Steel casting manufacturer Keech Australia has dramatically increased its production targets in an attempt to bolster its position in the agriculture market following a $3 million upgrade to its second foundry in Bendigo Victoria last year.
The recent upgrade involved a complete overhaul of the
facilities, from the moulding equipment to cooling and shakeout
systems.
Keech’s Manufacturing Director Garth Keech says the company
hopes to offer better value to Australian farmers by boosting
output, which is part of the business’ long term strategy to
increase their position in the market.
“However, increasing production target along is not the key to
achieving this goal,” he says.
“To really make a mark, we are building on our history of
innovation and our reputation as an Australian manufacturer
committed to the supply of hard wearing parts of consistent
quality.”
Keech claims to be the first manufacturer of direct drilling and
deep tillage parts in 1968 and has continued investing in research
and development of its products.
“The Keech systemns have been copied by other manufacturers,
however Keech retains its reputation for quality using through
hardened alloy-steel to 500 Brinell, the hardest and toughest steel
on the market,” Keech says.
“For growers operating in extremely tough environments, the
Keech range is also available with numerous tungsten carbide tip
and Keetuff, a weld on metal configuration containing tungsten
particles for extra wear life.”
To ensure the strength of all products, the range is cast in an
arc furnace which removes unwanted elements from the steel such as
sulphur, phosphorous, hydrogen and nitrogen that might otherwise
weaken it.
Mixed farmer Steven Deutcher has used the system for the past 15
years after Keech was recommended by a fellow grower.
“Around 200 hectares across our 3,000 hectare property is
extremely tough, with rocky soils making it difficult to sow our
annual mix of barley, wheat and oats,” he says.
Deutcher sows 1,000 hectares of land on average and produces 2.5
tonnes per hectare across all crop types. He sells the majority of
crop harvested but keeps 150 tonnes per year to feed his livestock
fleet.
“Having heavy duty drilling points means we can sow directly
into all soil type – even the rocky areas – allowing us to make the
most of our land,” he says.
While Deutcher has never measured the lifespan of his Keech ag
points, their performance in difficult and rocky areas has kept him
coming back.
“We’ve never seen the need to shop around. The system is also
easy to bolt on, which can save us several hours when it comes to
replacing the points,” he says.
“Any time we can save is a bonus given the size of our
operation.”
Keech’s range of direct drilling points include knife blades,
single shoot seeding points and winged seeding points varying in
length, width and angle to suit individual seeding systems and soil
types.
Deep tillage components available include a wide selection of
shank assemblies and accessories with optional tungsten tips for
growers working in tough soil types.
Adapters are available across the range, enabling Keech’s tools
to be fitted to a wide variety of equipment.
Find out more on Keech Australia’s website.