Midlantic Machinery Inc., a Komatsu construction and mining equipment distributor, announced that as of May 1, it became wholly owned by Komatsu America Corp. based in Rolling Meadows, Ill.
The acquisition by Komatsu America (from Itochu Holding Company) is a part of a strategic reinforcement of its distributor network.Both Midlantic and Komatsu America anticipate continued growth in its territory.
The entire staff of Midlantic Machinery Inc. has been retained and the company will continue to service the same market. Benjamin(Ben) Norris, previously vice president of Financial Services and treasurer of Komatsu America has been named the new president of Midlantic Machinery.
“This is a great opportunity for Komatsu and Midlantic Machinery,” said Norris. “It’s a highly strategic way to support and invest in distribution. You can do that through programs and through ownership, and that is exactly what this is. The thing that is globally understood is that Komatsu owns distribution in strategic markets — markets in Chile, Australia, South Africa, for example. Thecapabilities, the resources and the understanding of the retail market is there, not only in North America, but worldwide.”
Patrick Sherwood, senior vice president of Midlantic Machinery is equally optimistic and excited about the new opportunities this acquisition presents for longtime and new Midlantic customers.
“We will have real-time access to higher levels of machine inventory and a better parts inventory,” he said. “We’ll have newer, updated service trucks, more technicians and basically, we will be very well funded and be given the tools we need to take care of the customers.”
Sherwood added that for parts, Midlantic is currently at approximately 96 percent, over the counter, and next day availability for parts not in stock.
“Komatsu has a main parts hub that in Tennessee and we have the regional one in Bridgeville, Pa. We run an overnight truck daily to the regional one. We stage in Harrisburg and distribute out,” he said.
Midlantic also will be making a significant investment in service trucks in 2013.
Eric Marburger is Midlantic Machinery’s general sales manager-and is looking forward to meeting with customers and selling them on the Komatsu brand.
“Take a look at what we are doing externally at our yards,” he began. “We will be painting and improving buildings. Anyone can see driving by that we are moving in the right direction. We have equipment in the yard, 20 new articulated trucks, four new sales representatives. We are stepping up and going in the right direction.”
And that begins with dedicated, hard-working people and the infrastructure in place to do it, Norris said.
“We have a great operation in terms of talent and resources,” he said. “What we really need to do is just expand and grow the business. The only way we can be responsive and drive improvements is through our products, or our services or our after-sale support is through understanding what customers need. Our new Komatsu America president and COO Mr. [Noboru] Sato refers to it as ’boots on the ground.’ We want to ensure that Komatsu is not insulated. We want to know what is going on in the market and know what the customers are facing. This is a tremendous way to not only support distribution, but also potentially learn a great deal from the market direct.”
The company also is looking to expand into Delaware by the fourth quarter of 2013 and soon into north-central, Pa.
About Komatsu America
Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of earthmoving equipment, consisting of construction, mining and compact construction equipment. Komatsu America also serves a variety of other industrial markets. Through its distributor network, Komatsu offers a parts and service program to support the equipment, as well as customer financing solutions through Komatsu Financial.
About MidlanticMachinery Inc.
In business since 1941, Midlantic Machinery began selling Komatsu equipment nearly 40 years ago. Today, the company is one of the oldest continuous Komatsu distributors in the United States. In addition its headquarters in Hatfield, Pa., the company has locations in Harrisburg, Pa.; Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Frackville, Pa,; and Baltimore, Md.
Midlantic Machinery carries Komatsu, Bomag, Terex Finlay Sennebogen, Morooka, Stanley LaBounty, JRB, Hensley, Geith and BTI.
For more information, call 215/822-0145, or visit www.midlanticmachinery.com.
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