Specialist in compact machines from Yanmar and Manitou

Geert-Jan de Kok B.V. is originally an agricultural mechanization company. However, since 1993 the company has also specialized in compact earthmoving machines and is now a nationwide dealer of Yanmar mini and mobile excavators and the Manitou compact range. From five branches, more than a hundred employees work on sales, service and rental. 

"Geert-Jan de Kok is a real service-oriented company," says Earthmoving Sales Manager Eddy van de Wal. "Sales is one thing, but through good service you build a bond with the customer. To that end, we employ about 60 technical people, who operate from the workshop but are also on the road a lot. The goal is to solve the customer's problem as quickly as possible. Especially in earth moving, a machine should not stand still for a minute. We ensure that customers can continue working no matter what, if necessary temporarily with a machine from us." For a few years now, Geert-Jan de Kok's rental fleet has been growing. "We notice a shift from owning to using. We now have about 200 machines in rental and that number is growing considerably," states Van de Wal. "We see more and more companies renting machines on a project basis for longer periods rather than choosing to buy." 

Geert-Jan de Kok focuses on machines up to 12 tons. "In rental, by the way, up to 25 tons, but we really want to be a specialist in the compact segment. In that, we carry two main brands: Yanmar mini excavators and Manitou articulated and skid steer loaders, which we sell through sub-dealers throughout the Netherlands. Our customer must be able to get to a dealer within a half-hour drive at the latest." Manitou (formerly Mustang) compact articulated and skid-steer loaders are doing well through the extensive network. "We sell about 200 to 250 of these every year. The range runs from 1.5 tons to a 5.5-ton model with a telescopic boom." Yanmar is also doing well these days, Van de Wal observes. "In 2016, they took over Terex's mobile cranes and that has given them a huge boost. However, a wheeled crane is different than a small crawler excavator. Customers want a lot more options, attachments and modifications. That's hugely challenging and requires more time and skill, but we don't run away from that. And we have that well under control now."