Cat playing a key role
01 December 2002
Caterpillar, supported by Oasis Trading and Equipment Company, has helped build and power projects in the Sultanate for over three decades. The Oman-based dealer explains how it ensures the durability of equipment and provides cost savings for clients.
aterpillar's earthmoving machines and power generators were among the first construction machinery used when Oman launched its development programme in the late 1960s and they have continued to play a major role in the Sultanate's growth ever since.
Oasis Trading and Equipment Company has a long and proud history of supporting Caterpillar products in Oman - taking care of a total of 1,800 Caterpillar machines and 2,500 Caterpillar generators. Remarkable too, is the fact is that some of these machines and generators delivered some 30 years ago are still in service.
Product support is what differentiates Caterpillar and Oasis from all other manufacturers and suppliers of earthmoving and construction equipment in Oman. Under the guidance of Caterpillar, Oasis' sales and technical staff are continuously updated with the latest developments in the business. Investment in the latest service tools and personnel training is looked upon as a high priority at Oasis Trading & Equipment Company.
The biggest challenge that suppliers face is how to meet the growing demand of a very price-conscious market for cost-saving solutions. Oasis Trading & Equipment Company meets this challenge by ensuring excellent spare parts availability for Caterpillar units operating within its territory, therefore providing maximum availability of Caterpillar machines - new and old.
All parts removed from Caterpillar components for repair or complete overhaul in Oasis' workshop are screened for reusability. Under guidelines from Caterpillar, dealer-trained technicians are able to assess if a given part can be reused to give a second life, thereby substantially reducing the cost of repairs and overhauls but still enjoying the dealer's warranty.
Exhaust emissions are an important issue in an environmentally-conscious country. The efficiency of an engine, therefore, is extremely important and Oasis has invested in state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that the fuel systems are tested and adjusted exactly to meet the manufacturer's specifications.
Hydraulic systems are particularly sensitive to contamination, which can lead to reduced efficiency and result in costly failures. A combination of oil sampling and particle counting can detect the presence of contamination.
With a 'Kidney Loop' machine, Oasis can quickly and cost-effectively clean hydraulic systems, eliminating the cost of disregarding contaminated hydraulic oils often necessary when undertaking repairs.
Scheduled oil sampling (SOS) is another cost-saving solution which can predict abnormal wear of components, enabling repairs to be carried out before a failure occurs.
These are only a sample of the cost-saving solutions from a long list of customer support programmes that Oasis Trading and Equipment Company offers Caterpillar owners.
The class of a manufacturer or dealer can be determined by the level of product support and Caterpillar and Oasis Trading and Equipment Company have always set the standards in this category, both in the short and long term.
