Diversified engineering group Metso’s mobile crushing and screening solutions footprint in Southern Africa has been given new traction with the October 1 launch of a dedicated Metso mobile business unit within the Barloworld group’s Handling division.

The transfer of Barloworld’s Metso business, previously part of Barloworld Equipment, to Barloworld Handling has the support of Metso Minerals Southern Africa. Metso Minerals Southern Africa ten years ago appointed Barloworld as sole distributor of the full range of Metso mobile crushing and screening equipment in Southern Africa.

For Metso’s mobile plant customers in southern Africa, it will be business as usual, with added focus provided by a dedicated resource. The Metso mobile team remains in place, headed by new GM Brandon Arnold, and will continue to provide optimised mobile crushing and screening solutions to construction, quarrying and mining customers in Southern Africa, with full aftermarket care.

Barloworld Handling is geared to help broaden Metso’s market-leading mobile footprint in Southern Africa, says Barloworld Handling SA chief executive Godfried Heydenrych. “The new business unit will benefit from synergies within the Handling division, which has an extensive sales, services and support network throughout the region. Our existing markets include those of the Metso mobile business, making this a good fit.”

Barloworld Handling has been the Southern African Hyster lift truck dealer for more than 80 years and also distributes the Massey Ferguson and Challenger product ranges through its Agriculture business unit. Over the past six years, Barloworld Handling’s strong customer support infrastructure has been instrumental in establishing SEM as a leading utility wheel loader brand in the local market. Similar synergies will benefit Metso, says Heydenrych.

Focus areas will include the strengthening of service capability and parts availability throughout Southern Africa.

“Our ultimate objective is to provide more dedicated time and support for the Metso product, ensuring that customers have the correct equipment, excellent parts availability and the highest levels of technical support in order to maximise their uptime and increase their production capability,” says Heydenrych.