Plant Equipment and Hire November 2017 | Page 16

business On 31 August 2017, Barloworld Equipment officially opened a new, state-of-the-art distribution warehouse, co-located within the parts distribution centre of its partner, Caterpillar, in Kempton Park. or to build roads, dams, power stations, and other infrastructure crucial to economic growth. “Much of our success is due to the partnership between Barloworld Equipment and Caterpillar, which has grown from strength to strength over the nine decades since Punch Barlow introduced the brand to South Africa,” says Barloworld Equipment southern Africa CEO, Emmy Leeka. “Both of us are now global brands and Barloworld Equipment is very proud to be one of the world’s leading Caterpillar dealers. We believe in the power of partnerships to transform the landscape, whether physically, socio-economically, or politically.” In addition to the new parts distribution centre, Barloworld Equipment has invested significantly in founding the company in 1902. Initially operating out of two small, rented rooms in Durban with borrowed working capital of GBP1 000, the company has grown significantly and today employs over 5 000 people. Barloworld Equipment’s contribution to developing South Africa’s industrial potential and economy was recognised by the late President Nelson Mandela when he spoke at the Barlows’ centenary celebrations in 2002, describing the Caterpillar machines Barlow introduced as “the builders of our economy”. Today, these machines can be found at mining and construction sites in its key markets, where they are hard at work helping to extract minerals from the bowels of the earth, Barloworld Equipment’s facilities include the Barloworld Rebuild Centre in Boksburg. 14 NOVEMBER 2017 world-class facilities to boost capacity and improve service to its customers. The company recently launched a state-of-the-art components rebuild centre in Boksburg and a first-rate Caterpillar- accredited training facility in Isando to develop a new pool of highly proficient technicians and help the company bring more female employees into its fold, in line with its gender diversity targets. Moving forward, Barloworld Equipment intends to become a centre of excellence for other Caterpillar dealers, providing superior service to its customers and investing heavily in training its staff to meet the requirements of a rapidly changing world, characterised by the unfolding digital revolution.