Ireland hits Fieldays with innovative ideas

Hundreds of international visitors and exhibitors walk the muddy path to Fieldays intrigued by innovative ideas from all corners of the globe.

One objective of the event is to develop connections between international and New Zealand businesses.

NZ Agribusiness Centre business manager Terry Blackler believes that more than half of exhibitors plan to introduce new products and ideas.

“The visitors come to the New Zealand National Fieldays to see what new technology is available, what the latest trends in the primary industries look like,” he says.

“An amazing link developing each year is the international groups travelling as one to the event. This year we have large groups from Australia, Cook Islands and China arriving.”

Countries that now have New Zealand products because of links made at Fieldays include Germany, Chile, France, UK, Ireland, USA, Poland, South America, China and Japan.

Some overseas businesses displaying their wares at Fieldays this year will do so at Enterprise Ireland’s stand outside the international pavilion, with its green décor and perhaps a cute leprechaun to catch the eye.

Enterprise Ireland trade representative Treza Gallogly says the government organisation is an umbrella for Irish companies to grow and win export sales in global markets. Clients who are interested in coming into the New Zealand market are helped with introductions and research about the area they are looking into.

“The importance of Fieldays for our clients is huge. Our business is all about increasing export for our clients. This is the biggest opportunity they have, to get their products in front of people in a short time period,” she says.

“We use Fieldays as a vehicle to introduce new Irish companies in the New Zealand market, and to New Zealand companies who would be likely partners and distributors for them in the region.”

Irish companies exhibiting this year include Glen Dimplex, which is considered the world’s largest electrical heating business, Brennan Fencing, which is one of Ireland’s longest established fencing contractors, and Keenan, which is Europe’s largest mixer wagon manufacturer and has customers in over 40 countries worldwide.

Also among their number is Dooley Bros, which manufactures specialised trailers and is making its first foray into the New Zealand market, as is Brennan Fencing.

New Zealand is one of the strongest importers of agricultural goods from Ireland, due to the similarities in size and farming practices.

“Early indicators for the 2011 export figures show that exports from Ireland to New Zealand have grown by almost 30% from 2010.  We focus on New Zealand and more Irish companies are looking towards doing business here,” says Gallogly.

“Most don’t have their own stand at Fieldays; we can have a stand and represent them there.”

Other Irish businesses are present at Fieldays with support from Enterprise Ireland but have their own stands.

One New Zealand company that has benefited from the global exposure offered by Fieldays is Milfos International, an electronics, plastics and steel manufacture.

The company gained over 150 leads from last year’s Fieldays. “The value is in the tens of millions of dollars,” says Milfos marketing assistant Cindy Jenkins.

Milfos has had a site at the Fieldays for years.

“It takes us two months to get ready for it all. We have visitors from Australia and South America this year.”

With a huge 15m by 20m marquee, the site has been revamped.

“All our equipment is on show. It gives us a chance to show what we can do compared to competitors.”