After steadily growing for 17 years, O’Connors Shepparton has outgrown its home and has moved into a bigger premises to better meet the needs of the nation’s food bowl.
The new building has a bigger workshop, bigger parts warehouse storage and a bigger showroom.
“The guys are really excited about being given a new facility and the efficiencies we'll gain from that. It's just the next step in professionalism for us,” branch manager Brendan O’Connor said.
More storage means more parts in stock for when something goes wrong, and a bigger and better workshop means more efficient services for farm equipment.
“We've been able to grow and obviously as you grow and get bigger, you can meet the customers’ requirements and we’ve got the facility to be able to do that,” Mr O’Connor said.
“There are so many more things we can do in the workshop; it's just all completely geared around exactly what we do.
“There's some lifting equipment built in and because it's been purpose-built, it's going to make life a whole lot easier and safer for the guys to work with.
“There's a big crane that goes the full length of the workshop left and right so we can lift and push and prod and do whatever we need to do out there.”
The new place is going to be a big boost for staff morale, sales manager Tim Edgar said, with better lighting and new awnings that will keep employees out of the rain and the sun as they work.
“It's going to be a lot more comfortable in the summer and winter months, that’s for sure,” Mr Edgar said.
“The undercover area is terrific for servicing and when customers bring their gear in, there's just plenty of area.
“It’s going to be so much better for the techs, having all that space to be able to work out of the elements when they get the gear in here.
“That's probably the biggest benefit I’d say. A lot more comfortable for the customers when they come in as well.
“There’ll be a lot more space to display gear.”