This is the first time that Finning has appointed a sub-dealer and more are set to follow as part of a new strategy. Finning felt that it had been missing out on local deals and regards local franchises as the way to tap into them.
Versatile Equipment, established in 2003 in Borough Green, Kent, was previously a Bobcat dealer but jumped at the chance to switch to Cat. Versatile director Paul Rolfe said: “When Finning approached us with the opportunity of becoming its first general construction dealer, we recognised the real opportunity to increase our business reach, expertise and product range with what is a globally recognised brand in Caterpillar.”
The Caterpillar equipment that will be available from Versatile Equipment includes hydraulic excavators from 1.5t up to 8.5t, skid steer loaders, telehandlers and loaders.
Finning business manager Lee Andrews said: “The deal with Versatile Equipment is a major move for us at Finning as we look to make significant growth to our general construction equipment penetration in the UK. We have some extremely strong Caterpillar products in our portfolio, but recognise that even though we have a very comprehensive national branch network, we have been missing out on equipment sales in various parts of the UK, where purchasing decisions are made more on a dealer location basis.“
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