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VALTRA JOIN CESAR IN 2011
Finnish based Valtra is the latest leading brand to announce that it is to fit CESAR security and registration to its tractors sold in the UK. Valtra, part of the AGCO group, is the leading tractor manufacturer in the Nordic countries. Valtra can trace its roots back to 1832. Today's Valtra tractors represent the culmination of two traditions: Finland's Valmet and Sweden's Volvo BM.
Setting themselves apart from their competitors modern Valtra tractors are individually made to order with each one being 'custom built' to meet the requirements of the customer. In co-operation with their authorised Valtra dealer, customers configure a tractor that exactly matches their needs. Valtra sell a wide range of tractors in 4 product groups (S, T, N, and A series) ranging from 74 to 370 hp. CESAR will be introduced during the first quarter of 2011. A spokesman comments, "We have a discerning customer base which values the performance and reliability of our tractors and the opportunity to customise a machine to suit their specific requirements. It would be more of a loss for a Valtra customer to loose his 'bespoke machine' to thieves that the owner of an 'off the shelf' tractor. We're impressed by CESAR's proven ability as a deterrent against theft and we're sure that our many customers will appreciate it too, and the opportunity it opens for insurance premium discounts."
CESAR is the most successful machinery security and registration scheme in the world, with over 40,000 registrations. CESAR has wide support in the agricultural market from the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), the Home Office, ACPO, and major insurers including NFU Mutual, Aviva, Zurich, Allianz, and RSA.
Equipment theft, particularly from the rural community, is on the increase. Police figures show that in the last 2 years (October 2008 to October 2010) In the 2 years October 2008-October 2010 only 264 CESAR registered machines were stolen out of 11,200 reported thefts. And of these 80 were recovered giving a recovery rate of 30.3% compared to just 7.4% for non-registered machine, an advantage to CESAR of 4:1.
CESAR is made up of 4 elements that incorporate 3 different Datatag security technologies, giving each machine a unique 'fingerprint'. Firstly, the machine is fitted with 4 tamper evident triangular registration plates, which are securely fitted to the chassis and body; with the machines own unique identification number. Secondly, a number of RFID transponders, each the size of a grain of rice, are hidden in the machinery each with its own unique programmed code. Thirdly, the machine has patches of unique Datatag forensic liquid DNA painted on to it in a number of locations. The liquid DNA has microscopic Datatdots® suspended in it which are invisible to the eye. It's literally impossible for thieves to remove all the tell-tale identification traces from a CESAR registered machine. Fourthly, lifetime machine registration, on Datatag's secure database, which gives the police and other official agencies 24/7 access to the registration information which is an important aid in identification and recovery. Of the 299 CESAR registered machines stolen, 85-28.4% have been recovered by the police. This compares to a recovery rate of just 5% prior to the introduction of the scheme.
CESAR has proved its worth as a deterrent and as an invaluable aid in recovery since its inception in 2007 and the adoption by Valtra is another positive step in the fight against rural crime. Valtra will be promoting CESAR at the LAMMA exhibition, due to be held at Newark showground on January 19th and 20th 2011.
