MARKET REPORT COMPACT PLANT
Sea of blue
UK sales of Kobelco compact excavators from Japan are set to get a big boost following a change of name and product range for what was A&Y Equipment Ltd. A&Y stood for Ammann and Yanmar but now this plant distributor has been renamed Molson Compact Equipment Ltd and its compact excavator line has turned blue following a brand switch from Yanmar to Kobelco.
Molson Compact Equipment has already built up a large stock of Kobelco machines.
A&Y Equipment has been part of the Molson Group for around five years. Now the connection has been officially recognised in the name change for the Bearley-based
company. And, as Yanmar creates its own UK distribution network, the opportunity has been taken to split sales responsibility for the Kobelco excavator range already being sold here by Molson.
The heavy line of Kobelco excavators will continue to be sold by the Molson Group, whose HQ is in Avonmouth, whilst the smaller units, sized between 1 and 10 tonnes, become the responsibility of Molson Compact Equipment. Consequently the compact models will sit alongside the Ammann, Bergmann, Cormidi and Dieci machines already offered. Compact Kobelco excavators have long been in the UK although not always under their own name. Case, Fermec and New Holland minis in the past have all been made in Europe under licence from Kobelco.
Now Kobelco machines being sold by Molson Compact Equipment are nine minis and two midis. The minis are the SK08, SK10SR-2, SK17SR-3, SK25SR-6, SK28SR-6, SK30SR-6, SR35SR-6, SK45SRX-6 and SK55SRX-6 with operating weights from 1,035kg to 5,020kg, and the midis are the 7,540kg SK75SR-3 and the 8,270kg SK85MSR-3.
Models having SR in their designations have short or zero tail swing. Almost all the minis have Yanmar diesel engines - the exception being the Mitsubishi powered 1,555kg SK17SR-3 - and the two midis have Isuzu 4LE engines.
22
Complementary products: a Kobelco SK10SR-2 excavator with a Dieci Apollo 25.6 telehandler, Cormidi C6.60 dumper and Ammann ARX12 roller.
A&Y Equipment Ltd has changed its name to Molson Compact Equipment Ltd and added Kobelco compact excavators to its portfolio. Nick Johnson reports from Warwickshire.
Having been originally introduced on larger, short radius excavators, Kobelco’s iNDr (Integrated Noise & Dust Reduction cooling system) technology now features on a number of minis from the SK28SR-6 and upwards. An air inlet filter helps create a virtually dust-free airflow into the engine compartment in order to improve efficiency and reliability.
Molson Compact Equipment MD Robert Brown says, “Dealing with Kobelco compact excavators will give us more opportunities than previously. For example, we now have a cabbed, 1.5-tonne machine with expanding tracks readily available.”
The commitment to selling Kobelco machines can be clearly seen in the high stock levels that have already been built up. More than 140 brand new units were recently parked in the Bearley yard to satisfy immediate requirements for multiple machines. Amongst new models ready for dispatch were units for Digging It. Based in Andover, this ground works and plant hire company has taken three 1,065kg SK10SR-2s with canopies, one 1,555kg SK17 SR-3 with canopy and one cab-equipped 2,950kg SK28SR-6, together with one 600kg capacity Cormidi C6.60 high-tip tracked dumper. The cabbed SK28SR-6 has radio and air conditioning as standard.
Robert Brown says, “Whilst still providing parts and service support for the Yanmar machines we supplied, our focus is now on being a centre of excellence for the sales and support of Kobelco compact excavators.” The company’s engineers are receiving in-depth training on the Kobelco models and the intention is to add to the five field service personnel currently employed.
Marketing Manager Mike Brown says that the Executive Hire Show in February will provide the official UK exhibition launch, and this should greatly aid the plan to significantly improve the UK market share for Kobelco compact excavators.
This SK28SR-6 and SK17SR-3 are two of the new Kobelcos being supplied to Digging It in Andover.
• 01789 414525
www.molsoncompact.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
