Principal of McCormick Tractors Australia Pty Ltd, Barry Latta, says the famous red-liveried brand will become more popular now that its Jondaryan headquarters has assumed the mantle of sole importer for McCormick across Australia.

“The four-model range will cover from 67kW through to 90kW (90hp to 120hp) with the first units becoming available to the public late in the first quarter of 2012,” Mr Latta said.

“We are using the X series, which supercedes the CX series, to launch the re-vitalised McCormick brand across Australia,” he added.

Only 4WD cabbed versions of the new X series will be available.

The X60 range is powered by a a Tier3 Perkins engine, comes with an Xtrashift transmission offering 36 forward and 12 reverse speeds and an optional front linkage and pto.

Barry Latta is keen to emphasise the point the McCormick brand is here for the long haul with new staff taken on to handle the all important spare parts side of the new venture.

Computer systems have been installed to allow dealers right around Australia to view parts availability, also costings.

Italian farm machinery giant Argo S.p.a, still a family-owned company, purchased the McCormick brand and utility tractor line from CNH Global in 2001.

As well, it wants to capitalise on the new business arrangements that see Mr Latta, previously a McCormick distributor, championing the product on a nationwide basis.

The 35-strong McCormick dealer network believes it will not only capitalise on an anticipated “big lift” in business from the new X tractors but also from the introduction of new G-Max models.

“The big feature of the three-model G-Max range that spans the 93kW and 123kW (125hp and 165hp) power bracket is that they are ‘simple’ tractors and are not full of electronics – important in remote areas of the country where service and maintenance needs to be simple,” Mr Latta said.

“These two announcements, also the establishment of service schools for our dealers in February, will ‘re-start’ McCormick’s business operations in Australia,” he added.

* Visit www.brtmachinery.com.au