The Italian company that owns McCormick, Landini and Laverda – Argo – has granted one of Russia’s leading vehicle groups – Kamaz Inc – the rights to build and sell McCormick designed tractors in its own livery.

Argo has also won a contract to supply a large number of tractors to the Russian firm until it is able to establish its own massembly facilities.

For the future, the two compaqnies are negotiating a deal for Argo to supply major components and production assets that would enable Kamaz Inc to assemble tractors at its headquarters in Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan, following similar designs to those of the McCormick range.

In the first phase of the commercial partnership, Kamaz Inc is purchasing 200 tractors of up to 225hp that will carry ‘Kamaz’ branding for sale in Russia. The first of these tractors, which are based on the design of the McCormick XTX, are currently being built at McCormick’s assembly plant in Doncaster.

Photo courtesey of www.farmphoto.com

With its four-range, 8-speed powershift transmission, the McCormick XTX is sold worldwide through a network of distributors and dealers – including independent distributors in Russia.

In addition to the purchase of these tractors, Kamaz Inc has expressed interest in buying assembly line machinery currently installed at the Doncaster factory, which is scheduled to close at the end of 2007.

This would enable Kamaz Inc to assemble tractors at Naberezhnye Chelny based on the McCormick XTX design. Negotiations on this purchase and for the on-going supply of transaxle assemblies from Argo’s St Dizier plant in France are continuing.

In future, the McCormick CX, MC, MTX and XTX tractor models from 84hp to 225hp will be produced in ARGO’s Fabbrico, Italy factory, where significant investment has been made in new and upgraded production facilities to combine the production of Argo’s McCormick and Landini tractors on one site.

Argo and its subsidiary companies, which include distribution branches in western Europe and North and South America, will continue to promote and market the McCormick and Landini tractor lines worldwide, along with Argo’s Valpadana specialist tractors, Laverda combine harvesters and the farming implements produced by Fella, Galliganani and Pegoraro.

With sales valued at €835 million (US$1.22 billion) and more than 22,200 tractors built in 2006, Argo is claimed to be one of the world’s leading farm machinery companies.