The McCormick dealer network in Northern Ireland has been strengthened with the appointment of McKeever Tractors for County Antrim.

The dealership based at Portglenone near Ballymena will draw on past experience of McCormick products to support existing owners of the tractors while focusing exclusively on McCormick for future sales.

Managing director Thomas McKeever says he is very happy to be handling McCormick again: “We have customers operating these tractors, our mechanics know the tractors and are confident working on them, and we know the tractors perform well and are reliable,” he says.

“We’ll be supporting McCormick users old and new with a stock of parts for the entire range from 2002 models onwards to the current machines.”

Ben Agar, sales director for the UK and Ireland at McCormick manufacturer Argo Tractors, says Thomas McKeever and his team have a great opportunity to develop their business through the McCormick franchise.

“In recent years, we have seen major investments by Argo in the products, their manufacturing facilities and in digital parts, sales, marketing and communication resources that can improve the efficiency and overall success of a dealer’s business,” he explains.

“As a very traditional dealership, McKeever Tractors provides unstinting support to their customers, so we’re confident that bringing these elements together in a new McCormick franchise partnership will be successful.”

A timely endorsement for the dealership and McCormick product comes from Darren Kelly of Kelly Agri & Groundwork Contracts, who runs a slurry tanking and umbilical application service in the area, as well as baling and grass lifting.

The McCormick X7.670 VT-Drive

His main tractor is a 180/194hp McCormick X7.670 VT-Drive – a high-specification six-cylinder machine with a stepless transmission providing seamless speed control and efficient use of power.

“McKeevers couldn’t be better with their back-up; they’re available 24/7 and get things done as quickly and efficiently as anyone could want,” he says. “I’m very pleased they have the McCormick franchise supporting my tractors.

“The X7.670 VT-Drive is a very handy, manoeuvrable and easy to drive machine; it’s now on 1550 hours with no issues at all – and it’s amazingly economical with fuel,” he adds. “I can be working alongside other tractors doing the same job and they need to be refuelled way before mine.”

Thomas McKeever confirms that the current McCormick range – resulting from design and engineering investment that has transformed and expanded the choice of products available – was an important factor in deciding to sign up with Argo Tractors.

“We operate in a dairy, beef and sheep grassland area with a very broad range of farm sizes – and the McCormick range now caters for every aspect of farming around here, from stockman tractors like the X4 and X5 Series, and the X6 mid-range loader tractors, to the high-performance models in the X7 Series,” he points out.

“Reliability is another positive factor; the tractors use proven components either manufactured in-house, such as axles and transmissions for the smaller to mid-size machines, or bought in from first-class suppliers such as ZF and Carraro, along with the most modern fuel-efficient engines from Deutz and FPT.

“Anyone who has a McCormick likes it; so in all respects, we’re very happy to be supplying them again.”