Mounting demand for MacDon equipment here in Europe has led to the Canadian company opening its first European subsidiary.
The new entity will be known as MacDon Europe and will be located in Wiesbaden, Germany. From this German base, it is expected that MacDon will seek to grow its European operations – and possibly appoint more distributors and dealers in other countries.
MacDon isn’t a brand-name that’s readily familiar to most Irish farmers or contractors. However, it is a significant player in the Canadian and US markets. There, it’s best known for its self-propelled windrowers and headers, its pull-type mowers and its draper-type and pick-up headers for combine harvesters.
Self-propelled windrower
MacDon’s M1 Series windrower is one of its top-end products; it can be specified with a Cummins engine – either a 6.7L, 248hp unit or a 4.5L, 173hp version. The patented CrossFlex suspension enables travel speeds of up to 18mph (29kph) in the field or 28mph (45kph) on the road.
Thanks to its patented Dual Direction system (whereby the driving position can be turned around through 180°) road transport is made easier and more convenient – for the driver.
The so-called Ultra Glide cab has a four-corner, independent, gas-shock suspension system, with an in-built anti-roll mechanism.
The company’s origins
The company’s origins go back to 1949, when the entity was known as Killbery Industries. Back then, Killbery manufactured sprayers, grain augers, seeders and cultivators.
In 1951 Killbery produced one of the first self-propelled windrowers. In 1971 the MacDonald family purchased the company and shifted the focus to harvesting equipment, later changing the name of the company to MacDon Industries.
Every MacDon machine is designed and manufactured at its headquarters in Winnipeg. Occupying approximately 900,000ft² of buildings on 85ac of land, the operation includes facilities for R&D, engineering, quality control, parts, manufacturing and marketing.
With a workforce of approximately 1,600 people, MacDon sells its products in over 40 countries, with existing overseas offices in Australia, Russia and Brazil.