Mecalac targets the Americas

French manufacturer Mecalac is moving into North and South America, and said it was taking an organic approach to the markets there.

Also, the company confirmed that its recent takeover of the Terex UK manufacturing plant in Coventry had been completed.

Speaking at ConExpo 2017 in Las Vegas, Alexandre Marchetta, executive vice president of Groupe Mecalac, said, “We can confirm that it is now a closed deal. It’s going to provide great synergy in the group as a whole.

“Adding the products together from both companies will answer our customers' needs and the products from Terex Coventry perfectly complement what we already offer.”

He added that Terex Coventry’s backhoe loaders, in particular, would represent a good opportunity for Mecalac, and said that, for now, the branding would remain the same, but would change in a few months.”

The Coventry unit, renamed Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, manufactures a full range of backhoe loaders and site dumpers, formerly sold under the Fermec and Benford brands, as well as compaction rollers.

Mecalac said the target markets in the US for its machines were urban job sites that required space management and versatility in the building, construction, civil engineering – pipe, electrical, cable laying – and landscaping sectors.

As part of the move into both North and South America, Groupe Mecalac has created a holding company based in the US – Mecalac Americas. 

Marchetta said he envisioned an “organic” approach to expanding distribution throughout the Americas. 

“We will gradually introduce more products when markets are ready and opportunities arise. We foresee a mix of current and new distributors depending on market conditions.”

In the US, distribution of the backhoe loaders and site dumpers designed and manufactured in the UK will continue. 

“We believe in building on the past and intend to support the sales and service network already established,” said Marchetta.

“Mecalac wants to send the message loud and clear that we are a family-owned business dedicated to maintaining relationships, and deeply committed to the quality and stability of our products.” 

Mecalac launched distribution of its loaders and excavators in the US in February 2016. It signed a co-operation with Massachusetts-based Lorusso Heavy Equipment (LHE) that will distribute in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

LHE will market MCR crawler skid-excavators, AX and AF wheeled loaders and, later this year, the new MWR wheeled excavator.

‘Different approach’

Mecalac marketing manager Patrick Brehmer said, “Ours is a very different approach from other manufactures who are focused on individual products. At Mecalac, we are process-oriented and are driven by a jobsite approach, not a product approach.

“We are interested in changing the way work gets accomplished and making the job site safer. We start by analysing the entire job site where safety, comfort, usability and ultimately cost-efficiency and profitability for the contractor are all important criteria.”

He added, “This methodology creates new architecture that is changing the game from all standpoints.”

Mecalac pointed to the MCR crawler skid-excavator demonstrated on Mecalac’s booth at ConExpo. It said the MCR was in fact two machines in one – a skid steer and an excavator, fortified with a telehandler equipped with a versatile boom. 

It said both hydraulic and electronic technologies were applied, transforming the user interface. The machine was said to be faster, safer, smarter, leaner and more powerful than any of its competition.

By providing one machine to do multiple jobs, the job site manager has more freedom, more possibilities, less need for manual work, and a safer and easier work environment, according to Brehmer.

Mecalac models at ConExpo include the 6, 8 and 10 ton MCR crawler excavators, the 9 and 15 ton MWR wheeled excavators, the AX 850 wheeled loader and the AF1200 wheeled loader. 

Terex models include the 6 ton TA6S site dumper and the TLB840R backhoe loader. 

Founded in 1974, Mecalac has manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, Turkey and now in the UK, and a network of 200 authorised dealers and service partners in Europe, Africa, Australia and the US.

Mecalac’s booth at ConExpo is S6439 in the Silver 3 outdoor area