J. Foster & Company: From Aircraft Components to Agricultural Machinery

J. Foster & Company has a rich history dating back to the war years when the company was established to manufacture aircraft components under the supervision of the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate. Today, the company is known for its innovative range of agricultural machinery, including the Rapid-cut tractor mounted hedgecutter, sprout trimmers, and the Foster Digger range of tractor mounted diggers. In this article, we’ll explore the history of J. Foster & Company and its evolution into a leading provider of agricultural machinery.

From Aircraft Components to Agricultural Machinery

During the war years, J. Foster & Company was established to manufacture aircraft components under the strict supervision of the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate. The company’s reputation for precision engineering soon led to its expansion into other industries, including agriculture.

The Foster Digger Range

In 1962, J. Foster & Company began development of the Foster Digger range, one of the very first tractor mounted diggers to be seen in the UK. The first Foster Digger was marketed in November 1963 and sales took off rapidly. The machines were sold all over the world, from County Cork to Columbo, Austria, Jamaica, France, Fiji, Egypt, USA, Afghanistan, Norway, the Falkland Islands, and many others.

Potter Hill Engineering

In 1972, J. Foster & Company changed ownership to become Potter Hill Engineering. The company continued to prosper, moving its manufacturing to the nearby market town of Beverley and increasing its factory space to meet growing national and international demand for the Foster Digger. Potter Hill Engineering later changed its name to Foster (Farm Equipment) Ltd and began producing other machines such as Acre Master Subsoilers, Soil Looseners and cultivators, and a comprehensive range of trailers.

Foster Sales Company

In 1986, Foster Sales Company was formed and acquired the assets of Foster Farm Equipment, which had manufactured agricultural machinery in Beverley since 1972 and previously at North Cave since the 1960s.

Bamford Forage Box Range

Following the acquisition of the Bamford Forage Box range in 1991, this machine was re-engineered and further developed to offer a wider range of sizes and capacities with both front and rear discharge options to suit a variety of different feeding passage requirements and trough applications.

New Markets

With extensive knowledge and experience in the manufacture, supply, and distribution of agricultural machinery through the retail dealer trade, Foster Sales Company has continued to explore new markets with the development of products mainly aimed at the livestock sector of the industry. Throughout the 1990s and into the new millennium, the company has added to its range which now includes Rubber Bladed Yard Scrapers, Transport and Livestock Boxes, Single and twin rotor Pasture Toppers, medium and very heavy-duty Scrubcutters offering cutting widths up to 2 meters, Bale Handlers for round and square wrapped silage bales, and a wide range of bale spikes for rear linkage and front loader mounting.

Closure of Manufacturing Facility and Partnership with Cherry Products

In May 2023 Fosters’ closed their manufacturing facility in Beverley and remodelled their business to become a parts business, supplying parts of all historical Foster machines and new ones sold under the banner of Cherry Products.

Cherry Products have a manufacturing facility in Chipping Norton and now have the sole rights to manufacture Fosters range of Toppers, Rotary Slashers, Scrub Cutters and Bale Handlers. Graham Cherry and Mike Drewery have nearly 100 years experience in the Agricultural industry and the new partnership meant that Adam Drewery works for both companies to help future proof two well established and long standing British Agricultural firms.