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History of the
Doncaster Plant |
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1938 |
International Harvester opened
its largest British factory at Doncaster in Yorkshire. The original
premises, built in 1938 on land purchased from Doncaster
Corporation, were requisitioned by the government for munitions
works at the outbreak of World War II. |
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1946 |
The Plant is handed back to
the company by the Ministry of Supply and operations begin at this
first full scale IH manufacturing plant in Britain. The earliest
products from this plant were green-crop loaders, ploughs, toolbars
and service parts for imported machines. Expansion of the Works
commences to provide a Foundry and Machine Shop |
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1949 |
As accommodation and facilities
increased, tractors were added to the range and the first
British-built wheeled tractor-a McCormick Farmall M -assembled from
imported parts was driven from the assembly line in September 1949
by Mr. Tom Williams, Minister of Agriculture. |
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1951 |
1951 What could be classed as
the first truly British-built tractor, a Farmall M, was completed
and driven from the assembly line on the 30th June. |
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1952 |
A diesel version of the
Farmall M was introduced into the product range at Doncaster Works.
This was known as the BMD model. To meet demand for the product,
shipments were being made not only by road but by rail and canal
transport. |
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1953 |
Heralded the introduction of the first
British-built International crawler tractor, the 40 h.p. BTD-6,
completed in August. Designed for both agricultural and industrial
applications, this unit was to form the basis of the Company's big
construction equipment division. In July the 10,000th model BM was
built and the first Doncaster built engines also came on stream. |
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1954 |
The BWD6 tractor was
introduced . Meanwhile, to meet the farmers' growing demands for
greater mechanization, pickup balers, bale loaders, manure spreaders
and harvester threshers had been added to the line and were in full
production. |
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1956 |
International Harvester
Company of Great Britain Limited celebrate its 50th
anniversary. |
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1958 |
One of Doncaster Works' most successful
farm tractors, the 55 h.p. B-450, was introduced. Available in
regular, Farmall rowcrop and four wheel drive versions, this machine
was evolved from the BMD and Super BWD-6 tractors. Because of its
great pulling power, it won a reputation in many progress-conscious
countries overseas and was also popular in Britain with farmers who
had heavy land to cultivate. Also introduced was the largest crawler
to date the 14 ton, 135h.p. BTD 20, with the first being driven from
the Assembly line on 15th August. A six cylinder Rolls-Royce engine
was used to power this machine. |
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1963 |
A further addition to
Doncaster's tractor range came in 1963 when the 62 1/2 h.p. B-614
was announced. This was the largest McCormick International wheel
tractor produced in Britain at that time. In the same year a new 40
h.p. agricultural crawler, the BTD-5, became available. |
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1965 |
1965 All wheel farm tractor
assembly was transferred from Doncaster Works at Wheatley Hall Road
to the newly acquired Carr Hill Works some three miles away where a
modern assembly line had been installed. The component parts for the
B-450 and B-614 tractors were still made at Doncaster Works and sent
by road to Carr Hill on a daily basis. This move effectively
released more space and facilities for Doncaster Works' fast
expanding construction equipment business. |
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1976 |
A 3500 Loader Backhoe included in the
Doncaster Works product line up. Transmissions are shipped not only
to the Carr Hill Plant for building into the IH range of
agricultural and industrial wheeled tractors, but are also shipped
for use by Volvo, Manitou and to IH Plants in North America. |
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1982 |
The manufacture of
construction equipment ceases at Wheatley Hall Road and preparations
begin to see the return of tractor production to Doncaster
Plant. |
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1983 |
Tractor Assembly operations
are transferred from Carr Hill Plant to the Doncaster Works Wheatley
Hall Road Plant . |
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1985 |
A major milestone in the
history of Doncaster Plant - in a dramatic move to increase its
market s position,Case, through its parent company, Tenneco Inc.,
purchased selected assets of the International Harvester
Company. |
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1987 |
The assembly of 1896 and 2096
model Tractors is transferred from the Racine Plant in the U.S.A.
These models are assembled at Doncaster then shipped back to
America. |
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1989 |
A and B Family tractor
assembly is transferred from Neuss, Germany. |
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1994 |
Case announces a restructuring
plan. Doncaster Works at Wheatley Hall Road is chosen to become the
European “Centre of Excellence” for assembly operations. Plant
receives British Safety Council Award. |
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1996 |
Complete new Assembly Facility completed
at Doncaster. Over £20M invested. June of this year also sees the
end of transmission production when assembly is transferred to St
Dizier - France.
Component manufacture continued to September
when the last rear frame passed from the transfer line - the
546,904th unit produced by the Transmission Shop. |
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1997 |
Neuss Plant closed. Production of the
European Maxxum Range is transferred to Doncaster Works. Plant
receives the British Safety Council Award for the fourth year in
succession and win the “Varity Perkins European Quality Award”
relating to the transformation of the Tractor Assembly Facility. |
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1998 |
CX series and MX C series
Tractors introduced together with 150/170 HP MX MAXXUM series
Tractors. Plant wins the prestigious “Michelin Excellence
Award”. |
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1999 |
CNH announce Divestiture of
Doncaster product CX and MXC plus plant. The Plant achieves BS EN
ISO 9001 and QS 9000 Accreditation in November of that year. |
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2000 |
Acquisition by Argo group of
Italy.
During the same year the Plant receives the Queens
Award for Enterprise - International Trade, achieves ISO 14001
Environmental Accreditation and receive the Manufacturing Industries
award as Environmentalist of the Year.
Other sister companies
under the ARGO name
are:-
LANDINI
LAVERDA
VALPADANA
PEGORARO |
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2001 |
Trading commences as McCormick Tractors
International Limited.
Jan - Production begins on the new
McCormick range of CX and MC 4 Cylinder tractors.
May -
Production begins on the new McCormick range of MTX 6 Cylinder
tractors
Oct - Parts operation is opened at Doncaster to
serve UK and Ireland. Another parts operation in St Dizier will be
opening to serve continental Europe.
Nov - New features
introduced into the MTX range include the Speed Sequencer
Transmission and Front Axle Braking. |
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