"We are introducing a new vegetable planter exclusively for the North American market," said Abate. "It will have a heavier frame than what we sell in Europe." The frame will be made by an outside supplier in Illinois, and Gaspardo planter units will be shipped to Rock Island for assembly on the heavier frames. It will not be marketed through one of Gaspardo''s seven distributors.Direct marketing"We will market the planter directly to growers," said Abate. "The U.S. represents a huge market for us."Maschio/Gaspardo is one of many Italian manufactures which supply proprietary merchandise to U.S. manufacturers and suppliers. Companies like Polmac in Mirandola, Italy which makes spray nozzles and values for many companies in the U.S. Bondioli and Pavesi of Suzaara, Italy supplies power take off shafts for several U.S. equipment manufacturers.

Gene Gall, sales manager for the Cim-Tek unit from Central Illinois Manufacturing, Bement, Illinois, says fuel suppliers who use the unit typically learn the same thing. "There''s a lack of proper fuel maintenance on many farms. Farmers don''t change tank filters regularly, and they don''t drain deposits from the bottom of tanks."Caring for stored fuelChuck Hamilton, technical service engineer with Country Energy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, says 90% of the diesel fuel problems he sees are from dirt, rust, and water contamination. "Even many cold-weather problems are from water contamination, not fuel gelling. The vast majority of these problems can be eliminated with proper fuel tank maintenance on the farm," he says.

Models 420D and 430D backhoe loaders, and 420D IT and 430D IT integrated toolcarrier (IT) configurations, offer new single-lever, pilot-operated, excavator-style joystick controls for smooth, hydraulic loader functions. New models feature Cat 3054T turbocharged, direct-injection. 4-cylinder engines with 4.0 liters displacement, fuel-injection, and Power-Shuttle transmission with on-the-go shitting and synchromesh in 4 forward and 4 reverse gears. Auto-shift option with manual override automatically shifts between second gear and highest selected gear in 5 forward and 3 reverse speeds. Also have standard 2-wheel or on-the-go, all-wheel drive with oil-immersed hydraulic, multiple disc brakes. 420D has 85 net hp. and backhoe digging depth of 14 ft. 5 in. with standard stick; extendible stick pushes depth to 18 It. 1 in. 430D has 94 net hp. and digging depth of 15 ft. 3 in., extendible to 19 ft. l I in. Variable-flow, closed-center, load-sensing hydraulic system adjusts flow and pressure to 3,300 p.s.i. for full hydraulic force to work tools at any engine speed. Single-pin backhoe bucket has 205[degrees] linkage rotation with integrated lifting eye. Operator station includes white-faced gauges, hand throttle, new boom lock position, and pilot-operated stabilizer controls. A portable backhoe that can be towed to a job site, unhooked, and then used has been introduced. Heavy enough for commercial use, the backhoe is ideal for use by farmers, plumbing contractors, homebuilders, landscape contractors, and large-scale gardeners.

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