Improved support for McCormick users through acquisition

Dylan and Amanda Williams of PGF Agri are delighted to be expanding their business.
Dylan and Amanda Williams of PGF Agri are delighted to be expanding their business.

Farmers on the Llyn Peninsular and surrounding areas in North Wales will have easier access to the McCormick tractor parts and other after-sales services provided by Anglesey-based agricultural engineering firm PGF Agri Ltd following the acquisition of an established business at Y Ffôr near Pwllhelli.

Amanda and Dylan Williams, who set up PGF Agri five years ago at Llanerch-y-Medd, Anglesey, have purchased Ride-On Mower & Co Ltd as a going concern from Mr Wil Owen, who is retiring. All members of staff are to be retained.

"Wil Owen has done a brilliant job of building his business over the past 20 years at Y Ffôr and we're proud that he's entrusting us with it for the future," says Amanda Williams. "We'll continue to strive to give all our customers the very best service we can, whilst still maintaining the standards of service Wil currently provides. We will be expanding the business by adding an agricultural parts department and workshop facilities for our McCormick tractors and agricultural machinery."

Mr Owen, known as "Wil Ride-On" to many of his customers, says he is happy to pass on his business to people who he feels will maintain its customer focus: "I'd like to thank customers for their business over the years; many have become good friends," he says. "I feel comfortable selling the business to Amanda and Dylan because I'm sure it will be in safe hands."

A six-cylinder McCormick X70.70 tractor at work with a subsoiler.
A six-cylinder McCormick X70.70 tractor at work with a subsoiler.

Ride-On Mower & Co supplies all types of ground care equipment to both private and commercial users with the motto: “If it has an engine we can service it!” The business is also a main dealer for Honda ATVs supplied mainly to local farms.

Technicians Alwyn Roberts and Idris Jones handle daily servicing and repairs of machinery in the workshop, as well as giving on-site support.

While continuing to operate as a leading supplier of ATVs and groundscare equipment in the area, the Y Ffôr premises is also now a parts and service depot for PGF Agri's McCormick tractors, Lely/Welger grassland equipment and many other leading makes of farm machinery, including the new stocking lines for 2013 of Dieci telehandlers and BvL feed mixer wagons.

A 50hp McCormick X10.50H with cab and loader from the compact tractor range.
A 50hp McCormick X10.50H with cab and loader from the compact tractor range.

"Having the new branch will offer a consistent level of support to new and existing customers based in Pen Llyn and surrounding areas for both agricultural and ground care equipment," says Dylan Williams. "By holding parts at the depot, farmers will no longer have to make a round trip of more than two hours to collect urgently-needed items from our Anglesey premises."

That should encourage more farmers to put McCormick on their shortlist for new tractor purchases, he believes: "The McCormick range is already well-placed to provide farmers with economic and easy-to-use tractors from 25-230hp," he says. "The new 'X' generation tractors on the way for next year will also appeal to farmers who want more electronic and other features."

Tractors dispatched to customers from the main base at Llanerch-y-Medd on Anglesey are supported by an after-sales team comprising service manager Emyr Williams and three full-time technicians.

They handle a growing demand for workshop and on-farm repairs and routine servicing, while Graham Francis looks after the well-stocked parts store.

As a result of the new business acquisition at Y Ffôr on Pen Llyn, the company's identity has been changed to ‘PGF Agri Ltd – Agricultural & Groundcare Specialists’ to emphasise a growing involvement in the grounds maintenance sector while the business continues to develop its established position in the local market for agricultural machinery.