Category: Exhibitor News 2016

Lions to Screen 10,000 at Ploughing Championship

Following on the detection of potential diabetes in more than 600 visitors to the National Ploughing Championship last year, Lions Clubs plan to screen a record 10,000 people at the 2016 event in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

A team of 140 Lions and qualified nurses will be at the Lions Marquee at the Championships from 20th to 22nd. September. They will offer visitors a free simple, painless blood test which is designed to identify early symptoms of diabetes. The service will run from 8am to 6pm on each day of the Ploughing Championships and the Lions are confident that they will significantly exceed the 8,000 visitors who availed of the test last year in Ratheniska.

Last year 8.8% of those screened, mainly farmers, were identified as potentially diabetic and were referred to their GPs for further examination.

According to Paul Allen, District Governor of Lions in Ireland, the incidence of diabetes is accelerating rapidly in rural Ireland due to diet and lifestyle changes and many people who are vulnerable to the disease remain oblivious of the risk that they are running. ‘Medical experts’ estimate that up to 200,000 people with diabetes in Ireland are unaware of their condition’, says Paul. ‘It is estimated that there are 200,000 people with diabetes and a similar number who have diabetes but are unaware that they have the condition. The majority of these people will only be diagnosed through an acute medical event because they do not have a regular blood test. A further 250,000 people have impaired glucose tolerance or “pre-diabetes” of which 50% will develop diabetes in the next five years if lifestyle changes are not made.’

Traditionally, farming was one of the most active occupations. However, according to the National Centre For Men’s Health at the Institute of Technology, Carlow, the evolution of tractors, combine harvesters, milking machines, ATV’s and jeeps has replaced a great deal of the labouring and physical aspects of farming. As a result, while farmers are still busy, they are not as physically active as they used to be. In a booklet, ‘Staying fit for Farming’, the Centre says that regular physical activity or exercise has been shown to have a hugely positive influence on both physical and mental health. It reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and a number of cancers as well as being a very good way to manage stress and to control weight. However many farmers are not doing enough physical activity to have good health’

According to the Centre, farmers spend more time sitting while machinery ‘does the work’, some farmers stop taking part in sport when they feel that they can no longer do it competitively, many farmers struggle to find time for themselves when balancing their work and family life and some farmers simply get out of the habit of exercising and are not sure how to start back or what kind of exercise to do.

The 2,500 Lions in 112 Lions Clubs throughout Ireland, work to raise awareness of diabetes and organise frequent screening days all over the country. They have been offering this service at the National and World Ploughing Championships for many years and an indication of its effectiveness is the 693 participants in the 2015 test who were referred to their GP for further examination. This represents 8.8% of those tested.

Lions also liaise with the Diabetes Society of Ireland and will be distributing its information literature at the National Ploughing Championships.

The service at the 2016 National Ploughing Championships is organised by sixteen Lions Clubs in the Midlands Region- Portarlington, Naas, Monasterevin, Abbeyleix, Newbridge/Kildare, Portlaoise, Kilcullen, Tullamore, Baltinglass, Edenderry, Carlow, Roscommon, Birr, Mulingar, Athlone and Portumna.

Ireland’s First Know Heart Failure Tractor Football – Revving Up Heart Failure Awareness at the Ploughing Championships

The new ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign aims to increase awareness of Heart Failure

• Heart Failure currently affects 90,000 people in Ireland, with the prevalence increasing, up to one in five people will develop Heart Failure at some point during their lifetime^1,2,3

• National Ploughing Association feels that many farmers could be accused of looking after their tractors more than their hearts!

• The Heart Failure Tractor Football Tournament is being held to encourage the farming community to take care of their hearts

• ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign offers free tests to assess the risk of developing Heart Failure at Ploughing Championships

Date TBC: Ireland’s first Heart Failure Tractor Football Tournament, to rev up awareness of Heart Failure symptoms among the farming community, will kick off at the 85^th National Ploughing Championships, 20^{th –} 22^nd September 2016. The Offaly versus Laois, three-a side-teams will battle it out in WR Shaw New Holland tractors, trying to get the massive seven foot football through the posts, with celebrities commentating on this unique tractor event.

The ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign, supported by the Heart Failure Patient Alliance and Novartis Ireland Ltd., will be officially launched at the Ploughing Championships as agriculture is a predominantly male dominated sector, and Heart Failure mainly affects men.^{4, 5}

As part of the campaign, the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ stand hosted in the Health and Wellness tent, will invite visitors to speak to healthcare professionals about the symptoms and risk factors of Heart Failure. Free tests for those considered at risk of Heart Failure will also be provided at the stand.

Commenting on the importance of the Heart Failure awareness initiative, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director, National Ploughing Association said, “Tractors are at the heart of the farming community and many of us could be accused of looking after our tractors better than our own heart health. This is the first time a Tractor Football Tournament has ever been held in Ireland – maybe even the world! So we’re looking forward to great excitement and hope this initiative drives visitors to the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ stand.”

Mr Billy Shaw, WR Shaw, owner of the participating New Holland tractors said, “Our Offaly versus Laois branded New Holland tractors and expert drivers will be doing their bit to increase awareness for Heart Failure – we want everyone to take more care of their heart. My mother sadly passed away from a heart condition so I have a very personal link to this campaign. I encourage everyone attending the Ploughing to become a tractor footie supporter in aid of Heart Failure awareness.”

The heart is simply a pump, just like any pump around the farm. When the efficiency of the pump drops Heart Failure can develop, causing symptoms of tiredness and breathlessness when doing normal tasks and swelling of the feet or ankle.^6,7 It is a serious but manageable condition that affects approximately 90,000 people in Ireland, with up to one in five people at risk of developing Heart Failure at some point during their lifetime.^1,2,3 One in three people in Ireland mistake Heart Failure symptoms for signs of aging, and one in four wait a week or more to seek medical advice when experiencing these serious symptoms.⁸ However, improved understanding of Heart Failure, early diagnosis and new treatments can allow patients to live longer, feel better and be more active. The ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign encourages those at risk of Heart Failure who have more than one of the symptoms to speak to their healthcare professional and request a heart examination.

Professor Ken McDonald, Consultant Cardiologist and National Clinical Lead for Heart Failure said, “The term Heart Failure can be frightening and is often misunderstood. By bringing attention to this condition, the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign aims to increase the public’s awareness and understanding of Heart Failure in order to help people take action earlier and thereby improve their outlook”

Loretto Callaghan, Managing Director, Novartis Ireland Ltd., “Farming is an incredibly tough, physically-demanding industry and personal health can often take a backseat, due to little free time. We want to make sure the farming community prioritises their heart health as with early diagnosis and treatment, Heart Failure patients can feel better and live longer, more active, productive lives.”

Everyone attending the National Ploughing Championships can get involved in the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign. Here’s how:

• Come to what promises to be one of the biggest and most exciting events at this year’s Ploughing Championships, the Laois V’s Offaly Heart Failure Tractor Football Tournament and see representatives from both counties fighting it out to win the coveted cup

• Visit us at the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ stand in the Health and Wellness tent to get more information on Heart Failure and free tests for people who may be at risk of Heart Failure

• Support the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ campaign by taking selfies at our events and share it on social media #heartfailure

For more information visit the ‘Know Heart Failure Now’ stand in the Health and Wellness tent at the National Ploughing Championships, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from 20^th – 22^nd September 2016 or go to www.heartbeat-trust.ie / www.croi.ie.

Waterloo, Belgium – Limerick-based Doosan Bobcat dealer, Adare Machinery, will be showing a wide array of Doosan and Bobcat equipment at the 2016 National Ploughing Championships, taking place in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly in Ireland from 20-22 September 2016.

The National Ploughing Championships is the largest Outdoor Exhibition and Agricultural Trade Show in Europe, showcasing a huge range of new agricultural and construction equipment for the Irish market and further afield. Attended by over 281,000 visitors in 2015, last year’s show was host to Adare’s biggest ever stand, but the stand for the 2016 show promises to be even bigger and busier, with several new Doosan and Bobcat products being shown for the first time in Ireland, including the new Doosan Stage IV compliant DX140LCR-5 15 tonne reduced tail swing crawler excavator and the Bobcat T450 compact tracked loader.

Other Doosan products on the stand include the DX140LC-5 14 tonne crawler excavator and the Doosan DL450-5 wheel loader. The Bobcat display will include the TL358+ telehandler for the farming market and the larger T35130S 13 m telehandler for the construction and rental industries. These will be joined on the stand by a wide selection of Bobcat compact excavators running from the E10 to the E26 models and Bobcat skid-steer loaders including the S70, S530 and S770 models. All of the Bobcat compact loaders will be equipped with different attachments from a choice of over 60 types of Bobcat attachment for use with the Bobcat compact loader range.
Higher Power – Lower Fuel Consumption

The new Doosan DX140LCR-5 excavator offers increased performance, durability and fuel efficiency, with a focus on greater power, robustness and versatility. Power is provided by the Perkins 1204F engine, which combines reduced fuel consumption with the power and torque of larger engines with a smaller displacement. The new Perkins 1204F engine provides a 6% increase in power with an output of 85.9 kW (115.3 HP) at 2000 rpm and a 3% increase in torque. Swing torque has also been boosted by 28%.

Fuel consumption has been lowered by up to 10% compared to the previous generation machine. As well as the Stage IV engine, new systems and functions have been incorporated to achieve this significant result.
Filling the gap in the range between the T110 and T590 models once occupied by the discontinued T140 loader, the new Bobcat T450 compact tracked loader offers a massive increase in power combined with hydraulic and hydrostatic efficiency improvements that translate into significantly increased productivity.

Manufactured at the Bobcat plant in Dobris in the Czech Republic, the T450 is powered by the Bobcat D24 45.5 kW (61 HP) turbocharged diesel engine, providing 25% more power than the T140 model, ensuring the T450 has the best performance and engine power to weight ratio in its class.

Equipped with radial lift boom arms, the rated operating capacity of the T450 has also increased from 642 kg to 665 kg, while the operating weight has been reduced from 2990 kg to 2789 kg. Thanks to its compact dimensions and lower weight, the T450 is even easier to transport on a trailer towed by a light truck, 4 x 4, or all-terrain vehicle.
Award-winning Family-run Dealership

Adare Machinery is an award-winning machinery dealership established by David and Marian Cuddy in 1984, which has developed into a fully-fledged family enterprise, with son, William, and daughter, Caroline, involved in the running of the business. Together with an excellent team of staff, the Cuddys continue to innovate, expand and grow the business.

As an Authorised Dealer for Doosan Bobcat EMEA, Adare Machinery has exclusivity for sales and service in Munster and Connacht for Doosan crawler and wheeled excavators from 3 to 53 tonne and the Doosan range of wheel loader models with bucket capacities from 1.9 to 4.8 m3. For the Bobcat range, Adare Machinery is the Authorised Dealer for the whole of Ireland.

Operating out of state-of-the-art premises at Patrickswell near the city of Limerick, Adare Machinery is also offering service and warranty work on all existing Doosan and Bobcat machines in its area, backed by a full selection of genuine accessories and parts.

For more information about Doosan construction equipment, visit the website www.doosanequipment.eu

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit the website www.bobcat.com

650,000 worth of sales generated by small businesses at Local Enterprise Village last year
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D. has unveiled plans for the ‘Local Enterprise Village’, which will be home to 84 small businesses from around the country for the three days of the National Ploughing Championships.
Managed and funded by the Local Enterprise Offices, the Local Enterprise Village opens its doors from September 20th to 22nd at Screggan in Tullamore, offering Irish start-ups and small businesses a launch-pad for new products and services, giving them the chance to impress the 280,000 visitors expected at European’s largest outdoor event.
Last year, small businesses inside the Local Enterprise Village generated sales and orders worth €650,000 to the Irish economy, according to figures from the Local Enterprise Offices. Among the 84 companies, the food and drink sector is well-represented this year, alongside fashion, toys, giftware, craft and agri-services.
The plans for the 2016 Local Enterprise Village include a new product launch and demonstration area, where small businesses and start-ups can invite visitors to preview and sample new Irish brands. A new award scheme, the Local Enterprise Village Awards, is also being introduced for the first time, to highlight ‘up-and-coming’ brands and companies.
The Minister unveiled the plans at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin with Kieran Comerford of the Local Enterprise Offices, Anna May McHugh, President of the National Ploughing Association, Paul Reid, Chair of the Local Government Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Committee, Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland and six of the small businesses that will be re-locating to the Local Enterprise Village in September.
Kieran Comerford, Chair of network of Local Enterprise Offices said that the Local Enterprise Village is fast becoming a “must visit” destination. He said: “By having the right mix of appealing products and services in place with a series of high-profile product launches over the three days, we will be encouraging as many visitors as possible through the doors of the Local Enterprise Village, to support Ireland’s small business community. With fashion, food, craft, homeware and gifts from all over the country under the one roof, we’re expecting record crowds this year.”

The National Ploughing Association Chairman PJ Lynam said “There is no doubt that the entrepreneurial spark is alive and well in Ireland with an unprecedented number of diverse and exciting businesses, exhibiting at the “Local Enterprise Village”, at this year’s Ploughing Championships. This is a unique opportunity for these small businesses, with 281,000 visitors in attendance last year, to showcase their products to the large number of visitors that Ploughing attracts.”
The entrepreneurs that met with Minister Mitchell O’ Connor at this week’s announcement included the founders behind ‘Toby Wagons’ in Wicklow, ‘Celtic Gent’ in Fingal, ‘De Mad Food Company’ in Offaly, ‘Melanie Hand Design Jewellery’ in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, ‘Tumbledown Media’ in Carlow and ‘Scotts Irish Cider’ in Cavan.
More details around the Local Enterprise Village are available through www.localenterprise and by searching #localenterprise on social media.