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OPENS IN SEPARATE WINDOW

While Berthoud sells through independent distributors in most of the world, it also has two subsidiaries – one in the UK and the other in Switzerland. With sales of about three million euros annually, the UK is one of the company’s top 10 export territories.

“We maintain Berthoud UK because the market is so professional in its approach and we need to have people there that will keep up close to customers,” commercial manager Patrick Denizet said. “We are fortunate to supply many of the UK’s larger farms, and we always carry out testing there to ensure that our sprayers meet local conditions.”

Berthoud UK is headed by Martin Shackcloth, who provides the link between the company’s 31 dealers and the factory in France. It’s clearly a business model that works well, and one that has been recognised by a Royal Warrant, with the firm’s sprayers being used on the Queen’s estate farms.

The fact that the UK is home to orchards, vines and soft-fruit production means that machines from across the Berthoud range are sold here.

Berthoud employs up to 250 people at its French factory at peak times, with 50 involved in sales management and administration and 29 involved in research and development (R&D). In recent years the R&D effort has concentrated on meeting European Union regulations for the safety use of sprayers by operators, as well as emerging regulations on the environmental impact of the sprayers.

Design elements that Berthoud – and all sprayer manufacturers – have had to address include: filling the sprayer, the mixing of chemicals, ensuring correct and consistent dose rates, reducing drift, the management of left-over spray mix and empty can handling.

The latest Berthoud machines all take account of these aspects of agrochemical use, as well as incorporating new technical advancements that will help keep the brand at the forefront of the market.

Berthoud UK’s Martin Shackcloth (left)
with Berthoud’s commercial manager
Patrick Denizet

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News story - UK operation