03/09/07
Three agricultural engineering firms in Wales have taken the first
step towards expanding their businesses by signing up to a new
Landini tractor franchise.
Landini Alpine
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Aeron Valley Tractors, run by Stephen Willis, at Talsarn near
Lampeter, Ceredigion; John Griffiths, whose Drope Farm Workshop
is at St Georges near Cardiff; and Philip Roberts of P R Roberts
Agricultural Engineering, based at Boduan near Pwllheli on the
Lleyn Peninsula, are now representing Italian tractor manufacturer
Landini.
All are selling new tractors for the first time and will use their
parts and service expertise as farm implement retailers to look
after the tractors they supply to local farmers.
“I’ve been servicing and repairing tractors and farm
machinery for nigh on 25 years, supported by my wife Cheula who
looks after administration,” says John Griffiths. “Supplying
tractors is a new venture, although we already have something of
a track record, having supplied half a dozen Landini tractors over
the past 18 months sourced from a neighbouring dealer.”
It was the performance and reliability of those machines that
gave John the confidence to go a step further and become a tractor
retailer in his own right.
“The farmers we’ve supplied have been pleased with
their machines; I expect the 60-100hp Landini Vision and Powerfarm
models to be most popular,” he says. “Also, we have
a good trading area across south-west Wales, roughly between Bridgend
and Chepstow to the east and south from the Head of the Valleys
road that runs from Merthyr.”
Stephen Willis will cover south-west Wales from his base at Talsarn
near Lampeter.
“Having worked for my parent’s tractor dealership,
I’ve been brought up in the tractor and machinery business,
so I know how important it is to have the right product and provide
the right service,” he says. “I feel very comfortable
with the Landini range – it covers everything from compact
tractors to big arable machines. The reaction from customers to
our appointment as a Landini dealer has been very positive.”
Stephen’s girlfriend Alix Arndt looks after administration
at Aeron Valley Tractors, while Guy Skewis handles workshop servicing
and repairs. Efion Davies and Stan Tear are other members of the
team.
Being part of a farming and contracting family has given Philip
Roberts a good grounding in tractors and machinery, experience
he plans to put to good use with his Landini tractor franchise.
“I’ve been selling new machinery and second-hand tractors
for some years,” he says. “But good used tractors are
harder to find these days and I decided it was time to move up
to selling new ones.”
Covering north-west Wales from his base at Drws y Nant, Boduan
five miles north-west of Pwellhi, Philip’s P R Roberts Agricultural
Engineering business already has a number of leading implement
franchises, which will be complemented by the Landini tractor range.
“The Landini Vision and Powerfarm tractors are ideal for
this mixed farming area – there are basic as well as well-equipped
models and they are easy to service and repair; just what stock
farmers want,” he says. “But the bigger models like
the Landpower and new Powermax should appeal to contractors and
larger farms, especially those growing arable crops.”
John Evans is on-hand in the workshops for machinery servicing
and repairs, while Philip’s wife Awen is the voice on the
end of the telephone in the office. Living on the premises means
there is always someone available to get an urgently-needed tool
or replacement part from the stores.
The three dealers will each have a 99hp Landini Vision 105 tractor
as a demonstrator to give farmers the opportunity to try one and
see for themselves what the blue tractor range has to offer.
The Perkins-engined machine also comes in 82hp and 92hp versions,
complete with a 15x15 synchro-shuttle or 30x30 power-shuttle gearbox
and choice of mechanical or electronic control of the three-point
linkage.
A standard cab roof window emphasises the Vision tractor’s
suitability for use with one of Landini’s hydraulic loaders.
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