Celebrating 30 Years of Partnership

Founded in the 1940s, Ramsay & Jackson has long been a trusted name in the sale of construction and agricultural machinery. Today, the company is run by cousins Neil and Billy Ramsay, sons of the original partners. Their portfolio features leading brands including Takeuchi and CASE IH, but Merlo telehandlers have been a cornerstone of the business for 30 years.

Neil Ramsay explained that the partnership began in 1994, when the pair discovered Merlo at the Smithfield Show in Earl’s Court, London.

“The minute we saw it, it just looked like an operator‑friendly machine,” Neil recalled. “It had panoramic vision and was competitive in the marketplace.”

The impression stuck. The cousins recognised not only Merlo’s innovative design, but the potential for long‑term growth with a brand that clearly took operator experience seriously.

Building a Business on Merlo Innovation

That instinct proved right. Over the years, Ramsay & Jackson has sold well over 700 Merlo units, with telehandlers becoming a key part of their offering to both construction and agriculture customers.

A defining moment came in the late 1990s with the launch of the Merlo P27.6. Neil described it as a “game-changer” for the Ayrshire region. With compact dimensions of 2 metres wide and 2.1 metres high, paired with 2.6‑tonne lift capacity, 6 metres lift height, and 100hp, the machine was perfectly suited to older farm buildings where access could be tight.

“That was a machine absolutely suited to this area,” Neil said. “Compact machines are still important. Merlo recently introduced a TF30.7 model which I see great potential in.”

Across the decades, Ramsay & Jackson has watched Merlo introduce new technologies, improve environmental performance, and consistently prioritise operator safety -an attribute highly valued by their customer base.

The dealership’s loyal following is a testament to that. Neil noted they have “a good number” of long‑standing repeat customers, including their very first Merlo customer, who has just ordered a TF33.7-115 compact telehandler. As a nod to the anniversary, the machine will be finished in black, marking 30 years of partnership.

A Night of Celebration
At the anniversary event, attendees enjoyed a walk through Merlo history, from a 1995 P26.6 to the brand’s latest ROTO models. The display highlighted not just Merlo’s innovation but Ramsay & Jackson’s key role in introducing these machines to Ayrshire’s farms and construction sites.

Among the guests was Shaun Groom, General Manager of Merlo UK, who praised the dealership’s longstanding commitment:

“Neil and Billy Ramsay have been selling Merlo products and supporting their customers since 1994. Ramsay and Jackson were one of the first dealers to sell Merlo machines to the construction industry—remarkably, two years before the launch of the agricultural Turbofarmer range.”

He went on to outline Merlo’s journey of innovation:

• 1981: Merlo produced their first telescopic handler - the SM30

• 1987: Merlo released the stabilised Panoramic range of handlers
  
• 1991: Launch of the market‑leading ROTO rotating telescopic handler 

• 1996: TurboFarmer agricultural range launched

• 2000: Introduction of the Merlo Multifarmer - combining a telescopic tractor with a tractor - fitted with rear 3 point linkage, PTO

• 2021: Merlo previewed its all-new, and award winning e-WORKER - a fully electric compact telescopic handler - the first step in Merlo Group's Generation Zero programme of emission free vehicles.

and concluded with a heartfelt tribute:

“Merlo owes Ramsay and Jackson a deep debt of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty, and we are proud to count them as a valued Merlo dealer.”