McCORMICK NEWS FROM THE WORLD
All-round investments for Argo Tractors
The X6 VT Drive Series
All the innovations at Eima and Sima
TECHNICAL INFO JOURNAL | YEAR 9 | N° 9 | JULY 2017
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ContentsMcC MAGAZINE
TECHNICAL INFO JOURNALPUBLISHED BY ARGO TRACTORS S.P.A.VIA MATTEOTTI, 7 | 42042 FABBRICO (RE)
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ANTONIO SALVATERRA
GRAPHIC LAYOUT GRUPPO SALDATORI
PREPRESS AND PRINTING CENTROFFSET S.R.L. REGGIO EMILIA
YEAR 9 | N° 9 | JULY 2017 AUTH. OF THE COURT OF REGGIO EMILIA N° 1086 OF 19.11.2002
THE COMPANYArgo Tractors, all-round investments
Open Days at the San Martino in Rio facility
TRADE SHOWSEima 2016: McCormick’s continued technological advancement
SIMA 2017: a preview of the McCormick X7.6 Tier 4 Final
ARGO PEOPLEAn important professional growth experience
THE ORIGINS
180 years of history
NEWSX2 Series at work in the hills around Verona2017 Calendar: «Xtractor Around the World»
«Xtractor», the entire adventure on TV and in a bookNova Agricoltura 2016: focus on innovation
X4 Series: the Folco Team showsArgo Tractors, one of the first companies with ISO 9001:2015 certification
PRODUCTX6 VT-Drive Series, the features that make the difference
FOCUSX7.6: all the Tier 4 Final innovations
HUMAN FACTORThe human factor: software to improve your driving prowess
SALES NETWORKAgriosso, leader in the high-power tractor market
Moscadelli, an offer tailored to the customer
BRANCHESMcCormick Ambassador Program: first session
National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville 2017 Dealer Meeting at Orlando
A year of tours, trade shows and demos Dealer meeting and X7 Camp Events
WORLDWIDEX8 VT-Drive launch at Lamma Show
McCormick sponsors the ‘Great British Beef Week’Grassland & Muck 2017
Apan goes from strength to strength Argi, a winning start
Clark Equipment, first-rate organization and services Agromondo, success at Novi Sad
SERVICEOn-going after-sales support
PARTS“Capsule Collection”, innovations from the McCormick catalogue
Argo Tractors and Granit, partnership agreement
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Cover photo. The McCormick X6 VT Drive tractor.
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Our desire to share our daily experiences is the natural result of the developments achieved during these years of product and production process renewal. Strategies backed by an investment plan which is now
affecting our Communication & Marketing activities, with a special focus on the digital world and its opportunities.
That’s why, after Fabbrico 2016, we held an Open Day event last May at our facility in San Martino in Rio (RE), where 2,500 visitators flocked to the mechanical machining department and along the assembly lines. Before this event took place, international trade fairs EIMA and SIMA allowed us to demonstrate the progress that McCormick has made with increasingly cutting-edge products such as X6 VT-Drive, with the pioneering continuously variable transmission manufactured in the Argo Tractors facilities, X7 P6-Drive Tier 4 Final featuring 6 Powershift speed gears and 4 robotically-activated ranges and X8 VT-Drive with its 310 HP power rating.
Products where we’ve concentrated more and more technology, like DSM, ISOBUS and the Precision Farming system, but always with simplicity and ease of use as our prime concern.
Then there’s “The Human Factor”, which focuses on the operator by helping him to improve his performance as he drives his McCormick tractor!
The entire McCormick network did not fail to give visibility to all these innovations. From the United States to Australia, not forgetting the whole of Europe, dealer meetings and practical demos all helped to promote the technology and reliability of our pioneering tractors. In short, to nurture and share the McCormick Spirit!
Antonio Salvaterra
LEADING ARTICLE
“Wholehearted McCormick Spirit”
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Argo Tractors all-round investments
Fabbrico. Outside the
new Research
& Development
Center.
R&D Center. The transmission
test room.
Test room. Data monitoring.
K eeping up with new technology is one of the principles of Argo Tractors, which, over the past few years, has
developed its tractor production by adapting it to the farming world’s increasingly pressing need for precision, performance, control and running economy.
An important step which has allowed Mc-Cormick to raise the power ratings of its tractors while keeping fuel consumption down, introduce the continuously variable transmission system, adopt Isobus systems and provide its new ma-chines with a level of comfort similar to that of an automobile. All this has required a substantial commitment on the part of Argo Tractors which, besides product innovation, has also invested in production process innovation by creating new, optimized production structures. Investments have also been made in cutting-edge manufac-turing technologies and computer systems, as well as new, advanced working philosophies such as the Kaizen process, applied to the assembly lines in the facilities.
NEW STRUCTURES Application of Kaizen logic required certain
important adaptations to the Fabbrico facility, including an extension to the transmission line. To conform to the new principles, a new 1,600 sqm building was added to the 4,800 sqm area, plus a further 600 sqm where the transmissions are assembled in McCormick X8 tractors.
In addition, Argo Tractors has invested around 5.5% of its turnover in Research & Develop-ment over the past four years and has added a new 3,000 sqm ultra modern, purpose built R & D Center.
It is a modern industrial facility built accord-ing to the new Industry 4 concepts and com-plies with the latest anti-seismic standards.
It houses three different departments: one is dedicated to the construction and development of new prototypes. Equipped with lifting devices and workstations with PC and Wi-Fi connection to the internal data network, and where operators are also connected directly to the design office.
A second area is equipped with small ma-chine tools to make work more flexible, fast and efficient. All designed to reduce the time taken to design and develop products.
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THE COMPANY
R&D Center. One of the
engine test
rooms.
The third area houses the “most valuable” in-vestment from a quality and technological view-point: two modern engine test rooms with con-trolled ventilation systems with automatic data acquisition and post-processing systems for qualifying the engine, cooling and exhaust gas af-tertreatment systems of the new 50 to 350 HP tractors, soon to be aligned with the STAGE V emissions regulations.
A further room includes transmission test cells that will simulate the life-cycle of the trac-tor. Simulations are recreated thanks to monitor-ing systems and software in the electric motors built into the test bench.
The aim is to implement state-of-the-art instruments for the purpose of qualifying the product and reducing the entire testing process by using simulation and calculation environ-ments to their best advantage.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND MACHINING CENTERS
Significant investments have also been made in computer systems and production technolo-gies. PLM modern three-dimensional CAD and management system are available to designers and is the most significant improvement in the last two years.
This provides 3D modelling and design tools which through their use reduces the design time by acting in synergy between the various project sectors (mechanical, electronic, hydraulic and automotive).
Meanwhile, 14 latest generation machining centers have been installed over the past few years, to be used for machining iron castings. The Japanese company Mazak is one of the world’s major manufacturers of this type of machine.
Two other devices have introduced innova-tive systems, i.e. Multipallet feeders able to provide ultra-fast axes transfer and tool change speeds plus less than one-hundreth of a mil-limeter positioning accuracy. The more complex parts are machined for even more than three hours using two clamping fixtures and over 120 different tools. ■
ARGO TRACTORS GOES DIGITAL
Provide customers and the sales network with leading-edge tools for full support. This is the goal of the digitization process which, from the beginning of this year, has encouraged Argo Tractors to invest in more advanced systems able to achieve high service levels of excellence.
Investments in CRM software, in new Corporate
and Dealer websites, in product configurators, B2B and B2C e-commerce and assistance from specialized external providers conforms to the Factory 4.0 model by integrating all tools at functionality level. The process is also backed by image coordination designed to strengthen the McCormick brand awareness.
Professional management of the group’s Social media channels is another of the initiatives designed to step up customer dialogue.
As to the sales network, here the aim is to stream-
line the dealers’ work processes. The new IT systems approach adopted by Argo Tractors will allow communications to be more cus-tomer-oriented, less intrusive and will enable product proposals and the provision of ser-vices to be tailored specifically to meet the customer needs.
The sales network will benefit from the new tools since customer enquiries can be taken directly and immediately entered into the system. A quote can then be created with minimal effort thereby assuring top quality standards.
For Argo Tractors, dealers are a vital part of the
corporate structure. This is why it was natural for the Group to invest in the sales network by adopting technologies able to optimize time usage and improve customer satisfaction.
3
Held last May 27 and 28 at the San Martino in Rio facility, the Argo Tractors
Open Days initiative was an unqualified success. Over 2,500 people took part in the
event, including the employees and their families to whom Saturday afternoon was dedicated.
The visitors were welcomed to a modern, spe-cialized factory organized according to Kaizen principles and complete with Research & Devel-opment Center for the tractor families produced there, i.e. medium-low power tractor series, crawler and equal-wheel models. Argo Tractors staff mem-bers proudly escorted the visitors along the assem-bly lines and mechanical machining departments, the very heart of Argo Tractors technology.
Various important authorities had been invited as guests to the open days at the factory, which had been established at the same time as Valpadana, a brand that has made history in San Martino in Rio
and the Reggio Emilia area. These guests included Stefano Bonaccini, President of th Regione Emilia Romagna department, M.P. the Hon. Antonella Incerti, Palma Costi, Councillor for Production Activities for the Regione Emilia Romagna Dept., the Mayor of San Martino in Rio Paolo Fuccio, the Chairman of Unindustria RE Architect Mauro Severi and Dr. Fausto Nicolini, Director General of
May 28, 2017. A visit from the authorities.
Open DaysOpen Days at the San Martino in Rio facility
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the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova and responsible for the Health services of Reggio Emilia.
“The Open Days initiative at San Martino in Rio is the success of teamwork”, commented Valerio Morra, president of Argo Group. “This, thanks to our employees, their families and the authorities who vis-ited the Argo Tractors facilities in a festive and family atmosphere. It was a busy and exciting day that al-lowed us, of Argo Tractors, to share the results of the important investments made during the last few years with a lot of other people. We’d like to extend a special thanks to the women and men of Argo Tractors who made every possible effort to highlight the efficiency and value of an industry-leading Italian enterprise.”
Along with guided tours of the factory, the visi-tors were also attracted by the numerous parallel initiatives in the streets of the town: a line-up of the entire McCormick range, an assembly of all the ma-
chines that take part in the Italian Tractor Pulling Championship and another of vintage tractors in collaboration with Gamae on the Fortress lawns.
Lastly, the two days were animated by particu-larly exciting attractions, namely an acrobatic per-formance by Folco Team, which literally enchanted the onlookers. ■
THE COMPANY
SAN MARTINO IN RIO: WHERE THE EXCELLENCE OF «LOW-MEDIUM POWER» TRACTORS WAS CREATED
Professionalism, expertise, know how. Three words that describe the philosophy of an industrial enterprise par excellence, that of San Martino in Rio, where Argo Tractors creates its ranges of low and medium-power tractors for an extremely professional market where the challenge is to concentrate the highest technology into compact dimensions and ergonomic layouts.
The facility situated in San Martino in Rio is where the McCormick low-power, crawler and equal-wheel tractors are made.
With a factory covering some 34-thousand square meters, of which 25-thousand are built up, the San Martino in Rio plant can turn out 40 trac-tors a day divided between two production lines.
These are now run according to Kaizen principles, with well defined areas for storage, handling and assembly, thereby improving the industrial pro-cesses and assembly time-frames, while reduc-ing waste and the consequent production costs. In addition, the facility houses one of the Argo Tractors Research & Development Centers, the RES Experiences Department dedicated to the tractor families produced on site and the Argo Tractors Style Center, where dedicated profes-sionals deal with the functional aesthetic design of the tractor components and bodywork.
Lastly, the San Martino in Rio plant also has a mechanical machining department where the transmission gears, drive shafts and layshafts are made.
Open Day. Tour around the factory and tractors on show in the streets of the town.
Argo Tractors. Staff members at the Open Days event.
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Bologna’s international trade show, Eima 2016, proved to be a record-breaking edition as the 285-thousand visitor
milestone was reached, 21% more than the pre-vious edition. Foreign buyers numbered over 44 thousand, with an 18% increase.
The numerous McCormick visitors were wel-comed to a stand where the driving technological growth of the McCormick brand was ideally con-densed in a full line up of the VT-Drive tractor range equipped with continuously variable trans-mission. The tractors all sported the exclusive yel-low bodywork with longitudinal white-blue band on the bonnet for a clear distinction between the X7 PS-Drive and the other, utility tractors equipped with conventional transmissions on show in the usual McCormick red colour.
These included the X6 VT-Drive and X7 VT-Drive Series which feature 121 to 195 HP power ratings thanks to the Power Plus system.
X8, TOP OF THE RANGEAlso equipped with continuously variable trans-
mission and with a power rating that exceeds 300 HP, the X8 Series was the focus of attention.
The X8 models come with 264, 286 and 310 HP power ratings delivered by 6-cylinder Betapow-er Fuel Efficiency Tier4 Final engines.
The high-level technology proposed by the range is also confirmed by the presence of the certified ISOBUS system, a standard feature that handles the operation of compatible implements
thanks to a dedicated menu in the 12” DSM touch-screen monitor.
The powerful closed-center hydraulic circuit has a 157 l/min load sensing pump (a 212 l/min oversized pump is available as an optional) and can handle up to ten electrohydraulically controlled control valves (6 at the rear) with 140 l/min flow rate. The rear electronic hitch offers up to 12,000 kg maximum lifting capacity.
The electrohydraulically engaged three-speed 540E/1000E/1000 rear PTO is fitted as a standard feature.
The 5,000 kg lift capacity front hitch comes as standard with a front PTO (1,000 rpm) as an option.
The front axle has an electronically controlled par-allelogram suspension system and oil-immersed disc brakes for the utmost in safety and driving comfort.
Bologna. The McCormick VT-Drive range.
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X7 PS-DRIVE: 2017 YEAR MODELThe McCormick X7 PS-Drive Series (fea-
turing a Powershift with 6 ranges and 4 speed gears) was launched in the 2017 Year Model version with new updates taken from the X8. These include a DSM upgrade with new head-land functions and customized work menu plus renewed ergonomics on the right-hand side of the operator thanks to which the driver seat can turn through 30°. This provides enhanced manoeuvrability and visibility during open-field work. The “Efficient” version of the McCormick X7 PS-Drive focuses on the minimum essen-tials concept, since the transmissions and 4- and 6-cylinder engines of the X7 Series combine with configurations designed to keep the price down without sacrificing either comfort or effi-ciency: thus 4 Powershift speed gears, 6 ranges
plus the automatic shift feature combined with an 88 l/min open-center hydraulic are standard. The optional load sensing hydraulic systems ex-tends the flow avaialable to 123.
M SERIES LOADERSAssembled on some of the tractors on show,
M Series McCormick loaders form a range of 5 models. They are available factory-fitted for the X4, X50m, X5, X6 and X7.4 Series, while other, after-market solutions, are available for other tractor models. M Series loaders reach 3.44 to 4.13 m maximum lift heights measured from the axis of the end implement with 1,200 to 2,300 kg lift capacity.
A vast range of accessories is also available.
But McCormick’s spirit of innovation doesn’t stop at the products: the stand also included areas dedicated to the many projects to which McCormick recently devoted attention and re-sources: a didactic panel dedicated to the “Hu-man factor” device, the “Xtractor” corner where the summarizing episode of the adventure was screened, enhancement of the shop and our confirmed partnership with Ferrari spumante through the “Ferrari and McCormick: together we cultivate excellence” initiative. ■
TRADE SHOWS
Eima 2016. Views of the
Argo Tractors
stand.
X8 Series. The top of the range on show at Eima.
Eima 2016: McCormick’s
technological growthis confirmed
7
A strong presence that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed: that was the impression given by McCormick at Sima 2017,
the Paris trade show where the X7.6 Range with Tier 4 final engine was presented in a world preview.
On show in the stand with two model X7.690 tractors equipped with the new engine, this range belongs to the high-power bracket and pushes close to 230 HP with this new, top-of-the-range model.
New 6-cylinder Betapower Fuel Efficiency Tier 4 Final engines have been chosen for the five models - X7.650, X7.660, X7.670, X7.680 and X7.690, which feature power ratings ranging from 150 to 226 HP.
The innovations also comprise the transmis-sion, as the range will be available with either VT-Drive (continuously variable transmission up to 195 HP) or P6-Drive (Powershift transmission up to 226 HP). This latter has been entirely re-designed: 5 robotically-activated electrohydraulic ranges and 6 Powershift speed gears controlled by a dedicated electronic control unit.
With styling improvements both inside and outside the cab, the range now offers addition-al improvements introduced as the 2017 Year Model upgrade and are standard.
X8 SERIESThe innovations presented at Sima 2017 also
comprised McCormick’s top range: the X8 Series which, with its exceptional performance, leading-edge technological features and aggressive look, can push as far as 310 HP.
The three models in the range come with four-stage continuously variable transmission featuring 40 km/h ECO top speed at 1,300 engine rpm and 50 km/h ECO top speed at 1,600 engine rpm.
The powerful closed-center hydraulic circuit boasts a 157 l/min load sensing pump (a 212 l/min capacity pump is available as an optional) and can handle up to ten electrohydraulically controlled con-trol valves (6 at the rear) with 140 l/min flow rate. The rear electronically controlled hitch offers to up 12,000 kg lift capacity while the front hitch, which also comes as standard, has 5,000 kg lift capacity with a front PTO (1,000 rpm) as an option.
X8 Series. One of the innovations on show.
SIMA 2017: a preview of the McCormick
X7.6 Tier 4 Final
Sima 2017. Views of
stand and the
innovations
on show.
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TRADE SHOWS
The electrohydraulically engaged three-speed 540E/1000E/1000 rear PTO is fitted as a standard feature.
The front axle has an electronically controlled parallelogram suspension system and oil-im-mersed disc brakes for the utmost in safety and driving comfort.
The ISOBUS certified system is another stand-ard feature of the X8 Series.
X6 VT-DRIVE SERIESLastly, the McCormick X6 VT-Drive Series
was also on show at the Paris venue with its Argo Tractors in-house designed 3-stage continuously variable transmission, 4-speed synchronized elec-trohydraulic PTO, 5,400 kg capacity rear hitch and
generous 110 l/min closed-center hydraulic circuit able to supply a wide range of configurable control valves. The version with 50 km/h top speed is also available for countries where this is allowed.
The range offers three Tier 4 Interim BetaPower Fuel Efficiency engines with Power Plus system and three models: X6.420, X6.430 and X6.440, with 121, 133 and 140 HP power ratings, respectively.
Comfort during field and transport work is as-sured by cab suspension and a front axle with in-dependent suspension system, both available as options.
McCORMICK SPIRITThe choreography created by McCormick for
the new tractor launch was decidedly spectacu-lar. First, the luxurious stand, repeatedly trans-formed to stage a show inspired by the Corporate
campaign, «McCormick Spirit», where dancers, digital and musical effects highlighted the similarity between the reliability of the Mc-Cormick X7.6 Series tractors and the powerful strength of American football players.
Within the stand, the increas-ingly larger “shop” area displayed a preview of the promotional items and scale models of the X8 Range which, along with the new McCor-mick signature clothing collection, were a great success. ■
Serie X7.6. The McCormick Spirit show.
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ARGO PEOPLE
An important professional growth experience
Having graduated with flying colours from Technical College as Mechanical Techni-cian, Massimiliano Codeluppi decided
to continue his studies by attending the course in Me-chatronics at Fondazione ITS (Higher Technical Insti-tute) of Reggio Emilia, thereby adding to his mechani-cal skills and becoming a Mechatronics Technician.
“ITS taught me everything about the mechatronic sector, so I had no difficulty even though I’d just start-ed out in the mechanical and electronic field related to tractors. Besides having taught me the basics of me-chatronics, I believe that one of the great strengths of my training experiences was that they gave me a a comprehensive idea of what companies are today, what they need and the skills their employees must possess.
The world has changed and you have to keep up with the times: I received considerable added value from ITS, since I acquired the means to become able, from the technical viewpoint and as to char-acter, to responsibly and appropri-ately face any job.”
Having successfully passed the course at the Higher Technical Institute, where he distinguished himself from the other students, Mas-similano began to work for Argo Tractors in 2015.
After an initial period in the Research & Devel-opment (R&D) department, technical and cross-dis-ciplinary skills enabled him to obtain the job of editor of technical use and maintenance documentation for the entire range of Argo products.
“My job was to draft and publish technical docu-mentation, especially the OIB (Operator Instruction Books) and WSM (Workshop Manuals).
First of all, I was responsible for drafting OIB, i.e. Operator Instruction Books which describe how the
tractors operate and their specific features, never for-getting everything concerning safety, meaning what to do and what not to do. All for the purpose of prevent-ing damage to oneself and to the surrounding environ-ment.
The second part of my job concerned WSM (Work-shop Manuals). These are documents that every tech-nician outside the company who services or repairs the tractors after faults have occurred always keeps close at hand, since these manuals contain instructions about what to do in every situation and in every indi-vidual part of the tractor.”
Massimilano distinguished himself in all these tasks, even in those that did not strictly concern
his job area. So much so, only 24 months after he started out along his career path he obtained the job of Technical Trainer Worldwide.
One of the new tasks is to conduct a technical analysis of the vehicles and then draft the documentation required by all the international trainers, whose job is to train the technical assis-
tance networks worldwide. His is the task of holding training courses whenever support from the parent company is required.
The goals achieved by Massimilano are the result of the passion and commitment that, throughout the years, have contributed towards developing an in-creasing sense to belonging to Argo Tractors.
Such results confirm the attention the com-pany pays to its employees by promoting training courses and career paths. Our one great goal is to continually improve the quality of the products we place on the market and the level of service we of-fer our customers.
CONSTANT INVESTMENTS IN TRAINING
The major multi-year investment plan launched by Argo Tractors for the purpose of technological innovation, expansion of the product range and renewal of the production processes necessarily involves investments in staff member skills, thus in the training courses planned yearly by the Human Resources manager.
In 2016, courses were held on the Kaizen method for the production staff and design engineers, train the trainers, commercial focus training about the sale of value and refresher courses about the new CAD tools.
Some 800 employees attended the courses for a total of over 6,000 hours.
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THE ORIGINS
The founder. Cyrus Hall
McCormick.
Over 180 years have passed since Cyrus Hall McCormick began to dream of important
innovations for the farming world. His dream came true on the McCormick family farm in Raphine, Virginia when he created a brand of agricultural im-plements that shortly became recog-
nized worldwide and earned him the title “Father of Modern Agriculture” in history books. Cyrus dreamed big. After he had obtained a patent for a special plough and for a famous reaper in 1834, the young entrepre-neur began to wonder how he could supply his imple-ments to the continually expanding American market. Together with his brothers, William and Leander, Cyrus moved in 1847 from rural Virginia to Chicago where he established the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.
Almost 25 years later, the Great Chicago Fire de-stroyed the city and with it, the McCormick factory.
Despite the serious financial loss, Cyrus didn’t give up and shortly afterwards, in 1873, built another plant. This was soon producing at full rate and actually pro-cessed over 10-thousand orders in 1874. When Cyrus McCormick died in 1884, his son Cyrus jr took over the business and expanded the company, which already possessed 50% of the harvesting machinery market.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Mc-Cormick Harvesting Machine Company merged with four competitor enterprises and created the Inter-national Harvester Co., which started to produce tractors in 1906.
This led, in the ’20’s, to the production of the Mc-Cormick Farmall. It was designed for cultivation work between rows and was the most popular tractor of all.
The company became a multinational in the ’30’s, when it started producing tractors in Great Britain. The colour of the tractors also changed during that period, when the well-known shade of red was chosen for their body.
The group continued to be the world’s unrivalled leader in its particular sector right up to the ’50’s when it
began to manufacture other products, like trucks, buses and refrigerators. Despite the high turnovers achieved during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, the profit margins became very slim until the situation reached breaking point. Cyrus’s brand was sold to a finance company in the middle of the ‘80’s. At the end of the ‘90’s, corporate turnovers, consolidations and mergers offered McCor-mick a fresh chance. The Morra family submitted a bid for two European facilities and the McCormick name.
A new era began in 2001: the new McCormick announced its presence on the market. Founded on the legacy of Cyrus McCormick, the brand thus continues to thrive by proposing products designed for the most demanding farming customers. By 2004, McCormick was offering as many as thirty-seven tractor models ranging from 37 to 280 HP. The range was subsequently renewed and updated to the most advanced technologies. New “X” ranges were launched in 2013: first the X4 and X7 Series and then the X5, X6 and X6 LWB Series. Group strategy consists of developing high-performance products of the finest quality. The production ac-tivities take place in Italy, where Argo Tractors has created a center of excellence. McCormick set a new standard in 2015 when it raised the power level to a higher extent by announcing the X8 Series. Tractors that boost the McCormick range beyond the 300 HP mark while underscoring yet again this famous brand’s never-ending endeavour to achieve continu-ous innovation, quality and performance. ■
180 years of history
The year 2015. The new goal: X8.
Doncaster, United Kingdom. Scenes from McCormick’s history.
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2017 Calendar: «Xtractor Around the World»
«Xtractor», the entire adventure on TV and in a book
X tractor Around the World, the exciting expedition around Australia that took
the McCormick convoy from Melbourne to the majestic Ayers Rock, was chosen as the subject of the 2017 McCormick calendar.
The calendar is a real collection of photo-graphic masterpieces depicting some of the best and most thrilling moments of this exclusive adventure, when McCormick covered 8500 km across Australia in 45 days. The protagonists were four McCormick tractors, three X7 and an X6, plus a crew of 10 men and 2 women ready to deal with the challenges of a country as spec-tacular as it is full of surprises.
Available from your McCormick dealer or as a download from http://www.mccormick.it/mccormick/calendar/it/30961/Calendario.aspx, the 2017 calendar celebrates the value of Mc-Cormick technology when facing extreme con-ditions in surroundings of breathtaking beauty and unspoilt nature, at World’s End.
The 30 x 23 cm hardback volume can be or-dered from the Argo Tractors Parts Service under code 6616168A1.
The “Xtractor Around The World” expe-dition was enormously successful, as tes-
tified by the unexpected number of people who followed it every step of the way on all the media channels and during the final episode shown last November 4 on the Italian D-MAX channel, when the broadcaster’s average audience rating actually doubled.
After being broadcasted on TV, the instalment remained available for 6 months on D-play, the digital channel of the Discovery Channel networks and on the Argo Tractors youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERDvlITCqiI.
The spectacular initiative was also immortal-ized in a 100-page book released in a limited edition containing the best photos taken during the expe-dition and descriptions of the most exciting and significant experiences of the momentous 8,500 km journey across Australia, when a convoy of three McCormick X7 tractors, one McCormick X6 tractor and a crew of 12 men and women reached the awe-inspiring Ayers Rock.
Xtractor. Some of
the images in the 2017
calendar.
Xtractor. The volume dedicated to the expedition.
X2 Series at work in the hills around Verona
Enovitis in Campo 2017, the event devoted to vineyard cultivation techonlogies, was held
last June 22 and 23 among the hills surrounding the Villabella Vineyards of Cavaion Veronese. The McCormick brand was on show with the new X2 Series, available in both the standard cabbed and footstep versions, and in the lowered footstep ver-sion called GE. Thanks to the specially engineered rear final drives and front axle, the overall height of this latter tractor version is actually 95 mm lower
than the STD version, rear tyres being equal. Suc-cessor of the GM Series and equally versatile, the X2 ensures the best performance among the crop rows in vineyards, where there’s not much space. Backed by Unione Italiana Vini and Fieragricola, as well as the tractor line-up the 2017 event featured the usual practical trials in the vineyards using highly specialized implements.
Enovitis. One of
the McCormick
tractors at work.
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NEWS
Nova Agricoltura 2016: focus on innovation
Argo Tractors one of the first companieswith ISO 9001:2015 certification
An event devoted to innovation and the farming enterprise of the future, that was
the focus of the 2016 edition of «Nova Agricoltu-ra in Campo», held on 21 July at Bentivoglio (BO) in Cooperative Farm “Il Raccolto”.
An important occasion for the McCormick brand, which has always made advanced technology one of its strengths: thus, at the field event, the company presented the latest pioneering solutions featured by the X7 VT-Drive Series:
• the satellite steering system and implement management by Isobus
• the VT Easy pilot multifunction joystick.As part of the standard equipment, the Mc-
Cormick X7 can be fitted with a satellite steering system (the satellite aerial is installed on the trac-tor roof) and Isobus system allowing, among other
things, compatible implements to be managed on a single monitor.
In addition, for simplified and speedier use of the VT-Drive transmission, the right-hand armrest of the driver seat in the X7 is fitted with a joystick (VT Easy Pilot) which, thanks to the particularly ergonomic handgrip and “instinctive” positions of the push-buttons, allows the operator to simply control the VT-Drive transmission with his thumb and index finger, as well as the hitch up/down func-tions, the Cruise control engine rate, a hydraulic control valve and headland turns. In short, all the operator needs to drive the tractor and operate im-plements without changing his grip on the joystick.
For Argo Tractors, pursuit of an effective Quality System is a mis-sion. So much so, it is now one of the first enterprises in Italy to have
obtained ISO 9001:2015 certification. The scope of application covers the design, manufacture and assistance of McCormick tyred, crawler and special tractors and assures a regular supply of products conforming to the estab-lished quality standards. McCormick intends to stand out on the market for reliability and quality, and to obtain maximum customer satisfaction as to both products and services.
Bentivoglio. The McCormick test area.
X4 Series: the Folco Team
A rgo Tractors and the Folco Team began working together a few years ago on trac-
tor stunt shows in Italy. Last year, the initiative was extended to other parts of Europe and to McCor-mick tractors, when the team of professional driv-ers gave an extraordinary performance in a McCor-mick X4 Series tractor.
Stuntmen put on several shows in the spec-tacular settings of two amusement parks situated in Northern Europe: Movie Park in Germany and Tusenfryd in Norway.
The thrilling feats of the skillful stuntmen ob-tained a well-deserved success and highlighted the outstanding ease of handling and stability of Mc-Cormick’s X4 Series, even on two wheels!
McCormick X4. Stunts in the parks of Northern Europe.
13
Engine. Swing-up cooler finnings make cleaning easier.
High-standard design, comfort and per-formance. The X6 VT-Drive Series is a perfect combination of all the most
advanced characteristics proposed by McCormick, the premium brand that has always focused on professionalism and high quality products. Tech-nological advancement is expressed in every part of this open-field range with continuously variable transmission.
The X6 VT-Drive Series offers three Tier 4 In-terim BetaPower Fuel Efficiency engines with Power Plus system, which boosts the basic 114, 121 and 130 HP power ratings to 121, 133 e 140 HP, respectively. Stage 4 emissionized thanks to the exclusive SCR system which converts the nitrogen oxides, thus without the presence of an EGR system, these en-gines are equipped with electronically controlled Common rail system and Intercooler for extremely high efficiency.
“Three models, X6.420, X6.430 and X6.440 featuring the pioneering Argo Tractors VT-Drive continuously variable transmission.
Deluxe cab conforming to the highest standards of comfort, low noise level and visibility.
Range available in both the standard red colour and yellow variant.”
X6 VT-Drive Series, the features that make the difference
McCormick’s most advanced solutions for the three models
with continuously variable transmission
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McCMagazine
VT-DRIVE TRANSMISSIONThe X6 VT-Drive Series stands out for its
2-stage «VT-Drive» continuously variable trans-mission, designed by Argo Tractors. Thanks to this solution, the range benefits from a further power increase allowing the third model, the X6.440, to reach 140 HP with Power Plus.
The transmission is so efficient that it can be controlled in three different modes: “Auto mode”, “Pto mode” and “Manual”.
In the “Auto” mode, the management soft-ware chooses the most suitable engine rate for the work being performed. The “Pto” mode is de-voted to operations with the PTO and maintains a constant rate regardless of the load. Lastly, the “Manual” function enables the operator to control the transmission parameters in the manual mode and personally choose the setting he thinks best for each job.
The transmission is controlled from the multi-function armrest with a joystick where the gearshift controls are installed.
▲
Sprung front axle: Maximum comfort during transport work.
Tractor controls. The multifunction armrest with all the
controls, even those of the transmission.
PRODUCT
15
X6 VT-DRIVE: THE APPLICATIONS
The solutions designed by Argo Tractors make X6 VT-Drive Series tractors extremely versatile and ideal for all sorts of jobs, from heavy open-field work to gen-eral use in farms, breeding farms and for ground care.
Open field workThe X6 VT-Drive Series provides an excellent perfor-mance in all open-field work, including the heaviest duty and most difficult jobs. Their Betapower Tier 4i engines with Power Plus and continuously variable transmission combine power and performance in even the most demanding situations and with truly unique ease of use.
PTO applicationsAn optimum PTO speed is always available since the continuously variable transmission can be controlled in different ways.
Transport jobsThe correct transmission ratio and constant traction make road transport easy and totally safe. High-level comfort during transport work is guaranteed by the Deluxe cab, as well as the optional cab and front axle suspensions.
Farm workThe X6 VT-Drive Series can deal with all the jobs required on farms, including breeding farms, since the tractors are highly manoeuvrable even when there’s not much space thanks to their 55° front wheel turning radius and excellent weight-power ratio.
Municipal ground careAmong the range of applications for these tractors, con-siderable importance is given to municipal ground care where they not only provide optimum performance, but also stand out for their simplicity and safety.
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McCMagazine
or level of comfort. Optional cab suspensions and a front axle with independent wishbone suspensions are also available for improved comfort during field and transport work.
But that’s not all. The cab conforms to the high-est standards of comfort, visibility and low require-ments level, and is consistent with the higher range products. It’s the new, high-visibility “Deluxe” cab with its generously sized interior featuring the most up to date automotive-style finishes.
A multifunction armrest fitted with a “VT Easy Pilot” electronic-proportional joystick and DSM (12” touch screen) derived from the X7 Series en-sures full control over the tractor functions. The solution created by the Argo Tractors technicians makes the tractor extremely easy to handle in all applications, from heavy, open-field work to gener-al jobs in farming estates and breeding farms. The version with 50 km/h top speed is also available for countries where this is allowed. ■
HIGH-LEVEL FEATURESSince its transmission can be controlled in sev-
eral different ways, the X6 VT-Drive Series can work in the most demanding conditions without difficulty.
This also thanks to further features, like the 4-speed, synchronized electrohydraulic PTO, the 5,400 kg capacity rear hitch and a 110 l/min closed-center load sensing hydraulic circuit able to supply a wide range of configurable control valves: 3 differ-ent types of mechanical control valves, 3 mechani-cal and 2 electronic control valves or the version with 5 electrohydraulically controlled control valves.
Lastly, a 38 l/min supplementary circuit sup-plies the power-steering system, brakes, PTO en-gagement function, diff locks and 4WD engage-ment function.
HIGHER-CLASS COMFORTThe X6 VT-Drive Series also features a superi-
▼
PRODUCT
Deluxe cab. High-level features for superior comfort.
17
The series will be produced from the end of the year on and will gradually replace the current X7.6 range with Tier 4 in-
terim engine. We’re talking about the McCormick X7.6 Tier 4 Final Series, the range presented at Sima 2017, when all its innovative features were highlighted. Innovations that did not merely affect the tractor as a machine, but also its functionality and content, where the aim is maximum flexibility of use and the highest efficiency in any operating condition.
The X7.6 Tier 4 Final Series is a high-power range based on an increasingly hi-tech concept. It’s
more than able to fully satisfy the expectations of the most demanding customers, those who insist on high performance and reliability without neglect-ing high-level equipment and prestige.
TIER 4 FINAL TYPE-APPROVED SIX-CYLINDER ENGINES
The new McCormick X7.6 tractors feature Betapower Fuel Efficiency six-cylinder engines with 6.7-liter swept volume, 24 valves, turbocharger, high-pressure common rail injection system. Stage IV/Tier 4 Final emissionized engines thanks to the sole Scr exhaust gas aftertreatment system with
Engine. The new six-cylinder Betapower
Tier4 Final engine with Power Plus
assures higher power and less fuel
consumption with 40% torque reserve.
Tractor controls. All the tractor controls are
positioned on the driver seat armrest, including
the VT Easy Pilot joystick, with buttons that
control the transmission. Functions enabled by
push-buttons can be constantly checked on
the digital display of the dashboard and DSM
touchscreen DSM monitor.
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McCMagazine
urea-based solution. Engines able to provide high-er power with less fuel consumption and a 40% torque reserve.
226 HP TOP-OF-THE-RANGE X7.690 Along with the new engines, the range has ac-
quired a new entry: the new X7.690, featuring 226 HP of boosted power. The revamped range now in-cludes five models, X7.650, X7.660, X7.670, X7.680, X7.690 and, with the aid of the Power Plus system, offers power ratings from 150 to 226 HP.
RENEWED ROBOTICALLY-ACTIVATED P6-DRIVE TRANSMISSION
Another important innovation concerns the transmission, available for the new X7.6 tractors in both the VT-Drive continuously variable configura-tion (up to the 195 HP X7.670 model) and, for the entire range, the completely revamped P6-Drive ver-sion: 6 powershift speed gears on load and 5 robot-ically-activated electrohydraulic ranges amounting to a total 30 ratios in both directions and fully con-trolled by an electronic control unit.
SMART APS SYSTEMBesides the Autoshift function, the sophisticated
technology on board now includes the Smart APS (Smart Autopowershift) system. Once the engine
speed has been established by the operator, this sys-tem enables the transmission to adapt the range and speed gear to the selected parameter. The Stop & Ac-tion function is also available. It allows the operator to engage the de-clutch by simply depressing the brake pedal, thereby enabling the P6-Drive transmission to provide such a smooth ride that it’s almost like hav-ing a continuously variable transmission.
There’s also an “Engine Brake” function which slows the drive shaft and, thus, the tractor when the operator presses a pedal.
STYLING ENHANCEMENTSThe improvements made by McCormick also in-
volve the cab exterior and interior, already top class as to style and ergonomics in the new “Premiere Cab” variant with four pillars (available with hydrau-lic suspension on request). Spacious, with all-round visibility, well-pressurized and air conditioned, this technologically advanced cab is made with automo-tive-style materials.
“X8 STYLE” COMFORT AND FUNCTIONS
As part of the standard equipment, the range will include all the features introduced by its ultra-recent “2017 Year Model”, launched by McCormick during Eima 2016 with solutions borrowed from the larger X8 models. Features like the upgrade for the soft-ware governed by the Data Screen Manager (DSM) 12-inch touchscreen monitor and an additional range of functions: new advanced headland management system, a rear view camera to improve visibility over the implements hitched and additional information from the tractor’s onboard computer. ■
FOCUS
X7.6: all the Tier 4 Final
Cab Premiere Cab. The cab has been newly
styled. Technologically
advanced and made from
automotive-style materials
it isavailable on request
withhydraulic suspension.
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HUMAN FACTOR
I t was called “The Human Factor” because it focuses on the Man, the operator who drives the tractor. It’s
the new software developed by Argo Tractors in co-operation with Politecni-
co di Milano: a device which obtained the Techni-cal Innovation Award at the last edition of Eima, thereby underscoring McCormick’s commitment to technology and experimentation.
Available for the McCormick X6, X7 and X8 Series, the device developed by Argo Tractors is installed in the cab. It allows the operator’s driving style to be optimized in a simple and immediate way with regard to three performance indicators:
The Argo Tractors software analyzes the trac-tor’s driving data and, on the basis of these, as-sesses whether the operator is achieving optimal performance.
If an unbalanced ratio among safety, comfort and economy of the work process is detected, as in the case of an aggressive driving style for in-stance, the software takes action. Using colored signals and three simple percentage values dis-played on the cab monitor, it “suggests” ways in which the driving parameters can be improved so as to optimize the operator’s driving style.
The aim is to encourage the operator to adopt an optimal driving style thanks to the availabil-ity of immediate information processed on the basis of quantitative data obtained by means of an algorithm that’s independent from the type of route and other conditions (such as the im-plements carried or the mechanical conditions of the engine).
Thanks to “The Human Factor”, the opera-tor is assisted in the continuous improvement of his driving style. This activity is also able to ben-efit from by the principles of the “Kaizen” system adopted Argo Tractors, is based for the purpose of constantly improving product quality.
Meanwhile, the system allows all the data and calculations to be transmitted to a tractor fleet Manager in real time. In this case, it becomes a fleet management instrument able to enhance op-erator skills, optimize fuel consumption and extend the life-cycle of the vehicles. ■
The human factor: software to improve your
driving prowess
On the road
The McCormick
X7 VT Drive.
Cab. The monitor communicates with the driver.
comfort, safety and economy of the work process. On board systems detect the operator’s driving
behavior via a series of components, comprising sen-sors, control unit, system for communicating data to a remote server and operator interface. The system analyzes the tractor operator’s driving style during road transport. It operates in very much the same way as track engineers do when they assist racing drivers.
In this latter case, dedicated sensors transmit data back to a central source detailing the func-tional state of the vehicle and the driver’s actions in every situation. These data are immediately processed and compared with theoretically opti-mum parameters. This gives rise to driving advice which, if taken and applied by the operator, will allow him to save time and possibly reduce fuel consumption.
20
SALES NETWORK
Friuli Venezia Giulia is the land of high power. Besides mountainous areas and
foothills where the main crops cultivated are grapes for wine-making, the extensive crops and large farming estates in the lowlands of this re-gion are where the need for power, technology and professionalism are very high when it comes to tractors.
This is why the farmers much appreciate the new-generation McCormick VT-Drive tractors, es-pecially the new X8, launched last January at Fi-era Agriest 2017, Udine, in the now well-known yellow version.
Presented by Agriosso, McCormick dealer for over 10 years in the Friuli Venezia Giulia area, the new tractor immediately became a great suc-cess by combining high power and cutting-edge technology like the VT-Drive transmission and Isobus system.
A partner of the Rinaldin Group, Agriosso has its headquarters in Palmanova (UD) and is ex-tremely active in the Friuli area, not just in com-mercial terms but also regarding the services of-fered. These include after-sales assistance based on promptness and an excellent parts service through to customer training on how to use the tractors and all the other highly technological ma-chines it markets, such as harvesters and pivots.
Agriosso possesses unique experience in the professional agricultural machinery sector and also organizes tests and field trials for its custom-ers, allowing farmers to to make the right choice for their enterprises by becoming familiar with the machines before purchasing them.
For Moscadelli, selling McCormick tractors means interacting with the customer, listening to his requirements for the purpose of proposing so-lutions tailored to his needs. McCormick dealer for just 3 years, Moscadelli has already acquired im-portant customers: Castello di Bossi and La For-tuna are only two of the prestigious names among the dealer’s clients.
Besides his 5 employees, Franco is also assisted in the business by various family members, includ-ing sons Federico and Valentino, wife Silvia and his sister, who is responsible for the parts service for which Moscadelli has created a highly efficient, fully computerized, cutting-edge storage facility. Family management ensures particularly efficient running of the dealer business which, besides the Montal-cino area, also operates in the province of Siena and part of the province of Grosseto. An area which in-cludes highly specialized vineyards and extensive stretches of arable land requiring extremely varied types of tractors ranging from small “orchard” mod-els through to the high-powered X8 Series.
The experience acquired in the technical-mechanical sector by Franco Moscadelli,
proprietor of the McCormick dealership of the same name, is evident in every aspect of his activ-ity. Situated in S. Angelo di Montalcino (SI), the company is doing a great job in the area by pro-moting the McCormick brand with professionalism and expertise. Moscadelli has an excellent reputa-tion and is well known for the qualified assistance provided, plus a business policy based on trust and customer satisfaction.
Agriosso, leader in the high power tractor market
Moscadelli, an offer tailored to the customer
Agriest. The Agriosso staff members.
Grosseto. Two X7 VT Drive tractors during the annual
CONFAI meeting.
21
Last November 17 and 18, McCormick North America hosted the first session of the
«McCormick Ambassador Program» (MAP), a new initiative created as an opportunity to strength-en relations between the company and dealers.
The sessions will be held on a quarterly basis.The participants enjoyed the opportunity to meet McCormick North America staff. They toured their offices, learned about the history and present state of the McCormick brand as well as effective sales strategies for our tractors, and got to drive every McCormick tractor series. This initiative was an exclusive experience designed to provide attend-ees with an intimate, inside look into McCormick including the products but also company’s vision for the future.
Orlando. 2017 Dealer Meeting.
MAP. The North America staff and dealers. Kentucky. McCormick tractors on show in Lousville.
Each year, McCormick North America takes part in one of the largest farm shows
in the country, The National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The 2017 edition, which took place from Feb-ruary 15 to 18, allowed McCormick to make a lasting impression on almost 300,000 attend-ees thanks to an eye-catching booth hosting 5 new tractor models.
These included the X6 Standard, X6 VT-Drive and X4 Standard Series as well as the much an-ticipated X8, which drew crowds of attendees of all ages all week long.
Among the latest offerings, X4 Standard and the X8 VT-Drive with 310 HP were the two McCor-mick ranges that clearly stole the show.
Last February, McCormick North America held its annual dealer meeting for the entire
dealer network from the United States and Can-ada. The meeting took place in Orlando, Florida, in the lovely Renaissance Orlando Seaworld Re-sort. The meeting gave McCormick the chance to unveil the four new tractor lines that complete the McCormick tractor offerings in North America to an even further extent: the X4 Standard Series, the X6 Standard Series, the X6 VT-Drive Series and the X8 VT-Drive Series.
With the exception of the X8 VT-Drive Series with its over 300 HP power rating, the models presented to the dealers belong to a powerband al-ready covered by the McCormick tractors. However, the new machines offer new levels of functionality, comfort and performance able to satisfy the require-ments of an increasing number of customers within that segment. “We want to offer our customers a more comprehensive selection in the McCormick line,” affirmed Tiago Bonomo, president of McCormick
North America. “Our customers have specific require-ments and we must be able to satisfy their needs”.
Not only were the dealers able to examine the new tractors and drive them during the dealer meet-ing, but also to speak directly with the McCormick staff, specialized in various areas of the business. Besides the new product launch, the dealer meet-ing was also an occasion for celebrating the suc-cess achieved by the brand in 2016 by honouring top performing dealers.
National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville
2017 Dealer Meeting at Orlando
McCormick Ambassador Program: first session
NORTH AMERICA
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McCMagazine
Sommet de l’élévage 2016. One of the McCormick
VT-Drive tractors.
X7 Camp. A presentation with the ShowBox.
Two days dedicated to the X7 Series, with the chance to test the tractors both in the
fields and on the road. The initiative was organized in August 2016 by the German McCormick branch Argo Gmbh at Seedorf (Niedersachsen) in North Germany with support from several dealers: Ber-endt, Dallmann, Pittschau, Handelmann and Krull. The initiative was then repeated in Septem-ber at Bad Rappenau-Bonfeld (Baden-Würt-temberg) in a two-day event held in the South of Germany.
Beginning with a dealer meeting, both events proceeded during the second day with practical training in the fields for the dealers and then con-cluded in the evening with the «X7 VIP Camp» initiative for a selected group of farmers. Added at-tractions were the presentations with the McCor-mick Showbox, i.e. training courses and practical demos that provided the participants with an im-portant chance to become more familiar with the McCormick world.
Dealer meeting and X7 Camp Events
GERMANY
Summer and autumn 2016 were very busy for Argo France, which organized the 2016
edition of the New Experience Tour in collabo-ration with its dealers. Inaugurated on June 29, the field demo tour continued for around twenty stages until the beginning of November.
The stages were interspaced by stopovers at important trade fairs and events like Salone Innov’Agri, livestock exhibitions Space and Sommet de l’élévage, and local events such as Foire de Châlon en Champagne and Foire de Lessay.
True to the proverbial “McCormick versatil-ity, reliability and comfort”, the new X8 VT Drive attracted the admiring glances of many of the visitors at these trade shows, while participants in the New Experience Tour stages were able to test the PS-Drive, VT-Drive and «Efficient» en-try-level versions of the X7 ranges complete with front loaders, much appreciated in the animal husbandry sector.
The “Gagnez votre quad” competition was also promoted besides the field demos, and 3 quad-
bikes were raffled off among all those who regis-tered during the Tour stages and on-line.
Once the field demos had terminated, McCor-mick’s activities in France proceeded with the world preview of the new X4F and X4V orchard and vine-yard tractor ranges at the Vinitech trade fair of Bordeaux from November 29 to December 1.
Lastly, the field demos and Open Days events were resumed from March 21 at the dealers’ head-quarters, while a new tour for the summer of 2017 was inaugurated by the Pro Demo Tour 2017 days.
A year of Tours, trade shows and demos
FRANCE
BRANCHES
X7 Camp. A field demo.
23
Lamma Show is the biggest event in the United Kingdom dedicated to farming ma-
chinery, equipment and services. Feted by the en-tire team of McCormick dealer AgriArgo UK along with the Argo Tractors colleagues, the 2017 edition, which took place in Peterborough on January 18 and 19, was an enormous success.
The innovations presented included the new Mc-Cormick X8 VT-Drive, as an illustration of just how far the McCormick range has progressed in recent years. But visitors also appreciated other McCormick ranges, such as the new-look X2 compact tractors, the 2WD 75 hp X4 series, the new X6 VT-Drive models and the new Efficient specification in the X7 PS Drive range.
Grassland & Muck 2017. McCormick X4.35M and X7.680
tractors at the event.
Lamma Show 2017. The powerful McCormick X8.680 on
show at the fair.
Great British Beef Week. Promotional photo
of the challenge between a McCormick X7.650 PS Drive
and the women’s tug of war team.
AgriArgo UK supported the ‘Great Brit-ish Beef Week’, by supplying McCormick
X6 and X7 PS Drive tractors for promotional pho-tography with a Young Farmers Club‘s Tug-of-war team.
The campaign was organized by Ladies in Beef, individual producers with some expertise in marketing and promotion, and so the idea of pub-licising the campaign through a ladies Tug-of-War team attracted a lot of media attention.
Pictures featuring the McCormick tractors appeared in national farming press, regional newspapers and magazines and extensively on social media.
The McCormick tractors were in action at the most UK’s largest grass manage-
ment and harvesting technology event, namely “Grassland & Muck 2017”.
Hitched to certain implements, an X7.680 PS Drive Premium and an X7.660 PS Drive Efficient showed off their prowess in the fields of Stone-leigh, in Warwickshire on May 24 and 25.
The McCormick X4.35M, made its debut as a simple tractor that should appeal to dairy farm-ers for cleaning cow cubicle buildings and yards and was on show in the stand set up by Agri-Argo UK, the newly appointed distributor for all of Ireland and Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
The two days dedicated to the event were hot and sunny, so visitors took advantage of the free McCormick sun hats and were pleased to have some shade.
McCormick supports the ‘Great British Beef Week’
Grassland & Muck 2017
X8 Vt-Drive launch at Lamma Show
UNITED KINGDOM
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McCMagazine
One of the satisfying markets for McCormick is Romania, where the sales volumes have
doubled in just one year. Credit for this certainly goes to Apan and Vest-Trac, which operate in this area. During the past year, Apan, which has its headquar-ters in Braila and provides its services in the east-ern part of the country, worked extremely well and helped to reach a market share of over 10%.
A marked propensity for agricultural mechani-zation and increasing attention to the technologi-cal quality of the products have certainly facilitated the popularity of the McCormick brand in Romania, a trend underscored by the success obtained last May by the new X8 Series, which previewed at Ag-riplanta.
The range is targeted on a segment of the market where it is particularly appreciated by the Romanian customers, a third of whom require power ratings around 300 HP. The new trac-tor launch at Agriplanta not only attracted the visitors’ attention but also that of the media, and several television broadcasters eagerly awaited the important event.
WORLDWIDE
Apan goes from strength to strength
ROMANIA
Agriplanta. Presentation of the X8 Series.
A rgi has been the new McCormick dealer for Benelux (the area that includes Bel-
gium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) for the past year.
The market is extremely complex and compe-tition is intense, but this did not stop Argi from getting off to a head start and obtaining excel-lent results during the first 6 months of this year.
The high-level specifications and well-known quality of the McCormick products have been much appreciated by the customers, who are served by a nationwide network of very well prepared and organized dealers.
With its headquarters in Didam, in the Neth-erlands, Argi is rapidly developing and intends to create an increasingly efficient organization well suited to such a highly technological brand as McCormick, whose complete range perfectly matches the requirements of this market.
There was a great deal of interest in the new models on show at the last Libramont trade fair, where McCormick was a huge success.
Argi, a winning start
BENELUX
Libramont. The McCormick range on show at the fair.
25
WORLDWIDE
McCormick importer for Australia since January 2013, Clark Equipment is a well
organized group that operates in many commod-ity sectors, with a widespread presence throughout Australia.
One of the 500 top private Australian enterpris-es, the importer has been marketing tractors and agricultural equipment for over 60 years.
It has 17 locations, 113 commercial vehicles and a staff of 450 people. Clark Equipment strongly de-veloped the group’s agricultural division during the past year and made important investments in the sector which, along with mining is the main activity in Australia.
With its headquarters in Sydney, Clark Equip-ment is specialized in the distribution of McCor-mick’s full line, especially the top-of-the-range and medium-high power models to which the brand
owes its fame. Not by chance were three McCormick X7 tractors and an X6 the protagonists of the «X-Tractor around the world» expedition, which cov-ered 8500 km across Australia in 2015.
An expedition that received fundamental sup-port from Clark Equipment, which not only provided a logistics base for preparing the tractors and expe-dition itself, but also the personnel who drove and serviced the tractors.
Backed by an efficient family organization, Clark Equipment possesses an excellent assistance ser-vice based on highly trained technicians, modern workshops, mobile workshops and a vast network of dealers and branches able to provide the farmers of the boundless Australian countryside with spare parts and all their experience.
As well as the X6 and XT Series, the importer is doing an excellent job by marketing the A-Max, T-Max and D-Max Series plus, from this year, the entire VT-Drive range, which exactly meets the re-quirements of the Australian market, increasingly focused on tractors “made in Europe” with high-quality and professional features. This is why the McCormick front loaders, essential on Australian farms, are becoming increasingly popular.
Clark Equipment, first-rate organization and services
AUSTRALIA
Australia. An outdoor line-up.
Melbourne. One of the Clark Equipment headquarters.
The Novi Sad International Agricultural Fair is one of the most important events
of the entire Balkan area. And Agromondo, McCormick importer for
several years, certainly couldn’t miss the 2017 edition, which took place from May 13 to 19, where a large outdoor stand was set up with the more representative models from the Mc-Cormick range.
The success achieved by the brand during the event reflects the important recognitions McCor-mick is obtaining in Serbia where the entire range, particularly the high-power models, is enjoying strong growth in sales.
With a headquarters in Novi Sad, Agromondo has made direct relations with the customers its key strength by combining the finest products with a highly professional assistance and support service.
Agromondo, success at Novi Sad
SERBIA
Novi Sad. A photo of the fair.
26
P rovide customers with rapid, precise and tailor-made solutions worldwide. That’s the goal of Service McCor-
mick, an initiative which now counts on highly trained professionals able to resolve any issue that may occur.
One of these is Matteo Capiluppi, who joined the company at the beginning of 2000 as a warehouse operative and is now the point of reference for all Service problems received from outside. In short, Capiluppi is the Service contact person for the inspectors and agents who work outside the company, and looks into problems concerning use, application or faults involving the McCormick product.
His task is to swiftly and soundly resolve problems by interfacing with the engineering and design departments to ensure the custom-er receives an immediate reply.
“I’ve acquired a lot of experience during all these years of work” says Matteo, “and this al-lows me to easily decide the best way to resolve problems. We must find the right solution for the customer and find it as quickly as possible”.
Matteo acquired experience along the way. He joined Argo Tractors as a warehouse opera-tive in the San Martino in Rio parts department. Just one year later, he moved on to the Speci-fications Office, in the parts area dedicated to component recogni-tion. In just 6 years, Matteo earned the po-
sition of Office Manager, a role he has now re-sumed after a brief interruption, in addition to his Service support activities.
2013 marked an important turning point for Capiluppi, who started out with the Ser-vice department for the purpose of creating a fundamental link between the engineering staff and the problems reported by his colleagues worldwide. Matteo Capiluppi is the true driving force behind the entire Service facility: his tasks are even farther-reaching and also concern the choices to be made when new tractors are fit-ted out, especially when they are intended for foreign markets.
“My job”, affirms Matteo, “is to understand what the sales network and service managers need and propose solutions tailored to often un-usual issues, always through direct contact with the engineering department experts”.
Experience, and perfect awareness of how the company functions play a fundamental role when it comes to speeding up the processes and finding the shortest way to an efficient solution.
All this experience has provided Matteo Cap-iluppi with the ability to be friendly and helpful in all his interpersonal relations, and to identify himself with customers who are momentarily in difficulty. Thus Service McCormick is always perfectly efficient even when assistance is pro-
vided for customers who are thousands of kilom-eters away. ■
On-going after-sales support
Service. Matteo
Capiluppi, driving
force behind the
all the activities.
SERVICE
27
forgetting the kids. It even includes a pedal-oper-ated rideable X7 tractor (for children aged 3 to 7 years) in two versions, with trailer or with trailer and bucket.
The line entirely dedicated to the new range, X8, completes the catalogue. It includes 1:32 scale collectors’ models of the new X8 VT Drive in the basic red colour and a Limited Edition of 1000 models in yellow, the X8 VT Drive key fob and the soft toy, much appreciated by children. ■
The range of McCormick brand merchan-dising articles is even more modern and complete. “Capsule Collection” is one
of the innovations. It’s a line dedicated to the brand that includes articles of clothing, such as the elegant down jackets, polo-shirts, wind-cheaters, sweatshirts, caps and even a chrono-graph watch.
The Capsule Collection is a range of refined ap-parel tailor-made for men and women, but without
“Capsule Collection”, innovations from the McCor mick catalogue
McCormick Lifestyle. All McCormick-brand articles can be purchased from our dealers.
McC Magazine
Rideable tractor. For the kids.
P/N: 6516616M1
P/N: 6608241A1P/N: 6619946A1
Capsule Collection. From the left: windcheater with detachable sleeves, down jacket, zip-front sweatshirt and polo-shirt.
McCormick cap.
Techno chronograph watch.
P/N: 6620412A1 (TG. M) P/N: 6620434A1 (TG. M) P/N: 6620449A1 (TG. M) P/N: 6620459A1 (TG. M)
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PARTS
“Capsule Collection”, innovations from the McCor mick catalogue
Argo Tractors and Granit, partnership agreement
Improve customer service by enhancing the sup-port provided to the sales network. This is what Argo Tractors intends to do and why an agree-
ment was recently signed with Granit, the most im-portant European supplier of quality spare parts.
Thanks to the agreement, the Argo Tractors Euro-pean sales network can now use the customized “Ar-goTech” portal to access both the original ArgoParts components in the website of that name, as well as the vast range of Granit products dedicated to tractors, harvesting machines and agricultural implements, with over 250-thousand articles available in stock and 8 mil-lion viewable in the webshop. Initially accessible to the entire sales network in Italy, Spain, France, Germany and UK, the service will then be extended to Argo Trac-tors importers in the EU.
Granit, which belongs to the Fricke Group, is an important enterprise in the spare parts industry: with a history dating back almost one hundred years, the company, which is situated in Heeslingen, North Ger-many, has acquired unrivalled technical skills and ex-tensive knowledge of the sector. So much so, it can now provide an optimum combination of product qual-ity and quality customer service.
Besides supplying replacement parts, Granit also markets agricultural implements and is an authorized Bosch center for repairing injection pumps. Thanks to this agreement, the Argo Tractors sales network will be able to improve end customer assistance by providing a full range of replacement parts for all the main brands of agricultural machines while achieving all-round deal-er involvement in the McCormick and customer service.
As well as supplying replacement parts, Granit will offer Argo Tractors dealers a design & custom-izing service so that retail outlets can be created in their premises, complete with McCormick custom-ized layouts and display stands for selling compo-nents and equipment for small workshops. Regu-larly supplied with a variety of products able to cater for multiple needs, these points of sale will be-come destination stores for agricultural enterprises thanks to this comprehensive support service. ■
P/N: 6622283A1
P/N: 6622284A1
X8 VT-Drive. 1:32 scale model.
X8 VT-Drive Limited Edition. 1:32 scale model.
P/N: 6622373A1
X8 VT-Drive. Soft toy.
29
McCormick is a trademark of Argo Tractors S.p.A. mccormick.it
McCormick invites you to step up to pole position with the new X6 Series, perfect balance between comfort and performance. Visibility, sound-proofing and air conditioning in the new 4-pillar cab are in a class of their own, while the technological features are truly impressive. 121 to 140 HP Tier 4 Interim engines, VT-Drive or Xtra-Shift transmission, front axle with independent suspension, cab suspension system.
McCORMICK X6. GET ON THE INSIDE TRACK.
COMFORTAT WORK.
