When it comes to buying heavy equipment, deciding who to trust isn’t easy. Construction equipment is pricey and you have to worry about more than just the initial financial investment. For example, throughout the life of the equipment, you will need the manufacturer’s technical support. Getting the best operating efficiency from your machines helps achieve a solid return on your investment. Finding the best equipment supplier is a vital first step in the process.
Quicklook: Best Heavy Equipment Suppliers
- Best for Mining Equipment: Caterpillar
- Best for Construction Equipment: Komatsu
- Best for Earth Moving Equipment: XCMG
- Best for Specialized Lifting Equipment: Sany
- Best for Road Surface Construction Equipment: Volvo Construction Company
- Best for Agricultural Equipment: John Deere
6 Best Heavy Equipment Suppliers Options
The best heavy equipment suppliers are global brands with a presence on almost every continent. They manufacture and sell a range of equipment and all offer subsidiary services such as maintenance agreements.
Caterpillar
The global leader in the manufacture of construction and mining equipment, Caterpillar designs and makes off-highway diesel, gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The Fortune 500 company is one of the largest manufacturing companies in the U.S.. Commanding 13% of the global heavy machinery market, Caterpillar reported revenues in 2021 of $51 billion. The company has been in the business for nearly a century and has a global network of dealers.
Best for: Mining equipment
Location: Located in Deerfield Illinois, Caterpillar is present on six continents and across the United States.
Types of Equipment:
- Construction
- Mining
- Forestry
- Agriculture
Services Provided: Caterpillar offers its customers more than just innovative products. They also offer several services including:
- Machine financing and insurance
- Job site solutions – to increase fleet utilization and control costs
- Equipment maintenance agreements
Komatsu
Established in 1921 in Komatsu City, Japan, Komatsu is a world leader in the manufacture and supply of services and equipment for construction, mining, and industrial needs. It offers a full-service package.
Best for: Construction equipment
Location: Komatsu commands a global presence with 81 factories, 48 sales locations, and 42 parts centers across six continents. It controls its global network from its headquarters in Tokyo.
Types of Equipment:
- Dozers
- Dump trucks
- Excavators
- Backhoes
Services Provided: Optimal field recommendation – guidance on correct machine usage to improve fleet performance and machine downtime
- On-site maintenance service contracts
- Remote equipment monitoring
XCMG
With origins that go back to 1943 with the founding of the Huaxing Iron Works, it wasn’t until 1957 that XCMG took its first step into the world of heavy machinery. The company prides itself on innovation, developing many of China’s first heavy equipment requirements. Today it produces a wide range of machines for distribution across a host of industries.
Best for: Earthmoving equipment
Location: Headquartered in Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China, XCGM is present in 183 countries and regions across the globe and has 14 factories.
Types of Equipment:
- Lifting
- Earthmoving
- Road Surface
- Mining
Services Provided: XCMG offers a host of services which include the following
- Financial services to assist with the purchase of the equipment
- Maintenance contracts – 24-hour on-site engineering and maintenance
- End-of-life machine assistance – valuations, recycling, and trade-ins
Sany
Established in 1989, Sany is one of the biggest manufacturers of heavy equipment in the world. It has a vast portfolio of heavy equipment across such diverse industries such as oil drilling, renewable energy, construction, and mining.
Best for: Specialized lifting equipment
Location: Sany controls its many sales, R&D, and manufacturing sites from its headquarters in Changsha, China. It has a presence in more than 140 countries across four continents.
Types of Equipment:
- Concrete equipment
- Construction
- Mining
- Petroleum mining equipment
- Lifting
- Port machinery
Services Provided:
- 24-hour on-site service maintenance contracts
- Cloud connection to equipment
Volvo Construction Equipment
Volvo manufactures and sells top-quality heavy equipment for the construction and road industries. The company produced its first heavy equipment in 1954. Since then it has grown organically and through acquisitions in divisions of Samsung and Ingersoll Rand. Today it is a leading heavy equipment supplier and manufacturer.
Best for: Heavy equipment rental agreements
Location: With headquarters in Gothenburg, Volvo Construction Equipment is a global equipment supplier with a presence on six continents.
Types of Equipment:
- Construction
- Roadworks
Services Provided:
- Tailored customer support services
- Analysis tools for machine performance monitoring
- Rental services
John Deere
The company has a long history dating back to 1837, when it was founded by blacksmith John Deere. It now employs over 63,000 people around the world. Though best known for its agricultural equipment, they also offer a wide range of other products such as construction, forestry, and lawn care equipment. In addition, John Deere also offers financing and leasing options, as well as parts and service support.
Best for: Agricultural equipment
Location: The company is headquartered in Moline, Illinois
Types of Equipment:
- Agriculture
- Lawn and garden
- Forestry
- Construction
- Landscaping and grounds care
Services Provided:
- Rental services
- Financing
What Is a Heavy Equipment Supplier?
Heavy equipment is designed for earthworks and construction in heavy industries. Because of the high barriers to entry, a few large suppliers dominate the industry through global supply chains.
Tip to Find the Best Heavy Equipment Suppliers
For any company, the purchase of heavy equipment is an enormous and long-term investment so it is essential that you do your research before taking the plunge.
Research the Company and Equipment
Heavy equipment manufacturing is a capital-intensive business and for this reason, the industry is dominated by a number of global players. They all have different machine offerings and there may be vast differences in the after-sales service offerings. It is essential that you match your needs with what they have to offer.
Work with Branded Supplier
Most heavy equipment manufacturers have been around for years or even decades. They have built their brands based on quality and reliability so you can rely on the brand reputation when buying heavy machinery.
Customer Service
Buying heavy equipment is not a single-day venture, and you will be in a relationship with the company for years. You will find yourself having to depend on their machine expertise. For this, you need dependable customer service. Do your research to find out how current customers are treated before you decide where to place your order.
Ask About Warranties
This is a big investment so enquire about warranties and replacement policies, which may vary according to the product.
Financing Options
Some heavy equipment suppliers offer financing as one of their service options. Others may work with finance houses. Figure out a funding method that works best.
After Sales Service
Most suppliers maintain their machines under maintenance agreements reached at the time of the sale. You can’t afford to have your machines standing around while you wait for a technician, so make sure that the after-sales service in your area is reliable and responsive.
Compare Prices
Once you are satisfied that you have settled on a group of suppliers that can meet all the other service aspects, it is time to compare prices. There may be significant differences in the prices so make sure that you are comparing apples to apples.
Operate Smoothly Using the Best Heavy Equipment Supplier
If you’re about to invest in new heavy equipment, find a supply partner that will offer you years of technical support. The right partner will keep your machines running and help you manage the operating efficiency of your fleet. If you have to expand but you don’t yet have the budget, you could find cheaper heavy-duty truck options in the used truck market.
FAQ
Heavy equipment suppliers sell heavy machinery used in construction and manufacturing.
Used in the construction industry, an excavator is the most used heavy equipment.
Due to its size and manufacturing complexity, heavy equipment is very expensive.
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