By Clay Eubanks, President, Takeuchi US
This is the time of year when I like to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far and then look ahead to what’s coming.
Riding the momentum from our record year in 2017, the Takeuchi brand continues to thrive. We could have rested on our laurels and kept our business on cruise control. Instead, we hit the accelerator, speeding right past our goals and initiatives on our way to an even more fruitful 2018.
Successful Initiatives
Over the last few years, the Takeuchi brand has experienced a great deal of success. Our dedicated staff, rich product offering and diverse customer base continue to drive our growth.
While we’re known worldwide for our equipment, our dedicated staff is at the heart of why our company continues to take off. That’s why one of our biggest initiatives heading into 2018 was to invest in our people and future growth by expanding our company operations.
Part of this initiative was to expand our sales regions from seven to 10, which reduced the physical size and average number of customers in each region. This allowed our regional managers to dedicate more time to each customer and to our dealers. It has already proven to be a positive change for our company, dealers, staff and, most of all, our customers.
In addition to new regions, we have also started creating new positions to help strengthen different business areas and improve product support. It has made a big impact on how we do business and to better serve the best interests of our customers.
Two-Year High
As I noted, 2017 was the best year in the history of our company. Until 2018. Throughout the year, we’ve seen increases in all areas of our business. These segments include market share, parts, sales, machine sales, and dealer and national account customer bases.
Total revenues are up nearly 18 percent from 2017, while our full-time employees increased by 12 percent. Over the course of two years we have increased our staff by 32 percent, and we’re still looking for qualified individuals to join our team. Our continued growth is a sign of more good things to come and that our commitment to both quality products and quality customer service is paying off.
2018 was a year of growth for our product lineup as well, including the addition of the TB235-2 excavator and the TL6R compact track loader (CTL). The excavator provided our lineup with a 3.5-ton offering, while the TL6R is the most compact machine in our CTL lineup. These products have been welcomed to rousing success. In fact, the TB235-2 won Construction Equipment’s Top 100 New Products of 2018 award, which was announced this month in the December issue.
Mapping Out 2019
We fully expect the two years of all-time highs at Takeuchi to be just the beginning, leading to another positive year in 2019. We once again anticipate double-digit revenue growth along with increases in our staff, dealers and systems.
So what exactly can customers and dealers expect to see from Takeuchi in 2019? Well, the biggest initiative on our plate heading into the New Year is the launch of a new global product support system. This system will enable us to more rapidly respond to customer needs around the world.
We’re also excited to introduce the TB250-2 excavator, which fills a void in our 5-ton compact excavator range. We are also ramping up our wheel loader lineup with two new additions, the TW60-2 and TW95. The TW95 is the largest wheel loader we have ever manufactured. These machines will be on display at The Rental Show in Anaheim. If you’re headed to the show, be sure to come by and take a look.
Proud To Be Here
I’ve now been with Takeuchi for over three decades, so I can confidently say there has never been a more exciting time to be at this company. It’s incredible to see the growth we’ve all enjoyed just in the past few years. And, thanks to our outstanding staff, dealers, and dedicated customers, I don’t see an end in sight. We may work in the ground, but the sky’s the limit.
From all of us at Takeuchi, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2019.