A Lifetime of Building
Last week, I had the pleasure of accompanying a group of dealers and their customers to the Merlo factory in Cuneo, Italy. Among them were father‑and‑son team John and Stephen Angus, long-time Merlo operators from Northern Ireland, and soon to be the new owners of a brand‑new Roto 50.26, due off the production line next month.
For Stephen, this was not his first pilgrimage to Cuneo; he first visited the factory at just 18 years old, back in 2002. But for his father John, this visit marked his very first trip. A milestone after more than 20 years of Merlo loyalty and over five decades of hard work building his own family-run business – John Angus & Son Plant Hire.
What unfolded during our conversations was the story of a craftsman, a father, and an entrepreneur whose entire life has been built, quite literally, by his own hands.
John and Stephen Angus
A Business Rooted in Skill, Grit, and Family Values
John is the kind of man you meet once and never forget. Hard‑working, direct, and deeply family‑focused, he embodies old‑school craftsmanship and a lifetime of experience. He and his wife Pamela have spent more than 50 years building their business and their life together. Pamela runs the finances; John runs the projects, machinery, and the work on the ground.
He learned his trades early. John trained as an apprentice in bricklaying, building, and joinery, developing skills so that by the time he turned 20, he was fully qualified, and confident enough to start his own business.
His path is a testament to determination:
- Hard graft enabled him to build his first house himself
- Sold it a few years later
- Used the proceeds to buy a farm
- Built his family home and steel fabrication workshop
- Expanded into agricultural and construction projects
All without ever taking a mortgage, something he shares with a mix of pride and disbelief at how much the world has changed.
His wife, two children and three grandchildren are, without question, the centre of his world. Everything he has built, he has built for them.
And one of the greatest joys of his success has been the privilege of experiencing life, not through possessions, but through travel. John loves enjoying the fruits of his labour by seeing the world, travelling with Pamela and often with the whole family. They have explored Europe, Australia, New Zealand, America, and the Caribbean, creating memories across continents. His favourite place of all? “Norway - for its beauty and majesty.”
As John put it simply, “Life’s what you make it.”
The First Merlo in Northern Ireland
John’s journey with Merlo began back in 2002 when a crucial job meant he had to choose between hiring a crane and cherry picker or buying a ROTO - he chose to buy, as the ROTO was able to do both jobs. That first machine was a Merlo ROTO 30.16K. It was the first Merlo to operate in Northern Ireland.
"Nobody had ever seen one," he recalled. "Nobody knew how to drive it. Stephen learned by getting in and teaching himself at the controls whilst on the jobs."
The dealer at the time, flew him across to England to see the machine, and after some back‑and‑forth, and a bit of classic John negotiation, a deal was struck, and their first ROTO arrived.
They kept that first machine for six years, clocking around 4,500 hours, before upgrading to a ROTO38.16 S, one of the first models fitted with remote control. That machine served a decade and over 7,000 hours before they moved to their current ROTO45.21, supplied by DA Forgie in 2018.
Now, in 2026, they are increasing their capacity and reach once again with the ROTO 50.26.
A Machine That Changed the Way They Work
Their ROTO allows them to operate in the tightest of spaces
What becomes clear when John and Stephen talk about their ROTOs is how central the machines are to their business. They work smarter, faster, and safer because of them.
Stephen explained:
- A job that takes a standard handler a full day can be done in 90 minutes with a ROTO.
- Trusses, scaffold blocks, roofing materials - all placed with unmatched precision.
- Early-stage curbing for utilities means other machines can’t reach; the Roto can.
- They transport the ROTO between jobs rather than driving it, to minimise wear, hours, and fuel.
- With remote operation, most jobs become true one‑man operations, increasing efficiency and safety.
Builders now call them weekly: “When can you come? We’ll be ready for you.” When asked what he values most in a ROTO, Stephen didn’t hesitate: “Reliability. Simple. Compact. It just works.”
A True Craftsman’s Business
Beyond machinery, John and Stephen are what you’d call proper builders. They:
- Build agricultural sheds
- Undertake concrete and foundation work
- Sheet and erect full structures
- Produce steel fabrications and gates
- Install cubicles and full fitouts for farm buildings
- Carry out excavation and digger work
John knows every measurement, ratio, and method by heart. He tells stories of working before laser levels existed, squaring buildings using nothing but multiples of seven and a sharp mind. His knowledge is lived, not learned from a manual.
A Father and Son, Working Together
Today, it’s largely Stephen on the ROTO, with John still heavily involved and the wisdom behind every project.
With the ROTO and remote control, Stephen can work the ROTO solo, only calling John in for tricky road-based jobs. Safety is paramount in their work: no unnecessary banksmen, no distractions, no risks.
“Everyone loves the machine because it’s safer,” Stephen said. “Nobody gets hurt.”
Installing a window through the building - using the remote control.
Looking Ahead
Spending time with John and Stephen on this factory visit was a reminder of what truly powers our industry: people, their stories, their drive and their values.
We at Merlo UK, and our dealer DA Forgie are proud to be part of their journey.
Thank you, John and Stephen, for sharing your story with me. Click the link if you'd like to follow John Angus & Son Plant Hire on FaceBook.
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