German tillage tackle maker Rabe has announced the establishment of a new UK company to manage the national sales and service of its range of cultivation machinery and seed drills.

Trading under the name, Rabe Agri, the firm is a newly created subsidiary of the parent company, Rabe International, based in Bad Essen, Germany.

The formation of a UK branch sees the firm take all its sales and marketing back to an “in house” scenario as opposed to using an importer as before.

Rabe International has also announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with the British company Knight Farm Machinery.

As well as selling its own kit, this sees Rabe Agri handling the sales and after-market service for Knight cultivation equipment in the UK and across Europe.

Knight will continue to look after its sprayer range as a separate business and will provide facilities at its premises near Oakham, Rutland, for the Rabe Agri sales operation, which assumes responsibility for both tillage brands.

Devon based WestMac – which has handled Rabe sales and distribution in the UK since 1991 – will continue to manage the sales and marketing of original spare parts and act as the Rabe Agri parts centre for the UK.

Rabe says this new venture follows the launch of a similar initiative in France, where it has also taken direct responsibility for all sales activities.

Under the slogan “The Team for Tillage” new area managers are linked directly with the factory support team, which is claimed will benefit both Rabe dealers and customers.

Rabe Agri and Knight will trade under their own identities and will be exhibiting their combined product range at the LAMMA Show 17 and 18 January, which is the date for the official launch.