Vast changes seen since 1981
INITIALLY the business was based on the Dublin Road between the Fairways Hotel and the PJ Carroll factory. Michael, a mechanic, with wife Claire as bookkeeper basically ran the operation, along with a storeman.
The company remained at that location for two and a half years before purchasing the present day headquarters at Marlbog Road in 1984. Over the years the premises was extended and altered to suit and better cater for requirements of the business, and the workforce expanded which now comprises ten full-time and one part-time employee.
The changes have been vast in the four decades that Michael has been in business with technology driving most of the advances. According to Michael “when I started off, it used to be a spanner and tool box, now a computer is also necessary.”
The machines have become bigger and very mechanised with highly sophisticated electrical parts and computers in them. “The tractor today you put it into the field; set it up that it drives up and down the field and does the work. All the operator has to do is set it and watch it doing the work.” Michael explained.
He said furthermore “one is being developed at the minute where it doesn’t need a driver at all. That’s where it’s going in the future.”
The cost of machinery has also shot up accordingly, and prices are a far cry from the £400 to £500 that would purchase a tractor when Michael started out. Today that is what a customer could pay for a toy, with the business selling an extensive range of John Deere toy merchandise at Christmas mainly.
This past year has been the most challenging and at the height of the restrictions and lockdown, the gates were locked and orders were prepared within the premises and left outside the gates for collection.
Now a limited number of customers are allowed in the premises, observing social distancing and health and safety protocols.
Hanlon Machinery is very disappointed that the restrictions have prevented the staging of the intended Open Days to mark the celebrations with their greatly appreciated customers to mark four decades of trading and serving the agricultural and wider business community in this area and much further afield.
They look forward to a brighter future and many more years of success.