A breath of fresh air through division of labor between rice transplanters and fertilizer machines

Hosan Vision Restructures the Market with Domestic Production and After-Sales Service Innovation

(Korea Agricultural Newspaper = Reporter Yeon Seung-woo) Domestic agricultural machinery technology is shaking up the Japan-dominated market structure. In particular, domestic technology is making notable progress in the field of “side-mounted fertilizer” (Simultaneous Fertilizer), which simultaneously applies fertilizer during rice planting. The division of labor between rice transplanters and fertilizer applicators is opening up new possibilities for the agricultural machinery ecosystem.

Simultaneous fertilizer application with rice transplanting: A key technology for precision fertilization.

Rice transplanters, the backbone of agricultural production, have become essential equipment for domestic farmers. The “metering fertilizer” is a device that precisely applies fertilizer simultaneously with the transplanting process, and is considered a key technology that can increase fertilizer utilization efficiency by 70-80%.

By reducing variation in rice growth, side-by-side fertilization directly impacts the production of high-quality rice. Hosan Vision has been developing pesticide and fertilizer application equipment, including side-by-side fertilization and herbicide sprayers, using proprietary technology since 2003, and currently holds the leading domestic market share.

One-stop installation and after-sales service in cooperation with rice transplanter manufacturers

Hosan Vision’s strengths extend beyond simply producing rice transplanters. It has established a structure that integrates operations, from installation to after-sales service, through partnerships with major domestic rice transplanter manufacturers. In particular, with Company “D,” Korea’s leading agricultural machinery company, Hosan Vision handles everything from product development to production and quality control, significantly reducing the burden on rice transplanter manufacturers.

As a result, fertilizer and herbicide sprayers, previously entirely dependent on Japanese products, were quickly domestically produced. Recently, the company expanded its scope of cooperation by signing an OEM agreement with another rice transplanter manufacturer, “L.”

Securing technological capabilities on par with Japan’s Yanmar and Kubota

The domestic fertilizer market has long been monopolized by Japanese brands like Yanmar and Kubota. These companies develop and sell both rice transplanters and fertilizer spreaders in-house. Meanwhile, T, the second-largest agricultural machinery company in Korea, lacks its own fertilizer spreader technology and relies on importing products from Japanese and domestic small and medium-sized companies.

Hosan Vision is recognized as having secured technological prowess on par with Japan’s top three manufacturers, Yanmar, Kubota, and Iseki, in this market. Notably, the company has developed a new IoT and data-driven “variable fertilizer” product, demonstrating technology for the era of smart agriculture.

Faster and cheaper than Japanese products… Eliminates the burden of after-sales service

Hosan Vision’s greatest competitive edge lies in its parts prices and speedy after-sales service. Japanese products often have long repair times due to parts supply and communication issues, leading to significant dissatisfaction among farmers during the busy farming season. In contrast, Hosan Vision manufactures and stocks most of its parts domestically, offering same-day delivery, thereby enhancing farmers’ trust.

Furthermore, if rice transplanter manufacturers and fertilizer applicator manufacturers specialize and divide their labor, they will enjoy the following industrial benefits: ▲Transplanter manufacturers will enjoy a reduced inventory burden; ▲Save development and labor costs; ▲Fertilizer manufacturers will be able to design custom designs for all rice transplanters. This structure applies equally to herbicide applicators as well as side-row fertilizer applicators, creating a model that benefits both manufacturers and farmers.

“Our goal is to equip all domestic agricultural machinery with Hosan fertilizer.”

Park Beom-ho, CEO of Hosan Vision, said, “We will strive to ensure that Hosan’s side-by-side fertilizer and herbicide sprayers are installed in at least all rice transplanters in Korea,” and added, “We will further strengthen our continuous product development and rapid after-sales service response system.”

As domestic technological prowess grows to a level comparable to that of Japanese products, the competitiveness of the domestic agricultural machinery industry is also said to be entering a new era.

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Source: Korea Agricultural Newspaper (http://www.newsfarm.co.kr)