A Yorkshire agricultural engineering business that specialises in supplying sophisticated materials handling machinery is expanding by selling tractors for the first time.
Phil and Rhonda Robinson of Yorkshire Handlers are investing in parts stock, service tools, specialist training and extra staff to support the McCormick tractors they now supply. They are also planning a retail shop for accessories, clothing, tools and service consumables at their premises opposite the auction centre at Murton just outside York.
"The opportunity to add McCormick tractors to our long-established Merlo telescopic handler franchise couldn't have come at a better time," says Mr Robinson. "After 17 years in business, we felt it was time to expand and diversify the operation.
"We've discovered that a lot of our handler customers already run McCormick products," he adds. "But I hope we'll be welcoming new customers to our business."
"In discussions with AgriArgo, we came away very impressed with the products, the people and the resources behind the McCormick tractor range and were encouraged by what we heard from existing users and other dealers," says Phil Robinson. "It was enough to convince us we were doing the right thing."
That impression was reinforced when a local farmer ordered a 92hp McCormick C-Max within 48 hours of the first tractors being delivered to the dealership. Shortly after, a second tractor - a 126hp McCormick MC130 - was purchased from stock by an existing customer.
Yorkshire Handlers represents the McCormick marque in an area stretching from Scarborough to the Humber and westwards beyond York in an area bounded by existing dealers Agriplus at Stokesley to the north and Moore Farm Services at Harworthto the south.
Ray Spinks, general manager and sales director of AgriArgo UK says of Yorkshire Handlers' appointment: "I'm very conscious that we've had a period of instability in our McCormick representation in this area over recent years. That's why we're delighted to team up with a business that has an established track record for service support and a long-term commitment to making a success of this move into tractor sales."
