SDLG has revealed plans to bring its full range of equipment to the GCC before the end of 2015.
The Chinese equipment manufacturer, which officially entered the Middle East market during the third quarter of 2013, aims to supplement its existing wheel loader line-up with backhoe loaders, motor graders, and excavators.
The firm is also in the process of strengthening and expanding its distribution network across the region.
“We already have one of the best dealer networks in the Middle East,” said Jan-Erik Eriksson, SDLG’s regional business manager.
“2014 ended up being a very good year for SDLG in this region; we made significant deliveries in the latter part of the year. Our forecast for 2015 reflects this fact. We believe that this year, SDLG and its partners will achieve double-digit growth compared to 2014’s Middle East sales figures,” he told PMV.
Although SDLG is engaged in an ongoing campaign to strengthen its GCC distribution network, Eriksson contends that the firm will need to broaden its regional product offering – which currently consists exclusively of wheel loaders – in order to expand further.
“SDLG has more than 30 years’ experience in wheel loader production, but our expertise has grown,” he explained.
“We want to enlarge our dealer network here in the Middle East. However, in order to do that, we cannot focus solely on wheel loaders. We have to make our full range of equipment available to the region,” Eriksson added.
With the support of the manufacturer’s existing distribution network, Eriksson is confident that the 2015 GCC roll-out of SDLG equipment is an achievable goal.
“I am convinced that our upcoming product introductions will be successful because I have complete trust in our dealer network,” he commented.
“SDLG is the largest Chinese wheel loader supplier in the world right now, and for a decade, we have had an excellent affiliate in the form of Volvo. Even so, we would not have been able to grow without the support of effective local partners,” Eriksson concluded.
For the full-length interview with Eriksson, check out the February 2014 issue of PMV Middle East.
