The decision to choose SIP machines is a decision for a robust, simple and tested solution that can cope with any task. SIP is the right choice no matter how difficult the terrain is: from vast plains to challenging mountainous terrains. SIP grassland harvesting machines are the result of more than 70 years of knowledge and experience in the manufacture of agricultural machinery.
Registration of the name SIP
The company was founded in 1954 under the name “Agroservis“. It operated as a repair workshop for, among others, Steyer, Zetor, JO-BU and Carlo Pesci products.
The second part of the activity consisted in the manufacture of various industrial machinery, which started in 1960. The production of hop harvesting machines started, creating 130 new jobs.
In 1967, when Agroservis was renamed SIP, the first machine for grassland harvesting, the Sonček rake, was launched.
In 1969, SIP signed a cooperation agreement with an Austrian company. This provided the company with immediate export business. At the same time ithe company shifted its focus from crafts to the industrial production of agricultural machinery. Industrial series production of belt tedders and later, in 1971, of self-loading wagons begins.
Record number of employees
The capacity of the original workshop was soon no longer sufficient to cope with the production volume of the expanded and redesigned agricultural machinery programme. In 1973, a new production hall of 8400 m2 was built and by then SIP had almost 300 employees.
From 1970 to 1983, the number of employees increased almost sixfold to 1,236. These employees generated 171 times more income than in 1970. In 1980 alone, 30,000 machines were produced. The number of employees increased throughout the 1980s and did not fall below 1,000. in 1985, SIP employed 1,356 people.
Even then, production capacities included the most advanced technologies. And SIP is still one of the most technologically advanced companies today. During this period, SIP patented an anti-loss system for the spring tines on rotary rakes and tedders. In 1982 SIP also patented the first side delivery rotary rake.
SIP had a 75% market share in Yugoslavia, and generated 47% of the total income in Slovenian agricultural machinery, and 13% in Yugoslavia. A quarter of its sales came from exports, and in 1985 it exported 8450 self-loading trailers, of which 3588 were exported to Poland.
Crisis and search for new markets
A prosperous period was followed by a period of instability. In 1990, with the break-up of Yugoslavia, SIP lost a large part of its market. Its workforce was drastically reduced, and its Sežana plant, Krasmetal, went into bankruptcy. At that time, SIP began to strengthen its position abroad. Its product range was exhibited at the EIMA trade fair in Bologna, the Agri trade fair in Leipzig and the Agritechnica trade fair in Frankfurt and Hannover.
The 1990s was also the period of the first rebranding. SIP machines were also produced in light and dark green during this period. However, red eventually prevailed and became and remained the recognisable colour of SIP.
At the turn of the millennium
In 1999, the Eisenmann coating plant was put into production, laser cutting of sheet metal began and the first welding robots were installed. The modernisation of production continued into the new millennium, along with the development of new, more advanced technologies.
In 2004, for rotor rakes, these were the patented walking tandem chassis and modular rotors. In mower technologies, it was the flexible linkage for front-mounted mowers and the development of the DDSS – Disc Drive Safety System. This was installed on all cutter bars in 2007.
This was followed by a major and significant brand renewal that took the technologically sophisticated SIP grassland harvesting to another level. During this time, the new ROBUST philosophy was established. This word encompasses the three key characteristics that define SIP machines: durability, efficiency and usability.
The rebranding also included a visual transformation that included red, anthracite and black colours with white lettering. And it is these colours that SIP is still recognised for today.
Significant player in the market
A few years later, SIP introduces the largest working widths, the HD line. In 2017 it launches the SILVERCUT DISC 1500 T, the world’s largest trailed mower with a 15 m working width and the new technology of pick-up rakes.
Even in its more recent history, SIP continues to follow its philosophy and mission as a specialist in grassland harvesting. Production is being updated with the most advanced technologies for the manufacture of machines and their components. We are launching new grassland harvesting machines, new generations of mowing combinations, rotary tedders, rotor rakes and pick-up rakes. With our confidence in the quality of our machines, we are the only manufacturer in the mowing and harvesting segment to offer a 3-year warranty on our entire product range.
The focus of development remains on the most powerful machines with larger working widths up to 17 m and specialised technologies for specific user segments. SIP is expanding abroad and is also setting up its own companies in foreign markets. It started with SIP UK and SIP France, followed by SIP Germany and SIP Poland.
A major renovation of SIP’s production plant in Šempeter takes place. In addition to the remarkable modernisation of production in mechanical processing and gear manufacturing, a brand new SIP centre has opened its doors. It puts the icing on the cake for the first seven decades of SIP’s story and brings a whole new office experience to us, working in SIP and to all our guests and partners.
It all started in 1954 with the establishment of a local workshop “Agroservis”. It serviced various products and soon developed into one of the major manufacturers of agricultural machinery and equipment in the area. This is how SIP has developed over its rich history from a local service centre to the manufacturer of the largest mower in the world.
More information about SIP can be found HERE.
More information on SIP grassland harvesting machines can be found HERE.
