Where two strong brands find each other something beautiful is created

In the previous issues of this magazine you have been able to read plenty about it, so it was hot news. In April, Henk Saes was allowed to add LaBounty as a brand to his already impressive lineup of great brands.

Henk said about it himself at the time, "For LaBounty we now do exclusive distribution in the Benelux. The brand excels in heavy equipment, for example with the MSD 7500 R, an iron cutter with a weight of 13.5 tons, for machines weighing around 125 tons. The MSD 2250 R with 5.5 tons dead weight also does well, which is suitable for machines around 50 tons." For the -justifiably- critical and demanding Saes customers, the addition of LaBounty is tremendously good news. "After all, we are providing the well-known Saes service with it," Henk explains. "That adds even more value to this already outstanding product."

For LaBounty, Saes International BV is now doing exclusive distribution in the Benelux.

About the brand itself

We speak with Devon Zahm, Brand Marketing Manager at LaBounty, Milwaukie, USA. "LaBounty has been providing extremely reliable scissors and equipment pieces for demolition since 1973. When LaBounty invented the mobile scissors in 1977, it represented a huge step forward for metal and concrete recyclers. The whole market transformed as a result," Zahm said. With a strong focus on revenue and efficiency, LaBounty continues unabated to develop and deliver mechanical and digital innovations that give customers an edge. Says Zahm, "Assisted by the best warranty offered in the entire industry, along with world-class service, customers can keep their focus on what really matters. LaBounty knows better than anyone that only what's on the ground at the end of the day matters."

LaBounty MSD 2250R, a hefty fellow, using the bus as a comparison.

Presence within the Benelux market

Kenan Cirak, Regional Sales Manager Europe for LaBounty, says of the brand's entry within the Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg markets, "LaBounty has been supplying equipment items within the Benelux region for more than 25 years now. The world's largest scrap shear at the time, the MSD500 -with a 34 mTon operational weight- was delivered to a Belgian company in 1996. Today, this scrap shear is still in operation, at a Dutch recycling company." Which brings us to the question of which LaBounty product is the most popular in the Netherlands. Cirak answers, "Our MSD shears are widely known and accepted in the Netherlands, because of their high quality and excellent performance. We are launching a new series of MSD shears in the Netherlands, this series we presented at BAUMA in 2019. We obviously hope that the Dutch customer will also appreciate the changes and innovations we have made."     

As for the U.S. company's European market penetration, "The Benelux market is the oldest market in Europe in which LaBounty participates. Together with the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy, it constitutes the most important market area for LaBounty in Europe."

"Our visions align with each other."

'The Milwaukie-Weert connection'

How did LaBounty come into contact with Saes International BV? Cirak answers, "Henk's team requested information about LaBounty. Just at the right time, as our previous dealership had stopped. Once we sat down with Henk and his team, it quickly became clear that our companies were a perfect match. From then on everything went very quickly. Why do I think Saes International BV is an ideal partner for us? That has to do with many things. Henk makes the impression that he puts the client's interests before his own. You can see that in the service he offers, in the quantity and diversity of parts he keeps in stock. Also the fact that he has complete pieces of equipment ready to help customers who experience calamities during work immediately shows how important the customer is to Saes International BV. As a supplier, it is important to understand what happens when a customer's work comes to a halt. Then you have to be able to deliver, then you have to be there. Customers expect you not only to deliver the machines, but also to ensure that they can get ahead. I have heard from various parties in the market that Henk and his team excel in this, in the short time we have been working together. And that is exactly why LaBounty and Saes International BV fit together so well. Our visions align and we are assured with Henk and his team that we take good care of our products and their users."

So sales is not the only thing that is important, ultimately LaBounty is also about the service offered to the end user. "We will work closely with Saes International BV to ensure that Henk and his team can fulfill all service and technical needs for the Benelux customer. After all, we don't want to just sell, but build a relationship with the end users of our products. We like to see them come back for more and in turn help them work more efficiently, through innovations. So after sales support plays a central role in that."

The LaBounty MSD 4000R.

What does the partnership mean for the Benelux customer

"The Benelux customer will soon benefit from a top-notch product that meets all needs, combined with a very strong service apparatus that ensures that he does not come to a standstill in his work. To reach that point, we are now working hard to supply Saes International BV with spare parts. The expertise of Saes is in good shape, they will not need much time to get used to providing service on LaBounty products. Where two strong brands find each other, something beautiful is created. Enjoying a successful partnership together and letting the customer benefit from it is our mutual goal," Cirak concludes.