A NEW Mercedes-Benz Unimog dealer has been appointed in Scotland.
Forfar-based AM Agri (Alan Mackay Machinery) has added the legendary 4x4 to its portfolio, which also includes Valtra and McHale.
While AM Agri will be selling as well as servicing Unimogs, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK has also recently added another three names to the roll call of those authorised to provide maintenance, repair and parts back-up for these uniquely capable vehicles.
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The appointments of Blackburn’s Ciceley Commercials, Ferndown Commercials, of Wimborne, Dorset, and Rossetts Commercials, of Aldershot, in Hampshire, underscore the firm's determination to extend its network, officials say.
AM Agri is jointly owned and managed by Alan Mackay and Ross Anderson, who, as service director, is also directly responsible for the smooth running of the workshop.
Ross Paterson, Head of Special Trucks at Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming AM Agri (Alan Mackay Machinery) to the Unimog family. As a highly experienced and trusted supplier to the agricultural community, our new point of representation in Scotland is well placed to grow the Unimog’s share of a key market.
“We now look forward to working with the company team to develop opportunities in some of the other sectors in which the multi-talented Unimog also excels.
"There will certainly be a focus on forestry, but the Unimog is also ideally suited, for example, to utilities operations, highways management, and special emergency services applications.”
In line with Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ Dealer standards, which are designed to ensure that franchisees can meet, and indeed exceed, the requirements of the most demanding Unimog customers, the new franchisee has invested heavily in product-specific tooling, parts inventory and technical training. It also looks forward to the imminent arrival of its first demonstrator, a U435 implement carrier.
The area AM Agri covers from Forfar is mainly arable, with wheat, barley, oats, rape and potatoes the predominant crops, while the Aberdeenshire region is home to a more mixed farming regime. Meanwhile, at more than a million hectares, Scotland’s conifer woodlands are the biggest in the UK, and the forestry and timber processing industry is vital to the nation’s economy.
Initially, AM Agri will run the Mercedes-Benz franchise from its head office.
However, as managing director Alan Mackay revealed: “We plan within the next year or so to open at a third location, to the south of Forfar – this will be our Unimog hub, and the base for our dedicated sales executive.”
Mr Mackay approached Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK after being invited to put a customer’s Unimog through its paces.
“I was mightily impressed and quickly realised the vehicle’s commercial potential,” he recalled. “If you stand still in business then you’re actually going backwards, so I was keen to grasp the opportunity and contacted the Unimog team to enquire about franchise opportunities.
“Unsurprisingly, given the size of the organisation and its premium brand reputation, Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ representatives are extremely professional – a lot more so than we’ve been used to – and the process has been quite lengthy.
"Having cleared the final hurdles, though, we’re now a fully-fledged Unimog Dealer and very much looking forward to the next, exciting chapter in the story of our business.”
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