and driven to a port in South France from where it continued its journey to Africa by sea. This joint pastoral-agricultural project was the brainchild of Vicenza-born Paolo Monfardini in Cameroon in 2006, who has worked tirelessly to provide the area with a range of social and economic facilities, including schools, housing, warehouses, and a poultry breeding farm using the maize produced in reclaimed surrounding formerly-uncultivated land. The local climate allows two annual maize harvests in January and July, with the combine allowing workers to harvest the crop for the poultry farm quickly and efficiently. All in all, a huge step forward from manual harvesting and shelling and an opportunity for those involved to spend more time and pay greater attention to other issues central to the community’s rural economy. Underlying the results achieved, however, is the undoubted commitment shown by Monfardini, Zarantonello and their friends in returning the machine to its ‘former glory’ (although, the legendary strength and sheer robustness of the machine meant that little major work was required). Then, there was the desperate search for the user and maintenance manual – of which no trace could be found, but essential in order to train local operators and carry out machine maintenance. Here, the Laverda
archives were able to lend a helping hand and provide a copy of the original manual, even forty years on from original production. Finally, there remained the problem, and cost, of transporting the machine from Italy to Cameroon, setting up the machine for working operations and training the local operators. Everything, however, went smoothly and the lively M 100 combine was soon back doing its job as efficiently as ever in the fields of Africa.
As often happens, the results have been so encouraging that talk is now of a more modern powerful machine, especially given the likelihood of more cultivatable land. Who knows whether in the future a more recent and productive machine might just appear from among the ranks of Laverda machines and feed this ongoing relationship of cooperation and solidarity set in motion by the single-minded generosity of a determined Italian and his friends.
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Previous page: Paolo Monfardini and Claudio Zarantonello with a local producer and the machine’s arrival at the Mission headquarters. Above: trialling the M 100 combine and mounting the maize cutting table. Above right: manually shelling using a hand-operated maize husker (crocodile). Bottom: finally, in the field, with an extra operator or two!!
THE EPIC M 100; CREATED FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN 1965 Following the intensely innovative period starting 1964 with the creation of the M 120 model, the Laverda brothers decided to offer the market a combine harvester for medium sized production, using the same basic features as its ‘older sister’ but with reduced dimensions to suit a small-to-medium-sized enterprise. Created in 1965, 4,300 M 100s were produced until 1974 – making it one of the Breganze company’s main commercial successes thanks to its strength and reliability. The M 100 also laid the foundation for the M 100 Al model in 1970; the first self levelling combine worldwide. It boasted an average production of 40-65 quintals/hour. Main features included: • Cutting table: 2.60 – 3.10 – 3.60 metres. Fast release of both table and feed elevator; hydraulic lifting device for table and 5 slat reel, controlled by simple variator. • 8 bar drum: width 860 mm and ø 560 mm, controlled by belt-drive variator. • Four straw walkers: overall width 1,000 mm, and length 3,200 mm. • Cleaning unit with 4-blade cleaning fan and regulated flow blow-out, interchangeable fixed hole adjustable upper screen and lower screen. • Paddle de-awner and second cleaning upon request. • Min. 2,000-litre grain tank. • Drive unit with CO2 D - 69 HP “OM” diesel engine, or “Perkins” 4,236 – 80 HP diesel engine or C03 - 85 HP “OM” diesel engine, with dual belt drive variator and swingarm, single dry plate clutch, three speed gear and spur gear final drive with oil bath lubrification. • Central steering position, with power-steering upon request. • Average grain production: 40-65 quintals/hour.
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The history, the stories
Threshing; a well-loved traditional practice Sun-drenched festivities celebrating rural traditions continue to find favour in Italy From Pontecorvo, Ciociaria (where even Dutch cameramen came to film the event) to Putignano, Bari; from Viterbo to Monte Roberto in Le Marche; and from Spina, Umbria to the small yet noteworthy industrial centres in Veneto, such as Sandrigo, Baone, Rosà and Cassola (which hold fast to their simple beginnings) – all ready to celebrate and rediscover their rural traditions and past. For hundreds of years, threshing has held a place of central importance in the lives of each and everyone. In times when people struggled to survive, the ritual represented a moment of optimism, the dream of potential abundance, of plenty, of life, moments of joy, dancing, and games. As a consequence, local festivities have grown up throughout Italy; events that might last days with opportunities to not only rediscover local recipes and delicacies but also, obviously, a chance to put on professionally-organised concerts and shows. Not to mention, the army of volunteers supplied and coordinated by those local associations and committees most focused on local traditions and customs. The custom has spread over the last ten years, with the arrival of fairs celebrating a wide range of themes. However, there are also towns where tradition stretches back further in time. Sandrigo, Vicenza, for example, lies close to Breganze, the capital of agricultural machinery. 2009 witnessed its 25th edition of threshing celebrations with Laverda sponsoring the event, as in previous years, and this year via local media coverage. The return to the threshing carried out by our grandparents and great-grandparents is full of significance. For decades, rural life has gradually been abandoned in favour of local industry and crafts - and almost looked upon with shame. Nowadays, however, pride lies in its rediscovery because we have learnt that while the “global village” is all well and good, we still need to stand by our local culture and collective memory. We are in a position to relaunch production based on our typical local specialities and seasonal products following the excessive input of fruit and vegetables from overseas, with their associated costs and damage due to
“global pollution”. These theme-based festivals, often highly creative with a range of items organised and laid on, often comprise at least two main aspects. One, of course, is dedicated to threshing, with reaping and threshing activities taking place in the fields. Here, the legendary sickle parades alongside wonderful tractors and farm machines dating back to the early 1900’s; all well-oiled and gleaming thanks to their owners’ love and care, and proudly leading the noisy procession to the enthusiastic applause of the crowd. The other aspect is the reconstruction of rural life; the clothing, tools and typical scenes – the striking colourful folklore that represents a fundamental historical and cultural link back to our territory’s past. Two Veneto groups are excellent examples of this genre and stand out for their detailed research and success: “le Arti per via di Bassano del Grappa” is a group that recreates traditional customs and labour (and recently returned from a successful tour of Australia); and “Angoli rustici (Rural Nooks and Crannies) di Romano d’Ezzelino”, a highly successful traditional re-enactment by the Siriola group, and seen by thousands of visitors. The older members of the audience enjoy reminiscing, whilst the younger members
Laverda S.p.A. via F. Laverda, 15/17 - 36042 Breganze [VI] Italy t. +39.0445.385311 f. +39.0445.873355 info@laverdaworld.com www.laverdaworld.com
have the chance to study a relatively recent, yet little-known historical period. Removing the obstacles created by work and the frenzied rhythm of modern life, communities rediscover themselves and the serenity of traditional household tasks and activities amidst a smile and a chat. And a new style of nutrition, and agricultural economy associated with what is good and wholesome - catches the pubic appeal.
Two vintage Laverda machines in action during the local festival. Above: an old hand-operated threshing machine dating back to late 1800’s. Below: wheat cutting at Sandrigo (VI) with a 48A horsepulled mowing machine, dating from the 1930’s.
This journal is printed on fully recycled paper, in the utmost respect for the environment.