Metso revamps sales and service

Metso Minerals picks Central Crushers and Screens for the job.

In a major change to its distribution operations in England and Wales, Metso Minerals has appointed Central Crushers and Screens to sell and provide field support for mobile machines for the construction and recycling markets.

Metso's UK managing director Dave Moon said the move was in reaction to an increased demand from contract crushing and recycling companies requiring services more akin to those provided by traditional mobile plant suppliers.

Central has been selling recycling machinery for eight years and was previously a distributor for Pegson. It will operate its Metso franchise as Locotrak Central and has 10 mobile service engineers backed by £1m-worth of spares and wear parts.

John Clark, joint managing director of Central, said: "Our priority is to minimise downtime and to respond urgently to customer repair and maintenance requests. For example, we had a call at 6.30am today, and we will have a fitter on site by 11am".

Central will also take machines in part exchange and has a workshop in Sheffield with seven fitters to refurbish machines and carry out major repairs.

Rob Brown, Central's other joint managing director, said that over the past eight or nine years, around 50% of the firm's sales have been in used equipment and he would be disappointed if the company didn't sell 50 to 60 Metso machines in the first year.

Moon said the move will improve service and support to the construction and recycling markets and allow it to concentrate on the aggregates sector and fixed installations.

[Contract Journal, 13 September 2006, p 22]