Hood Engineering & Agri Parts in Co Tyrone has established a strong bond with its customers since opening its doors in 2005. Founder Anthony Hood spoke to Irish Tractor & Agri recently and explained all about what exactly the business has to offer.
These are busy times at Hood Engineering & Agri Parts and Anthony Hood would not have it any other way.
The family-run business, which is based in Newtownstewart in Co Tyrone, has been in operation for more than 12 years now, building up a strong customer base in Newtownstewart, Omagh, Strabane and surrounding districts in the process.
In more recent years the company has branched out to new customers in Antrim and Donegal and also regularly sells products to customers in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom through its Ebay store.
Anthony Hood founded the business back in 2005 and since that time his son Jack has come on board and taken over the running of the business.
Things have gone well in that time, as Anthony outlined to Irish Tractor & Agri when we caught up with him recently.
“The company is established more than 10 years now and we have five staff in total,” he stated.
“My son Jack has taken over running of the company and it has been going well. He’d have taken over four years ago and I’ve sort of taken a step back in running in that time.”
Now well into its second generation, Hood Engineering & Agri Parts is still guaranteeing its customers a service which is second to none.
So what is it exactly that the company does? Anthony outlined it for us:
“We sell tractor and machinery parts here and service and repair all agricultural machinery. We also manufacture a range of farm machinery,” he explained.
“My background before starting the business would have been in agri contracting. I still cut grass and hedges but my time spent fixing machinery back in those days led me to starting up this business.”
Initially, Hood Engineering & Agri Parts started off by selling a small range of tractor and machinery parts. Since that time, they have expanded the business as a result of a high demand from their customers and now stock a wide range of tractor and agricultural machinery parts, hydraulic fittings, bearings, PTO shafts and parts, oils and lubricants.
In order to keep up with a growing demand for repairs, the Hoods decided to build a workshop which enables them to service and repair tractors and farm machinery.
In more recent years, they’ve invested in a plasma cutter, guillotine and press brake which sees them able to broaden the type of repair work that they can carry out for customers and to manufacture their own range of farm machinery.
Business is good on both fronts at the moment and it’s come to the point now where the company is looking to add to their staff.
“Business is right and good,” said Anthony. “We’re actually booked out for the next few months here, which is always a good sign.
“We have recently added a new member to our team. Nathan is our new store man here and he has big ideas for the store/stock and different ways to advertise and sell our products. He is also keeping our Facebook page up to date.”
It marks a second new addition for Hood Engineering & Agri Parts in recent times, with the company having come up with a new product as of late which has proved to be quite popular amongst its customers.
Their new Quick Hitch can be fitted for both the front and rear of your tractor and helps you get more use out of your loader/handler implements.
Other more recent products include a Folding Bale Spike, which is used for round and square bales, and a Double Bale Spike, which is available with four to six spikes. They have also designed a Bale Shear with Plastic Catcher, which can be fitted with any brackets with meal bucket attachment available as well.
Right now Hood Engineering & Agri Parts are gearing up for another busy summer period, which sees agri contractors come in and out of their Newtownstewart on a daily basis.
During the summer season, farmers depend on the company for their machinery repairs – a huge responsibility during the busiest period of the year – and time and time again Hood Engineering & Agri Parts continue to deliver.
“Our customers here are coming from all over at the minute and we get plenty of repeat business as well,” Anthony stated.
“The customers that we have here tend to be very loyal and I think that’s because of the service that we offer them. We do our best to make sure that they’re taken care of and fully satisfied with the service that we offer them.
“Summer is hands down our busiest period with them and we do our best to meet the demands.”
Hood Engineering & Agri Parts have the following equipment to help to carry out a wide range of engineering work to suit all you needs; Guillotine, Metalworker, Welders – Arc & Mig, Press Brake and a CNC Plasma Cutter – 8′ x 4′ table with Hypertherrm Powermax 105 plasma.
Whether it is a one-off repair or a regular plasma cutting or even another service you require, Hood Engineering & Agri Parts are happy to help
Hood Engineering & Agri Parts
15B Crockatore Road,
Newtownstewart,
Co Tyrone
BT78 4DQ
Tel: 028 8166 2907
E-mail: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 3, April/May 2017
