Agricultural vehicle and machinery specialist Graham Guy, of Guy Machinery in Skipton has grasped the opportunity with both hands to link up with the UK’s biggest and best-known trailer manufacturers, Ifor Williams Trailers.
It has come about through the closure last year of the well known agricultural supplies company Lindley Pate, which was based at Gisburn Auction Mart on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border.
Lindley Pate, established in 1912, ceased trading in the face of growing competition and the economic downturn.
For over 30 years the company was the regional distributor for Ifor Williams Trailers,– and that was a key factor in persuading Graham Guy to take over Lindley Pate’s assets.
Guy Machinery was established at Skipton Auction Mart in October, 2005, taking over the franchises and customer base of the former Gibsons Tractors.
The company sells new and used tractors, agricultural vehicles and machinery, all-terrain vehicles and quad bikes, as well as a range of construction vehicles and machinery, while a sister company, C & GA Guy Contractors, based in Colne, provides agricultural contracting services, machinery and equipment hire.
"Since 2005 the company has achieved year-on-year business growth at Skipton, and the acquisition of the Ifor Williams Trailers distributorship should help ensure further growth this year," said Managing Director Graham Guy, who had originally run the Colne-based business.
"The acquisition is central to our expansion plans and enables us to develop our product portfolio significantly, whilst opening up access to new markets in the agricultural, construction and equestrian sectors.
"The name Ifor Williams Trailers is synonymous with quality and the company has an excellent reputation, which is why we were so anxious to grab the opportunity when the distributorship became available. It’s not often that chances like that are up for grabs," he added.
When Lindley Pate went into liquidation in October, 2009, seven members of staff lost their jobs but to ensure the continuation of service to local customers Ifor Williams Trailers ran the business themselves temporarily until Guy Machinery took over.
"We’re very pleased with the way things have turned out and while it’s early days yet there is a chance that some jobs might be created at Gisburn," said Mr Guy.
Ifor Williams Trailers was established in 1958 and to date the firm has manufactured over half a million trailers, its products ranging from horseboxes – among the most popular models – and livestock carriers to flatbed trailers, car transporters and pick-up canopies.
News of the new distributorship comes hot on the heels of a survey conducted by a German magazine for horse lovers that concluded that the horsebox from Ifor Williams Trailers was better than any of its European rivals.
The new horsebox was launched to coincide with the company’s 50th anniversary.
The company applied the standards of top car manufacturers in building the horsebox with sleek, flowing lines.
The company’s design engineers even used the same test track as Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson to put it through its paces.
Some of the Ifor Williams Trailers range of products will be on view in a "Grand Parade" of machinery at Skipton Auction Mart in February 23. The bi-annual event is organised jointly by Guy Machinery and animal health products specialist and agricultural merchants Pearson Farm Supplies, of West Marton.
John Williams, the Managing Director of Ifor Williams Trailers, added: "We’re delighted that Guy Machinery has come on board as a distributor.
"They are a reputable, go-head company and I am sure that it will be a successful partnership."