The ARGO group inaugurates its new facilities in Villamarciel (Valladolid)
By Isabel Báez Betancort
On Friday 29th September AgriArgo Ibérica celebrated, together with its entire distribution network, the official opening of its new headquarters, which is located in the town of Villamarciel in Valladolid. Up to that point, all of its dealers, an important representative of the Italian parent company, including representatives of the family that owns the group, as well as several local authorities, moved. The Group’s commitment to future and growth is reflected in its new headquarters in Spain, which is accompanied by a complete investment plan and actions aimed at achieving ambitious growth targets in the short and medium term, especially in the high-end segment power.
The opening of the event was carried out by the president of the Valladolid deputation, Jesús Julio Carnero, who thanked the company for having chosen the province and highlighted the importance that the center has given to the spaces that will be devoted to training and collaboration with training organizations, such as universities and institutes. Next, Ignacio Ruiz, Secretary General of Ansemat, made an interesting presentation on the many variables that currently influence the demand for agricultural machinery in Spain, and are not limited to the simplification of weather conditions, being very different according to the zones , especially if they produce special crops, which provide different levels of income to the farmer. Ruiz used to claim that the European regulations are approved with a more practical vision because sometimes they achieve effects contrary to those that their spirit seeks.
A seat of 3 million euros
Representatives of the company.
Antonio Esteve’s courageous commitment to move the headquarters from Catalonia to the cereal center of Spain is materialized in a facility of 2,300 m2 covered on a plot of 6 ha which is not lacking in detail: exhibition areas and attention to the customer differentiated by brands; classrooms with a variable capacity of 12 to 80 people; technical training areas, cafeteria with access to terrace, kitchens, warehouse, general and commercial offices, archiving, various outdoor car parks, testing circuit for tractors of 800 m, practice zone of 3ha, with vines in different dispositions, greenhouse, and all located near the urban core and with almost direct access to the highway. The project has involved an investment of 3 million euros to build what Esteve described as “your house” in reference to the fact that these facilities have been designed so that the network can take full advantage of them.
The new headquarters of AgriArgo Ibérica, is located in the hub of high power in Spain, a segment in which the ARGO Tractors group has its short-term growth objectives
Training, protagonist
Special importance has been given to the After Sales area because of the value the group gives to the symbiosis between this department and the sales department. Also to training. In the words of Esteve himself “the rapid evolution of technology forces us to be very up to date not to lose a sale. We can not afford not to be well-formed”. That is why will be organized in this new venue not only training to the network, also conferences with clients, in collaboration with the University, with training centers and vocational training institutes.
In the center of high power
Esteve took the opportunity to explain the change in the location of Agri Argo Ibérica, which is now located in the middle of the region cereal par excellence and where more high-powered tractors are sold. It is in this segment where the group has set its sights on growth in the short term. The manager of the company also wanted to thank the staff that has finally been in Catalonia for many years of dedication.
Following Esteve’s words, the new team, headed by the newly appointed CEO, Andrés Moradas, presented himself personally to the distributors there. Moradas spoke of the big plans for the group’s brands, which now has the most extensive range ever, up to 300 HP, and will rely on new financial, communication and digital tools, to grow the group in the short term. In this sense, the new series of McCormick X8 and X6 tractors with VT-Drive continuous variation transmission and powers up to 310 hp and the Rex4 series of Landini specialist tractors took center stage.
Franco Artoni, head of Italian business development of ARGO Tractors, expanded the information on these big plans for the brand. He assured the dealers that the headquarters was only one of many actions within a broad plan focused on enhancing the digital side of the company, the spare parts area, and the development of the Network. A more potenten web, geomarketing, digital catalogs , digital configurator of models, social networks … are some of the tools in which the group is already investing to help its network to advance in the future.
Finally, Simeone Morra, from the family that owns the group, remarked that it is in a very important stage, not only for the Spanish market, with this inauguration, but worldwide, in a period of strong investments to grow. Mr. Morra stressed the multinational nature of the group but its family management, which defends strong values, encouraging everyone to grow together.
