Balers & bale wrappers: the McHale factory in Ireland

This past week Show Me Shortline traveled with our salesman and several dealerships to McHale’s factory in Ireland for a training session and visit to the factory.

McHale is among the most forward thinking companies specializing in hay products in the business. They specialize in balers, baler/wrapper combination units and high speed bale wrappers along with hay handling products and grass mowers. After the trip I talked to two salesmen who went about their trip. Brent Thomas is with Sydenstricker Implement in Mexico, MO and Ruben Downing is with S&H Farm Supply in Lockwood, MO. Both dealerships have locations across Missouri. You can check them out on the links at the bottom.

What was your motivation for going on this trip to the McHale factory in Ireland?
Brent Thomas: Going over there I hoped to learn how the V660 baler was built, how it works, see production and get a better understanding of how their operation runs.

Ruben Downing: I wanted to go to Ireland to see the factory and how their machines are made and talk to the people that make them, the owners, and bring that back to my customers.
 
How was the trip beneficial?
BT: I was impressed. The factory was new, clean, the lines were streamlined, quality control was really good. One of the biggest things that impressed me was most people in management were also farmers themselves. McHale assured us that all people in research and development come off a farm, were custom baler people and could get in a tractor and bale hay. So they really are building these by farmers for farmers. And you don’t get that with a lot of other machinery manufacturers. It was also helpful to hear that parts are quick and easy to get, usually 3 days from Ireland, if Show Me Shortline doesn’t already have them.

RD: It was great to go to the factory and visit with the research and development. I learned that the workers in the plant are working on farms there in Ireland as contractors as well. They don’t just build the balers, they run them too. I got to have dinner with Martin McHale himself and learn about their family business.
 
 
Which Mchale product are you most excited about and why?
BT: The McHale V660 baler. We’ve already sold two since the trip to Ireland. This baler will allow customers that wouldn’t otherwise come in the door to get excited about a product that has chopper knives on it among other features that other balers just don’t have.

RD: the McHale V660 and V640 balers gave me ammunition. The 640 has 5 bar pick up and a lot of other features that are standard whereas some of the other balers have those features as options only not standard. I like how the V660 makes the bale, the durability of the baler, the cutters, and that its capable of wet or dry hay.

Sydenstricker Website

S&H Website

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