AGD Equipment and Banlaw celebrate 35 years of business together!

It all started in the late 1970's. Richard Levack, the now Chairman of the Banlaw Group contacted Bill Law, then MD of the AGD Group to buy a Caterpillar D8H. He travelled from the depths of Lanarkshire to Birmingham to see the machine, a 235 hp direct drive 36A series tractor with winch and cable blade. The deal was struck and so started a businesss relationship and friendship that has passed down to another generation and across many more borders than merely Hadrians Wall!

Over the years many transactions were carried out, in both directions. Volvo dumpers were exported from Aberdeen to Vancouver, a 35 tons IHI crawler crane was supplied to the Isle of Bute, and several Komatsu D65E dozers trundled up and down the M74 on hire!

The latest deal concluded was between Richard Levack and Robert Law, current MD of AGD Equipment. This time for a 40 tons IHI crawler crane, supplied to Cote d'Ivoire a few months ago, pictured below. However it was during this conversations that Richard and Robert were having at this time, that the subject of the old D8H came up again. Robert had seen the machine at a Vintage Tractor Fair in Warwickshire, just 20 minutes from AGD's office at Stratford upon Avon and brought it to Richard's attention. Just a few weeks ago Richard was visiting Bill during a trip to the UK and they took the opportunity to arrange to see the "old girl". Pictured here still bearing the insignia "Levack" on the fuel tank with Richard standing alongside. The current owner SE Davis & Son Ltd of Astwood Bank, Warwickshire intend to restore the machine to her former glory for their museum.

It is a small world we live in, but during these tough economic times it is easy to forget who you've dealt with in the past and go for the best deal on the table at the time. However this has never been the ethos of either Banlow or AGD, which is borne out by the long period of association and trading demonstrated here.