New venture for McCormick tractors in Aberdeenshire

From left: Bob Bain, AgriArgo area sales manager for Scotland, with his new McCormick sales, service and parts dealers for Aberdeenshire, Mark Wood and Brian Smith.
From left: Bob Bain, AgriArgo area sales manager for Scotland, with his new McCormick sales, service and parts dealers for Aberdeenshire, Mark Wood and Brian Smith.

Two independent agricultural engineers hope that taking on a new tractor franchise for the first time will give a significant boost to their businesses.

Brian Smith at Cornhill, Banff and Mark Wood, Premnay near Insch have been appointed to the McCormick tractor dealership network by GB distributor AgriArgo to cover northern and southern Aberdeenshire beyond the territory covered by Laurencekirk-based Kirktown Machinery.

Their new ventures were launched on a joint stand at the Turriff and Keith Country shows in August to highlight that they now supply the full range of McCormick tractors, provide parts from their own stock and from AgriArgo’s stores at Harworth near Doncaster, and are equipped to service and repair existing McCormick tractors in the field.

“It’s exciting but also a bit daunting,” admits Brian Smith. “Servicing and repairing tractors comes as second nature but I’ll be on a steep learning curve when it comes to sales!”

The new 85-113hp McCormick X50 displayed at Turriff Show alongside the 92-121hp McCormick X60 and 117-141hp six-cylinder MTX.
The new 85-113hp McCormick X50 displayed at Turriff Show alongside the 92-121hp McCormick X60 and 117-141hp six-cylinder MTX.

He set up Brian Smith Engineers 15 years ago, having earned his spurs as a workshop technician at a leading machinery dealership in the area.

“We pride ourselves on offering a first class service and as well as being a McCormick main dealer, we carry large stocks of parts for NH combines,” he says. “We also supply Agrolube farm machinery lubricants, have an extensive range of hydraulic pipes and fittings, and can obtain parts and accessories from Granit, Vapormatic, Sparex, Kramp Agri and Bepco.”

Mark Wood sees the appointment as a great opportunity to develop the business – Mark Wood Agri-Sales – he started just five years ago: “It needed a bit of direction and focus, and becoming a McCormick dealer is certainly providing that,” he says.

A 92-121hp McCormick X60 with LiftMaster loader displayed at the Turriff Show alongside an 83-102hp C-Max and 102-126hp McCormick MC.
A 92-121hp McCormick X60 with LiftMaster loader displayed at the Turriff Show alongside an 83-102hp C-Max and 102-126hp McCormick MC.

Mr Wood gained experience at agricultural machinery dealers in Aberdeenshire and Australia before deciding to establish his own operation. He is sole proprietor but his partner Lynda Watt will soon be running an expanded parts store.

“We’re improving our premises and increasing the parts stock to provide a fully professional service,” says Mr Wood. “I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity and look forward to making our first delivery of a new McCormick tractor to a customer.”

The McCormick tractors displayed by the two dealers at Turriff and Keith were representative of the current range of 25-230hp machines that cater for all users from crofts and smallholdings through dairy and other livestock enterprises to arable units.

They included the 92-121hp X60, which has taken over from the venerable CX models with more power, features and strength, and the new 85-113hp X50, which heralds a new look for McCormick as it takes over from the current T-Max with the promise of livelier performance with improved fuel economy.