Company Announcement - BMI Group has achieved resounding success in growing the Chicago Pneumatic product range in the South African market since the company’s appointment as an authorised Chicago Pneumatic dealer just over 12 months ago. Chicago Pneumatic Business Development Manager in South Africa, Jacques van der Westhuizen, explains that dealers are the only route to the South and southern African markets for the Chicago Pneumatic range of construction and mining equipment. The establishment of a solid, country-wide network of reputable dealers is therefore fundamental to ensuring that Chicago Pneumatic achieves the objectives of being as close as possible to customers, irrespective of location, to ensure rapid product and service delivery to minimise disruption in the plant or workshop.

”There are very few ’bad’ products in the market these day,” says Van der Westhuizen.  ”What makes the difference, in my opinion, is truly understanding the customers needs. Gone are the days of just supplying a piece of equipment and hope for the best. Suppliers need to become business advisers or partners in a sense, supplying a service instead of just another good product and understanding that the service that you as a distributor will provide, will aid to the growth and success of the customers business. BMI understands this, with many years of experience in the construction and mining sectors shared between the founders. Also understanding that your success in this industry is not only based on providing a reliable product but also depended on how quickly you can respond when the product fails. Serviceability and after sales support is key. BMI offers the complete solution with industry experience, product knowledge, and a fantastic service and support team. They ticked all the boxes and we had no hesitation in appointing the company as a Chicago Pneumatic authorised distributor in April 2014. “As evidenced from a marked increase in order intake, BMI delivered on its promise of giving their full support to further expanding the product range within local markets.” 

BMI has full access to the extensive Chicago Pneumatic portfolio of handheld pneumatic, hydraulic and petrol-driven tools alongside compaction equipment, rig-mounted attachments, portable compressors, generators and light towers.         

According to BMI Group’s Business Line Manager, Guy Wilson, “The product range is fast gaining popularity as this global Brand name becomes increasingly well-known in the market as a reliable, good quality product that is well priced. In a tough economic climate like we are currenlty experiencing, sound after-sales service and product back-up take on even greater significance for our customers and BMI’s large regional footprint makes it possible for us to meet these key customer requirements.”
                                                            
Wilson adds that they are currently seeing traction mostly in the mining sector with the supply of lighting towers and portable diesel driven compressors, adding that, the generator market has been especially buoyant as a result of the protracted power supply problems. ”Plant Hire companies offer a  large potential as the construction industry is showing a preference in many cases to hire smaller plant than procure the equipment directly. We are also seeing an increase in enquiries in the high pressure compressor market,” asserts an upbeat Wilson.

”Aside from the extreme environmental conditions typical to this continent, South Africa is also a very tough and competitive market,” states Van der Westhuizen. ”BMI and Chicago Pneumatic are a win-win combination. BMI’s full menu of excellent service, backup and customer support perfectly positions the company to address the challenges out there while the ruggedly designed Chicago Pneumatic products take climate extremes in their stride,” concludes Van Der Westzuizen.

The BMI Group was founded in 2010, their headquartered are based in Johannesburg and operates seven sales and services centres located in strategic locations across South Africa. With a highly experienced team, comprising a dedicated sales force and qualified electrical and mechanical technicians, the company serves customers across the whole of South Africa and Lesotho. In addition to offering sales of Chicago Pneumatic equipment, BMI Group also provides an aftersales service which includes maintenance and repair of CP equipment both from its four workshops and directly at customer sites via its mobile service