Dairy Tech SE will be taking over as the GEA dealer for south-west Victoria and is establishing a new workshop in Warrnambool.
The change follows the decision by the Terang & District Co-operative Ltd to move out of specialist dairy services.
Dairy Tech SE is a Mt Gambier-based dairy service business which has more than 40 years of dairy service history and is an existing GEA dealer in South Australia.
Terang co-op chair Geoff Barby said closing its former 360 Dairy Solutions was a good strategic decision for both the co-op and its members.
“It allows a well-established, focused and knowledgeable dairy service business to enter the south-west Victorian market and the co-op to focus on its key strategic activities and retail strengths across our other business units," Mr Barby said.
“The co-op is confident this arrangement will offer our members and the farming community a comprehensive dairy service from a reputable dairy company and GEA agency.”
The co-op will continue to service the rural market through The Rural Store, on the corner of Baynes and Estcourt Sts in Terang, which stocks a general range of farm products to meet the retail farming needs of members.
In addition to the retail focus, the co-op will continue to operate a sheet metal fabrication and hydraulic hose repair business from the existing Peterborough Rd site.
Both these operations will continue to offer a convenient local service to the farming and plumbing markets.
GEA is one of the world’s largest systems suppliers of dairy farming equipment. Its portfolio includes machinery and plants as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services.