WITH A larger slice of a smaller cake, German manufacturer Fendt is revelling in the fact that its premium brand tractors are enjoying unprecedented success in the UK.

While the UK tractor market slumped 12% last year (the Irish Republic was even worse, with a 60% drop), Fendt’s share of the market actually went up and the 625 machines it sold last year was a record for the company.

That means Fendt’s sales have risen by more than 50% in two years and within that space of time it has also upped its UK market share from 2.3% in 2007 to 3.8% last year. This year, it is aiming for a 4.8% market share on a market that it predicts may be down by as much as 20%, which makes it a level playing field with last year for the brand.

More importantly for the number crunchers, Fendt dominates the high value 200hp-plus market to the extent that one in every four such machines bear the company’s trademark green.

According to Fendt UK’s Richard Shelton, the high-end of the market is dominated by ‘professional’, bigger farmers. “This kind of farmer is looking for greater productivity and has a far greater focus on what we call ‘life costs’, which includes reliability, fuel consumption and depreciation.

The argument for fuel-saving by using Fendt tractors is compelling. Its flagship 936 model has undergone a gruelling DLG comparitive test in Germany which showed that it had a £4.11 per hour saving over its average competitor. Across a five-year period, that could be worth an average £16,440.

A key feature of the brand is its exclusive use across all of its tractors, of the leading edge technology offered by its Vario transmission. More than 100,000 of these are at work today and feature in the two latest ranges from the AGCO-owned business, the 200 and 800 series.

While its big brothers dominate the high-hp scene across Europe, the new 200 series should open up the livestock sector, especially, to the brand. For Fendt, this is the baby of the range, but it fits well into the ideal hp bracket for that style of market, with five models across a range of 70-110hp. It’s also one of the first in this sector to exclusively have the benefits of the Vario CVT transmission.

In the 200 series, the Vario gives a stepless speed range of between 20m/hour and up to 40kmh, with the top speed able to be maintained at just 1750rpm. All are fitted with chipped versions of the same three-cylinder, 3.3-litre AGCO Sisu Power engine and all are capable of a 4.2-tonne lift capacity – which is more than any of the tractors themselves weigh (they are between 3.75 and 3.93 tonnes).

The models are the 207 (70hp); 208 (80hp); 209 (90hp); 210 (100hp); 211 (110hp).

With its 800 series, Fendt is firm in its belief that these will more than maintain its reputation as providing benchmark tractors for this sector of the market.

These will be the first to wear Fendt green fitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology and are said to complement the existing 818 and 820 models (185hp and 205hp, respectively), which remain in production. The new range is of five models which rise in 20hp increments from 200 to 280hp.

The five models are all powered by a six-litre, six cylinder Deutz motors fitted with the SCR package, which injects the urea-based mixture AdBlue into the exhaust stream to significantly reduce emissions. The SCR system is also claimed to significantly reduce fuel use by 7%, and when matched to the Vario transmission, makes the tractors even more efficient.

As you would expect from Fendt, the cab interior – now based on the X5 cab fitted to the 900 series – is one aimed at providing a comfortable environment for a long working day. It has air-conditioning, three-point suspension, a huge area of glass and the ability to work as a true, reverse-drive tractor.

Its Varioterminal comes with either a seven-inch or 10.4-inch screen which can display up to four applications at once, with a mixture of touch-screen and side-mounted push controls for the screen, and showing input from the joystick. The tractors can also be fitted with up to two cameras, the output from which can be viewed at the same time as other operating data.

Compliant with the ISObus standard – which enables it to be used with a wide variety of implements with similar compatibility – this means the screen can control up to four machines at the same time, which is useful for working front and rear combinations.

There is plenty of capacity for work too. Weighing between 9.3 and 9.45 tonnes, the 800 series all have a rear lift of 11.11 tonnes and the standard front-linkage will hoist a little over five tonnes.

But, you’ll have to wait until October to even have a chance of getting one as the seven 800 models booked for the UK for September were all sold at Fendt’s first UK-based launch, held last week near Birmingham.