Branson brand to be discontinued?

[ptsg]

Let's not forget that Branson bailed on Century and Montana [who bailed on Farmtrac]

In those cases, Branson was making tractors for them under contract right? Just like we're seeing with RK and Bobcat. Was it actually bailing out or simply the end of the contract? Quite a different case than what we're seeing now with TYM consolidating Branson.

 

[K5lwq]

We will not know the impact until it becomes more than a rumor from a leak. Who knows what will change between now and then.

It may hurt unit sales of one or both brands though. I imagine neither brand will be the same as they continue to merge designs.

I am just glad I got mine before all of the changes. May be one of the last good ones.

 

[Torvy]

Montana was originally LG Montana (read LS). That was just an attempt by JB Hunt to get into the tractor business. They were never a stand alone brand. Later, TYM and Kukje made some Montana tractors. LS then abandoned Montana when LS decided to directly enter the US market. Montana bought up Farmtrac inventory when Farmtrac went under. I don't call that bailing on them...maybe bailing them out...more likely taking advantage of their misfortune. I prefer the Montana shade of green to the JD one. JD green is too bright, never cared for it.

Century was also never its own. It was, like RK, just an importer's brand for Kukje tractors.

In comparison, Branson was the direct US branding of Kukje before TYM bought them. TYM has always been its own OEM, but used various engine brands.

 

[shooterdon]

Might be some decent deals on Branson machines. It makes little sense to have two brands under the same corporation.

GM got rid of Pontiac and Oldsmobile a few years ago. I don't see good things happening for Branson dealers located close to TYM dealers.

 

[airbiscuit]

From Tractordata.com

Montana Tractor History


"Montana Tractors was founded with the inventory of AgraCat Tractors, which had filed for bankruptcy. Montana changed the model line, distributing LS Tractors from South Korea. In 2009, LS broke the relationship to sell directly in the US and Montana entered an agreement with Kukje (manufacturer of the Branson brand) to provide tractors. Attempts for a joint venture with Branson failed and Montana stopped selling new tractors in 2011."

From Rural Lifestyle Dealer

"Ted Wade, Vice Chairman and Co-Owner of Montana Tractors, is pleased to announce that Montana Tractors has signed a supplier agreement with Kukje Machinery Co., LTD and Branson Tractors USA.

In June of this year, Montana Tractors, LLC and Dongkuk Steel Co., LTD, (parent company of Kukje Machinery Co., LTD and Branson Tractors, LLC), signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture to market tractors in the U.S.

The supplier agreement allows Montana Tractors, LLC to have immediate access to the Kukje brand of equipment. This line will be labeled as Montana and will be available to Montana dealers as early as this month. Plans for the joint venture continue moving forward with specifications of additional models in the early stages of development."

Branson abandoned Montana about two months after that article.

Century, Montana and Farmtrac all became orphan tractors.

 

[Torvy]

From Tractordata.com

Montana Tractor History


"Montana Tractors was founded with the inventory of AgraCat Tractors, which had filed for bankruptcy. Montana changed the model line, distributing LS Tractors from South Korea. In 2009, LS broke the relationship to sell directly in the US and Montana entered an agreement with Kukje (manufacturer of the Branson brand) to provide tractors. Attempts for a joint venture with Branson failed and Montana stopped selling new tractors in 2011."

From Rural Lifestyle Dealer

"Ted Wade, Vice Chairman and Co-Owner of Montana Tractors, is pleased to announce that Montana Tractors has signed a supplier agreement with Kukje Machinery Co., LTD and Branson Tractors USA.

In June of this year, Montana Tractors, LLC and Dongkuk Steel Co., LTD, (parent company of Kukje Machinery Co., LTD and Branson Tractors, LLC), signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture to market tractors in the U.S.

The supplier agreement allows Montana Tractors, LLC to have immediate access to the Kukje brand of equipment. This line will be labeled as Montana and will be available to Montana dealers as early as this month. Plans for the joint venture continue moving forward with specifications of additional models in the early stages of development."

Branson abandoned Montana about two months after that article.

Century, Montana and Farmtrac all became orphan tractors.

Odd that you highlight Kukje's backing away from a "letter of intent to form" as abandonment, but skirt over the fact that the reason Montana went out of business was more directly tied to LS actually abandoning an existing contract to sell for themselves in the US.

Montana Tractors

Montana Tractors was founded in 2004 by J.B. Hunt, Charlie Goforth and Dan Downing in Springdale, Arkansas, USA. J.B. Hunt founded JB Hunt Trucking and was stuck with unpaid freight bills from the bankrupt Agracat Tractors, leaving JB Hunt Trucking with 500 tractors.[1] The company was...

tractors.fandom.com

I have no issues with any manufacturer doing what makes the most sense for them. To me, brands like Montana or RK are a bit nonsensical. They are not manufacturers, they are just retailers. At least Bobcat makes similar equipment and could rationally support their products once Kioti and Bobcat split.

For Kukje (Branson) and TYM, it is more like when CaseIH and NH merged. They are both OEMs and could have be fully merged or run separately.

 

[North to Alaska]

Biggest reason I purchased a Branson was for a lack of computers and the ability to eliminate the DPF because of the lack of a computer.
Branson was getting a name for itself for being rugged and simple.
I’m willing to bet that they will screw this up.

but all of this is still rumor….for which they can get an ear full over it.

 

[kantuckid]

When this jumbling of brands within a production "arena" takes place, we lose the ability to have the most responsive dealers. As the parts get subjugated between the brands and we the owners lose in the end. When I worked for Goodyear Tire Plant they made multiple brands but thats not the same thing at all. Often is was a tire mold brand plate change or a separate design but it didn't steal parts from the supply chain toward a brand thats not mine.
All this churning of tractor brands is bad for owners overall. I have the exact same feelings toward Kioti and their Bobcat antics. While dealers and potential owners wait for inventory the materials and production get split and split again.

 

[Btown]

Biggest reason I purchased a Branson was for a lack of computers and the ability to eliminate the DPF because of the lack of a computer.
Branson was getting a name for itself for being rugged and simple.
I’m willing to bet that they will screw this up.

but all of this is still rumor….for which they can get an ear full over it.

TYM purchased Branson for the engines. TYM uses the same engines in 1 line of their tractors. I’m not sure why they have kept Yanmar engines in some, maybe contractual.

 

[Torvy]

TYM purchased Branson for the engines. TYM uses the same engines in 1 line of their tractors. I’m not sure why they have kept Yanmar engines in some, maybe contractual.

TYM purchased Kukje for the engines. The Branson line was a bonus. I agree, most likely the Yanmar will be phased out with future contracts. Kukje also needs enough production to feed both brands.

No reason to worry about the brand thing too much. (Unless maybe you bought RK or Bad Boy). The availability of parts is more about units sold versus capacity. Whether TYM sells 100k TYM units and 100k Branson units or 200k TYM (no more Branson label), there is no difference. The overall brand(s) needs to grow. It helps everyone if there are more OEMs that have a big enough footprint to compete with the big 2.