It is never easy entering a market that has been dominated by big players for many years, but based on the optimism of Maximum Plant Hire at last year’s bauma Africa Conexpo-Conagg Africa, this Turkish original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and distributor team are more-than-ready to for what it takes.

Equipment Africa has learnt that it is a strong partnership between OEM and dealer that keeps market share growing.

Having access to a quality brand is just part of the puzzle. Adequate technical after-sales capability is the real breaker, and limitations on this front have been the demise of many well-known premium brands’ short stay in the South African market, and elsewhere on the continent. There is nothing like a lack of parts supply and inability to repair a breakdown and keeping a machine standing to leave a bitter after taste.

Maximum Plant Hire has a strong background operating gear as a plant hire company, complemented by its business of selling pre-owned equipment. This makes it a formidable representative of any OEM looking to become involved in a new market, and we think Hidromek has met a perfect match.

We look forward to watching this partnership’s progress, as well as the growing use of wheeled excavators in South Africa. We’ve seen many different brands deployed on sites in the country, including the wind farms where they offer time and cost-savings moving from one foundation over the next during the extensive civil works!