McHale Plant Sales says it has made a strong start as UK distributor for Komatsu, reporting a “very positive” market introduction in the first three months of trading through its McHale Komatsu (MHK) affiliate. With progress across recruitment, customer support, finance and sales activity, the business says it is building solid foundations and growing confidence in the market despite ongoing global uncertainty.
Commenting on the update, Marketing & Business Development Director Darragh O’Driscoll said: “We are pleased to have made significant progress in a number of key areas: in recruitment, in customer service, engagement with customers in untapped segments, and in the quality of deals that are in our pipeline.”
Despite uncertainty caused by global events, the company says order intake is building well, with a healthy spread across all sectors. It also confirmed that all matters relating to the establishment of the business, including facilities acquisition, personnel, transfer of interests and related financial arrangements, have now been completed.
On the customer support side, a major development has been the establishment of Komatsu Finance in the UK under the direction of Territory Manager Colin McHale, with two further appointments expected over the coming months.
Other key developments include the appointment of a new Senior Management Team and Board of Directors. Among them is MHK Sales Director Mark Turnham, an experienced industry figure who joined the business after long service with Hitachi.
Leading MHK’s drive to grow Komatsu’s share of the UK market, Turnham is supported by key personnel across sales and service, including new Area Sales Managers and Product Specialists, as well as internal promotions to senior roles. These include a new Branch Manager at the company’s Chester-le-Street outlet, a new Service Supervisor, and the appointment of Rob Wilmott as General Sales Manager for England and Wales.
Looking ahead, O’Driscoll said a growing number of new Komatsu models coming to market, including the HM460-6 articulated dump truck, the PC130-11 excavator, and two new compact loaders — a 4-tonne skid steer and a 5-tonne tracked loader — alongside the existing range, gives the business “reason to be optimistic for the remainder of the year ahead”.