McCormick Tractors International Founded

A new chapter in the history of the agricultural machinery industry has begun with the creation of McCormick Tractors International Ltd, a new manufacturer with a historical name based at a factory with state-of-the-art engineering and assembly facilities in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

The new business has been formed by Landini SpA, and its parent company, ARGO Group, of Italy. It will create fresh competition in the European farm and highways tractor market following the merger in November 1999 of Case Corporation and New Holland to form CNH Global NV, and ensure continued production of tractors popular with farmers around the world.

McCormick Tractors International will produce and sell two tractor ranges at first - the six-model CX range spanning 53hp to 102hp, and the two-model MC range of higher specification 90hp and 102hp machines. From these foundations, McCormick plans to develop a full-line of tractors from compact vineyard to heavy arable models, and will progressively enter markets across Europe and beyond.

"The new McCormick Tractors International business will develop its own engineering, production and distribution activity," says managing director Roger Purdy. "It will be an autonomous business fully dedicated and focused on the global development of the McCormick brand."

Mike Edmond heads the company's sales and marketing team.

"In one sense, we are starting with nothing; it's a brand new business," he says. "But in truth we are starting with a lot: we have a manufacturing plant that is widely recognised as being one of the most efficient and cost-effective in the industry; products that are competitive and highly regarded in the market; and access to a dealer network that knows the products and the customers who use them."

Even the name is familiar, he adds: "It may not have been used on agricultural tractors for some time but I believe 'McCormick' will have a certain resonance with farmers and dealers, and will be readily associated with our products and manufacturing facilities."

The company also starts out with an experienced and cohesive staff. The Doncaster plant's 298-strong workforce in design, engineering and manufacturing departments remains intact, and 52 non-manufacturing personnel have been selected to transfer to the new business.

"With continuity of knowledge, skills and expertise from an award-winning team, we will maintain our high standards of manufacturing quality and efficiency," says Roger Purdy. "It also puts us in the perfect position to embark on an ambitious programme of product development."

First priority for the sales, marketing and product support teams is to establish a dealer network in Great Britain, and to sign distributors in other European countries, explains Mick Howitt, marketing manager.

"Our first approaches will be to Case-IH dealers who, under the terms of the European Commission's Case-New Holland merger agreement, are free to handle the McCormick CX and MC tractors for as long as they wish," he says. "This is a great opportunity to continue selling tractors they know, and to continue getting a return on the investment they have made in parts stock, on training for sales and workshop staff, and in special workshop tools and equipment."

With greater flexibility in the ordering and manufacturing process, McCormick will be able to offer CX and MC tractors with a wider range of build specifications than before, not only to suit agricultural applications but also highways, groundscare and industrial operations.

Full specification and price details will be available when the McCormick tractor range makes its public debut at the SIMA exhibition, Paris, in February.CNH's plant in St. Valentin, Austria, and marketed primarily in Europe.