Lovol tractors were among the more noteworthy sights at Agritechnica 2017.

Largely unknown here in Ireland, these Chinese-built machines are adopting an increasingly modern look and, some might say, an increasingly ‘western’ feel.

Below is a selection of pictures showing just some of the latest models on the company’s stand at this week’s world-beating machinery exhibition.

Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture.

Lovol manufactures a broad dossier of products, including agricultural equipment (tractors, implements and combine harvesters), construction equipment (excavators, backhoe loaders, forklifts, graders, wheel loaders, skid-steer loaders, rollers and bulldozers), specialist urban vehicles (small three-wheeled and electric transport units) and engines.

Agricultural implements

The range of agricultural implements includes trailers, balers, ploughs, cultivators, rotary tillers and even sprayers. Most of these are at the smaller end of the scale – in terms of physical size.

It’s a similar story for the entity’s combine harvesters; these go from 75hp up to just 150hp. Cutting widths run from just 2m up to 4.5m. These machines, depending on the individual model, mainly tackle wheat or rice.

Lovol Heavy Industry – the company’s full trading name – also has a significant financial services division.

Lovol was founded in 1998; growth has been impressive since then. It now has in excess of 16,000 employees.

Back in 2014, for example, it recorded sales revenues of almost 22 billion RMB (Chinese Yuan). This equates to over €3 billion.

According to World Brand Lab, the Lovol brand is estimated to be worth in excess of 35 billion RMB (almost €4.8 billion).

Lovol claims to be the largest agricultural equipment manufacturer in China; its activities also feed into other brands and manufacturers – extending its reach further in the global farm machinery sector.