business
On 31 August 2017, Barloworld Equipment officially opened a new, state-of-the-art distribution
warehouse, co-located within the parts distribution centre of its partner, Caterpillar, in Kempton Park.
or to build roads, dams, power stations, and other
infrastructure crucial to economic growth.
“Much of our success is due to the partnership
between Barloworld Equipment and Caterpillar,
which has grown from strength to strength over the
nine decades since Punch Barlow introduced the
brand to South Africa,” says Barloworld Equipment
southern Africa CEO, Emmy Leeka. “Both of us
are now global brands and Barloworld Equipment
is very proud to be one of the world’s leading
Caterpillar dealers. We believe in the power of
partnerships to transform the landscape, whether
physically, socio-economically, or politically.”
In addition to the new parts distribution centre,
Barloworld Equipment has invested significantly in
founding the company in 1902. Initially operating
out of two small, rented rooms in Durban with
borrowed working capital of GBP1 000, the
company has grown significantly and today
employs over 5 000 people.
Barloworld Equipment’s contribution to
developing South Africa’s industrial potential and
economy was recognised by the late President
Nelson Mandela when he spoke at the Barlows’
centenary celebrations in 2002, describing the
Caterpillar machines Barlow introduced as “the
builders of our economy”. Today, these machines
can be found at mining and construction sites in its
key markets, where they are hard at work helping
to extract minerals from the bowels of the earth,
Barloworld Equipment’s facilities include the Barloworld Rebuild Centre in Boksburg.
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world-class facilities to boost capacity and improve
service to its customers. The company recently
launched a state-of-the-art components rebuild
centre in Boksburg and a first-rate Caterpillar-
accredited training facility in Isando to develop a
new pool of highly proficient technicians and help
the company bring more female employees into its
fold, in line with its gender diversity targets.
Moving forward, Barloworld Equipment
intends to become a centre of excellence for
other Caterpillar dealers, providing superior
service to its customers and investing heavily
in training its staff to meet the requirements of
a rapidly changing world, characterised by the
unfolding digital revolution.