Shantui
Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer, Shantui, has made important inroads in the Middle East’s construction sector during the last year. Although the firm is best known as the world’s largest bulldozer manufacturer, Shantui produces a range of earthmoving equipment, including excavators, wheel loaders, and skid-steer loaders.
Wang Feng, Shantui’s vice general manager, told PMV: “Business has been slow but steady, with an increase in activity over the last two quarters. An increase in government investment across the GCC region means that things are looking promising. There was a large speed bump for many companies, but things seem to be turning the corner.”
Shantui has also made a number of investments of late.
“We have increased our investment in R&D capabilities, as well as the production facilities for our concrete machinery and municipal equipment. Shantui is aware that in order to compete with the leading brands in the industry, we need to reinforce the quality of our products,” added Fang.
Hyundai
With comprehensive support from its regional dealer network, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has continued to strengthen its position in the Middle East over the last year.
Nowhere was this more evident than at The Big 5 2013, where UAE dealer Al Wasit Machinery secured an expansive, high-visibility stand at the centre of the PMV Live outdoor exhibition area.
The partners used the trade show as a platform to display Hyundai’s latest backhoe and skid-steer loaders, sales of which have grown rapidly in the region during the last 18 months. Indeed, Al Wasit finalised almost 60% more sales of Hyundai units in 2013 than it did in 2012.
The manufacturer has also taken steps to bolster its position within the materials handling sector, with the introduction of 12 9-Series small and medium forklifts earlier this year. Added to this, with plenty of business being conducted in the region’s ports sector, HHI seems set to move from strength to strength within the Middle East’s equipment community.
LiuGong
The fact that this year’s power list includes four Chinese brands is representative of the significant strides that have been taken by the country’s construction equipment manufacturers in the Middle East.
One of the first Chinese firms to open a subsidiary in the GCC, LiuGong has continued to increase its presence in the region with help from distributors such as Al-Qahtani Vehicle & Machinery Company in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Attiya Motors and Trading Company in Qatar.
The manufacturer has also taken important steps to develop the next generation of LiuGong Machinery leaders, with a management reshuffle following the decision of former chairman Wang Xiaohua to retire after 43 years at the company.
With Zeng Guang’an now at the helm, LiuGong hopes to continue to grow into a more agile, global company.
Sany
As China’s largest producer of construction equipment, Sany is a major player on the global stage. Even so, the Middle East represents a strategically important region for the manufacturer. The firm produces a range of construction machinery, including road equipment and excavators, and one of its most important regional lines is that of mobile cranes.
In conjunction with strong Middle Eastern distributors, such as Al Areedh in Saudi Arabia, and United Mechanical Equipment (UME) in the UAE, Sany is taking significant steps to increase its market penetration in the region.
This has been a year of acclaim for the OEM. As part of a CLSA comparison of equipment from Sany, Caterpillar, Hitachi, Doosan, Komatsu, and Kobelco, the Chinese manufacturer received recognition for the high quality of the machinery that it produces.
All of the brands fared well under scrutiny, and although Caterpillar topped the list, the Sany products tested were found to outperform their Japanese and South Korean competitors.
