As the new sales and service dealer for Landini tractors in Cheshire and Staffordshire, Stephen Lowe of Border Plant Sales is confident the appointment will give his business a welcome shot in the arm.
He will exhibit the blue tractors for the first time at the Cheshire County Show on June 19/20 along with other new products: "I hope farmers will come and see what we can now supply by way of tractors and other new equipment," says Stephen.
Having built up good business dealing in pre-owned tractors and farm machinery, and by providing a knowledgeable service and repairs operation, Border Plant Sales is expanding into new equipment sales.
"I want to take the business forward and develop it by supplying new machinery – it’s something customers have been asking for," says Stephen. "With Landini, we have an established tractor range that has a strong reputation for reliability and performance."
Working with machinery is in Stephen Lowe’s blood; he operated equipment growing up on the family farm, and then learnt workshop skills during three years at a machinery dealership. He then returned to the Cheshire farm to set up his own business.
From his base at Smallwood between Congleton and Sandbach, Stephen’s Border Plant Sales business already supplies new Dieci telescopic handlers and Rozmital grass equipment in addition to used machinery, so his plan to develop new sales is well underway.
"Customers know we’ll do a good job of supporting any new machinery we supply in terms of parts and service back-up," says Stephen. "We have some good product lines now and I hope to add more in future."
In addition to the full parts and workshop facilities at Smallwood, where Dan Jepson looks after the parts and retail counter, Border Plant Sales also runs two fully-equipped service vans so that Stephen and technician Lee MacNamara can handle on-farm machine servicing and repairs when necessary.
The Border Plant team is clearly well-equipped to support new users of Landini tractors and those already running the machines in the area.
"Our typical customer is a stockman; we still have a lot of dairying around here, so tractors like the Perkins-engined 74-110hp Powerfarm and 5-H Series are ideal for yard and lighter field work," says Stephen. "People who already use them tell me they’re reliable and like the fact they’re not over-complicated with electronics and the like.
"The 100-120hp Powermondial is a great machine for a tractor that will tackle more demanding field work because it has a more versatile transmission and extra features, as well as more power from the top model," he adds. "Yet it’s nimble enough to handle a feeder or straw shredder around cattle sheds and has really good all-round visibility from its roomy cab."
He reckons Landini’s six-cylinder Landpower is the ’best kept secret’ in the range: it may not have all the bells and whistles of some tractors but that is a big ’plus’ for farmers and contractors who want a down-to-earth machine with no frills.
"The Landpower, with its 6.7-litre engine delivering up to 160hp, good hydraulics and slick mechanical shuttle gearbox, will put in a productive day’s work," says Stephen. "And for anyone who has more comfort, refinement and features high on the shopping list, or needs a tractor up to 230hp, then the bigger Landini 7-Series readily meets that need."
At the other end of the scale, the new Landini 1 Series compacts make great scraper tractors, he adds: "With six power outputs from 22-54hp and either mechanical or hydro transmissions, these nimble machines are just the job for working in and around stock buildings."
