MISSOULA, MT - Seven years ago, when SENNEBOGEN commissioned one of its first North American scrap handlers at the Tube City operation in Gary, Indiana, Lamont Cantrell was on hand to welcome the new equipment line to these shores. As a veteran equipment professional, he could see then that the green machines were a winner. Within a short time, however, Cantrell had relocated from the Midwest to the Pacific Coast and SENNEBOGEN material handling machines were no longer in his sales inventory.

Now, Cantrell is backing a winner again. “Brian Sheridan (President of Modern) and I began discussing the SENNEBOGEN line as soon as I arrived at Modern.” “We told SENNEBOGEN then that, when the time was right, we would welcome the change to take on the product.” As Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Modern Machinery, Cantrell and the Modern management team recently decided that the time was right for Modern Machinery to represent SENNEBOGEN throughout a large territory in the Pacific Northwest. Cantrell continued, “We are looking forward to getting our people up to speed on all facets of the machines. We felt the time was right and the initial reaction from the marketplace confirms that for us.”

Constantino Lannes, President of SENNEBOGEN America, announced that Modern Machinery, based in Missoula, Montana, has been appointed as SENNEBOGEN’s exclusive distributor for the states of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The firm will also serve several counties in northern Wyoming. “We are pleased to have Modern and their team represent SENNEBOGEN. Their reputation for excellence in customer service and attention to detail is a perfect match to our business philosophy. Furthermore, with 11 locations across the territory, they provide us with excellent coverage.”

Modern Machinery is widely known as one of the premiere distributors for some of the world’s leading equipment brands in the construction, demolition & waste recycling and forestry industries. Cantrell sees the green machines as an ideal fit for his customers. “Scrap handling will be our main focus for the SENNEBOGEN line,” he says. “We’ve been active in the scrap industry for many years. The opinion of our ferrous-based customers was an important factor in our discussions about bringing in the line.”

“We have a pretty simple philosophy here,” he continues. ”It’s just ‘Ask the customer’. Modern Machinery was built on understanding their needs and finding solutions.” It’s an idea that fits well with the SENNEBOGEN approach to business, as Cantrell learned years ago when he first met the Managing Director of the SENNEBOGEN Group, Erich Sennebogen Jr. As a family-owned business, SENNEBOGEN is recognized for building strong relationships between the factory and the end-users of its equipment worldwide.

In just a few years, the growing range of SENNEBOGEN machines has established itself as the leader in scrap handling applications through the steel-belt states of the east and Midwest, while sales have continued to expand into new markets. Today, Modern sees excellent prospects for SENNEBOGEN’s newest entry, the 305 Multihandler, among their recycling and waste handling customers.

SENNEBOGEN will also reinforce Modern Machinery’s presence in forestry applications. SENNEBOGEN log handlers have been appearing in loading and picking roles for mill yards and transfer stations at a growing rate. Modern has already placed a SENNEBOGEN 825 M rubber-tired machine with one log yard in the Medford, OR area, along with a number of scrap handlers sold to recyclers. Just 60 days after officially taking on the line, Modern Machinery has a total of 8 SENNEBOGEN machines in the field. “The orders have now been placed for additional stock units, including the 305 Multihandler as well as a large parts inventory to support our customers, just as we do with all our products. Furthermore, schedules are being drawn up to provide factory training for sales staff and technicians”, said Cantrell.

About SENNEBOGEN

SENNEBOGEN has been a leading name in the global material handling industry for more than 50 years. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SENNEBOGEN America offers a complete range of purpose-built machines to suit virtually any heavy lift or "pick & carry" application. A growing network of distributors supports SENNEBOGEN sales and service across the Americas, ensuring the highest standard of professional machine support and parts availability.

- AUGUST 2007 -