AYRSHIRE-based Ramsay & Jackson recently marked 30 years as a Merlo dealer with a special Italian and Scottish themed night at the firm’s HQ near Mauchline.
Merlo machines past and present were on display as customers and wider plant sector stakeholders enjoyed an evening of celebrations featuring pizza, beer, flags and bunting.
Ramsay & Jackson, which specialises in construction and agricultural machinery sales, was founded in the 1940s. Today, the firm is run by cousins Neil and Billy Ramsay – sons of the original partners. Alongside Merlo, the company’s portfolio includes machinery from major brands such as Takeuchi and CASE IH.
Neil Ramsay told Project Plant the firm’s relationship with Merlo started after they encountered the brand at the Smithfield Show in Earl’s Court, London back in 1994 – and were immediately impressed by the design of the Italian manufacturer’s telehandlers.
“They had one machine there and the minute we saw it, it just looked like an operator-friendly machine,” Neil explained. “It had panoramic vision and was competitive in the marketplace.
“A lot of our business has been built on the back of Merlo. The product has been consistent for 30 years. These are all-round machines that work every day in construction and agriculture.”
Ramsay & Jackson has sold well over 700 Merlo units over the past three decades. The launch of the Merlo P26.6 in the late 1990s was a game-changer. The machine’s compact dimensions and powerful performance made it ideal for work in some of the older farm buildings around Ayrshire where access was tight.
“The machine was only two metres wide and 2.1 metres high, but it had 2.6 tonnes of maximum lift capacity, six metres lift height, and 100hp,” Neil added. “That was a machine that was absolutely suited to this area.
“Compact machines are still important. Merlo recently introduced a 30.7 model which I see great potential in.”
The company has witnessed many changes to the Merlo kit over the years, including advanced technology and features designed to be more environmentally-friendly. One constant over the decades, however, has been a focus on safety. This is one of the reasons why the models have been so popular with customers. Neil revealed the business has a ‘good number’ of long-standing repeat Merlo customers, including the company’s first ever Merlo customer, which currently has a TF33.7-115 compact telehandler on order. That machine will be painted black and pay homage to the 30th anniversary.
The recent celebration featured a number of Merlo products over the years, from a 1995 P26.6 to the latest ROTO models. In attendance was Shaun Groom, general manager, Merlo UK, who said, “Neil and Billy Ramsay have been selling Merlo products and supporting their customers since 1994. Merlo established itself in the UK in 1993 and Ramsay and Jackson were one of the first dealers to sell Merlo machines to the construction industry.
“Remarkably, this was two years before the launch of the agricultural Turbofarmer range. Over the past 30 years, they’ve witnessed Merlo’s continuous innovation and evolution. In 2000, the Multifarmer was introduced, followed, in 2018, by the market-leading ROTO rotating telescopic handler designed for the construction industry. Merlo’s Generation Zero electric telehandlers arrived in 2021. Ramsay and Jackson have grown alongside us, embracing new Merlo products and technology, and introducing them to their customers across Ayrshire.
“Merlo owes Ramsay and Jackson a deep debt of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty and we are proud to count them as a valued Merlo dealer.”
