Welsh dealer for Sany

A newly-formed Welsh-based company, Tramor, has landed a multi-million pound exclusive dealership agreement with the Chinese Sany Group.

Tramor, based in Aberaeron, Ceredigion, in west Wales, will sell the Sany machinery range throughout mainland UK.

Sany Group claims to be the world's largest concrete machinery manufacturer. Its recent expansion into the European market has included the opening of a €100 million manufacturing plant in Bedburg Germany.

Xiang Wenbo, president of Sany Heavy Industry Group, said that in the engineering and construction machinery industry particularly, customers from different regions have different requirements for equipment according to their preferences.

"Going global should be based on localisation. Localisation involves not only products and talents, but also the production and operation system," he said.

As a result of the contract, Tramor said it would be creating over 20 new posts in various fields including engineering, procurement and sales, accounts and administration.

Tramor's directors, John Lewis and Rhodri Morgan, described the contract as a very positive move for the construction industry in the UK and would have immediate and encouraging economic implications for Wales.

Mr Lewis, with over 30 years in the industry having previously run a UK dealership, said they landed the deal after flying out to China and knocking on Sany's door.

"We had identified the need for an alternative brand of machinery for the UK and undertook extensive market research on possible companies. A business colleague advised us to go to China to meet Sany, which we did several times.

"It was only then that we realised the magnitude of both the Sany brand, and that the manufacturing capabilities of the company were on a scale never before seen in the UK."

The first consignment of machinery and spares, modified for the UK market, will arrive in Wales in the New Year, with an official launch and marketing campaign by both Tramor and Sany to raise awareness of the brand.