Wallaces Farmer

Newcomer to ag market holds first dealer training conference.

July 10, 2009

3 Min Read

Topcon Precision Agriculture has arrived in Kansas.

 

The company, which manufactures guidance systems and related technology for the agricultural market, held its first Dealer Technical and Product Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in its brand new North America headquarters in Olathe.

 

Topcon, which has long been a provider of similar equipment for the surveying and construction industries shares the Olathe location with Sokkia Corp., which was purchased by Topcon in June. The company is in the process of combining Topcon and Sokkia survey units into a single company.

 

Ron Haarberg, natural agricultural sales manager said the Olathe facility will handle sales, support and training for Topcon Precision Agriculture.

 

He said there is no way to know exactly how many employees will eventually be located in Olathe, but that the company expects to see rapid growth.  Topcon dealers went through two days of orientation to new products and training on using new online support tools before heading to the Kansas Motor Speedway to try out some of those products in the grass parking lots.

 

Dealers got their first opportunity to try out the new AES-25 electronic steering system, which provides precise steering control without hydraulics. The system boasts easy, quick installation by simply replacing the factory steering wheel with the electronic motor and wheel. It is fully transferable between machines, requires only electrical hookup and when used with a real-time kinetics (RTK) system, provides full 2 cm accuracy.

 

The system will be for sale starting in August and is proced at $3,495.

 

Haarberg told dealers the AES-25 represents the kind of new innovation the company believes will help it flourish in a market where it must compete with established giants such as John Deere and Trimble, which has an OEM agreement with Case New Holland.

Topcon also this week announced its own technology OEM agreement with Agco, maker of such well-known brands as Challenger, Massey Ferguson, Hesston, Agco, RoGator and Gleaner.

 

For more on the conference, be sure to read the August Kansas Farmer.

 

For a look at what’s new from Topcon and your own opportunity to go for a test drive, visit the Farm Progress or Husker Harvest Days shows in September, where Topcon plans to give the public a first look at its new product line.

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