94 | Trusted both here and across the Tasman Rata Field Wave Autoreset Aerator. Kelly Deeks From a small family farm to a leading multinational brand, Rata Equipment has been helping New Zealand farmers get the job done for more than 45 years. Now based in Winchester, South Canterbury, the company continues to design and manufacture a range of loader attachments and cultivation gear that’s trusted both here and across the Tasman. Sales and marketing director Glenn Walton says it all began in the 1980’s, when his father, Peter Walton and grandfather were farming in Ashhurst where Peter began building front-end loader attachments on the side. After selling the original Manawatu block, they bought land further south and Peter soon earned a reputation for quality engineering, gave up farming, and launched Rata Industries, named after the original family farm, Rata Park. These days, Rata Equipment’s product range includes subsoil aerators, grapples, bale forks, and spreaders, all manufactured in Winchester and sold nationwide and into Australia. The company now exports a third of its production across the ditch, where it operates a warehouse and sales office in Ballarat, VIC. “Australia has been a key growth area for us,” Glenn says. “We don’t manufacture over there, but we’re set up to distribute and support farmers and dealers. We ship a 40ft container about every two weeks, and we can get product from our factory to Ballarat in 10 days.” As tractors and machinery have grown bigger and more powerful, Rata has responded with tougher, more durable implements to match. One of the most popular tools is the Fieldwave shear-pin subsoil aerator, which has recently been redesigned to make it even more user-friendly and adaptable. “Most of our development comes from conversations with farmers and understanding their problems,” Glenn says. “We don’t overload our gear with bells and whistles, we just make equipment that’s strong, reliable, user-friendly, and does what it’s supposed to do.” The new Fieldwave features a modular design, so farmers can order a five-leg machine and bolt on two extra legs if needed. The redesigned machine RURAL SERVICES » Rata Equipment and also be retro fitted with resettable legs, eliminating the need to constantly replace shear bolts. “It’s a good machine for both pasture and cropped ground,” Glenn says. “It breaks up compaction but still leaves the paddock grazeable.” Another best-seller is the Rata Power Claw, a heavy-duty grapple attachment that can be fitted to almost any front-end loader or telehandler. Farmers are using them to clear rocks, gorse, prunings, logs, and rubbish, with many saying they rarely take them off the tractor once fitted. “It’s incredibly versatile,” Glenn says. “Some customers buy it for one job and end up using it for everything. That’s when you know you’ve got something right.” Rata Equipment remains proudly New Zealandmade, working with local suppliers like Real Steel in 0800 653 246 treadway.co.nz GET IN TOUCH TRAILER PARTS WHEELS AND RIMS FOR YOUR TRAILER BUILD. Proudly supplying Kiwi trailer manufacturers for over 40 years. 27 Dakota Crescent Sockburn Christchurch P O Box 11020 P. E. plate.si@vulcan.co SPECIALISTS IN PLATE PROCESSING - OXY FUEL · PLASMA · LASER · PRESS BRAKING Proudly Supporting Rata Equipment Rotowiper is a proud supplier to Rata Industries for all their rotational moulding requirements. PLASTICROTATIONALMOULDING For all your rotational moulding requirements. Rotowiper Ltd, 48 Bremners Road, Ashburton 03 3084497 | sales@rotowiper.com | rototank.co.nz Supporting Rata Equipment and the manufacturing industry with steel that works harder, faster, smarter. Ashburton to source quality materials. The company uses advanced laser-cutting technology to streamline production, while still doing all its welding, painting, and assembly in-house. “We’re lucky here in South Canterbury, we’ve got access to a good port, good engineering infrastructure, and a strong labour pool,” Glenn says. “We’re in the heart of agriculture, right where we need to be.” Rata continues to test and refine its equipment on-site, with plenty of space around the factory for real-world field trials. “Everything gets tested here before it goes out to market,” Glenn says. “We’ve got plenty of rocks in the ground here and if there’s a weak point, we’ll find it.”
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