McAllister Equipment Co. announced it has expanded its product offering to include the Volvo compact equipment product line. For years, McAllister has represented Volvo’s heavy product line, including wheel loaders, articulated haulers, excavators and motorgraders.
The compact product line consists of Volvo’s skid steer loaders and backhoe loaders — new to McAllister — as well as existing lines of compact wheel loaders and compact excavators. The five models of skid steer loaders range in size from 1,350 lbs. (612.3 kg) of operating capacity and 49.5 hp (36.9 kW) to 2,300 lbs. (1,043.3 kg) of operating capacity and 86 hp (64.1 kW).
The backhoe loader features a digging depth of 14.75 ft. (4.5 m) with a 90 hp (67 kW) engine and a 1.3 cu. yd. (.99 cu m) bucket. The compact wheel loaders range in size from 54 hp (40.3 kW) with a .79 cu. yd. (.6 cu m) bucket to 100 hp (74.5 kW) with a 1.8 cu. yd. (1.4 cu m) bucket. The compact excavators range from 15 hp (11.2 kW) with a 3,826 lb. (1,735 kg) operating capacity to 52 hp (39 kW) with a 10,824 lbs. (4,910 kg) operating capacity.
McAllister is part of Volvo’s Wave II dealers. The Wave I dealers introduced the compact product line in 2003. “Too many dealers’ idea of launching a product line is to hire a compact salesman and send him out to tow-and-show,” said Jack L. Moser, president and CEO of McAllister.
In order to ensure a successful product launch and be prosperous in the new product offering, McAllister developed a complete business plan. A new cost center was added to the financial statements, machine costs were determined and commission schedules were developed.
Charlie Hubbard was appointed compact product manager and sent to Asheville, NC, to attend Volvo’s factory-trained Compact College. In addition, the sales force completed on-line training using Volvo’s Quick Track Internet modules.
A minimum of one technician per branch received service training, including schematic reading/interpretation and practical troubleshooting. Specs were studied, inventory orders were placed, attachments were ordered and new racks were installed to hold the variety of skid steer loader attachments.
McAllister also plans to remodel its parts department to accommodate its compact walk-in customers. In addition, the company is adding a trailer line to support the compact products.
McAllister’s marketing efforts for the new line include postcards advertising the new products are sent monthly to the company’s mailing list and the company’s billboard will advertise the backhoe and skid steer loaders to the 43.8 million cars that annually view the billboard from Interstate I-294.
In addition, the company will be participating in the APWA Expo this month at the Odeum in Villa Park, IL; the ILCA Summer Field Show in August in Newark, IL; and the Mid-Am Show in January 2005 at McCormick Center in Chicago, IL.
According to McAllister, while many of its heavy equipment customers use skid steer loaders, backhoes, compact wheel loaders and compact excavators, the company needed to reach new prospects.
“We already know how to reach the big contractors and aggregate customers. What we needed to do was reach the small contractor — the guy whose office is his kitchen table and has one machine,” commented Hubbard.
Established in 1955, McAllister Equipment Co. is a full-service construction equipment dealership headquartered in Alsip, IL, with locations in Peoria, Ingleside and Rockford.
Representing major product lines, primarily Volvo with supporting product lines like Broce Broom, Gomaco, Gorman-Rupp, Kolberg-Pioneer, Link-Belt Cranes and NPK, McAllister Equipment Co. caters to almost every segment of the construction, industrial and municipal industries.
For more information, call 800/323-8761 or visit www.mcallisterequipment.com.
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