Kramer KT447 proves to be perfect workhorse

In December 2020, Brandt Agriculture became the exclusive Kramer dealer at all locations in Australia and New Zealand. Kleer Contractors owner, Kenneth Davidson, was keen to see the Kramer KT276 and KT447 telehandlers in action. Having comfortable and reliable workhorses in their fleet of equipment ensures round-the-clock work capability when serving a diverse client base across the region. 

Kleer Contractors provides 24-hour machine work and labour to a local food processing plant. Kenneth explains he knew from first glance that Kramer epitomised German precision manufacturing and was drawn to the KT447 for its 7m reach and 4.4-tonne lifting capacity. 

"I noticed straight away it's a machine that is solid where it counts," Kenneth said. "The welding standard, steel thickness and heavy-duty components are all high quality – it's very nicely made all round." 

A quick test drive at Brandt also gave Kenneth confidence his staff, who put in long shifts during peak periods, would be safe and comfortable in the cab. The decision to purchase was further supported by the fact he could take immediate delivery of a machine. 

"Now that we have clocked up more than 1000 hours, I can happily say I would recommend the Kramer KT447, as we have found it to be a superior machine," Kenneth states.  "The workers who are running it night and day have told me they wished I had bought one years ago. Although we had no real issues with our last machine, they have described the difference between the two as 'chalk and cheese' - they absolutely love it."  

Specialised equipment for a niche market 

Kenneth has been at the helm of Kleer Contractors, based in the Hawke's Bay region, for two decades, having taken over from his father, who founded the company in 1999. At that time, the business had three trucks and focused on drain cleaning and liquid waste removal. Today, however, there are 19 trucks, 15 permanent staff, and the breadth of services has expanded to encompass bulk cartage using tankers and tippers for the stockfeed industry and waste and food bioproduct work in the wine and cider industries. 

Kleer Contractors' clients range from individuals and small businesses to government and corporate enterprises. For the past eight years, Kleer Contractors has also supplied the telehandler and labour in Hasting's local canned food factory. Here, staff use a custom-built blade, which is 5m wide and 1.5m high, to feed corn onto a conveyor belt for processing. 

"Basically, the corn comes in on a truck where it's tipped onto a pad, then we use the loader to push it onto a conveyer," he said. "The factory runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week." 

Smooth operator 

Given the high hours his team commit behind the controls in the factory moving corn, Kenneth said operator comfort was paramount. 

"The ergonomic design of the main joystick makes for easy movements with everything at the tip of your finger," he said. "It's mounted to the seat, and your arm position is always consistent even if the seat is rotated into different positions."

Kenneth said his staff have also reported a noticeable improvement in how smoothly the equipment transitioned between steering modes compared to other telehandlers. 

"The Kramer can put power to all four wheels without generating wheel slip or tyre jump. This is due to its world-class hydrostatic transmission, which was a standout feature compared with other makes we have used," he said. 

The advanced technology within the KT447 makes the equipment a "smart machine." The operator's functions are monitored to ensure the wrong settings can't be accidentally enacted, which was an important safety feature for Kenneth and his team.

"Forward and reverse settings are all electronic and require the brake to be on when they are engaged," he said. "This means you can't accidentally knock a switch, as you have to have your brakes applied to select a direction. And, if the operator steps out of the cab, the machine switches itself into neutral and breaks automatically."

Kenneth explains the KT447 is currently used full-time in the food processing factory, but he was eager to put it to work across other areas of the business, including hay and fodder production.  

"When we are doing baleage, there will be times when it has to be taken off-road or be driven through a rough paddock," he said. "As it's such a smooth machine, it will travel well over rougher ground, which I predict will increase productivity in a paddock."

The telehandler has caught the eye of other businesses in the region, and Kenneth states he was willing to loan or offer the machine for hire. He's also been delighted by the aftermarket support provided by Brandt.

"In terms of servicing, they have been fantastic," he said. "They have gone above and beyond to help us. I would recommend them, as well as the telehandler, to anyone." 

Contact your local Brandt Agriculture to get more information on Kramer equipment and telehandler servicing.