ABOUT US

Our Story

Nearly Twenty Years of Plant & Agricultural Machinery Expertise

With almost two decades in the plant and agricultural machinery industry, Machine Serve has grown from a one-man operation into one of the South West’s trusted machinery specialists. What has never changed is our commitment to hard work, honest service and doing right by our customers.

2004 – Where It All Began

Machine Serve was founded in 2004 by Phil Davey. After several years working as an agricultural and plant engineer, Phil set up on his own, servicing telescopic handlers from a Ford Transit and a rented workshop.

Covering the whole of the South West, he quickly built a reputation for reliability, technical knowledge and straightforward service. Word spread, and the foundations of Machine Serve were firmly laid.

2007 – Expanding the Workshop and Partnerships

As demand grew, the business moved into larger premises and began employing staff. Around this time, Machine Serve formed a long-standing partnership with Multiquip, supplying and servicing small plant and concreting equipment.

The company also strengthened its presence promoting and supporting brands such as Arrowhead, Teagle, NC Engineering, Twose and Hall Engineering attachments. These early partnerships helped establish Machine Serve as more than just a service provider, but a trusted machinery supplier.

2011 – A Permanent Home in Winkleigh

In 2011, Phil and his family purchased Cloudberry Farm near Winkleigh. With its outbuildings and space to grow, it became the long-term home of Machine Serve and remains our base today. Being rooted in rural Devon allows us to stay close to the agricultural and construction industries we serve.

2013 – Specialising in Excavator Attachments & Hydraulics

Phil’s deep knowledge of hydraulics and mechanical systems shaped the next phase of the business. Rather than simply supplying attachments, Machine Serve focused on ensuring they worked in complete harmony with the host machine.

This led to expanded excavator attachment sales and increasingly complex hydraulic modifications, strengthening our reputation for technical expertise across the South West.

2015–2017 – A New Chapter with Yanmar

Hanix excavators were a key part of the business for several years. When production ceased in 2017, it prompted a search for a manufacturer that offered the same quality and reliability.

That search led to Yanmar Construction Equipment. In 2017, Machine Serve became an official Yanmar dealer, a partnership we remain proud of today. Yanmar’s heritage as an engine manufacturer dates back to 1912, and their compact excavators are widely respected for durability, efficiency and performance. Becoming a Yanmar dealer marked a major milestone for Machine Serve.

In 2019, we began dealing directly with Yanmar Construction Europe, improving competitiveness on machines and parts in the evolving UK market.

2020 – Supporting Industry Through Challenge

During lockdown, Machine Serve continued supporting the agricultural and construction sectors. While conditions were difficult, our team adapted quickly, ensuring customers still received reliable servicing, parts and machinery support.

Growth during this period strengthened our back-office team and reinforced the importance of strong customer relationships and dependable aftersales care.

2022 – Growth, Investment and a Stronger Team

Recent years have seen significant investment in the future of Machine Serve.

We expanded our offering to include Yanmar agricultural tractors, complete with a five-year warranty. A major new building project has doubled the size of our workshop, expanded our parts department and created a dedicated machinery showroom.

Our team has grown alongside the business. From our experienced service engineers and knowledgeable parts department to our back-office support staff, Machine Serve is powered by people who genuinely care about delivering excellent service.

Machine Serve Today

Today, Machine Serve supplies and supports plant and agricultural machinery across Devon and the wider South West.

We specialise in:

• Yanmar compact excavators and agricultural tractors
• Excavator attachments and hydraulic modifications
• Small plant and concreting equipment
• Parts supply and servicing support
• New and quality used machinery
  

From farmers and groundworkers to contractors and hire companies, our customers rely on us for practical advice, dependable equipment and long-term support.

Looking Ahead

While we are proud of how far we have come, we never stand still. Investment in facilities, staff and product ranges continues as we work to strengthen our position as a leading plant and agricultural machinery supplier in the South West.

If you would like to visit us in Winkleigh or discuss your machinery requirements, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Call 01837 682610 or get in touch through our website to speak with our team.