Merlo UK recently hosted its annual Dealer Conference, at Crewe Hall in Cheshire, welcoming construction and agricultural dealer principals, and members of their senior teams to a two-day event filled with insightful presentations, recognition and innovation.
It was also an event to remember for Northern Ireland dealers D A Forgie who have branches in Limavady and Lisburn. They picked up the ‘Overall Dealer of the Year’ Award.
The annual conference, titled Together We Thrive, featured a wide range of topics presented by industry experts and Merlo team members including market insights from the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA)who provided valuable overviews of the current industry landscape.
Merlo’s Finance partners, DeLage Landen (DLL) outlined financing options to support both dealers and their customers, while Mattia Bodino, Global Events Manager delivered an engaging presentation about the Merlo Group.
Additionally, Merlo’s departmental teamsprovided key updates on Marketing, Aftersales & Parts, Training, Merlo Telematics, Product Development and Sales ensuring attendees gained a rounded understanding of the tools and strategies available to support their growth.
Shaun Groom, Merlo UK’s General Manager commented: “We’ve packed a lot into our conference this year. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to share our vision for working together with our dealers, thank them for their support, and together, look forward to embracing the opportunities and innovations that lie ahead in 2025.”.
The conference was also an opportunity to recognise and thank dealers for their outstanding performance. In addition to D A Forgie, other winners included:
- Parts Dealer of the Year: Cooks Midlands Ltd
- Service Dealer of the Year: Southwest Handling Ltd
- AG Sales Dealer of the Year:Wiltshires
- CE Sales Dealer of the Year:BH Plant Sales
Long service awards were also presented to acknowledge dealer commitment to Merlo:
- 5 Years: Wm W.M. Rose & Sons Ltd
- 15 Years: Kemp Engineering
- 20 Years: Lister Wilder Ltd
- 30 Years: Ramsay & Jackson Ltd and Ancroft Tractors
The conference also provided an opportunity to unveil the DM9 Dumper to Merlo’s construction dealers. Available to order now, this 9-tonne model is designed for maximum operator safety, usability and efficiency. Previously previewed at Plantworx in 2023, the DM9 is now in production and reinforces Merlo’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
