Strong leadership: Republic Crane & Equipment Company: Republic Crane has provided a quarter century of sales and service leadership with its Liebherr line of scrap handlers

Recycling Today, Nov, 2004

Demonstrated leadership in sales, service and customer care for 25 years has helped Republic Crane & Equipment Company become a leading provider of scrap handling equipment to the North American market.

Republic Crane was formed in 1979 as a division of Republic Alloys, a Charlotte, N.C.-based scrap processor. In the beginning the company focused primarily on the sales and service of used equipment.

Then, in 1988 it began its relationship with The Liebherr Group, a 21,000-employee company based in Germany that produces a range of equipment for the scrap processing, construction, mining and other specialized industries.

Since the beginning of that relationship, Republic has sold in excess of 1,500 machines into the scrap processing industry, making Liebherr the clear market leader in supplying material handlers to the scrap industry.

2004 marks another major milestone in the development of Republic Crane's business, with the opening of its new, custom-built, 17,500-square-foot sales, service and parts facility in Charlotte. "This is a state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to even better serve both our end-user customers as well as our dealers throughout the U.S.," comments Bill Allen, president of Republic Crane. "We're excited about the enhanced service capabilities, parts warehousing and used equipment management capabilities this facility will allow us to deliver to our customers."

MEETING THE NEEDS

As the population of Liebherr scrap handlers has grown, so has the number of units the company takes in as trade-ins. "Liebherr customers are very loyal, and as many of our customers update or upgrade their fleets, their used units enter the used equipment market." For many scrap processors these machines represent excellent investment opportunities--an opportunity to put the best in scrap handling equipment to work in their operations without having to acquire this equipment new.

"We have many customers in the scrap industry that like these pre-owned units," comments Allen. Republic's new facility includes three specialized service bays that are completely outfitted to rebuild scrap handlers. "These bays have all the equipment and capabilities that our mechanics and technicians could ever need to refurbish our customer trade-ins." Once the machines go through Republic's refurbishing process, they are offered to customers with a warranty.

This new facility also enhances Republic's ability to stock and manage critical replacement parts inventory. The company uses a computerized parts management system that allows it to track its inventory to ensure that the parts its customers and dealers will need are always available.

The new facility sits on five acres dedicated to stocking Republic's multi-million dollar new and pre-owned machines and spare parts inventory, which is in addition to the already substantial parts inventory the company carries at its Florence, Ky., facility and the parts that Liebherr North America stocks in Newport News, Va. "Our ability to deliver critical parts for our customers, ensuring minimum downtime for them in any situation, is second to none in the scrap handling business," notes Republic's Bill Allen.

CONTINUING COMMITMENT

While Republic divested itself of its Republic Alloys scrap business in 1998, it remains totally committed to the scrap industry. "We started in this business as a scrap dealer. Those roots give us a unique insight into the needs of our customers and the demands their production requirements will put on the equipment," says Allen.

This, according to Allen, is a critical factor in Republic's success. "As a scrap dealer myself, I know what my customers need from first-hand experience, and there is no replacement for first-hand experience." Republic Crane & Equipment is committed to continuing this commitment to the scrap processing. industry, and its new facility is a brick-and-mortar reflection of that commitment.

Not only is Republic committed to the industry, but so is Liebherr. The company continues to develop its products to expand its product range, introducing platforms and capacities that the industry needs. "The scrap processing industry continues to evolve, and we continue to evolve with it," notes Allen.

With their large customer base in the industry, Republic and Liebherr are uniquely positioned to gain insights on the evolving needs of dealers, allowing them to evolve their product line in pace with the industry--and ahead of the competition.

LIEBHERR

REPUBLIC CRANE & EQUIPMENT COMPANY

2023 John Crosland Jr. Way * Charlotte, NC 28208 Phone: 800-375-5937 * 704-399-7555 * Fax: 704-399-7850 E-mail: Sales@RepublicCrane.com * www.RepublicCrane.com