Profile: Dieci Agri Plus 42.7 telehandler

While Dieci Agri Plus telehandlers are a highly sought-after piece of machinery in NZ, the addition of two new 42.7 models is proving a game changer for a major Australian fodder importer

The new Dieci Agri Plus telehandler is making light work of heavy hay operations for Hay Australia, which handles a staggering amount of fodder.

While the business has been using Dieci telehandlers for about four years, a recent decision to buy two of the new models is already paying off in terms of productivity and reliability.

“We sell about 140,000 tonnes of fodder, mostly oaten hay, each year through sites in WA and Victoria,” says operations manager Geoff Walker.

“We’re constantly moving hay around the sites, from delivery to dispatch to the plant, and it’s all done by telehandlers. These machines run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they clock up 2500 hours per year,” he says.

Before buying the two new models, Geoff bought a 40.7 Dieci telehandler, even though he knew it was probably not the ideal size for his high capacity, non-stop operation.

“We were still running another brand at that time, but we put the Dieci in to give it a challenge. That Dieci machine is still running and has done upwards of 6000 hours,” he says.

The two Agri Plus 42.7 models are both based in Victoria, where the original smaller Dieci is still hard at work.

“The 40.7 with powershift is an excellent machine that will meet most farmers’ needs, but the hydrostatic single-speed Vario Evo 2 in the 42.7 Agri Plus is just ideal in an around the clock production facility,” he says.

“It’s like an auto transmission. Put your foot down and it drives. It also has a comfortable cab, which matters when you’re asking an operator to sit in there for a long period of time. They need space and good air-con because there’s a lot of glass, and Dieci has the best air-con I have come across.”

Hay Australia bought the new telehandlers with Dieci’s Haymaster specifications.  

“The Haymaster has a side shift on the boom and it’s surprising how often we use it.
It lets you shift the carriage side to side to tightly pack the load. If you lift up and realise a bale on the front needs to move left or right, you can do so in small increments without having to move the whole machine. It takes some getting used to but once operators learn to use it, they love it.”

Hay Australia sells into Asian and Middle Eastern markets, servicing customers who demand high-quality fodder for their equine, dairy, and beef operations.

“It’s critical to our business that we have the logistical and processing capabilities to handle large volumes, so we can minimise risk and maximise returns for both growers and customers,” Geoff says.

“Choosing the right equipment and creating relationships with the dealership are an important part of being able to deliver on our promise of quality and reliability.”

Dieci Agri Plus 42.7 specifications

• Maximum load 4200kg
• Maximum lift height 6.9m
• Maximum forward reach 3.75m
• 230L/min hydraulic oil flow
• Peak power 153hp
• Maximum road speed 40kph
• Boom suspension and 460/70 R24 traction tyres
• Four driving modes, changed via an easy-to-read and LED screen
• Revamped cab with suspension seat, adjustable steering column and armrest, sound damping, and more.

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