PUCHONG: Sime Darby Bhd's subsidiary Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd aims to secure a 15 per cent Caterpillar sales from the total 40 per cent market share for the 20-tonne sized class excavator in Malaysia.
Sime Darby Industrial managing director C.K Teoh said the company targeted to sell about 150 units of the newly-launched Caterpillar excavators - the CAT 320 GC and CAT 320 - in the year ending June 30, 2019 (FY19).
"We believe there is a healthy demand for this 20-tonne sized class excavator mainly being used in the construction, quarry, mining and plantation.
"Caterpillar introduced three models recently namely the CAT 323, CAT 320 GC and CAT 320, but we will only bring two models here to cater for local demand," he told reporters after the Caterpillar products media preview here today.
Teoh said the latest generation of CAT's excavators offer combination of purpose-built features designed to match customers' productivity and cost targets.
"The 320 GC and 320 excavators provide up to 45 per cent efficiency, 20 per cent less fuel consumption and 15 per cent lower maintenance, which can be operated by semi-skilled or non-skilled operators," he added.
The company is set to deliver seven units of the excavators mainly from clients (contractors) involving in the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit project in Klang Valley.
"Therefore, we expect to gain more interest/ traction from clients particularly in construction sector for the infrastructure project," he said.
Teoh anticipated that there will be a short-term impact affecting the company's business, citing that the new government was reviewing mega infrastructure projects.
Hence, he said more contractors expected to reduce its operation cost, which in turn would slightly affects the sales of its machineries equipments.
Teoh said for the whole group's sales target, Sime Darby Industrial aims to sell between 450 units and 500 units of Caterpillar new machinery vehicles in FY19.
"The CAT models comprising articulated trucks, asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, cold planers, compactors, track type tractors, excavators, motor graders, off highway trucks and skid steer loaders," he added.
Teoh said the company was also hopeful to garner over 3,600 CAT's vehicles registered for its connected assest monitoring system by end of this year from the current 2,008 units.
He said the monitoring process allows local CAT's operators to locate their assets and send information on the machines' condition.