2009

The agricultural and farm machinery sectors have been undergoing a major process of professionalisation in Slovakia for years. Many farmers and contractors choose to rely on harvesting machines and tractors from CLAAS. The family-owned company from Germany has now reorganised and expanded the arrangements for the import of its machines to Slovakia.

The new general importer for Slovakia, Agrall, is based in the neighbouring Czech Republic where the company has been collaborating exclusively with CLAAS for many years. The business model of this exclusive representation agreement has proven very successful for both parties. Accordingly, Agrall will also be implementing this approach in the Slovak Republic via its Slovakian subsidiary as of October 2009. The partnership with the previous importer, Iba Agro, is ending at the same time.

Karl-Hubertus Reher, CLAAS regional director for Slovakia and the Czech Republic explains: "As in many of the neighbouring countries, the Slovakian market has gone through significant change. That is why this reorganisation is the right step to take. With Agrall we have a partner which has grown together with us in the past and will grow even further now that the company has obtained the exclusive sales and distribution rights for Slovakia. Our customers will be the main beneficiaries of this arrangement because not only can we provide them with top-class machinery and technology, we can also offer them first-class service and support. With our exclusive partner Agrall, we will continue to improve the professional support that we provide to our customers. Farmers and contractors in Slovakia will benefit from this."

The general manager of Agrall, Josef Trávníček, is looking to the future with optimism: "The new Agrall team in Slovakia is looking forward to the challenges of the future and the partnership. There are a number of reasons why this new arrangement has every chance to be successful: the trusting partnership between CLAAS and Agrall, the joint opportunities for growth and, in particular, the major advantages for both new and previous customers in terms of customer service and spare parts supply."

Info/contact:

Josef Trávníček: +420515200800 or www.agrall.cz

Dusan Illes, CLAAS country delegate for the Slovak Republic : +421903750685