Cater Equipment’s experience, knowledge and hands-on approach is a major selling point for customers
Cater Equipment is a family-owned and operated dealership that provides a range of used heavy plant equipment, with a speciality in Volvo equipment for customers across Australia, particularly for businesses and projects within the civil construction and mining industries.
With decades of experience and worldwide connections, Cater provides a professional and reliable solution for all machine sourcing, purchasing and selling needs.
For those seeking to purchase equipment, Cater Equipment provides tailored solutions, with a focus on sourcing high-quality, low-hour used machines.
For those looking to sell, Cater helps save time and effort by taking charge of the entire process, aiming to recoup the highest possible investment and ensuring the machinery will be put to good use elsewhere.
Four years ago, Fleet Mine turned to Cater for its Volvo machinery needs and, having enjoyed an “invaluable” relationship since, the company has not turned back.
Fleet Mine, a sister company of the PJL Group, provides underground hardrock mining equipment for the industry.
“We’ve always found Sam very good to deal with, very level headed,” says Jeff King, who was then general manager of Fleet Mine.
“He takes pride in [what he does] – he wouldn’t sell me a machine that he wouldn’t operate himself.”
Product knowledge
King highlights Cater’s product knowledge, from both his time at Volvo and operating his own company, as a major selling point when it comes to dealing with the Queensland dealer.
“We’re an underground mining business so we hire underground mining machines,” he says.
“Sam’s knowledge about the right machines to buy, particularly from overseas, and his ability to source machines from overseas, his knowledge about what countries to get them from, what countries to avoid – all of that known and learned knowledge is invaluable to us.”
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news in the earthmoving industry
- Never miss a great deal and subscribe to our monthly magazine
- Download a free copy of our latest digital magazine to catch up on the biggest news and developments in the earthmoving industry
King also emphasises Cater’s drive to find solutions for his clients, something that came to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sam’s been very good at helping us source machines, even during the COVID drama,” he says.
“He was willing to go out of his way to find ships coming out of Europe.
“We had to float machines up to China because there was a direct route from Europe to China, then come to Australia.
“He’s always finding a solution for us and that goes a long way.”
As well as providing a dedicated and smooth delivery service, Cater always ensures the equipment itself arrives as advertised.
“The equipment is always in good condition as well, it’s always delivered as described,” King says.
“Sam will always point out if it’s got new tyres or a crack in the windscreen or whatever – he’s very open, honest and transparent with everything.”
Excellent condition
Recently, Fleet Mine took delivery of two pieces of Volvo Construction Equipment machinery – an A30G tip truck and an L120H large wheel loader – both sourced by Cater Equipment.
“They were excellent, exactly what we purchased,” King says.
“The A30G is the one we turn into a cement truck – it works really well for that.
“The machine presented very well, very clean and tidy.”
The fact that Cater Equipment is a small, family-run business, and that Sam Cater is hands-on, makes the dealer stand out, according to King.
“I think it is the fact that you’re dealing with a smaller company,” he says.
“So you don’t get caught up in the bureaucracy of talking to procurement or talking to transportation coordinator and all that – you deal straight with Sam.
“And Sam’s all over the entire transaction, from taking the deposit, sourcing the machine, transport, delivery, the whole nine yards – he’s got his finger on the pulse the whole way through.”
King is keen to emphasise Cater’s product knowledge and transparency, as well as his willingness to find a solution for his client, whatever their need might be.
“You know, I’ve looked at other machines with other dealers, and Sam would actually give me his input,” he says.
“He’ll tell me, yeah, that’s a good buy, even though it’s not going through his business.
“That’s a very open and honest, transparent relationship.
“When you’ve got that sort of relationship with somebody that you can have that conversation with – it’s great to have.”
For more information, go to www.caterequipment.com.au or call +61 0439 555 973.