A fast-growing manufacturer of compact loaders for agriculture, light construction and landscaping that is new to North America is making plans for increased production capacity at its headquarters factory in The Netherlands.

The foundation for the current business — Tobroco-Giant — were laid in 1996 when Toine Brock built his first small, hydrostatic drive wheeled loader in his parents’ stable. The business has upgraded its facilities twice since becoming a fully fledged manufacturer, expanding the product range and pushing into export markets, including the U.S. and Canada.

The Dutch business makes compact handling and loading machinery covering an 1,800-8,500 pound performance range with rigid arm or telescopic boom articulated wheeled loaders, stand-up skid steer loaders and compact four wheel steer telescopic handlers.

For its foray into North America 18 months ago, the company formed Tobroco-Giant USA, took on Rick Morical as country and national sales manager, and set up shop in Des Moines, Iowa. The venture was launched at the ConexpoCon/Ag event and other trade shows last year.

“With loaders being the fastest growing machine in North America, we see enormous opportunities for growth,” says Brock, CEO, who currently lists 26 mainly agricultural equipment dealers in the U.S. and Canada.

For the parent company’s latest production upgrade, the R&D team will relocate to a new technical facility being constructed this year, vacating space at the main complex in Oisterwijk, northwest of Eindhoven to the south of the country, that will be turned over to production.

In total, the factory will gain 86,000 square feet over two stories to house new production lines running on “lean” principles with increased digitization of processes. Production is also to be reorganized with more pre-assembly of components to deliver components to the assembly lines more quickly and reduce order-to-delivery lead times.

— From the June issue of Ag Equipment Intelligence