Kramp, the agricultural spare parts and accessories specialist, says a new agreement signed with Shell Lubricants will make ordering a barrel of engine oil as simple as buying a new pair of overalls.

Through its network of 3,500 dealerships, Kramp will offer UK farmers access to Shell’s portfolio of heavy-duty engine oils, transmission oils and greases – all designed specifically for use in agriculture.

“It’s easy to think of oils and lubricants as a commodity item,” says Kramp’s Assortment Manager Craig Marsh, “and indeed they might cost only 1-2% of a farm’s total maintenance costs. Yet good lubricant practice is inextricably linked to lower total cost of ownership (TCO),” he points out.

While farmers recognise the benefits of a proactive maintenance approach, figures from Shell* reveal not all are succeeding in implementing it effectively: 77% of those surveyed believe that effective maintenance generates cost savings, but 48% feel that maintenance is often ignored until there’s a breakdown.

Further results from the survey suggested that lubrication – or lack of it – is a common problem: 41% of those surveyed said they had experienced equipment breakdowns due to ineffective lubrication, while 42% admitted that lubrication was not a maintenance priority.

“That doesn’t square with the fact that more than two-thirds of farmers say their priority is maximising the lifespan of existing equipment,” adds Craig. “By optimising lubricant selection and choosing oils specifically designed for heavy-duty field work, farmers can also improve fuel efficiency and reduce oil change intervals.”

The new agreement, which goes into effect in August, means UK farmers will be able to order products such as Shell Rimula, Shell Tellus and Shell Gadus online or through their local Kramp dealer, for next-day delivery.

*This survey, commissioned by Shell Lubricants and conducted by research firm Edelman Intelligence, polled 875 decision makers across the construction, fleet and agriculture sectors in 7 countries (USA, China, India, Germany, Russia, Indonesia, UK) from March to April 2018