"Dad sold and serviced some of the first Claas combine harvesters in Hawke's Bay more than 40 years ago and the release of the new series of Claas Axion and Arion tractors means our focus will be on growing our share of the tractor market in the region.
"Likewise, JCB, Amazone, Grimme and Gregoire-Besson are all recognised as leaders in their field, which means we can offer our customers a completely integrated product range."
Operating from a purpose-built facility in Hastings' Omahu Rd, the Claas Harvest Centre services an area extending to Gisborne, Taupo and Norsewood and employs a staff of 18.
"A number of our employees have 20-plus years experience with the company, while several of our service technicians are specialists who have migrated from the UK."
Lance said his father had, in theory, retired from the business "but he's still a director of the company and he likes to help in the workshop and get in the way of the younglings".
The affectionate ribbing of their father by Lance and brother Glenn continued through the dinner, where a video from Claas management reinforced the family firm's commitment to its many family-farm customers.
Lance said his family were big fans of Claas technology.
"They pretty much market lead in harvesting and hay-making technology and now they are putting that technology into the tractor market, so they have a broader range of products and we can be single-brand focused."
He said it would be interesting to see if customer loyalty to his family's business would be matched by any brand loyalty to the tractors they were dropping, Massey Ferguson and Fendt. But with the Claas Axion 800 winning the Tractor of the Year and Machine of the Year awards at this year's Agritechnica trade fair, he said there was more than sentiment to Claas loyalty.
"Our decision to become a dedicated Claas Harvest Centre is a reflection of our strong desire to provide our customers with the most technically advanced and complete product portfolio in the industry," Lance said.
