Business year 2023/2024 of BEDNAR FMT as seen by Jan and Vojtěch Bednář

In terms of numbers, I find it hard to compare 2023/24 with the previous record fiscal year of 2022/23. In this respect, we must acknowledge the significant weakening of demand and production with the onset of the protracted crisis, to which the plant had to respond by downsizing the workforce and reducing operating costs, but above all, by going on the offensive to streamline processes.

We succeeded in building on the streamlining of warehouse processes and precision warehouse management, and ended up with an exemplary inventory result. At year’s end, we supported the random dispensing control system with random and targeted input control of components using a digital interface. The same digital interface for capturing defects is also used by the newly expanded audit group performing subcontractor inspections. These measures help to catch and remove gross defects early, thus reducing the impact on the assembly process.

In response to reduced demand, production times have been shortened, which has in turn increased pressure on suppliers. The purchasing department has therefore worked more than ever with the capabilities of individual suppliers, in terms of both delivery times and prices, to optimise our products and support sales.

We also achieved a significant milestone in the technological preparation of production, where we conducted checks of individual work operations, their time sequences and review of standardised times. We used this and plenty of other data to rapidly deploy the under-development AI planner „SABINA“ (Smart Artificial Bednar INtelligently Assistant), which can react to, optimize and correct production plan deviations within seconds (instead of hours).

By optimizing internal processes and personnel, and consistently monitoring non-production times, we significantly increased productivity in the assembly department as well. Not only has efficiency of working time use increased, but also the fulfilment rate of standardised times. At the same time, the internal quality department was completely redesigned, digitized and accelerated in order to reduce response times. All data collection and processing is done completely digitally.

The past year has also seen significant progress in the areas of strategic development and land-use planning. Over the year, first the building modifications were completed. This included the extension of halls A and B, where we installed and put into operation the first stage of the paint shop automation (conveyor and storage system, scanning control gates and a high-performance automatic blasting line). The second stage of construction is design-ready. In addition, in the next two years (thanks to the approved changes to the land-use plan), we could see a complete transformation of the surroundings of the production plant, establishing vegetation, construction of car parks for passenger cars and finished products, and the SOUTH gate.

I firmly believe that together, we will succeed in fulfilling our vision, overcoming the challenges of any era and building on the successful (record) period of previous years.

Vojtěch Bednář
Production Director of BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.

After enjoying several highly successful years, agriculture is going through its worst crisis since the 1990s. Many reasons have been given in the media as to why this is so. The market for agricultural commodities, and hence for agricultural machinery, is a market like any other and could not keep growing indefinitely. This is a fundamental rule of economics. Yet 2024 was a very special year for agricultural equipment manufacturers. The crisis has affected all agricultural regions on all continents. That had never happened in the past. Invariably, some areas had performed significantly better than others. This was not the case in 2024.

BEDNAR FMT has never received “crisis” support, even during the COVID-19 period. In the Czech Republic, it is not even possible to draw so-called “kurzarbeit” on companies affected by external influences. This is a common practice in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, but not in the Czech Republic. Maybe if BEDNAR FMT was producing passenger cars, it could successfully apply for aid?!

While the vast majority of Western European manufacturers of agricultural equipment use the so-called “kurzarbeit” – when part of the operating costs are covered (subsidized) by the local government, the Czech manufacturer BEDNAR FMT produces and sells without assistance. European farmers often complain that they do not benefit from a level playing field among EU Member States. This is also true for manufacturers of agricultural machinery.

In the fiscal year 2023/24, BEDNAR FMT achieved a total turnover of EUR 145 million. This result represents a decrease of approximately 30% compared to the fiscal year 2022/23. Even though many of our trading partners had full stocks of equipment, especially with the new models of higher value seed drills, the decline was “only” 30%.

The MATADOR MO and DIRECTO NO seed drills drove the company’s sales in 2024. BEDNAR did not produce machines for stock; every machine produced in 2024 was delivered based on a purchase order from a trading partner. Purchase orders for the spring 2025 season are on par with those in 2024, with a decent forecast of “accelerating” orders for the summer and fall of 2025.

In terms of business, we have prepared a number of special sales promotions for our trading partners and end customers alike. All machines from our product portfolio are now supplied with a standard two-year factory warranty. We have won important awards for the OMEGA OO_FL, MATADOR MO and DIRECTO NO seed drills at exhibitions, introduced new models of BEDNAR machines in Farming Simulator 2025, and I am delighted by the many ceremonial handovers, during which we were able to “officially hand over” the machines to our key agricultural customers right at the production plant.

Jan Bednář
Sales Director of BEDNAR FMT s.r.o

JOY OF FARMING
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BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.