Going Overboard

[Eric McCarthy]

I've been reading alot about the history of tractor companies and it seems that there's alot of "parent" companies out there with a ton of smaller "sister" companies that they produce. I've known for a while that Ford tractors purchased New Holland in 1985 and then selling under the label Ford New-Holland. And in 1991 Ford New Holland sold to FIAT and around 1999 New Holland and Case merged to become CNH Global. What I've newly found is that FIAT now build and sells New Holland, Case and Kobelco equipment, and that FIAT also produces a TON of other things as well and not just farm equipment.

My thing is when enough going to be enough? Does one company need to produce so much stuff or should they just excel in what they know? This is really another reason why I like Kubota's over other brands. Kubota pretty much builds one thing and builds them well.

Heres a little proof for ya if you get bored like I do sometimes.

http://www.fiatindustrial.com/en-US/Pages/HomePage.aspx

 

[Kytim]

Eric, Many companies bleed the markets dry they dabble in. I say dabble because, although they may be large companies they scrape the cream off the top hurting the rest of us in the process. I'm glad I've got a affinity for Kubota!

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I'm just not sure how I'd feel if I bought a tractor from a company who also produces automobiles. I have learned that Kubota produces vending machines and duct tile pipe and as far as I know that stays in Japan.

 

[Toyboy]

That's the way the world is going. It's not one company making all kinds of different products, it's one company with different products produced by individual factories.

Take GM for example. In the glory years they had what....6 different car/truck divisions along w/Fisher body. Delco, Electromotive (trains) and either Euclid or another HE that I can't think of now. They were all focused on building their product and some were even suppliers to the others. That's not a bad thing, it's a good way to control the quality of your product and name.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Ive heard somewhere along the lines that GM owns Dish TV, the satellite company. REALLY??

 

[Toyboy]

I seriously doubt it.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

I would not be surprised at all if GM did own Dish tv. There are so many "parent" companies out there that own other business. Like NAPA for example own a chain of auto parts stores as we all know, and they are the parent company of S.P. Richards who handles office supplies. Any office supply you buy anywhere, weather it be from Office Max to Staples or Wal-mart all for their supplies from S.P. Richards.