Goldacres hosts Expo18

Australian sprayer specialist Goldacres is marking its 40th anniversary in 2018, and as part of its celebrations the company recently threw open its doors to its loyal customers for Goldacres Expo18.

Held at the family-owned-and-operated company's Mitchell Park production facility on the outskirts of Ballarat, the event saw over 500 people attend over February 20 and 21.

Rich history
Attendees enjoyed a short video documenting Goldacres' proud history, from humble beginnings when it began producing trailing sprayers in the Victorian town of St Arnaud in 1978, to the diversification of its product line that today encompasses everything from 12-volt and three-point linkage sprayers all the way through to self-propelled sprayers with massive 8000-litre tanks and booms in lengths of up to 42 metres.

Expo18 showcased a wide variety of those products, including a number of customer models produced way back when – like the sixth-ever trailing sprayer to roll off the factory floor in 1978, and the first ever Crop Cruiser self-propelled model produced in 1998.

"We have over 80 products on display here over the next two days," said Stephen Richards, Goldacres' Sales & Marketing Operations Manager.

These factory-based expos have been held by Goldacres since 2009, although this was the first to be held in some time, Mr Richards said.

"We had our last Expo about five years ago," he said.

After the video detailing the firm's past, visitors were taken on a comprehensive tour of the factory at the Ballarat site. All sprayers with capacities in excess of 2500 litres are produced at the Mitchell Park facility, while the more compact models and all the aluminium fabrication is handled at the original St Arnaud site.

While 20 staff still call St Arnaud home, the bulk of the Goldacres operation is based at Ballarat, with 140 staff working at the sprawling site located just next to the Western Highway.

Goldacres' suppliers were also in attendance, with a dedicated expo marquee showcasing products and services from the likes of Cummins, Allison Transmission, Harvest Tyres, Hydac, Trimble, Raven and more.

Visitors also enjoyed an opportunity to get to grips with Goldacres' bigger products first-hand, with a minibus shuttling patrons throughout the two days to a nearby paddock where they could take advantage of 'ride and drive' sessions.

A range of self-propelled and trailing sprayer models were available for test drives under the watchful eye of knowledgeable Goldacres staff, including the firm's latest model targeting the horticultural market – the four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer GV4, with a mechanical-hydraulic drive system that delivers precise spraying down to walking pace.

Achieving 40 years of continuous operation is a major milestone for any company, but it's even more impressive in a local firm whose products successfully compete with global giants.

The strong connection between Goldacres and its customers was on display in Ballarat, and it’s the strength of those relationships – combined with Goldacres' engineering expertise and business acumen – that should see this robust company continue to flourish well into the future.

Check back soon for a full review of Goldacres' G4V self-propelled sprayer.