Silos exported to Aust.

Press, 11 May 1984, Page 18

Silos exported to Aust.

Selling giant grain silos to the Australian wheat industry is the “Down Under” version of the “coals to Newcastle” saga. But that is what the farm machinery manuacturers, Dan Cosgrove, Ltd of

Timaru, have achieved over the last eight years. Their largest silo 16.5 metres wide and 20 metres tall can each store 3500 tonnes of grain or stock feed. Selling these and smaller silos to Australia is all the more remarkable because of the shipping costs across the Tasman — one of the most expensive stretches of water in the world to cross. However, the secret is that the enormous tanks of galvanised New Zealand steel are kitset-packed into containers for assembly in Australia. The export and contracts

manager, Mr Kevin Cosgrove, believes that although many New Zealand business people are very conversant with CER (Closer. Economic Relations with Australia), there is a set of rules to follow: @ New Zealanders must ensure their products are suitable for Australia and its people. © Exporters must know the prices and range of competitive products. ® There must be firstclass marketing and advertising. ® Agents must be fully aware of all facets of the product.

The latter point is very important, he says. The right people must be found to handle the product and, if this is not a success, then changes must be made. The silos are provided with a range of “extras” including bucket elevators, withdrawal and sweep augers, drying floors, conveyors, dryers, spreaders and walkways, all developed as a result of 18 years’ experience in this field of machinery. However, in spite of Kevin Cosgroves’ list of export “rules” sales can be affected by factors such as the weather.