Farmers from Angus in north-east Scotland recently had an inside look at where McCormick tractors are engineered and built when they accompanied Liam Wylie and Andy Mitchell - who run the AL Agri dealership at Forfar - on a visit to the Argo Tractors industrial complex in northern Italy.

They discovered that Argo Tractors produces 45-310hp machines at the headquarters factory in Fabbrico and three more plants in the surrounding area.

Angus farmers at the McCormick manufacturing and assembly plant with Simeone Morra, commercial director (centre) flanked by Liam Wylie (left) and Andy Mitchell. Bob Bain, Argo Tractors area sales manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland, is pictured eighth from right

Approximately 70% by value of the tractors built there is also manufactured by Argo Tractors, including cabs, and the gears and shafts that are assembled into transmissions and front axles for many of the models.

“This was our own first visit to the Argo factories and we were extremely impressed,” says Andy. “This is a big and very professional operation. The visit has given us even greater enthusiasm for supplying the tractors and reinforced our confidence in their design, features and reliability.”

Apart from touring the manufacturing and assembly facilities, the Scottish party were able to drive tractors on a test track surrounding the dispatch area and spent time with Simeone Morra, commercial director with responsibility for the Argo Tractors branches, and a member of the family that owns and is committed to developing and growing the business.

By way of a distraction from matters agricultural, the group finished their tour with a visit to the Ferrari museum.