FarmTrac Troubles

[cmuncy]

I had to swing by my dealer today to pick up some lamps. I asked the owner if there was any news.

SHe informed me that there are a group of investors that include Montana in a buyout of FarmTrac. Apparently, Montan is quite close to FarmTrac and a takeover would be pretty easy.

She stated that an announcement was going to be made next week and that once it was made, she was moving all of the FT tractors back up front.

One other thing my dealer said. She was still honoring as many warranty claism as possible, even engine claims, as she goes strait to Korea for those instead of going through FT.

I think that there might be a glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Charolais]

I had to swing by my dealer today to pick up some lamps. I asked the owner if there was any news.

SHe informed me that there are a group of investors that include Montana in a buyout of FarmTrac. Apparently, Montan is quite close to FarmTrac and a takeover would be pretty easy.

She stated that an announcement was going to be made next week and that once it was made, she was moving all of the FT tractors back up front.

One other thing my dealer said. She was still honoring as many warranty claism as possible, even engine claims, as she goes strait to Korea for those instead of going through FT.

I think that there might be a glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel.

Last info I heard was Montana owned had a hefty share in Farmtrac from the beginning. Montana bought their loaders from Farmtrac once the new style loader machinery was in place and online. If Montana has enough shares this time to put them in control I think they'll be the 3rd largest American Co. in the tractor business. Montana has tried something of the order of a merger two times in the past. They even bought a parcel of land across the highway from Farmtrac . I never could figure that one out because that lot is in a flood plain.

Thanks for the news. I kinda thought that would be the end result after several attempts to take over in the past. I just hope they leave the plant in place and get the workers back on the job.

 

[Builder]

Last info I heard was Montana owned had a hefty share in Farmtrac from the beginning. Montana bought their loaders from Farmtrac once the new style loader machinery was in place and online. If Montana has enough shares this time to put them in control I think they'll be the 3rd largest American Co. in the tractor business. Montana has tried something of the order of a merger two times in the past. They even bought a parcel of land across the highway from Farmtrac . I never could figure that one out because that lot is in a flood plain.

Thanks for the news. I kinda thought that would be the end result after several attempts to take over in the past. I just hope they leave the plant in place and get the workers back on the job.

I though Farmtrac were manufactured overseas?

 

[cmuncy]

If I remember correctly, the DTC series is made here in the states. The larger Ford knockoffs are built in India.

The engines for all of these guys are shared with several other tractor brands.

 

[shvl73]

I think the only stateside manufacturing is loaders and backhoes. The tractors are all imported with possibly final assembly in the US.

 

[firedog]

As far as I know; the loader & backhoe assemblies are made here. The DTC's are manufactured by LG in South Korea and the Larger series are made in India. Escorts has some other plants that cater to the European market I believe.

I spoke with my dealer recently about this issue with FarmTrac, and he seemed fairly confident that Montana was going to make a move on the FarmTrac DTC's simply because they are manufactured at the same plant as theirs.

 

[bluechip]

The "DTC" is the nomenclature for front wheel assist (4wd). It applies to both Indian and Korean models. I'm thinking there would be little reason for Montana to go after Farmtrac for the Korean models because they already have them. They may be intersted in the Indian tractor and I have been told by a Montana sales rep that they would be introducing an Indian made tractor in the future. They have dropped the Romanian tractor (formerly sold as Long and by Farmtrac as Longtrac), and I think they have dropped the TYM tractors they were carrying recently. They may want the loader/backhoe factory. I hope they want to form a strategic relationship with Escorts, but if it was Escorts they wanted, it would seem the merger propositions would have gone more smoothy wouldnt it?

 

[sbrace]

I had to swing by my dealer today to pick up some lamps. I asked the owner if there was any news.

SHe informed me that there are a group of investors that include Montana in a buyout of FarmTrac. Apparently, Montan is quite close to FarmTrac and a takeover would be pretty easy.

She stated that an announcement was going to be made next week and that once it was made, she was moving all of the FT tractors back up front.

One other thing my dealer said. She was still honoring as many warranty claism as possible, even engine claims, as she goes strait to Korea for those instead of going through FT.

I think that there might be a glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel.

SHe informed me that there are a group of investors that include Montana in a buyout of FarmTrac. Apparently, Montan is quite close to FarmTrac and a takeover would be pretty easy.

Chris I see we both use the same dealer. She told me to get my 555 in and they would take care of my warranty work that is needed.

 

[firedog]

I'm thinking there would be little reason for Montana to go after Farmtrac for the Korean models because they already have them.

Agreed. However, thinking from a business standpoint, It might be adventageous for Montana to increase the market share by offering another tractor line. (Consider MTD's holdings in Bolens, Troybuilt & Cub Cadet, for example.) I have difficultly believing that Escorts or LG would not want to continue their production of tractors for the US market. They just need to develop a decent method to market them here.
Although, I may not agree with concept of using a L.L.C. to market ones products abroad, it does have its advantages and is the current trend in business. Plus who am I to disagree, anyway.

One question though: I've noticed the reference to Textron. It seems to be a dealer thing. Who exactly is Textron?

 

[cmuncy]

Chris I see we both use the same dealer. She told me to get my 555 in and they would take care of my warranty work that is needed.

I take it you use GW also then.

Bunch of great people over there.