Tama Assist Bringing home the best in netwrap
Turmoil in global supply chains has put the pressure on farm inputs. To ensure farmers and contractors get what they need, Tama, the market leading netwrap maker, is drawing on its global strength, as Netwrap Product Line Manager, Aviv Tron explains in this Q&A with the CPA Magazine:
“Yes, as farmers ourselves we believe we understand what farmers want and we’ve worked directly with all the baler manufacturers to help meet those needs. Farmers and contractors don’t want to get down from the tractor cab to fix issues with their crop baling products, they want a perfect bale every time, with no stops, and as few roll changes as possible.
We have always been about adding value for end users. Ever since the 1980s we’ve been first with every netwrap innovation, from roll-end warnings to edge-to-edge coverage, and TamaNet+ technology giving longer roll lengths, with the same or greater strength than competitors. That means better efficiency, cost control, and output, and 20-25% less plastic waste per bale.
Cutting-edge products, top quality service and an uncompromising supply chain are what every customer can expect from our crop baling products, allowing them to focus on what they do best, running their farm business.”
“The past two years have brought some big challenges. But despite it all Tama has been able to use its scale to work around the issues and supply loyal customers on time.
The explosion in raw materials prices, which doubled after a 70% rise in oil prices, has been a big issue, and we could see it rise further. Energy costs in Europe trebled too. But as a global business we have been as prepared as anyone, with stocks of raw material and end product, so no market has gone short.
The covid pandemic also meant we had to adjust to big swings in staff numbers. However, our skilled workforce has kept production plants running at full capacity throughout.
Logistics has been a major focus too. With group factories around the world, including Europe, Asia, Brazil and the USA, and logistics experts within the business, we have been able to organise freight movements so product supply to customers has not been affected.”
“Our focus is to concentrate on supply, so everything gets delivered, and on time. Significantly, Tama was also able to keep to its pricing plans, with more than 50% of UK netwrap sold at pre-season prices in 2021. That is the peace of mind we want our customers to have.
We continue to grow and throughout it all we have continued to meet customer needs. We now have over 50% of the global netwrap market. Our next closest competitor has roughly 10%. We can only imagine how some producers have been suffering, especially with introduction of a plastics tax in many countries, so we’re keeping watch for fresh opportunities!”
“Having a dedicated team in the UK makes a big difference. They’re familiar with the day-to-day business needs of customers, visit them regularly, and have a supply chain manager and a technical manager on-hand, all speaking the same language.
That level of on-farm support, trouble-shooting and technical expertise is unique to Tama. It ensures issues can be anticipated and resolved fast, which is very different to competitors, who may have only one or two people travelling to farms and selling direct.
Tama is a global business, with over 2,000 employees, bringing the full breadth of expertise to everything we do. Our staff, facilities and scale of production mean we are successful worldwide. Customers can have faith in our business and our robust range of baling products.”
“After many years of development TamaNet+ ROYAL highlights all that’s best about our netwrap, drawing on 70 years of innovative farming experience. Using our Bale Lok Technology it needs just 2.5 wraps per bale in high density cereals, which usually need 4-5 wraps per bale.
Designed for high output contractors and farmers in tough baling situations it highlights the strengths of Tama netwraps. In on-farm evaluations it proved to be ultra-cost effective, saving up to 26% cost per bale, faster than ever, requiring 40% less downtime, and uses 45% less plastic per bale, equivalent to 1,000m less plastic for every 100 bales.”
“We are investing heavily in sustainability, both in time and resources, to develop first of a kind ecological solutions for crop baling products, which we are branding TamaCycle.
Our cooperation with Healix in the Netherlands, which is already supplying post-consumer recycled twine raw materials for us to replace virgin resources, underpins our TamaCycle Twine.
The challenge for netwrap is tougher, due to the contamination issues with used netwrap. So far we have produced TamaCycle Netwrap using 30% recycled raw material from other sectors. It has performed just as Tama netwrap should in the field.
The real goal, of course, is closed loop recycling, using recycled netwrap processed by Healix. We are looking forward to the first samples this year and we firmly expect to be first to market with closed loop netwrap. We really see TamaCycle as the future of sustainable crop baling.”
“You could say I was born into netwrap, in a village where one of Tama’s netwrap production facilities is located. I started work there aged 15 and rose to be production manager before doing the same role at a factory Tama had in the UK, in Nottingham.
When I returned, I was made production manager of our biggest site, producing 10,000 rolls of netwrap a week, before spending time in sales, then managing our plant in Galed, before moving to my current role as Netwrap Product Line Commercial Manager for Tama Group. I now oversee netwrap development, production and sales, using the best new technology for farmers and contractors all around the world.
I am married with two young daughters and still live in the village where I was born. But my mother is from Scotland, so I have a UK passport, and enjoy visiting family in Glasgow and friends in Manchester. I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan too – which has been a bit of a tough ride over recent years!”