Family business heading for best year ever after securing global tractor brand franchise
AN agricultural machinery business which has been trading for more than 35 years is set for its best year ever, after securing the franchise to sell one of Europe’s leading tractor brands.
DW Toppin Ltd became an official dealer of Deutz Fahr last October and since then has enjoyed an unrivaled period of sales to its loyal customer base.
While dealing with the busiest period in its history, the firm has also delivered its largest-ever order, supplying six of its new-brand machines to agricultural contractors Tim West Ltd.
David Toppin runs the business with his wife, Pauline. He said: “We have a very loyal customer base who we have supplied for many years but there was an element of nervousness when we took on the Deutz Fahr franchise because we did not know how it would be received.
“It is the third-biggest tractor manufacturer in Europe and we had confidence in the brand and the machines, but as it is not as established in Cumbria as some other brands, so we wondered what the reaction would be.
“I’m very pleased to say it has been fantastic and we have sold 29 tractors since last October, which means we are heading for a record 12 months of business.”
The parent company of Deutz Fahr is SDF, an independent family-owned company which has been manufacturing tractors since 1927
In 2017 a new 90 million Euro manufacturing plant was built in Lawingham, Germany, while last year in Trevillio, Italy, a 25 million Euro investment was made into automated assembly lines and a paint shop.
Tim West Ltd are agricultural contractors based in West Cumbria and took delivery of the six new 2019 registration Deutz Fahr tractors in a move to support the company’s growth.
DW Toppin Ltd has sold tractors for over 35 years, but the sale to Tim West Ltd was unprecedented in terms of the order size.
Tim said: “We have been dealing with DW Toppin for many years and when they started to sell the Deutz Fahr models, we were more than happy to change the brand of tractor we use so we could continue to deal with them.
“We already had one Deutz in use, which we had bought as we needed a high horsepower vehicle, and the feedback I have had from the operators since we bought six more from Toppins has been excellent.
“I look at price, running cost and what the team who are using them every day say to me, and everything has been positive. The comfort levels are phenomenal, the gearboxes are tremendous and we are very happy,
“The relationship we have with Toppins is very important because we know they will support us when necessary. These tractors each run for 2,000 hours a year and when they are not running, we are losing money, so to know that help is on hand is invaluable.”
DW Toppin Ltd’s sales manager, Jordan Rutter-Armstrong, said: “We have been bowled over by the response to Deutz and the response from our customers.
“We have also been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who aren't traditionally our customers, but who are loyal Deutz fans who have been in touch and placed orders. They are thrilled that there is a new Deutz dealer in the area.”
ENDS
Image caption:
From left to right: Tim West (Managing Director, TW West Ltd), Jordan Rutter-Armstrong (Sales Manager, DW Toppin Ltd), Mac Simpson (Area Sales Manager, Deutz Fahr), David Toppin (Managing Director, DW Toppin Ltd)
Editor’s notes
DW Toppin Ltd is a local agricultural engineering company, founded by David Toppin in 1983.
Last year saw the company celebrate 35 years in business and the new tractor franchise.
The company offers a full range of agricultural machinery and equipment, service and repairs – but more than that they provide a traditional, family service from a name you can trust.
Tim West Contracting is part of a wider business, the West Coast Group, owned and managed by Tim and his wife Tracey.
The West Coast Group also comprises fuel, composting waste management and recycling arms of the business.
Based in Whitehaven and established in 1985, the company have extensive farming, agricultural and environmental knowledge.
This email was circulated on behalf of DW Toppin Ltd by 32West. If you have any questions, please contact James Higgins on 01229 808 306.