MAINTENANCE
Investing in
African opportunities
By Robyn Grimsley
US-based OEM Caterpillar recently launched its first African distribution centre —
the 21st in its global network — in Kempton Park, close to Johannesburg.
I
n September 2016, US-based original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) Caterpillar,
its independent dealers, and the Caterpillar
Foundation announced their intention to invest
USD1-billion in countries throughout Africa
over the next five years. A little less than a year
later, on 31 August 2017, Caterpillar officially
inaugurated its new 60 000m² parts distribution
facility in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg, as
part of this commitment.
According to Rob Charter, Caterpillar group
president: Customer and Dealer Support, the
facility, which opened its doors on 15 May 2017,
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NOVEMBER 2017
is the company’s largest investment in physical
assets in Africa to date. It is also a long-term
investment, based on the potential for growth in
South Africa and other countries in the region.
“We are looking forward to expanding our
partnership with the South African government
towards achieving economic transformation,”
he added.
Charter was speaking at the official inauguration
of the centre, which was attended by executives
from Caterpillar and its southern African dealer,
Barloworld Equipment, as well as representatives
of the South African and US governments.
The new distribution centre consolidates two
smaller regional parts distribution sites —
the main 18 000m 2 , and a 21 000m 2 off-site
location that Caterpillar rented for an extended
period — and enables the company to work
more efficiently while increasing its capability
to provide unmatched parts availability to
customers in Africa. Sixty per cent of the 168
employees are permanent, with the remaining
40% comprising agency staff.
The distribution centre is also the first ever
Caterpillar site to operate within a co-location
arrangement, in this case with Barloworld