Graemetic Ltd - South Cave Tractors

The latest Unimogs have a lot to offer

One of the UK's leading suppliers of agricultural Mercedes Benz Unimogs is enjoying a new lease of life following a series of developments that have resulted in a change of management and a move to new premises.

South Cave Tractors Ltd, which is based in East Humberside, is now owned by Tony and Tracey Levitt, who bought the company in May last year.

"It was never my intention to take the company over, things just turned out that way," Tony told Farmers Guide. "I had been working here for 21 years and it became clear that the previous owner wished to retire.

"Out of the blue, he asked if I wanted to buy the company."

It took a lot of effort, but Tony and wife Tracey, managed to put the funding in place to buy South Cave Tractors.

"The alternative would have been to leave and move into a different sector," Tony said. "But I remembered when the company was very busy and know there is a lot of potential for the Unimog in the UK.

"In any case, I'm a bit of an anorak as far as Unimogs are concerned and I had built up a lot of contacts in the years I had been with the company."

The change in ownership required a change in premises as well and a new site was found, a few miles from South Cave's previous home, just off Junction 38 of the M62 motorway, where it turns into the A63.

"We couldn't really have hoped for a better site as far as road links is concerned," Tony said. "The M62 runs from here to Liverpool on the West Coast, and links up with all the major North/South routes - including the A1, M1 and M6 - on the way.

"As well as making it easy for customers to get here, it means we can easily get out to do servicing and repairs, and we're also well placed for the courier services that deliver parts to us and then take parts on to our customers all over the UK and further afield."

"Unimog owners tend to 'phone around looking for parts and help when they have problems," Tony said. "I've always taken the time to give advice when I could and you usually find that pays off in the long run.

"Consequently, we look after machines from Southampton in the South, right up to the Borders. It's not unusual for our more distant customers to, say, remove a gearbox and send it to us by courier for repair."

A very important part of the business is the supply of spare parts. With about 100,000 items from 30,000 lines in stock at any one time, these take up almost a quarter of the floor area in South Cave Tractors' four-bay premises.

"It took about 20 people and three trucks three days to move the parts stock here from the old premises," Tony said. "We're currently working our way through the bins reorganising everything to keep a better track of what we've got.

"We get most of our stock refills from Mercedes Benz here in the UK, but if we need something that it doesn't have, it will be flown from Germany overnight."

Parts are sent all over the UK on a next-day delivery service, but it's not unusual to get calls from abroad as well.

"A lot of people have got to know the company over the years and we are still on their list when it comes to tracking down spares." Tony said.

New models

The changes at South Cave Tractors Ltd coincided with the launch of a new range of Unimogs from Mercedes Benz, with three models available with Euro IV engines from 180-280hp and with chassis lengths from a little more than 3m to 4.5m.

"There was a bit of a lull in Unimog sales, especially into agriculture where there was a lack of an approved rollover cab," Tony said. "Traditionally 30% of our sales have been to farmers or contractors and we designed a rollover bar for the new Unimogs as quickly as we could."

South Cave Tractors actually carries out all agricultural modifications to Unimogs on behalf of Mercedes Benz in the UK. It fits all three-point linkage systems as well as the roll cages, which have also been supplied to Germany, USA, Canada and Russia.

The company also fits and supplies the Scharmüler ball hitch for Unimogs.

"It replaces the traditional hook-and-eye method of hitching up trailers and completely eliminates the type of wear and tear that you usually associate with heavy trailer work," Tony said. "We've had a lot of interest in the system from users that do mainly haulage work."

While Tony says there is still a steady demand from the agricultural sector for the Unimog, industrial use is definitely growing.

"Mercedes Benz sells Unimogs direct to many of the large utility companies and local authorities, but we get involved in the delivery process and servicing in our area," he said. "There are also plenty of other sales to pick up, for example in the plant hire sector where the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa) has clamped down on the use of fast tractors for pulling plant on trailers.

"The Fire Brigade is another big growth area, because it is coming under increasing Health and safety legislation that requires proper lifting equipment to carry out rescue and recovery work."

Expert sprayers

Another important part of South Cave Tractors' business is the sale and construction of specialist forward-control Unimog chassis to carry sprayers and spreader equipment.

"The Unimog is one of only two, big, mechanically driven machines on the market," Tony said, "and some people just don't want the complications of a hydrostatic transmission.

"The 280hp U500 with a 3.9m chassis can be turned into a spreader or sprayer with a gross vehicle weight of 15t, and that represents a payload of about 8t.

"Combined with that, you get a high legal road speed (49 mph), full suspension, a central tyre inflation system to change tyre pressures on the move, ABS braking, four-wheel-drive with diff locks on both axles and the transmission - which is something unique to the Unimog, the ability to switch the torque characteristics for road and field use, and the excellent reliability of the Mercedes Benz brand - which is backed up by a two-year full warranty."

South Cave Tractors sources its own cabs for the forward-control machines it builds and does all the fabrication work itself. Starting with a standard Unimog, the original cab is removed (and sent back to Germany to go back onto the production line). The new cab is then fitted and all the controls connected, while at the same time the chassis is prepared with all the hydraulic or mechanical equipment and controls required to operate the sprayers or spreading being fitted - usually supplied by Chafer and KRM respectively.

"We build sprayers from 3,000-5,000 litres and with booms up to 48m," Tony said. "With stainless steel tanks and steel booms, they are not the cheapest on the market, but they have proved extremely capable in the field and cost effective in the long term.

"We like to get them out onto farms to show people exactly what they will do. The Unimog will go where no other sprayer can and it amazes most customers to see just what they are capable of.

"And, of course, the Unimog is a multi-purpose machine, and there's no reason why the chassis can't also be fitted with a spreader body for some of the year."

Tony Levitt is looking forward to getting a Unimog forward-control sprayer into the demonstration ring at the Sprays and Sprayers section of this year's Cereals Event.

"We have a 4,000-litre model with a 36m boom lined up to attend," he said. "That will let prospective buyers compare the Unimog to the other self-propelled sprayers on the market."

Although it is still in development, Tony is currently working on modifications to the standard Unimog that he hopes will allow it to be used for spraying without the expense of changing the cab.

"At the moment we're experimenting with 600x60 R28 Michelin Xeobib tyres running at 72-80 inch centres.

"If we can get this new concept right, it will certainly widen the appeal of the Unimog as a sprayer, but there will still be a demand from professional contractors for the forward-control machine."

New role

As Managing Director of South Cave Tractors Ltd, Tony Levitt has had to make the move to spending more time thinking about sales and the management of the business, but he still gets his hands dirty when required.

Tracey Levitt looks after admin and accounts for the company on a part-time basis, while Diane Devoy mans the office and looks after the parts side of the business.

The company currently employs one full-time technician, Mark Smith, and a self-employed technician. It has also taken on an apprentice, Robert Hosdell.

"All the staff were new to the business, and have shown great enthusiasm and dedication," Tony said.

Tony Levitt.


Published by Farmers Guide, March 2007. The latest Unimogs have a lot to offer One of the UK's leading suppliers of agricultural Mercedes Benz Unimogs is enjoying a new lease of life following a series of developments that have resulted in a change of management and a move to new premises. South Cave Tractors Ltd, which is based in East Humberside, is now owned by Tony and Tracey Levitt, who bought the company in May last year. "It was never my intention to take the company over, things just turned out that way," Tony told Farmers Guide. "I had been working here for 21 years and it became clear that the previous owner wished to retire. "Out of the blue, he asked if I wanted to buy the company." It took a lot of effort, but Tony and wife Tracey, managed to put the funding in place to buy South Cave Tractors. "The alternative would have been to leave and move into a different sector," Tony said. "But I remembered when the company was very busy and know there is a lot of potential for the Unimog in the UK. "In any case, I'm a bit of an anorak as far as Unimogs are concerned and I had built up a lot of contacts in the years I had been with the company." The change in ownership required a change in premises as well and a new site was found, a few miles from South Cave's previous home, just off Junction 38 of the M62 motorway, where it turns into the A63. "We couldn't really have hoped for a better site as far as road links is concerned," Tony said. "The M62 runs from here to Liverpool on the West Coast, and links up with all the major North/South routes - including the A1, M1 and M6 - on the way. "As well as making it easy for customers to get here, it means we can easily get out to do servicing and repairs, and we're also well placed for the courier services that deliver parts to us and then take parts on to our customers all over the UK and further afield." "Unimog owners tend to 'phone around looking for parts and help when they have problems," Tony said. "I've always taken the time to give advice when I could and you usually find that pays off in the long run. "Consequently, we look after machines from Southampton in the South, right up to the Borders. It's not unusual for our more distant customers to, say, remove a gearbox and send it to us by courier for repair." A very important part of the business is the supply of spare parts. With about 100,000 items from 30,000 lines in stock at any one time, these take up almost a quarter of the floor area in South Cave Tractors' four-bay premises. "It took about 20 people and three trucks three days to move the parts stock here from the old premises," Tony said. "We're currently working our way through the bins reorganising everything to keep a better track of what we've got. "We get most of our stock refills from Mercedes Benz here in the UK, but if we need something that it doesn't have, it will be flown from Germany overnight." Parts are sent all over the UK on a next-day delivery service, but it's not unusual to get calls from abroad as well. "A lot of people have got to know the company over the years and we are still on their list when it comes to tracking down spares." Tony said. New models The changes at South Cave Tractors Ltd coincided with the launch of a new range of Unimogs from Mercedes Benz, with three models available with Euro IV engines from 180-280hp and with chassis lengths from a little more than 3m to 4.5m. "There was a bit of a lull in Unimog sales, especially into agriculture where there was a lack of an approved rollover cab," Tony said. "Traditionally 30% of our sales have been to farmers or contractors and we designed a rollover bar for the new Unimogs as quickly as we could." South Cave Tractors actually carries out all agricultural modifications to Unimogs on behalf of Mercedes Benz in the UK. It fits all three-point linkage systems as well as the roll cages, which have also been supplied to Germany, USA, Canada and Russia. The company also fits and supplies the Scharmüler ball hitch for Unimogs. "It replaces the traditional hook-and-eye method of hitching up trailers and completely eliminates the type of wear and tear that you usually associate with heavy trailer work," Tony said. "We've had a lot of interest in the system from users that do mainly haulage work." While Tony says there is still a steady demand from the agricultural sector for the Unimog, industrial use is definitely growing. "Mercedes Benz sells Unimogs direct to many of the large utility companies and local authorities, but we get involved in the delivery process and servicing in our area," he said. "There are also plenty of other sales to pick up, for example in the plant hire sector where the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa) has clamped down on the use of fast tractors for pulling plant on trailers. "The Fire Brigade is another big growth area, because it is coming under increasing Health and safety legislation that requires proper lifting equipment to carry out rescue and recovery work." Expert sprayers Another important part of South Cave Tractors' business is the sale and construction of specialist forward-control Unimog chassis to carry sprayers and spreader equipment. "The Unimog is one of only two, big, mechanically driven machines on the market," Tony said, "and some people just don't want the complications of a hydrostatic transmission. "The 280hp U500 with a 3.9m chassis can be turned into a spreader or sprayer with a gross vehicle weight of 15t, and that represents a payload of about 8t. "Combined with that, you get a high legal road speed (49 mph), full suspension, a central tyre inflation system to change tyre pressures on the move, ABS braking, four-wheel-drive with diff locks on both axles and the transmission - which is something unique to the Unimog, the ability to switch the torque characteristics for road and field use, and the excellent reliability of the Mercedes Benz brand - which is backed up by a two-year full warranty." South Cave Tractors sources its own cabs for the forward-control machines it builds and does all the fabrication work itself. Starting with a standard Unimog, the original cab is removed (and sent back to Germany to go back onto the production line). The new cab is then fitted and all the controls connected, while at the same time the chassis is prepared with all the hydraulic or mechanical equipment and controls required to operate the sprayers or spreading being fitted - usually supplied by Chafer and KRM respectively. "We build sprayers from 3,000-5,000 litres and with booms up to 48m," Tony said. "With stainless steel tanks and steel booms, they are not the cheapest on the market, but they have proved extremely capable in the field and cost effective in the long term. "We like to get them out onto farms to show people exactly what they will do. The Unimog will go where no other sprayer can and it amazes most customers to see just what they are capable of. "And, of course, the Unimog is a multi-purpose machine, and there's no reason why the chassis can't also be fitted with a spreader body for some of the year." Tony Levitt is looking forward to getting a Unimog forward-control sprayer into the demonstration ring at the Sprays and Sprayers section of this year's Cereals Event. "We have a 4,000-litre model with a 36m boom lined up to attend," he said. "That will let prospective buyers compare the Unimog to the other self-propelled sprayers on the market." Although it is still in development, Tony is currently working on modifications to the standard Unimog that he hopes will allow it to be used for spraying without the expense of changing the cab. "At the moment we're experimenting with 600x60 R28 Michelin Xeobib tyres running at 72-80 inch centres. "If we can get this new concept right, it will certainly widen the appeal of the Unimog as a sprayer, but there will still be a demand from professional contractors for the forward-control machine." New role As Managing Director of South Cave Tractors Ltd, Tony Levitt has had to make the move to spending more time thinking about sales and the management of the business, but he still gets his hands dirty when required. Tracey Levitt looks after admin and accounts for the company on a part-time basis, while Diane Devoy mans the office and looks after the parts side of the business. The company currently employs one full-time technician, Mark Smith, and a self-employed technician. It has also taken on an apprentice, Robert Hosdell. "All the staff were new to the business, and have shown great enthusiasm and dedication," Tony said. Tony Levitt.
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