There’s been plenty of dealer changes and product updates from suppliers across the British Isles recently. Here are some of the most notable announcements.

MacDon

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Canadian combine header maker MacDon Industries is opening a European arm of the company, based in Germany. The new facilities will act as a go-to unit for dealers and customers across Europe.

See also: Kramer expands dealer network after Claas split

The family owned company says the decision is due to increased sales in the region and tighter weather windows faced by European farmers, which mean quick back-up and spare parts supplies are even more important.

Spaldings

Honda EC3600 generator

Parts and products supplier Spaldings has struck a deal with Honda to stock its industrial kit.

The Honda equipment, such as water pumps and portable generators, will be available to purchase online and dispatched from Spaldings’ Lincoln depot, which looks after around £11m worth of stock for next-day delivery.

Armatrac

Mahindra & Mahindra, the largest engine maker in the world, has bought Turkish tractor company Armatrac.

Mahindra plans to invest in the research and development department, although the tractors will retain the orange colour scheme and Armatrac name on the bonnet.

The firm hopes that its new-found status can propel it onto the world tractor stage and there are several new products in the pipeline, we’re told. 

Strautmann

Bill Cook, Cook Midlands managing director, and sales rep Robert Weaver

Opico has announced that Cooks Midlands – based at Stanton under Bardon in Leicestershire – has joined its dealer network for Strautmann products in the UK.

The dealer will sell the full range of forage wagons and diet feeders. It is ideally placed in a mixed farming area with a dairy tradition to offer sales, service and back-up to customers.

Krone

Grassland machinery specialist Krone has restructured its dealer network by terminating many dormant dealer contracts as well as those who weren’t focused solely on Krone products.

New dealers, including Shrewsbury-based Pontesbury tractors, JW Agri in Bath, BRM in Northallerton, CJ Cox of Sturminster Newton in Dorset and North Wales-based PGF Agri, will all fly the flag for the Krone brand, offering sales and service to customers.

New Holland

Existing New Holland dealer M&S Machinery of Cashel, County Tipperary, will have its work cut out as it takes on the sales and service for the full NH harvester range of products.

Established in 1980 and originally a Fiat Agri dealership, it currently offers both New Holland agriculture and construction product ranges. The new set up means combines, foragers and balers will also fall under its umbrella.

Kubota

JE Rees & Sons team

Welsh agricultural dealer JE Rees & Sons has agreed a partnership with Kubota UK as the manufacturer continues to appoint new dealers.

The arrangement means that JE Rees will now offer local farmers across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire the full range of Kubota tractors, from 60hp to 175hp, including the M7001 Series, M5001 and L Series.

Kubota’s UTV and recently launched grassland equipment will also be available from the Welsh dealer.

Kellands

In a bid to be seen in more dealerships around the country, Kellands has teamed up with Rickerby with a view to creating a large network for its products.

Both the Multidrive, which offers up to a 9,000-litre tank, and the low ground pressure Agribuggy will be available in all seven of Rickerby’s dealerships in the north of England and Scotland.

Bauer

Colin Dawson and James Gordon will support farmers and contractors using Bauer products

Cumbria-based dealer Colin Dawson and James Gordon of south-west Scotland have both been appointed to provide service and parts support to farmers and contractors using Bauer slurry pumps, separators and related parts.

Electrical and dairy engineer Colin Dawson is now supplying Bauer parts and slurry equipment from its Langwathby base near Penrith, while James Gordon is stocking products in its six branches covering Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.

Claas

Claas Western will sell Horsch products

Dealership Claas Western has agreed to sell Horsch products from its five depots spanning the six counties of Dorset, Somerset, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

The full line-up of Horsch cultivators, drills and sprayers will be available to customers. The agreement follows in the freshly laid footsteps of Claas Southern and Claas Manns, which both secured recent deals to sell Horsch products.