Michelin continues to expand its network of approved dealers north of the border, with the addition of Redpath Tyres to its Quality-Approved Centres list. Specialising in commercial, agricultural and earthmover tyres, the family-run business has grown substantially since it was founded in the Scottish Borders by Peter Redpath in 1974.
Michelin says Flawborough Farms is “getting the best” from its next-generation Horsch sprayer after switching the original equipment fitments for a set of its AxioBib 2 tyres. The family-run business in Nottinghamshire took delivery of the UK’s first Horsch Leeb 8.300 PT last summer. The sprayer arrived as a prototype from Horsch’s headquarters in Germany fitted with a competitor’s rubber, but Flawborough Farms has since switched to Michelin VF 650/85 R42 AxioBib 2 183D tyres.
Soltyre has gained Michelin’s agricultural seal of approval for its new Airdrie dealership, marking a major achievement for the tyre specialist with all three branches now members of the pan-European Michelin Exelagri network.
Soltyre’s Brechin branch has joined Michelin’s pan-European Exelagri network. Soltyre’s first centre in Dumfries previously gained Exelagri accreditation in 2013, and its new Brechin depot passed the 48-point Michelin audit months after opening in January of this year.
Chiltern-based Kensham Farms specified a second set of Michelin AxioBib tractor tyres after a first set showed grip and longevity above expectations. The first set of IF 600/70 R30 and IF 800/70 R38 tyres were fitted as original equipment on a John Deere 8360R tractor purchased as new in 2013.
ATS Euromaster in Dundee has secured Michelin’s agricultural seal of approval and gained accreditation as an Exelagri dealer, and by doing so joins a pan-European network of 800 carefully selected farm tyre specialists.
K&M Tyres is the newest member of Michelin’s Exelagri dealer partnership programme. The Suffolk-based business gained this status after passing an independent 48-point quality audit that looked at key aspects of its operation, and as an Exelagri partner it has pledged to offer an extensive range of Michelin agricultural sector products and services, 24/7 breakdown support, quality tyre repairs, wheel alignment checks and the ability to fit tyres both on-site and in the field. Exelagri status also includes a commitment to offering customers a tyre delivery service, backed up by the provision of expert technical advice and aftersales support.
Saracens Tyres has become the first agricultural tyre dealer in North Wales to join Michelin’s Exelagri dealer partnership programme. The company joins nearly 800 farm tyre specialists selected by Michelin across Europe to carry the company’s accreditation of agricultural expertise. Admission to the network follows an independent 48-point quality audit looking at all aspects of the dealer’s operations, from the levels of staff training and the cleanliness of its workshops, to equipment standards and the quality of advice given to farmers and contractors.
Paul Jarrold Tyres of Monmouth, South Wales is supporting the future of farming with donations to its local young farmers club. The dealer – based on Wonastow Road Industrial Estate and part of Michelin’s Exelagri network of farm tyre specialists – began supporting Gwent Young Farmers’ Clubs almost three years ago, contributing towards the cost of the organisation’s new clubhouse. Since then the company has continued to look for opportunities to lend its support and for the past year has given £50 per month.
As reported last month, Michelin is gearing up to make some changes to its Exelagri dealer network in Europe. In a UK-market press release, the tyre maker describes these changes to its agricultural tyre dealer programme as “ambitious growth plans” and says its enlarged, 1,000 outlet network aims to gain a 50 per cent share of the agricultural tyre market by 2024. While the release does not specify where this growth will take place, Tyres & Accessories understands that Exelagri growth efforts will focus on Eastern Europe.
In early December, Michelin shared plans to “further develop” its Exelagri dealer partnership programme “with a new vision.” While the French tyre maker aims to increase the size of its 2004-established agricultural tyre dealer network from the current level of 770 partners to 1,000 in the next ten years, Michelin’s plans involve placing much more attention on the growing Eastern European market. In a press statement released in its German-language markets on 3 December, Michelin relayed an intention to boost its Eastern Europe market presence from 38 to 350 points of sale. But the figures Michelin gave also tell another story – if the company achieves the stated ten-year goals, it will involve a considerable reduction in the number of Exelagri partners it has in Western Europe. In response to our questions, Michelin’s headquarters in France explained how and why it intends to divest partners in Western Europe.
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