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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
32
Munesu Shoko (MS): EarthComp
is a diversified supplier of several
equipment brands. Tell me more about
your business.
Kobus van der Merwe (KvdM):
Based
in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, we officially
launched EarthComp some four months
ago. We are the authorised sub-dealer of
Kemach JCB in Middleburg, responsible
for distribution and aftermarket support
of the full JCB range supplied by Kemach
JCB. We are also the authorised distributor
for CompAir’s full mobile and static range
of compressors. We have also taken up
a distributorship role for Apex Truck &
Trailer in Mpumalanga, supplying its used
truck range. Apart from that, we also buy
and sell used equipment. Our key focus is
to offer unparalleled aftermarket support
service for every piece of equipment
we supply. For that reason, we are only
targeting a market within a radius of 100
km from our Middleburg workshop. This
allows us to give proper, quick service to
our customers.
MS: Why did you opt to set up in
Middleburg?
Shane Naude (SN): We realised we had
to be strategically located to service and
support customers in the coal mining
fields of Middelburg and the surrounds.
Due to the 24/7 nature of the coal mining
business, fast service turnaround times are
very crucial, while downtime is obviously
out of question for this industry. To try and
service this area, say from Johannesburg,
is unrealistic. From a backup service point
of view, you are already running an hour
late by the time you get to Middleburg
from Johannesburg.
We also saw a big service gap in the mas-
sive Middleburg market. With most of the
big equipment suppliers targeting big min-
ing fleet operators in the area, smaller fleet
owners in other key market segments such
as construction and agriculture tend to be
side-lined. We believe there is vast untapped
potential within this market tier. There are
constant road construction projects on the
go, and we believe we are positioned to
service the needs of these construction con-
tractors with our range of JCB excavators,
backhoe and wheel loaders, as well as the
mobile compressor range from CompAir. We
also see unexploited opportunity in the local
farming community. Due to the flexible struc-
ture of our business, we are well positioned
to service even small-scale farmers operat-
ing a single TLB.
Leveraging many years of experience in the equipment industry,
business partners Kobus van der Merwe and Shane Naude believe
that EarthComp’s immediate success hinges on provision of
supreme backup support. This is complemented by a diversified
product offering ranging from new and used earthmoving equipment
to compressors and used trucks, allowing the company to tread in
diverse market segments.
By Munesu Shoko.
Shane Naude (left) and Kobus van der
Merwe believe their focus on aftermarket
support will be a key growth driver for
EarthComp.
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