UTV Products started as an importer and distributor of LED lights, before owners Ben and Sian Bonell made the decision to start production themselves.
Now the company states that it is a top choice for thousands of customers, with an increased focus on research and development.
The company specialises in its own range of plug-and-play aftermarket LED lights, which Ben says are not only brighter than the comparative options available from manufacturers, but are also cheaper and can be easily fitted either by the customer or by the dealer.
“We aim to have units available for as many models as possible, including a wide selection of classic machines,” Ben explains.
“We design the moulds at our base in Nantwich and these are sent to a company for manufacturing. Once these are completed, we build the brackets, with a focus on making them adaptable so that the same light will fit as many tractors as possible. We also supply the correct connectors to fit each machine.”
When lights are fitted by a dealer during PDI on new machines, UTV Products also matches any warranty from the manufacturer, either standard or extended.
In total, it takes between four and six months to bring a new product to market, and Ben is keen to work with OEMs, which he says would speed up the process of designing new lights.
The company has had some success in this regard, with blue-light LEDs with a chemical-resistant glass lens fitted as standard to Househam sprayer booms, enabling operators to see spray patterns from the nozzles even in the dark.
Improving safety
The LED lights from UTV Products provide an increased output of up to 7,200 lumens, instead of roughly 1,800 lumens from some OEM models. This not only provides better illumination, but gives more than 100m of light distance.
This enables operators to work into the night comfortably and without eye strain, helping to improve health and safety. Ben says 360deg excavator operators were some of the first to use full LED packages.
“Side lights were great for seeing people around the machine, but without consistent LED coverage, when you looked to any side of the machine that was still using halogens, such as the standard front work lights, it would take time for your eyes to adjust and this can be dangerous,” he explains.
Simon Rutter, part of AD Benion Contracting, a local firm which has purchased several sets of lights over the years, says that where possible they will not operate without LED lights.
“We buy our kit second-hand, so it’s down to chance as to whether they have LED lights fitted. If they don’t, we always go to UTV Products to purchase a set.”
He adds that as well as tractors, new lights have been fitted to the loading shovel and forage harvester. “The forage season means long hours, and having LEDs on the harvester means we can clearly see the swath and keep the machine working at full capacity, even in small or awkwardly shaped fields.”
On the day we went to visit UTV Products, they were fitting a full set of LEDs to a John Deere 6155R. This included 16 work lights (a combination of UTV358 and UTV359 models, both offering 4,800 lumens); a full set of low-beam and high-beam headlights (UTV355 and UTV356, with 2,100 lumens and 4,200 lumens, respectively); a set of UTV323 floodlights (3,200 lumens); and a set of UTV613 beacons, designed for the R-series to avoid any error codes.
“For the 24 lights, this would cost around £1,500, significantly less than any factory-fit option, as well as any costs for fitting if the customer isn’t doing the work themselves,” Ben says.
Beyond the overall benefit of using LED lights, the fact that stock purchased from UTV Products can be easily fitted means the lights can be removed when the machine is sold on and repurposed, possibly with just a small additional cost for new brackets or connectors.
Bright fittings
Ben explains that a full set of LED lights should take about two hours to fit, possibly a bit longer if the customer does it themselves.
While we were there, the roof-mounted work lights took just a couple of moments each, with the original units simply pulling out, the connector swapped over to the new LED and the light pushed back in. It was so simple that even our plucky editor was able to do it first time.
Similarly, the beacons simply lift out and are replaced, with the connectors slotting into place at the bottom of the holder. From what we saw, you could easily change these in an hour, although it may vary between models.
The headlights were a little more difficult, with new hire Lewis Edmunds having to climb up under the bonnet and make the changes from the inside.
On the 6155R, the headlights were in a rubber enclosure, which wrapped tightly around the units, so it took a little bit of additional time to loosen the old lights and replace them.
“There’s always the odd light that is trickier to fit, either because there isn’t much room to manoeuvre or because its position necessitates a more complex casing,” says Ben.
“Even in these cases, when the old light is out, the user normally just has to fit the connector and push the LED back into position.”
Even with us getting in the way and with two new hires on hand to help with the process, the team were able to change all 24 lights in under three hours.
At one point, Ben was able to change one of the side-mounted work lights in just over a minute.
Plans for expansion
The company has more than 120 models available to the UK market, nearly all of which are offered with a two-year warranty.
With good relationships with dealers across the UK and Ireland, and warehouses in Ireland and Slovenia, UTV Products is looking to the international market. Export agreements are in place for New Zealand and South America.
“We’re now in the process of finalising distribution in Australia and the US, and are looking for opportunities to set up a depot to further reduce lead times,” Ben concludes.