Italian machinery manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo has decided to end its partnership with importer Opico and set up a distribution company in Britain.

Alessio Riulini, the company’s chief commercial officer, says the move will enable the full range of Maschio Gaspardo products to be offered.

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The range includes sprayers, fertiliser spreaders, direct drills and tine/disc cultivation equipment.

Opico chose not to import these products during its 12-year partnership, focusing instead on the manufacturer’s flail mowers, power harrows, power tillers, seed drills, precision planters and ploughs.

As part of an amicable agreement to split, Opico is assisting its partner in establishing a new base and facilities in the Midlands.

It has already set-up a dedicated sales team with technical support and is recruiting after-sales staff.

Opico managing director James Woolway emphasises that his company will continue to oversee distribution of Maschio products and provide back-up until the end of this year.

“We’re really proud of the job we’ve done in growing the Maschio and Gaspardo brands in the UK over the past 12 years,” he said.

“It’s heartening to see such a strong, healthy business ready to take the next step and we’re pleased to be assisting Maschio Gaspardo in that.”

Maschio Gaspardo is a global player in the agricultural machinery market, building a diverse range of products in five factories in Italy, and another three in Romania, China and India.

It also supplies selected cultivation products to New Holland.

The company has its own distribution branches in eight countries from Europe to North America.