'Livestock farmers need robots to take the heavy lifting off their hands'

JOZ works with dealers all over the world. One such dealer is GroeNoord based in Akkrum. Why does this mechanisation company choose JOZ solutions? What is the process from sale to installation? And how do technicians ensure that they are available to customers 24/7? Product specialist Sietze Leenstra explains all.

GroeNoord

GroeNoord is a JOZ dealer in Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Flevoland and Kop van Overijssel. The company wants to help livestock farmers become future-proof by fully committing to automation. ‘At GroeNoord, you can purchase manure robots, manure scrapers and feed pusher robots, among other things,’ says Sietze. ‘We have a spacious warehouse in Akkrum with sufficient stock, so we can deliver new robots or parts quickly. We serve our other 18 branches from this location. This means that there is always a branch close to our customers.’

As a product specialist, Sietze is responsible for JOZ solutions within GroeNoord. ‘I have been working with JOZ since 2007. Thanks to my years of experience, I have extensive knowledge of the various JOZ solutions and can provide our customers with sound advice. In addition to JOZ, we also work with other brands, such as John Deere. Our product range is very broad.’

Automation in the barn

According to Sietze, automation in the barn is indispensable for the future of livestock farmers. ‘I see labour shortages in particular becoming an increasing problem. A livestock farmer today must keep more animals to make a good living. As a result, you need more people to do the heavy lifting, but there simply aren’t enough. Robots take over the heavy lifting day and night. They push the feed for you or clean up the manure for you. Ideal!’

In fact, GroeNoord sees that livestock farmers are particularly interested in manure robots. Sietze: ‘The JOZ-Tech, a very thorough and animal-friendly manure robot, is especially suitable for large barns and is the most popular. This robot cleans almost all cubicle stalls. It also effortlessly cleans waiting areas and wide manure passages. Recently, with the launch of manure robot  Nano, we have also been able to help livestock farmers with smaller barns.’

‘In addition to manure robots, in recent years we have sold more and more of the Moov 2.0, a robot that pushes feed. With this robot, animals have 24/7 access to fresh feed. This not only saves farmers time, it also contributes to higher feed intake, higher milk production and improved cattle health.’

Custom approach

Before a new robot is actually installed in the barn, Sietze first visits the customer to find out what their wishes are and create the right expectations. ‘I then draw up a quote,’ he says. ‘And because no barn is the same, every quote is tailor-made. General barn conditions, such as the size of the barn and the number of animals housed, are different for each livestock farmer. In addition, each robot has several options from which to choose, such as scraper width, spraying device and lifting device for slopes in the case of the manure robot.’

If the livestock farmer is convinced and agrees to the quote, Sietze visits with a technician to review the definitive barn conditions. ‘In the case of a manure robot, for example, we look at where the power and charging points should be, where we position the charging station, and we determine a few other things with the livestock farmer,’ he continues. ‘Once all these basic matters are taken care of, we can get to work on installing the robot.

Available 24/7

After installation, customers can contact GroeNoord day and night. ‘Our six technicians work on-call shifts,’ Sietze explains. ‘When a farmer calls, the technician on duty first tries to solve the problem remotely. If that’s not possible, the technician will go to the farm with a fully equipped van with all the necessary parts. We do our best to resolve breakdowns within one day. That’s how we like to distinguish ourselves.’

Customer satisfaction

Sietze is proud that customer satisfaction is high. A great example is that livestock farmers almost always choose JOZ again when a manure robot needs to be replaced. ‘Customers are satisfied with the quality of the products and are happy with our service. If ever a customer is dissatisfied, I work with the regional manager, my contact at JOZ, to find a solution. Together, we do everything we can to exceed the customer’s wishes.’

Room for growth

GroeNoord and JOZ have built a strong partnership over the years. The two companies share the same ambition: unburdening agricultural entrepreneurs by supplying high-quality innovative solutions. ‘The nitrogen cracker is an example of just such an innovative solution,’ says Sietze. ‘With everything that is going on around nitrogen right now, this is a very interesting and forward-looking product. Right now, it’s still a step too far for us, but there are definitely opportunities in this field.’

In addition, GroeNoord would like to help even more farmers to automate so they are ready for the future. Sietze: ‘There is always room for growth. That’s why we recently took over the service of another JOZ dealer. Such an acquisition delivers new customers. I continue to enjoy the challenge of satisfying customers and keeping them happy.’

Want to know more?

JOZ’s solutions are available worldwide from a selected network of dealers. All dealers, including GroeNoord, are trained in the fields of consulting, technology and service. Want to get in touch with a dealer? Find your nearest JOZ dealer.