REGIONAL dealers selling Cat equipment through a partnership scheme with Finning recently had the chance to check out the latest machines and work tools during a training event at Desford.
For the second time this year, Finning UK and Ireland hosted colleagues from its national network of Authorised Sales and Service Centres (ASSC) at the Caterpillar Customer learning centre. The event focused on strategy, products, and application training, with the partners getting the chance to try out the new Cat 255 and 265 compact track loaders.
The machines are described as a ‘significant upgrade’ on their predecessors with more power and greater loading capacity in terms of both reach and height.
The redesigned cab impressed attendees including Tom Anderson of Norris Plant Hire, who said, “We know our customers are more concerned with operator wellbeing than ever before. So, it was great to try the new Cat 265 CTL and experience how easy it is to enter and exit, and how comfortable and quiet it is inside the cab.
“However, for me the unique selling point of these new products lies in the performance of the machine, in particular with these new high flow models customers are now able to run high flow/high pressure attachments on a size class or two below what is commonly available in the industry. Getting advance knowledge like this, that we can pass on to our customers, means events like this are really valuable for us.”
The ASSC network was introduced by Finning to ensure customers get the best service and support from partners in their local area. The group meets twice a year, and with previous events focusing on technical training, this autumn’s get together was about getting hands-on with the machinery. The three-day event made full use of the Desford facility which includes indoor and outdoor facilities for demonstrating heavy plant machinery.
Nadine Craddock, Finning UK & Ireland’s regional dealer manager, added, “The ASSC network is just two-and-a-half-years-old and has grown rapidly as we now have 12 partners. Inevitably when you are implementing a partner network there is a lot of processes to cover off, but with the team now quite settled we were able to plan this event around what the ASSCs wanted, which was to get real experience of these incredible machines. Everyone especially loved operating the new compact track loader.”
Feedback from previous events included a request from dealers for a demonstration of the latest hammers and tiltrotators. Finning flew out Cat attachment expert Jurgen Hendriks from the Netherlands to lead on the demonstration. Nadine Craddock explained, “With efficiency very much on the minds of customers our ASSC’s know that tiltrotators for mini-excavators can save time when digging especially where space is tight or shaping is required. To have an expert come in and show them how quickly these Cat attachments can be coupled and how to use them to best effect, made a real difference.
“Listening to partner feedback is integral to the ethos at the heart of the ASSC network, where Finning and its partners grow together to provide the very best in customer care, and reach new levels of success.”
