Johannesburg - Exponential growth in Sub Sahara
African markets has prompted agricultural machinery company John Deere
to shift its focus and embark on "significant expansion projects",
according to regional MD Len Brand.
Brand, MD of John Deere Sub Sahara Africa, said that the
company's re-focus began in 2005, when it ceased all manufacturing and
became dedicated solely to sales and marketing, deciding to import John
Deere products manufactured at 100 facilities worldwide.
"Then, in 2009, John Deere SA assumed responsibilities for sub-Sahara Africa, a region with plenty of growth potential - which has
seen the company enter into significant expansion projects," he said.
As John Deere Sub Sahara Africa, the company now imports all
of its products from its global network of factories, providing
continued support to its dealer network and ultimately the end user.
Brand said that this had given the organisation "a distinct competitive
advantage".
The focus was now on "making sure they have parts and
technical capabilities to support products, dealers and customers", he
said.
While John Deere has long had a parts warehouse in SA, quicker
than expected market growth in the region has made expansion necessary.
As a result, the company has made a R150m investment in
a new parts warehouse close to OR Tambo International Airport.
The
warehouse will be three times larger than the existing facility with 33%
greater storage ability. This is intended to support the growing equipment sales, which will stimulate the need for parts and technical
support.