Key U.S. target markets for Mecalac machines are urban job sites that require space management and versatility in the building, construction, civil engineering (pipe, electrical, cable laying) and landscaping sectors.
In the goal of moving into both North and South America, Groupe Mecalac has created a holding company based in the U.S.: Mecalac Americas LLC. Groupe Mecalac Vice President Alexandre Marchetta envisions an “organic” approach to expanding distribution throughout the Americas. “We will gradually introduce more products when markets are ready and opportunities arise. We foresee a mix of current and new distributors depending on market conditions.”
Acting on the desire to broaden the company's range of products, distribution reach and industrial know-how, Mecalac acquired the Terex production facility in Coventry, England in December 2016. This unit, renamed Mecalac Construction Equipment UK Ltd., manufacturers a full range of high-tech backhoe loaders, site dumpers, formerly sold under the Fermec and Benford brands, as well as compaction rollers. This purchase will expand Mecalac's range of compact equipment designed for urban settings to include machines for more massive work sites often found in the Americas.
In the United States, distribution of the backhoe loaders and site dumpers designed and manufactured in the UK will continue. Marchetta said, “We believe in building on the past and intend to support the sales and service network already established. Mecalac wants to send the message loud and clear that we are a family-owned business dedicated to maintaining relationships and deeply committed to the quality and stability of our products.”
Responding to a great deal of interest from U.S. contractors across the ocean, Mecalac launched distribution of their loaders and excavators in the U.S. in February 2016. Mecalac signed a cooperation with Massachusetts-based Lorusso Heavy Equipment (LHE) that will distribute in, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. LHE will market MCR Crawler Skid-Excavators, AX and AF Wheel Loaders and, later this year, the new MWR Wheeled Excavator.
A new equation buzzing in the halls of ConExpo-Con/AGG this year: “1 + 1 = 3”
This equation sums up the guiding principle of Mecalac, the award-winning manufacturer of compact excavators and loaders based in Annecy-le-Vieux, France. Mecalac Marketing Manager Patrick Brehmer said, “Ours is a very different approach from other manufactures who are focused on individual products. At Mecalac, we are process-oriented and are driven by a job site approach, not a product approach.”
Why process-oriented? “Because” explains Brehmer, “we are interested in changing the way work gets accomplished and making the job site safer. We start by analyzing the entire job site where safety, comfort, usability and ultimately cost-efficiency and profitability for the contractor are all important criteria. This methodology creates new architecture that is changing the game from all standpoints.”
Case in point: the MCR Crawler Skid-Excavator being demonstrated on Mecalac's booth at ConExpo-Con/AGG. The MCR is in fact two hyper-performing machines in one: a skid steer and an excavator, fortified with a telehandler equipped with a unique versatile boom. Both hydraulic and electronic technologies are applied, transforming the user interface. This machine is faster, safer, smarter, leaner and more powerful than any of its competition - 150% loader, 150% excavator – it can do more than the sum of the 2 machines with a single operator… 1 + 1 = 3. By providing one machine to do multiple jobs, the Job Site Manager has more freedom, more possibilities, less need for manual work, a safer and easier work environment. “This is how we achieve process innovation,” Brehmer explains.
Nine Machines on Exhibit at ConExpo-Con/AGG 2017
This new gateway to the American market prompted Mecalac to exhibit for the first time at ConExpo-Con/AGG 2017 in Las Vegas, March 7-11, 2017. They will display nine machines on their Booth S6439 in the Silver 3 Outdoor Area. Mecalac models include the 6-, 8- and 10- ton MCR Crawler Excavators, the 9- and 15- ton MWR Wheeled Excavators, the AX 850 Wheel Loader and the AF1200 Wheel Loader. Terex models include the 6- ton TA6S site dumper and the TLB840R Backhoe Loader. The 6MCR will be demonstrated.
For more information, visit www.mecalac.com.
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