There has been a glut of dealer changes over the past few months, with new premises, brand switches and joint ventures.

Alpego UK Boston

Alpego

Italian brand Alpego has taken direct control of its UK operations after setting up a new company, Alpego UK, based in Boston, Lincolnshire.

The new firm will take charge of import and distribution through Alpego’s already established dealer network, along with service and support to new and existing customers.

See also: A guide to assessing and improving grassland drainage

SDF

Deutz Fahr’s parent company, SDF, has boosted its foothold in Scotland with the appointment of Hodge Plant, based in Nairn.

The firm, which already sells Case construction equipment and Jensen woodchippers, among others, will become a full-line Deutz dealer, with sales, service and parts responsibility.

Zurn and Garford

UK firm Garford has announced a tie-up with Zurn Harvesting, after the German company acquired a substantial stake in the Peterborough-based mechanical weeding business.

Zurn is known for developing and producing headers and pickups for combines and foragers used in plant breeding and research trials.

McCormick

Suffolk Agri-Centre has returned to be a full-line McCormick dealer, after the improved line up of machines offered by the manufacturer better suits the customer base. The brand was ditched five years ago in favour of Deutz Fahr after deciding the red tractors were not up to scratch.

The dealer will continue to support the Deutz machines it has sold over the past few years, but is now wholly focused on selling new McCormick tractors. The company’s other brands include Amazone, Krone and Teagle and McConnel.

Tong

Family-run Tong Engineering has been given UK distribution rights to the HAWE-KUW 2000 root crop transfer trailer.

The trailer can hold up to 30cu m and complements other handling equipment already offered by Tong.

Grimme

Potato kit specialist Grimme has announced a 50:50 joint venture with Shaktiman, India’s leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, to develop and market potato and other root crop machines in India.

The joint venture will help both brands boost their sub-75hp machines using Grimme’s vast equipment knowledge and Shaktiman’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.  

From left: Chris Walsh, Josh Finelli, Chris Haith, Darren Wilcock, Andrew Elmhirst © Shaun Flannery

Haith

Haith Group – a specialist in vegetable handling and processing machinery – has recruited extra personnel and introduced a new service and maintenance department.

Service packages start from an annual cost of £900 and, as well as service schedules, Haith’s team will offer rapid response for immediate help with breakdowns.

KRM and Carre

A link-up between Carre and KRM (Keith Rennie Machinery) will see the latter distribute the French firm’s full range of mechanical weeding products, including rotary hoes and inter-row hoes with or without camera guidance.

The addition of Carre products will allow its dealers to offer mechanical weeding solutions to its existing customer base.

NFU

To help reduce rural crime, insurance firm NFU and stolen vehicle recovery company Tracker have renewed their partnership, which will see a wider range of security products offered to protect farmers’ assets.

NFU members can already access exclusive discounts on Tracker products, as well as benefitting from a 12.5% discount on tractor insurance policies when certain Tracker products are fitted.