More Entrants For Oldest Mower Competition Likely

May 17, 2006

Trimax Expects More Entrants For Oldest Mower Competition After Fieldays

Dozens of Trimax mower owners have already entered a competition to find the oldest operational mower – and there's still time to get entries in.

Trimax is celebrating 25 years in business by presenting the owner of the oldest operational mower, with a brand new one up to the value of $9000.

Many of the photographs and stories already entered will be on display at the Mystery Creek Fieldays, and Trimax's New Zealand sales manager Allan Dudley encourages owners of older mowers to take a look and see if they might be in the running.

"The competition idea was born out of the number of Fieldays visitors who come to our stand each year and tell us stories about their old mowers and how they are still going strong.

"We hope this year people might write their story down and bring it to us, along with a photo of their old mower. You never know they might be in the running for a brand new model."

Trimax's history began in the early eighties along with the Bay of Plenty's burgeoning kiwifruit industry.

A number of businesses emerged to cater for the new industry, including a range of small engineering enterprises that made tractor-mounted mowers to mow the orchards.

Eventually three of these companies merged to become Trimax.

Trimax owner Bob Sievwright trained in engineering with General Motors New Zealand and at the General Motors University in Michigan. He made his mark on the mowing industry when he invented the revolutionary Gamma Flail blade, which went on to be an outstanding success.

The pace of the kiwifruit industry growth eventually slowed, Trimax adapted its machines for park and reserve mowing and in 1985 began exporting.

Today Trimax is a global brand, exporting a range of mowers for grooming highly manicured sports grounds and turf farms, safety-conscious schools, demanding golf courses, rough roadsides and beautiful city parks around the world. Nationally, Trimax continues to support the strong local market, providing mowers for a range of uses from Northland to Bluff.

All Trimax mowers are still made in Tauranga at the Maleme Street head office and manufacturing plant.

Automation, robotic and technology are increasingly used in the manufacturing process to ensure high quality levels and each year Trimax invests heavily into research and development.

Dudley says the stories sent in with the mower competition entries have being keeping Trimax staff amused.

One entrant Verne Burmester bought an orchard 14 years ago and the Trimax mower came with it.

"Initially the mower scared the hell out of me. Ultimate power over all things growing! One run over grass, branches - even complete trees, was enough to turn organic things into matchsticks or dust.

"(Over the years) Trimax haven't made much out of repairs on my mower, but they've always been able to supply the flails and roller bearings on the spot. I have never needed to delve into the gearbox or main bearings.

"Would I like a new mower? It would be nice, but to be honest, it is not necessary as I have a perfectly good mower already – my guess is it's only half worn."

Another competition entrant Murray Le Bagge of Tauranga says not only has his mower been reliable at mowing grass, but it's also cleaned up kiwifruit prunings, two pairs of expensive prescription glasses, three pair of earmuffs and several favourite hats.

Trimax can be found at site F42/44 at the Fieldays. The oldest mower competition closes on June 30 – leaving enough time for Fieldays visitors to send in their entry after the event.

ENDS

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