1940-2004, English, Unpublished edition: 5544 Austoft Industries Archive, Austoft.

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Physical Description
  • 44.5 linear metres.
Language
  • English

Edition details

Title
  • 5544 Austoft Industries Archive, 1940-2004.
Creator
  • Austoft.
Physical Description
  • 44.5 linear metres.
Subjects
Summary
  • Photographs, film, videos, ephemera, informational pamphlets, and papers on the business and machinery produced by the Toft Brothers and Austoft company for sugar cane producers.
Biography
  • Toft Bros. Industries Limited were based in Bundaberg and manufactured the world's largest range of cane-harvesters and cane transporters. During the early days of the sugar cane industry, harvesting was labour intensive, dangerous, and susceptible to the varying climatic conditions. In addition, when World War II began, labour was scarce in Australia. In response to this threat, Brothers Alan and Colin Toft developed a mechanical cane loader from scrap and a cannibalised Model T Ford to use on their family farm. Essentially, it was a simple mobile crane with a grab to lift cane bundles onto a truck. During the next two years, the brothers devised their first mechanical wholestalk harvester using a 25 hp tractor. By 1944, they were cutting 80 tonnes of sugarcane a day.
  • Their business began when they saw the potential for the machines they had developed for their own harvest, and began producing machines for wider use in response to the growing demand within the industry. Other manufacturers also began recognising the opportunities that this industry offered and began producing their own machines.
  • In 1956, Harold and Colin Toft ushered in a new era of cane field mechanisation with a tractor-mounted hydraulically-operated rotable grab loader. In 1958, the brothers entered international markets by exporting a loader to South Africa, one of many overseas sales. During the next ten years, the Toft brothers successfully manufactured a range of single-row and double-row wholestalk harvesters. The popular J150 model that was introduced in 1966 was regarded at the time by many as the best wholestalk harvester ever built.
  • In 1968, the Tofts released their first up-the-throat chopper harvester, the CH200, acknowledging that the industry's future was tied to chopper harvesting. This machine enabled chopped cane, unlike whole stalks, to be cut and loaded in a single process. During this period, infield transporters were added to the Toft range. The early Toft harvesters were built mainly from tractor components, mechanical gearboxes, and differentials. As the requirements for performance grew, so did the size and weight of harvesters. Most of these issues had been addressed by 1970 with the release of the Toft CH364 Robot chopper harvester and the later model CH364 Mk2. These machines used hydrostatic and hydraulic drives to operate the harvesting operations.
  • In 1977, the development of the Toft 4000 and Toft 6000 saw the complex mechanical drives being replaced by hydraulics - these machines were undisputed leaders in the sugarcane harvesters. In 1985, Toft Industries manufactured the Series 7000 that allowed green cane to be handled in commercial quantities. It supplied a clean sample when harvesting green cane, reduced fuel usage by 40%, was comfortable for the operator, and increased productivity by more than 50%.
  • During the 1960's, Colin Toft sought export sales to give the factory year-round work. Regular overseas trips ensured new customers and growth.. In 1965, the public company, 'Toft Brothers Industries Ltd' was formed, and in 1968 the Tofts entered into a manufacturing and distribution arrangement with International Harvester Co. of Australia Pty Ltd. In 1971, Theo Davies &​ Co Ltd, a Hawaiian company using Toft equipment, was so impressed with the product that it bought the company, and in 1973, with the injection of new capital, Toft Industries purchased Kalex Machining works and Don Cane Harvester and Implement Works. In late 1973, the company was itself purchased by Jardine Matheson and Co. of Hong Kong.
  • In 1980, Toft Industries Ltd was again sold to the Versatile Group of Canada, and in 1986 management buy-out Versatile Toft was renamed Austoft Holdings Pty Ltd and diversified into other lines, including trenchers. In 1989, the British firm BM GROUP PLC bought Austoft. In 1993, the company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and in April 1996, Case Corporation and New Holland merged to form one of the largest companies in the agricultural and construction equipment industry, CNH Global NV.
  • CNH Global also, like Toft Bothers Industries, operates from Bundaberg, and is Australia's largest manufacturer and exporter of agricultural machinery. It also produces cane harvesters, infield transporters, planters, implements, and equipment such as hydraulic loaders and crate holders. CNH GLOBAL, based in the United States with networks and distributors in over 160 countries, sells agricultural products under the names Case IH, New Holland and Steyr brands, and construction equipment under Case, Fiatallis, Fiat-Hitachi, Link-Belt, New Holland, and O&​K brands.
  • Okinawa Austoft Binned Harvester; Austoft 1500 Model Billet Planter operating in the Eumundi aera in 1996; Austoft Coffee Harvester 1992; Tige-r Wholestalk, Mauritius, 1991; 7000-Tige-r Wholestalk for Mauritius 1991 taken during development trials in Bundaberg, 1991; Model 7000, taken in 1996; Austoft display in Brazil; Austoft in St Kitts, in 1990; Austoft in Iran in 1990; Austoft in Ramu, Papua New Guinea in 1990; Transparencies for presentation on the Austoft Company, its predicted markets, expenditure, and the International Trade Enhancement Scheme (ITES) and associated notes; Ramu, PNG in 1996 - Austoft equipment including 2500 Billet Planter and Odes Double-Bin Tipper Trailer; Austoft Mustang; Austoft PowerHaul Transporter.
Notes
  • 5544, Austoft Industries Archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Australia.
Access Conditions
  • Unrestricted access.
Language
  • English
Libraries Australia ID
Contributed by
Libraries Australia

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State Library of Queensland. Open to the public oai:bishop.slq.qld.gov.au:370630; John Oxley Library.; Original Material (not for loan) Unpublished English
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State Library of Queensland. Open to the public oai:bishop.slq.qld.gov.au:370630; John Oxley Library.; Original Material (not for loan) Unpublished English
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