Two independent farm machinery businesses have teamed up to provide a new sales and service outlet for McCormick tractors throughout Staffordshire and parts of Shropshire and Cheshire.
Julian Kearne of Hilton Machinery and Chris Evans Farm Services are already seeing the fruits of their association with orders for three new tractors, increased parts sales, and bookings for workshop services at their Market Drayton premises.
"There hasn’t been a fully fledged agricultural engineering business in the town for a long time – but we’re now changing that," says Chris Evans. "Instead of just providing maintenance, repairs and light fabrication, we’ll be working with Julian to also supply new and used tractors and equipment."
Julian and his wife Melanie were quick to recognise the potential of the McCormick tractor franchise in an area where the Burgess group closed several branches. Their territory extends from Stourport and Kidderminster north to Birkenhead, and from Shrewsbury eastwards beyond the M6.
"Hilton Machinery’s appointment to the McCormick dealer network adds a new dimension to our business," says Julian. "Having Chris, Wayne and their staff supporting us gives us an instant start in the central part of our McCormick territory.
"Chris Evans Farm Services is well known in the Market Drayton area and has an excellent reputation for service," he adds. "Together with my experience in sales with manufacturers, importers and dealers, we should make a very effective team."
By their own admission, Chris and his wife Carol are approaching the age when most people are thinking of winding down their business interests, so they were understandably cautious about the joint venture idea at first.
"But we realised it could set the business fair for the future and our son Wayne and his partner Jenny, who both work with us, were keen to give it a go," says Chris Evans. "Now, Carol and I are wholeheartedly behind the project to develop the business for the next generation."
The response they received from customers has given them a real confidence boost.
"It’s been tremendous," says Chris. "We’ve had a lot of positive comments and good wishes – and I’m over the moon that the first three orders Julian’s taken for new McCormick tractors have been from loyal, long-standing customers."
With Hilton Machinery now based at the Adderley Road Industrial Estate premises and Matt Bufton taken on to provide a parts delivery service and boost sales coverage across the McCormick territory, the informal partnership is really getting underway.
Former Burgess Nantwich agricultural engineer Robert Peacock has joined Chris Evans and Julian Simpson in the parts department at Market Drayton to help cope with extra demand for the stock of McCormick parts, sundries and merchandise they now have in place.
In the workshop, Wayne Evans has experienced technicians Mark Jones, David Hand and Edward Wellings working alongside him.
"We want to be sure of maintaining our current level of service; it’s been the bedrock of our business," says Chris Evans. "I’d guess that maybe 70% of our customers run a McCormick tractor or one of its ’Doncaster’ predecessors from Case or International Harvester."
Today’s McCormick line-up goes from compact tractors of just 23hp through a good choice of workmanlike four- and six-cylinder models to the flagship TTX range that tops out at 225hp.
Like the 145hp to 185hp XTX machines, the big TTX tractors feature a power-boost engine that releases additional power for pto work – and also transport operations on most models. They also feature the unique XtraSpeed transmission, which has eight powershift speeds in each of four ranges to give the ultimate in flexible control.
"The biggest tractor we’ve supplied so far is an XTX165 developing 165hp for draft work and up to 171hp for pto and transport work," says Julian. "The others are an MC130 four-cylinder tractor at 126hp and a 93hp C100 Max with a McCormick LiftMaster loader.
"It’s a very popular product line with a well-known name that’s competitive on spec and priced right for good value," he adds.
