Agricultural engineering firm P & D Engineering started celebrating its 40th anniversary in fine style at the Royal Three Counties Show in June, the company’s display of a new McCormick tractor in a one-off colour scheme alongside a 1930s vintage McCormick-Deering helping the company win three trade stand awards.


Mike and Penny Pullin with the ‘ruby red’ McCormick X7.670 VT Drive at the Royal Three Counties Show where their efforts were rewarded with a clutch of best stand awards

As the business makes progress towards completing an expanded parts department and workshop, Mike and Penny Pullin and their team secured the award for the best agricultural machinery stand, a trophy for the best stand amongst all agricultural exhibitors, and the Reserve Supreme Champion Gold Medal award for the stand judged second best across the entire show.

“We’re delighted, of course, having won best stand awards in 2000 and 2013,” says Mike Pullin, managing director. “It takes a lot of effort to put the stand together but if people like it and find it informative, then it’s worth it.”

Taking up a prime position at the front of the stand, Mike’s McCormick-Deering W-14 provided a great ‘then and now’ contrast to the 180hp McCormick X7.670 VT Drive tractor standing alongside.

This particular example was specially commissioned by P & D Engineering in metallic ‘ruby red’ and silver to commemorate the company’s fortieth year in business.

“It’s a deeper red than the usual McCormick colour and with its metallic finish looks absolutely magnificent,” says Mike Pullin. “It certainly attracted a lot of attention on the stand.”

The Bredon, Glos-based company, which supplies essential machinery, parts and services to farmers, contractors and other rural enterprises in Gloucestershire and neighbouring counties, has its roots in a partnership set up in 1976 – 40 years ago. Today, the business employs 10 service, parts and administration staff at its Fleet Road premises.

“Things have certainly changed a lot over the 40 years – at one time, all you needed were practical skills, knowledge of machinery and a good set of spanners,” says Mike. “But now, advanced electronics feature on everything from bale wrappers to combines and you have to be able to work with them. That’s why in addition to bringing on an apprentice most years we make time for our technicians to attend manufacturers’ training courses.”

Mike took the business forward alone under the P&D Engineering name four years after it was established as a partnership. He rented a barn less than a mile from the current premises and bought the plot of land on Fleet Lane in 1989 to provide better workshop facilities and build up a machinery parts stock to supply local farmers.

Having traded used tractors and equipment, P&D Engineering was awarded its first new product franchise by Italian tractor maker SAME. Other manufacturers then took notice, with Merlo telescopic handlers becoming another major line in 2006. In 2007, Mike switched to McCormick for his tractor franchise.

“Taking on McCormick gave the business further credibility, which led to other major brand names coming our way,” says Mike.

“Life has got busier for our sales, service and parts teams as we’ve built up the business by adding new product lines. We couldn’t do any of this without their skills and willingness to get the job done; Penny and I are very grateful for the hard work they all put in.”

“We’re always striving to do better, of course, and the expanded workshop and parts department should help us do that when they’re completed,” Mike says. “I think we can justifiably look back with pride on the business we’ve created – and look ahead with excitement and optimism to what the next 40 years will bring!”