After an absence of 10 years, Chinese manufacturer Zoomlion returned to this year’s edition of Agritechnica with lots of innovative technology and big plans for Europe.
The Chinese company had the same big plans a decade ago at Agritechnica 2015, although present day management concedes is was simply not ready for the big push into Europe at the time.
Much has changed since, and Zoomlion feels the time is now right to restart its ambitious plans. One key driver for the renewed push in Europe is Rabe, Zoomlion buying the German implement maker autumn 2020, and this year’s stand was a mixture of the two brands.
Reason enough for a chat with Rabe managing director Tim-Randy Sia, who as well as being responsible for putting Rabe back on the map in Europe, is also charged with opening up new markets for Zoomlion tractors and combines.
Shown as a prototype, the 5m Pandion M500 short disc harrow is designed to work at speeds of up to 20km/hr behind a 160hp tractor. Disc diameter is 560mm and frame clearance is 800mm.
Born near Osnabruck, near to the Rabe plant at Bad Essen, Mr Sia has an engineering background. Following 12 years as a product manager for Amazone fertiliser spreaders and five years with a logistics firm, Rabe provided the ideal opportunity to return to the agricultural machinery sector.
He explains that the aim at Agritechnica was to put Rabe back on the European map for tillage equipment. “This is the priority,” he says. “There are 1,000+ active Rabe dealers in Europe and our strategy for the new tractor brand of Zoomlion is to access this network.”
Rabe managing director Tim-Randy Sia says the company has had a difficult history but has a more promising future now that it has the Chinese of the parent company. “Our biggest challenge is gaining the trust and understanding.”
At this stage, it needs stressing that Zoomlion not only makes large hybrid tractors like the 400hp DV3504 at Agritechnica, but also a wide range of smaller models to cover the full power spectrum. “Zoomlion and has an extensive range. Many of the smaller models could appeal to dealers that do not currently have a tractor.”
Rabe is seen as the stepping stone to offer Zoomlion tractors in Europe. The green paintwork on the Agritechnica machines was a marketing exercise to show that Rabe is part of a strong Chinese parent company that can offer dealers tractors, combines, telehandlers and implements.
The blue ag line is already available in the two big European markets of Germany and France. There are already enough Rabe dealers in Germany, and the plan is to get some of them to take on Zoomlion tractors.
Ploughs are another product group up for review. The existing range is 25 years old, and Rabe will look to improve them, possibly using some parts sourced from China.
The 200hp Stage V PG2004 is in the European homologation process, and three units are in European tests. “Other models will follow, and we will offer 23 different models in Germany in 2026 and hope to have a combine in Europe for tests next season.”
The tractors will be distributed through the Rabe site at Bad Essen, where there is plenty of space to set up a European HQ and spare parts warehouse. There will be no blue Rabe tractors. Zoomlion green is the only colour they will be available.
The internal discussions continue as to the best way forward in the next target markets of the UK and Ireland, where he feels there are lots of opportunities.
“We already have a couple of Rabe dealers in the UK, but this is not enough,” adds Mr Sia. “We are open to appointing separate Rabe or Zoomlion dealers, or ones that are willing to stock both.”
Looking ahead, Zoomlion is investing at both the Rabe production site, and also in new product development. The first stages of this were on display at Agritechnica where a prototype of the Pandion M500 short disc harrow was on the stand and the new 6m Phoenix T600 shallow cultivator. The latter is currently only available in folding widths of 5m and 6m, but an 8m-folding model with hydraulic depth control is in development.
Ploughs are another area up for review. The existing range is 25 years old, and Mr Sia stresses it is not easy to build a plough, but they will look to improve them.
“The knowledge is here to make Rabe ploughs in Europe. Our strategy is not to build a plough using parts from China, but it could make good business sense to source certain components, such as hydraulic cylinders, from China.”
The next steps have yet to be decided, but they are toying with adding more products to the Rabe portfolio, such as mechanical hoes and a range of short discs, and the company is in the process of updating Rabe power harrows. “Having ploughs and a few cultivators is limited. We need to grow the product range and make Rabe attractive for dealers.”
The Phoenix T 600 (6m) is designed for tractors from 200hp+. The 8m model in development needs at least 280hp.
Will future Rabe products be developed in-house or is Zoomlion keen to acquire another implement manufacturer? “If the right opportunity comes along then I am sure Zoomlion will be interested.” The future could also be with more partnerships like the recent one where Spanish drill manufacturer Sola makes the Ventus pneumatic seed drills for Rabe.
Back to the telehandler. While shown as a prototype, the Zoomlion-made ZTH2506 (2.5t to 3m) has been tested in Germany, and all feedback from the first users has been incorporated within the improved the blue version.
In the European homologation process, it will be on sale in Germany early 2026, when the ZTH3507 (3.5t/7m) and ZTHG3513 (3.5t/13m) will also be available.
Zoomlion also makes wheeled loaders, and Mr Sia does not rule out adding them to the Rabe portfolio in the future, but this is currently not a focus. Zoomlion’s extensive tractor and machine brochure includes planters and round and square balers. There are clearly endless possibilities to bolster the Rabe portfolio.
“With Rabe and Zoomlion we are building a bridge between China and Europe. This bridge works in both directions, and we have already built a plant in China to produce blue Rabe kit. The plan is to start selling Rabe ploughs in 2026.”
Main picture: Rabe showed its first telehandler at Agritechnica. The Zoomlion-made ZTH2506 lifts 2.5t to 3m.
Zoomlion shows hybrid tractors and a combine – Profi
Zoomlion diesel-electric combine – Profi
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