Ag Industry, Aussie Farms, Dealers, Farm Machinery, Farming, Telehandler

Three Rivers Machinery thriving with Merlo

The quality of Merlo’s products has helped New South Wales dealer Three Rivers Machinery to excel over several years

In the heart of New South Wales, dealership group Three Rivers Machinery has become part of the Merlo family’s furniture.

Three Rivers has been part of the Merlo network since 2017, with dealer principal John Plunkett describing the relationship with Merlo Australia as having “been strong since the beginning”.

This points to a relationship that is seamless, with the combination of an experienced dealer and a quality product combining to benefit the customer base.

It was a specific customer need that first started Merlo’s journey into having a dealer in the state’s Central West region.

“Merlo had several existing customers in the area and were looking for a local dealer to be able to provide aftersales service and to grow the Merlo dealer network in the Central West,” Plunkett says.

Wide reach

Fast forward to the present day, and Three Rivers is selling Merlo machinery from its four branches in the towns of Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren, with Plunkett – who founded the business with wife Bronwyn – being the Dealer Principal for all branches.

Dubbo is the most recent addition to the stable, with Three Rivers purchasing an existing multi-brand dealership in the town in May 2024.

In addition to these towns, the dealer’s Merlo catchment area stretches as far north as Walgett, as far south as Forbes and everywhere in between.

The Turbofarmer 35.7 offers a 7m lift height

This area is very much broadacre country, where popular Merlo machines such as the Multifarmer and Turbofarmer excel.

These two machines are cited by Plunkett as being among the most popular Merlo products, as is often the case in areas dominated by broadacre farming.

Merlo’s Multifarmer is a distinctive machine, being described by the manufacturer as a “unique and unrivalled telescopic tractor” that combines the benefits of a telehandler and tractor.

The Turbofarmer is more of a traditional telehandler, but one which is particularly suited to the needs of Australian farmers.

Quality Italian manufacturing is a feature across the Merlo range, with this cited by Plunkett as one of many reasons why the brand’s machines are popular.

“Our customers are most drawn to the quality of the build, which is exceptional, plus the smoothness of operation, smooth hydraulic function, high level of safety features and the overall comfort and layout of the cab,” he says.

“There is also a lot of research and development that goes into the products, plus a vast range of telehandlers with sizes and boom lengths to suit all applications.”

Multiple options

The Turbofarmer range is a good illustration of the depth offered by Merlo in terms of differing sizes and boom lengths available.

At the smaller end, Turbofarmer compact units offer 2,700kg load capacities, 5.9m reach and a 75hp engine, while considerably larger Turbofarmer models are available to suit more heavy-duty requirements.

Merlo’s Turbofarmer is a popular product

The TF65.9, for example, boasts the greatest load capacity at 6,500kg thanks to its powerful 170hp engine, while also offering a maximum lift height of 8.8m.

The greatest lift height available in a Turbofarmer telehandler is from the TF38.10 model.

Farmers can lift up to 9.5m with this unit, with a 3,800kg load capacity.

Within the Multifarmer range, the MF44.7 and 44.9 are offered locally.

The MF44.7 offers a 6.8m maximum lift height, which jumps to 8.9m on the MF44.9.

Both are powered by 170hp engines and have 4,000kg maximum load capacities.

Rather than just providing a combination of both tractor and telehandler features, the Multifarmer has been built to excel in both fields.

A suspended cabin has active hydropneumatic suspension as standard, which Merlo says helps farmers to “feel like you’re seated on a comfortable cushion, even when driving over the roughest terrain”.

PTO, 3-point linkage, trailer hitch and hydraulic remotes are all standard across the Multifarmer range, along with boom suspension to ensure stability while using the machines as a telehandler.

Comfortable cabins are a feature of all Merlo machinery

Plunkett says these features are translating to real-world benefits for Three Rivers customers, while also highlighting other areas where he believes the Multifarmer excels.

“The Multifarmer model is particularly helpful in the agricultural sector with these units having PTO, 3-point linkage and four rear remotes,” he says.

“The boom sections are cold rolled steel, which are thinner and lighter yet stronger than competitive brands.”

With many years of success with the Merlo product already, Plunkett says he is looking forward to many more years of doing the same.

Merlo’s full range is available online at www.merlo.com/aus/en

Three Rivers Machinery can be contacted via www.3rm.com.au

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