R & D Machinery
R & D Machinery is a privately owned, founder-led UK dealer founded in 2006, supplying new and used agricultural, construction, industrial, access and rail materials handling equipment from Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, Combilift and Slurrykat across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, alongside hire, parts, and workshop services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersTotnes, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What R & D Machinery does
R & D Machinery Ltd is a privately owned, founder-led machinery dealership established in 2006 and headquartered in Totnes, Devon, United Kingdom. The company sells new and pre-owned agricultural, construction, industrial, access, waste and recycling, and rail materials handling equipment, operating as an authorized main dealer for Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, Combilift and Slurrykat. Its core offering spans telehandlers, forklifts, access platforms, skid steer loaders, warehouse equipment, agricultural implements and a wide range of attachments sourced from brands such as Albutt, Bolzoni, Cascade, Kaup and Strimech.
The business generates revenue through four streams: (i) new and used machinery sales across all supported brands, (ii) short- and long-term machine hire of telehandlers with attachments, (iii) parts supply through an in-depot 1100 sq ft showroom and global export, and (iv) workshop services including welding, hydraulic hose manufacturing, air conditioning, bespoke attachment modification, and CFTS-certified thorough examinations under LOLER 1998 and PUWER 1998. Customers are primarily farmers, agricultural contractors and construction companies across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, with secondary exposure to industrial, warehousing, waste and rail end-markets.
The company operates three physical depots in Totnes (Devon), Bodmin (Cornwall) and Wellington (Somerset), with the Somerset site opened in 2023 to extend the territory. Go-to-market combines showroom sales, regional field sales representatives, mobile service technicians, a parts export channel, and digital marketing via the company website and social media. The owner-operator model under Paul Deeble and family members emphasises personal service, local brand recognition, and an 'enviable reputation for fix on the first visit' supported by parts inventory carried on service vehicles.
R & D Machinery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- R & D Machinery
- Legal name
- R&D Machinery Ltd
- Website
- https://rdmachinery.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- R & D Machinery is a privately owned, founder-led UK dealer founded in 2006, supplying new and used agricultural, construction, industrial, access and rail materials handling equipment from Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, Combilift and Slurrykat across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, alongside hire, parts, and workshop services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
R & D Machinery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural and Construction Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (333998), All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (33399)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Workshop Tools, Equipment & Lift Systems Distribution (TLAKAOAM), Material Handling & Loader Attachments (Front Loaders, Telehandlers, Bale Handlers, Forks) (AFAAAAAC), Mobile Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Liftgate Repair (On-Vehicle Systems) (TLAKAFAK)
Keywords
Where R & D Machinery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Totnes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
R & D Machinery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- New & Used Machinery Sales: Sale of new and used agricultural and construction machinery including telehandlers, forklifts, access equipment, and attachments from manufacturer brands such as Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, and Combilift.
- Machine Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of agricultural and construction telehandlers with optional attachments.
- Parts & Spare Parts: Supply of spare parts for all supported machinery brands, with 1100sqft showroom dedicated to parts. Also exports parts globally.
- Workshop Services: Workshop services including air conditioning, welding and fabrication, hydraulic hose manufacturing, and bespoke attachment modification. Also offers thorough examinations under CFTS/HSE compliance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Machine sales - pricing upon enquiry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
R & D Machinery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
R & D Machinery is an authorized dealer supplying new and pre-owned agricultural, construction, industrial, and access materials handling machinery from leading manufacturers (Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, Combilift, Slurrykat). The company sells telehandlers, forklifts, skid steer loaders, access platforms, warehouse equipment, off-road vehicles, and agricultural implements, complemented by machine hire, thorough examination inspections, workshop services, and spare parts supply across South West England.
Product overview
R & D Machinery is a materials handling equipment dealer offering a comprehensive portfolio of new and used agricultural, construction, industrial, and access machinery. The core offering centers on the Manitou product portfolio encompassing agricultural telehandlers (MLT, MLA, ULM series), construction telehandlers (MT, MHT series), rotary telehandlers (MRT series), industrial forklifts (MI, ME, M series), warehouse equipment (pallet trucks, reach trucks, stackers), and access equipment (scissor lifts, boom lifts). Supplementary brands include Polaris off-road vehicles, Kuhn agricultural implements, and Combilift multi-directional forklifts. The company complements its product sales with service offerings including machine hire, CFTS-certified thorough examinations, workshop services (welding, hydraulics, air conditioning), and parts supply for domestic and international customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Manitou Agricultural Telehandlers
Quantifiable outcome
- Fix on first visit reputation - mobile service technicians efficiently cover territory with spare parts on vehicles
Companies that use R & D Machinery
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
R & D Machinery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
R & D Machinery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SlurrykatminorR&D Machinery became official dealers for the full range of Slurrykat equipment in January 2025. The company also offers the whole range of parts to support ongoing equipment currently in use.
- CombiliftcoreR&D Machinery became Combilift dealers in February 2023, offering the full range of Combilift machinery. Combilift is described as the largest global manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts and an acknowledged leader in long load handling solutions, exporting to more than 85 countries with over 60,000 trucks in use worldwide.
- ManitoucoreR&D Machinery is the main dealer for Manitou, offering the entire Manitou portfolio of products including Agriculture, Construction, Access, Compact, and Industrial lines, along with dedicated sales, servicing, and parts support. Manitou is described as one of the world's leading manufacturers in machinery.
- PolariscoreR&D Machinery is the main dealer for Polaris, offering the full range of Polaris vehicles including utility vehicles and youth models. Polaris is one of the world's leading machinery manufacturers.
- KuhncoreR&D Machinery is the main dealer for Kuhn agricultural equipment. Kuhn is one of the world's leading manufacturers in agricultural machinery.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
R & D Machinery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chandlers (Farm Equipment): Major Case IH and agricultural machinery dealer group with branches across the Midlands and Southern England. Operates a similar new/used equipment, parts, and service dealer model with multi-site coverage — a direct structural comparable to R&D's regional multi-depot approach.
- Ernest Doe & Sons: Long-established Case IH agricultural and groundcare equipment dealer group covering East Anglia and South East England. Highly comparable multi-branch dealer model selling, servicing, and supplying parts for farm machinery across multiple counties, with similar after-sales service emphasis.
- Farol Ltd: John Deere agricultural and groundcare equipment dealer with multiple branches across central and southern England. Comparable multi-depot farm machinery dealer offering new/used equipment, parts, service, and Precision Ag technology support.
- Pecks (Agricultural): Case IH and agricultural machinery dealer group based in Southern England. Operates a similar multi-dealer model focused on farm equipment sales, parts, and after-sales service within defined regional territories.
- Russells (Group): UK Case IH and construction equipment dealer with branches across Yorkshire and the North. Comparable as a multi-brand agricultural and construction equipment dealer offering sales, service, parts, and hire — directly overlapping R&D's revenue model and customer segments.
- Carrs Billington Agriculture: Major UK agricultural machinery dealer operating across Northern England, Scotland, and Wales. Sells a broad portfolio of farm machinery brands with parts, service, and hire offerings — a structurally comparable regional multi-branch dealer.
Regional players
- Battlefield Machinery: UK agricultural and construction equipment dealer with multiple branches in the North of England. Comparable multi-brand dealer model for farm and construction materials handling equipment, including telehandlers and similar product categories.
- Hawk Plant Hire & Sales: UK Kubota and groundcare equipment dealer with regional coverage. Comparable as a brand-aligned dealer for compact and agricultural equipment, with overlapping material handling products though primarily serving different geographies.
- Collingwood Plant & Equipment: UK dealer of construction and materials handling equipment including telehandlers and forklifts. Directly comparable in product category (telehandlers, forklifts, materials handling) though operating in different UK regions than R&D's South West territory.
Emerging players
- Lynx Engineering: UK-based supplier of attachments and materials handling equipment including telehandler and forklift attachments. Comparable as an attachment-focused equipment supplier serving the same agricultural and construction end-customer segments.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
R & D Machinery social profiles
Digital presenceR & D Machinery compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
R & D Machinery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
R & D Machinery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
R & D Machinery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
R & D Machinery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about R & D Machinery
What does R & D Machinery do?
R & D Machinery is an authorized dealer supplying new and pre-owned agricultural, construction, industrial, and access materials handling machinery from leading manufacturers (Manitou, Polaris, Kuhn, Combilift, Slurrykat). The company sells telehandlers, forklifts, skid steer loaders, access platforms, warehouse equipment, off-road vehicles, and agricultural implements, complemented by machine hire, thorough examination inspections, workshop services, and spare parts supply across South West England.
Is R & D Machinery a public or private company?
R & D Machinery is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was R & D Machinery founded?
R & D Machinery was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is R & D Machinery based?
R & D Machinery is headquartered in Totnes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does R & D Machinery make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. New & Used Machinery Sales are the primary driver. The others are machine Hire, parts & Spare Parts and workshop Services.
Who are R & D Machinery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chandlers (Farm Equipment), Ernest Doe & Sons, Farol Ltd, Pecks (Agricultural), Russells (Group) and Carrs Billington Agriculture. Regional players are Battlefield Machinery, Hawk Plant Hire & Sales and Collingwood Plant & Equipment. Lynx Engineering is listed as an emerging player.
Does R & D Machinery have an API?
No public API is recorded for R & D Machinery.
What industry is R & D Machinery in?
R & D Machinery's product category is Agricultural and Construction Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHABAI, Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers), with a secondary code of TLAKAOAM, Workshop Tools, Equipment & Lift Systems Distribution. Its NAICS code is 333924 and its SIC code is 5084.