Founded in 1948 by Melvin R. (Buck) Cole and Lloyd R. (Knobby) Nolfo, Buck & Knobby Equipment began as a small equipment company in Toledo, Ohio. As the business grew, Buck and Knobby decided to move the company to a new location in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. After nearly 70 years of service, Buck & Knobby Equipment comes back to its roots in Holland, Ohio. The new facility will be serving the Toledo and northwest Ohio area.

"There's been an enthusiastic response to Buck & Knobby opening the new JCB facility store in ­ northwest Ohio," said Gerry Maibach, Business Manager, Buck & Knobby Equipment Co. "There was considerable anticipation for the new JCB facility."

Expanding Into New Markets

Buck & Knobby is expanding their market reach with the Holland location. In addition to a robust construction economy, northwest Ohio includes a significant agricultural community - which is a market segment that Buck & Knobby has not traditionally serviced in the past. The agriculture community has a multitude of applications where JCB machines are a good fit. Common in the agricultural industry are wheel loaders, skid steer and compact track loaders, and compact telehandlers to name a few. But most are excited to the fact that JCB, which offers all the equipment previously stated and then some, is now being offered through Buck & Knobby's new JCB dealership.

In the last few weeks, Buck & Knobby JCB has delivered several new machines to the agriculture community, which brings a sense of excitement to dealership personnel. The company believes that JCB is the right fit for this market. According to Maibach, Lloyd "Knobby" Nolfo felt that JCB had the depth and breadth of product (over 300 different machines) to properly support a dedicated facility.

"We now have an opportunity to effectively service the diverse needs of construction, agricultural, landscape, industrial and access companies in the northwest Ohio marketplace with a single brand - JCB," said Maibach.

JCB is the largest privately held manufacturer of construction equipment in the global community. According to Maibach, Knobby liked that JCB is a family-owned business.

Knobby started his business in 1948, three years after Joseph Cyril Bamford   founded JCB. Ironically both Bamford and Knobby were welders and fabricators by trade and their first products were same ­- a tilting trailer. Knobby felt connected to JCB through this irony and believed in the entrepreneurial spirit of a family-owned business. Family has always been an important factor to Knobby and his values. For those reasons, he was involved in the early discussions and helped steer the property with JCB.

About the New Facility 

The Holland dealership is the first geographic expansion for Buck & Knobby. According to Maibach, Knobby had been pursuing the idea of building a new facility for years but was searching for the right brand to fit with his business plan when he originally purchased the property. Fifteen years later, the plan came to fruition with JCB.

The new facility is located on 6.5-acres immediately adjacent to OH U.S. 2 (Airport Highway) and was designed with future expansion in mind. Currently there are six services bays available to fully service multiple brands and types of equipment and five full-time employees at the dealership with planned additions as demand increase.

Unfortunately, Knobby didn't live to see his JCB expansion fulfilled. He passed during the initial development phase with JCB. Maibach stated that the Nolfo family believes Knobby would be pleased if he saw the new facility and reaction of those who have visited the new dealership.

Commitment to the Customer

Buck & Knobby JCB operates on a simple premise, "Take care of the customer." The staff work diligently to provide customers with the very best experience - the way customers are greeted, the layout of the facility, and the showroom are all geared toward fulfilling the needs of the customer.

"For almost 70 years, Buck & Knobby Equipment has been recognized as the business partner that local customers can always rely upon," said Dan Schmidt, JCB North America's Vice President of Sales. "JCB's reliable, durable equipment and the company's outstanding service will ensure Buck & Knobby continues to exceed its customers' expectations." 

 Gerry Maibach added "JCB's commitment to providing solutions for nearly any application and Buck & Knobby's unwavering dedication to our customers is a perfect blueprint for sustainable growth."