From humble beginnings in 2000, Irwin Brothers (Tractors) in Magheraveely, Co. Fermanagh has become a major player in the supply of agricultural machinery to customers on both sides of the border. Stephen Irwin explains more.
From farming stock, Stephen and his brothers John and Neville had run an agricultural contracting firm for a number of years before deciding to concentrate solely on their burgeoning agricultural machinery business four years ago.
“We started out as silage contractors and then branched into selling second hand machinery. We formed Irwin Brothers in 2000 and continued to run the two businesses side-by-side up until 2011 when we took on the Krone dealership. Our background in silage contracting has given us a good insight into the farm machinery business. We know the importance of supplying our customers with reliable, top quality tractors and machinery that won’t break down and will stand the test of time,” Stephen says.
The family business is situated in the border village of Magheraveely, which is just a few minutes’ drive from both Newtownbutler and Clones. As official distributors for Landini tractors and Krone, Amazone, Spearhead, Quicke, Fleming, Rossmore, Alo, Yes, Conor and Abbey machinery, Irwin Brothers is the foremost supplier of agricultural equipment in the area.
The Irwins take great satisfaction from delivering the highest level of customer service and care at the most competitive rates. As a well-established tractor, machinery and parts supplier, they only deal in quality farm products. They also carry a wide selection of second hand tractors and farm equipment and machinery. They have something to suit every budget!
Irwin Brothers has gone from strength to strength since becoming main Landini tractor dealers five years ago. Established way back in 1884, Landini is known for its reliable, sturdily built products. The Landini brand has evolved over the years and has faced the future with great dynamism and a far-sighted outlook so as to offer concrete solutions for the farming world.
With their aggressive look, modern styling and pioneering technologies, Landini tractors now excel in all power brackets, whether they are for specialist use, crawler models or designed for open field work with up to 230hp power ratings.
“They are a fantastic company to work with and for,” Stephen enthuses.
“Landini has brought the other dealerships to us. We became Krone dealers soon after and haven’t looked back since.”
Krone has been a leading name in the hay and forage equipment for over a century. The German manufacturer is committed to continuously push the efficiency of farm machinery to the highest level possible. The full product range comprises disc mowers, tedders, rotor rakes, forage wagons as well as round and square balers and includes two SF harvesters, Big M and Big X. Big M is a high-capacity mower conditioner that works at widths of 13.20 metres. The Big X precision-chop forage harvester is currently the world’s most powerful forage harvester. Krone makes Big X in various power bands that range from 500hp to more than 1,000hp.
Last September, Irwin Brothers added Abbey Machinery to its already impressive portfolio of dealerships. Abbey Machinery is one of Ireland’s largest and most respected manufacturers of agricultural equipment. The Nenagh, Co. Tipperary-based company manufactures a wide-range of agricultural machines which include slurry and manure handling equipment, grassland management equipment and a range of animal feeding equipment.
2015 has already been a bumper year for new machinery sales at Irwin Brothers. The agricultural machinery dealer held its first Open Day on Friday, March 20 which afforded visitors the opportunity to see an array of models from its full range of new tractors and farm machinery. Representatives from leading suppliers were present to talk about their brands and latest product offerings, while the latest models from Landini were also showcased, including the new 5 Series, 6 Series and 6L Series.
Visitors were able to test drive the new 6 Series (111-133hp), equipped with new engine, transmission and cab. The 6 Series is also available with front and cab suspension and 50km transmission.
“The Open Day was such a success that we’re thinking of making it an annual event,” Stephen says.
“We sold half a dozen new machines on the day and a further 10-12 on the back of it. We sold upwards of 90 new units in the first half of 2015 which isn’t bad going for a small company operating in a rural part of Ireland.
“When a customer buys a machine from us, they know they are getting a 24/7 service with it. This round-the-clock service is what gets us the sales in the first place.
“What also stands to us is the fact that we have a lot of grassland customers in our area. They have given us great support over the years. Our customer-base is nationwide really, and we also occasionally export second hand tractors.”
Irwin Brothers have also showcased their wares at a number of agricultural events, including the Fermanagh, Fintona and Cavan Shows.
The company operates from the family farm in Magheraveely. The suckler farm is run by Neville with the help of his two brothers.
Irwin Brothers
Annaghilly Farm,
Magheraveely,
Co. Fermanagh,
BT92 6GP.
Telephone: 028 6775 1477
Email: [email protected]
www.irwinbrotherstractors.com
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 7, August 2015
