News – Mapex Jamaica Ltd.

Buying Your First Tractor for a Small Farm

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 05:46:22 +0000

You have finally acquired or leased that plot of land you have been eyeing for months. You have plans to develop the land but need help buying the right tractor for your farm. Where do you start? The first thing you need to take in account is:

Buying a Tractor? What Jobs should the Tractor complete?

Visualize all the processes for day to day operation and future operation. Will you need to mow? Dig holes to fence in areas? Are you growing crops and need to prepare land? Will you be digging? Lifting?

List these functions on a piece of paper or a spreadsheet.

You will want a single tractor that is capable of completing all these jobs at first. Try to figure out what the minimum size tractor would be able to barely complete all these tasks and buy a tractor 1 step larger. For instance, if you need a 60 HP tractor, for all the implements and attachments you deem necessary, you should invest in a 70 HP tractor. This may not make sense initially, but the additional wear and tear of having a tractor that is barely able to complete the functions is usually costlier than acquiring a tractor that is able to cruise through functions with minimal wear. A slightly larger tractor also gives you some leeway for additional functions and growth.

Properly Budgeting for your new Tractor.

A tractor, unlike a car, could be factored into your budget as giving you decades of service. A properly maintained tractor can last upward of 30 years, all while plowing, mowing and towing. Also, to do a proper budgeting you should acquire an estimated cost for warranty services for the next years’ worth of use on your tractor. Spending the money on service adhering to the warranty schedule is easily the best ongoing investment you can make in your tractor. It ensures you don’t break the warranty procedures which in the case of an unfortunate incident can save you significant cash.

Parts availability.

Your tractor is inevitably going to need spare parts. Ensure your dealer carries a significant stock of spare parts for your tractor. Buying that foreign or smaller brand tractor can save you money upfront, but in the long run, not having access to parts will be a net loss on the productivity of your farm and of your tractor. Every day your tractor sits idle waiting on repairs and spare parts is a day your tractor is not recouping its initial cost.

For additional information please read the following articles. Article 1.

Attachments for Construction Equipment: 3 Things to consider

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 05:57:32 +0000

Multiple Attachments for Construction Equipment are vital to maximize the value of your machinery. A skid steer that loads, lifts, hammers, digs and crushes is a luxury for any job-site. Consider all the specifications of both the attachment and the equipment before purchase.

UNDERSTAND ATTACHMENTS – OPERATING CAPACITY & HYDRAULIC FLOW

It is crucial that attachments correctly match both the operating capacity and hydraulic flow of the equipment. An oversized bucket on a skid steer loader or loader backhoe may cause damage to the machine, the hydraulics and other internal components. Consult the operators manual before purchase and prior to fitting the attachment to the machine to ensure this does not happen. Also, use the dealer you purchased the equipment from as a resource if in doubt of the proper specifications. The dealer should ensure that the right-sized attachment is fitted to the tractor or loader. This will result in longer life, more productivity and a greater return on investment.

QUICK ATTACH SYSTEMS – COUPLERS

To maximize productivity of attachments it may be important to quickly switch between them. If the job site requires the equipment to perform different tasks ensure you get the right coupler. The right quick attach system (coupler) can decrease downtime when switching attachments. Quick attach systems can save 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how the traditional attachment system was designed. Couplers can reduce operator fatigue – they will be able to focus on the tasks of the job-site instead of attaching and detaching specialty attachments. Many machines available today come standard with quick attach couplers. However, older machinery can also be retrofitted with these new couplers. When retrofitting ensure the system is both lightweight and made of high quality steel and materials. These tips keep your fleet dynamic and productive, improving the return on your investment.

TRAINING & SAFETY

Proper training is extremely important. Training increases productivity and safety for both the equipment and the operators. The difference between a trained an untrained operator on a new piece of machinery can be staggering. Often, new equipment has special systems to improve performance and productivity specifically designed for certain conditions. Attachments can have their own parameters for maximum efficiency and it is important to understand these before application.

Attachments can provide more versatility and profitability compared to other equipment acquisitions.

Proper Weight Distribution can Improve Fuel Efficiency and Safety

Fri, 26 Aug 2016 05:58:46 +0000

Proper weight distribution improves fuel efficiency in tractors. Good weight distribution reduces tire slippage allowing your tractor to be more productive. There are simple procedures to follow when considering whether a tractor has proper weight distribution.

First, consider how much wheel slippage is occurring in the field with your tractor. Soft sandy soils usually require additional weights for your tractor to run efficiently. Even Firm soils can require counter-weights if your machine doesn’t have proper weight distribution. Measuring wheel slip on a tractor is a simple exercise and can be done by following the procedure below:

MEASURING SLIP

1 – Place a mark on the center of the rear tractor tire (any tire if all tires are the same size) that you can see from the tractor seat.

2 – Run a string, rope or measuring tape from the mark one complete revolution around the tire center. This determines the circumference of the tire.

3 – Mark off a distance 100 feet (200 feet for an even more accurate assessment).

4 – Drive to the marker, and count the number of revolutions the tire makes at the desired operating speed.

Calculate wheel slip using the following formula

(Rotations x Circumference) / Marker distance

If the circumference of the tractor tire is 15 feet and it takes 8 rotations to go 100 feet, then

(8 rotations * 15 ft circumference) / 100 feet = 1.20 (20% wheel slip)

IMPROVING WHEEL SLIP

On a tractor 10% to 15% wheel slip is ideal. Lower than 10% of wheel slip can cause severe damage and excessive wear to the power train, however greater than 15% wheel slip and the tractor is wasting power on turning the wheels. For more information on wheel slip on various soil types click here

ADD WEIGHTS FOR SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE

Proper weight distribution is one of the many ways to improve wheel slip and ultimately tractor performance. All CASE IH tractors have additional weights available as an optional item. Weights can be easily added or removed for your ballasting requirements. Water in the front and rear tires can also be used to properly ballast your machine. Proper weight distribution can improve safety especially when using front-end loaders, backhoe attachments or three-point hitch mounted equipment. On sloped surfaces proper ballasting can prevent tipping and damage.

Changing filters on equipment and accurately documenting your service program

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 23:29:48 +0000

Changing filters on time and doing regular service is an important part in getting the most out of your machinery. Whether that machine is old or new, it benefits from a consistent applied service program. Replacing filters and oil and tightening loose nuts will be much cheaper than a complete overhaul.

What to do to implement proper servicing?

Check the operators and or service manual of all your machines. Accurately note the engine hours for required servicing and make this information easily available. Ask the operator to report hours on the machine after each use – this way you are prepared for servicing. If your service interval is approaching, call your dealer and inform them the service interval is near. Your dealer will inform you of what parts are required to complete servicing. You can ensure they have them in stock and schedule an early convenient time to service. The less time the machine is idle the more it will produce. The more production from your equipment is the greater payback that machine is to your business.

Why to implement proper servicing?

There are many benefits to changing filters and servicing your equipment on the scheduled time. Servicing your machine correctly decreases the chance for failure due to misuse or challenging conditions. Your equipment will have more power and improved operation due to clean fuel, clean oils and air. Aside from the obvious payback of increased up-time and improved operation of your machine, there is a hidden value to servicing your equipment at the correct periods. RESALE VALUE. Your equipment will command significantly higher resale value with an accurate log of service. This simply means more dollars in your pocket when you choose to sell.

Additional items to consider

Fluid analysis is another preventative tool that maintains your equipment and increases the value of your equipment. You will know if a problem is developing in your unit and can fix it before your machine fails. This reduces replacement cost, ensures greater up time and improves performance of your machine. Click here for further information on fluid analysis.

Picking the right Equipment for your Business in the Caribbean

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 23:33:09 +0000

Picking the right equipment or tractor for your application in the Caribbean can be a tricky job. Why use a sledgehammer when a scalpel will do? You have considered this question many times, but it is still a hard question ton consider in your business. There are few things you should consider before your eventual purchase.

How big is your property? Job site? Scale?

Many people initially purchase either too much or too little tractor for their property, and this inefficiency adds up to real dollars and cents for owners. If your business is planning to scale up, buy a tractor that has slightly more performance than you currently require; it is easier to transition to your future operations when your equipment is up to the task of your future operations. There are hidden factors to consider in your equipment purchase. Is it right sized for the application you are using it for? Are you using the tractor to mow a part of your farm? Collecting hay or forage? Using a small compact tractor for light duty operations is more cost efficient. Using larger tractors for land preparation is usually more economical.

What configurations are necessary? New or Used Equipment?

Used Tractors hold their value over time. There is a saying “there are no deals in used tractors.” If the used tractor you are looking at isn’t appropriately sized, it is often better to buy a new tractor. Why is this? Every year new tractors become safer and more fuel efficient. This adds up to serious savings over the life of your tractor. Unlike a car or a motorcycle, with proper preventative maintenance, tractors and construction equipment have a 20+ year useful life.

Horsepower requirements.

Consider both the Brake HP and PTO HP or your equipment. PTO horsepower is the power that is available for the attachments to use from the Engine. =. Certain attachments that will be useful on your farm or job-site require specific PTO horsepower for them to function efficiently if at all, so knowing this information is crucial for your purchase.

There are many more things to consider before buying your tractor and we are here for you every step of the way. Contact us for help right sizing your equipment for your farm or job site.

Case IH Launches Farmall A Series Tractors in Mexico

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:39:13 +0000

Case IH, one of the world’s leading farm equipment manufacturers, has taken the Farmall brand of tractors and increased its lineage even further, by adding to the range the new 110, 120, and 140hp models. This will complement the Farmall A Compact line of tractors (45hp, 55hp, and 65hp) manufactured in India, as well as the standard Farmall line (60hp, 70hp, 80hp, 90hp, 95hp) manufactured in Ankara, Turkey.

The new Farmall A tractors are now being manufactured in the state-of-the-art CNH factory facility in Queretaro, Mexico, with a capacity of over 8,000 units per year. Mr. Josef Powell, President & CEO of Mapex was present at the launch, and expressed great optimism and enthusiasm about the new Farmall A series for Jamaica. “This is an excellent move on the part of Case IH for it’s Latin American and Caribbean dealers, as it now gives us greater options to offer our customers. With the introduction of this new line of tractors, we can access these horsepower ranges faster due to the more efficient production line at this factory, and even save our customers more money on freight charges since the factory is closer to us in Mexico. We look forward to introducing this new line of tractors in Jamaica in 2013, and remain confident it will be a great solution for the mid-to-large scale farmers that will utilize them.”

Pictures of the Farmall A launch in Mexico:

Farmall A Launch in Mexico

The official Farmall A launch video:

Mapex Attends JAST Conference

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 02:34:57 +0000

Mapex attended the 75th annual JAST (Jamaica Association of Sugar Technologists) conference on November 1 – 2, 2012 at the beautiful Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The conference focused on increasing sugar cane production via means of increased productivity and efficiency. Five members of the Mapex team were present to greet customers at the Mapex booth, including members of the Jamaica as well as the USA teams. Josef Powell, Mapex’s President & CEO, served as the Master of Ceremonies at the conference’s closing banquet, which featured UN Ambassador Paula Amadei as guest speaker.

Pictures from the JAST conference

Mapex Attends JAST Conference (November 2012)

Mapex Foundation UF Dental Clinic

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 02:42:08 +0000

The Mapex Foundation (www.mapexusa.com/foundation), in association with the University of Florida Dental School, hosted a Dental Clinic at the Mapex facility in Hanbury, Manchester, Jamaica. The initiative, dubbed “Brush-Up Jamaica”, is an annual project of the CDC and of the Association for Oral Health Advancement, founded by UTech Dental Students. Members of the Hanbury and surrounding communities were offered free basic dental care, including dental check ups, cleaning and instruction on proper dental hygiene. Over six hundred (600) patients were treated at the clinic over two days.

The Mapex Foundation looks forward to providing more services for its community members and hope to continue our relationship with both the UF Dental students and Brushup Jamaica. Keep tuned for further initiatives from the Mapex Foundation in 2013.

Pictures from the Mapex/UF Dental clinic

Mapex Foundation UF Dental Clinic

Mapex Attends Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 03:09:12 +0000

Mapex attended the Annual Farm Progress Show in an effort to broaden our scope and keep up to date with modern technologies. We were privy to several new technologies that have been introduced in the agricultural community within the past year, including Rice harvesting and Cattle farming equipment which are ideally suited to our markets. We also took part in demonstrations for precision farming technology such as GPS systems, automatic end of row functions, new CVT transmissions etc.

Pictures of Farm Progress Show:

Mapex Attends Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa (October 2012)

Mapex / Case IH Training for Sugarcane Harvesters

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:00:04 +0000

As a part of Mapex’s commitment to world-class service, various technicians and managers from the Mapex team, as well as mechanics, operators, and managers from a major sugar producer in Jamaica, attended training on the Case IH A8800 sugarcane harvester at the factory in Piracicaba, Brazil. The team went through a series of instruction from high-level Case IH technicians over the course of 2 weeks. Instruction ranged from preventative maintenance to operation of the A8800 sugarcane harvester. Mapex Service Coordinator for Jamaica, Jonathan Roye, who is attending the training for the second consecutive year regarded the training as “great for learning new and advanced servicing techniques”. He continued by stating that “these trainings are a vital part of what makes Mapex – Mapex. Learning and applying better service is important to satisfying our customers.” This training session was coordinated by Mapex along with the Case IH team in Brazil, and is just one of several training sessions held by Mapex each year to keep the employees and customers on the cutting edge of technology and the latest “best practices” in the industry. Present from the Mapex team were: Josef Powell, President & CEO, Jonathan Roye, Service Coordinator, and Norris Salmon, Manager – Factory Service & Sales. The Mapex team promises continued service and reliability from both the equipment as well as the service team to support the equipment in the field.