Merlo is strengthening customer and dealer support through an "enhanced technical training programme" provided at its Ringwood training centre.

More than 220 engineers and dealer personnel across Ireland and the UK attended the training programme so far this year.

Merlo is a brand known for its robustness and innovation, in particular with the MultiFarmer telehandler, which has a rear three-point link and power take-off (PTO) stub.

According to Merlo, the programme was "dedicated to develop technical expertise, promote safe working practise and prepare the dealer network for future technologies".

It has said that ensuring customers are "supported with confidence" is a key priority for the brand.

In addition to the training offered at the Merlo UK headquarters in Ringwood, there has been courses held at dealer locations across Ireland and the UK.

The programme consists of 25 technical training courses, with this number set to grow as new products are introduced and technology advances.

Merlo said that each course is "designed to equip engineers with the skills needed to keep machines working efficiently, from first diagnosis through to maintenance and repair".

Merlo training

Leading the programme is training manager Sam Bowles, who is responsible for developing and delivering training courses across Merlo's dealer networks in Ireland and the UK.

Bowles has more than a decade of experience in agricultural and construction equipment engineering, and is nearly two years into his role as head of technical training at Ringwood for Merlo.

Merlo's Ringwood training centre was opened in 2021 and purpose-built for practical training.

It provides engineers with access to dedicated machines, specialist training rigs and dismantled machine components so that they can build familiarity with Merlo systems and technology away from the pressure of a live customer breakdown.

According to Merlo, its programme offers foundational training for those new to its products as well as advanced modules on its systems that engineers work with daily.

In addition to the advanced modules is the Roto telehandler training programme, giving engineers specialist training for one of Merlo's most complex product ranges.

The Roto telehandler has the ability to rotate the boom and cab 360° on the chassis.

This means instead of having to reposition the machine to change where one places the load, a Roto can park once and rotate to where the load is needed.

The course takes place over the course of a week.

During this time, attendees move from machine operation to system understanding, diagnostics and fault finding, "building the knowledge and confidence to support Roto machines when customers need them most," according to Merlo.

Engineers can also gain the qualifications needed to undertake Thorough Examinations through British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA)-accredited courses.

These qualifications can help dealer teams support machinery safely through critical inspections and compliance checks.

Courses can also be tailored to individual requirements, allowing engineers to focus on the learning that is most applicable to their role.

Training response

According to Merlo, feedback from attendees of the course has been extremely positive, with an average satisfaction of 4.97/5 across approximately 400 participant responses.

Bowles said: "One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing engineers return to training and watching their confidence grow.

"Having worked as an engineer myself, I understand the realities of diagnosing and repairing machines in the field, and the difference practical, hands-on training makes in helping engineers build both confidence and capability".

Bowles has spent considerable time at Merlo Group's headquarters in Italy, receiving extensive training on the company's machines and latest technology.

Working closely with technical and training teams on the continent allows him to come back with the latest product knowledge to dealers across Ireland and the UK.

That includes preparing engineers for electric models (such as the e-Worker electric compact telehandler) and more advanced machine technologies.

Bowles weighed in on the development of the training programmes, saying: "We’re constantly developing and updating our training programmes to ensure our dealers are ready to support both current and future products.

"The industry is evolving quickly, and it’s important that engineers have the knowledge and confidence needed to support customers as new technologies emerge".

Merlo UK's general manager, Shaun Groom, spoke about the breadth of training available at Ringwood and how it is central to the programme's success.

He said: "Every engineer is at a different stage of their career, so it's important our training reflects that.

"Sam (Bowles) has built a programme that grows with our engineers.

"Behind every productive machine is a skilled engineer," he added.

According to Groom, the success of the programme is a "testament to the commitment of Sam and the wider team, as well as the enthusiasm of the engineers taking part.

"Seeing attendees return, develop their skills and grow in confidence is incredibly rewarding, and we’re proud to support that development across our dealer network," Groom said.