Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200
Fri January 16, 2009 - Northeast Edition
Braving uncertain weather, deadlines and schedules, plus the heavy demand of end-of-the-year commitments, a large number of companies attended the latest round of Milton CAT workshops.
“People want to know how to best take advantage of the economic incentive package and of Section 179 of the IRS Code,” said Customer Experience Champion Eric Griffin. “And of course, hearing that there may be financing opportunities they didn’t know existed, prompts even the busiest person to decide to take a look at what’s available to them.”
The workshops ran in several locations across the Milton CAT territory, and featured talks by Joe Kohler and John Zujewski from Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, and Steve Davis, from FCC Equipment Financing. FCC is a division of Caterpillar Financial that focuses on ancillary or complementary lines such as on-highway trucks, crushing and screening equipment and aerial lifts, as well as delivering unique financial products. Being able to hear directly, from the mouths of experts, about new financing options, and having their questions answered and any doubts cleared, was of great value to those attending the workshops, according to guests.
Griffin, who was responsible for organizing these events, said that it’s Milton CAT’s philosophy to support its customers in innovative and valuable ways, beyond being a complete, one stop resource for equipment and machinery.
“Our customers count on us to stay ahead of their challenges and back them up so they can respond to new opportunities, and we’re committed to doing exactly that.”
After the presentation, small groups were led by hosts who conducted a guided tour of Milton CAT’s facility, stopping to take a closer look at special sections within the overall operation. Visitors had the opportunity to see first hand the investments made by the company in areas such as CAT certified rebuilds, electronic tools for fleet maintenance and monitoring and parts inventory and ordering systems. The visit ended with a sit-down meal, during which more questions were asked and comments shared by the guests and Milton CAT staff.
Today’s Financing Is Not Your Father’s Financing
There are financing choices that didn’t even exist a few years ago, ranging from equipment equity lines and working capital loans, to structuring loans with skip payments in the slower months, or negotiating an interest-only payment plan. In addition, because CAT Financial and FCC specialize exclusively in financing for the construction industry, their staff understands the changes, challenges and cycles of that segment, and can see the big picture behind a particular case.
Interest and attention were high, and so was a feeling of camaraderie; members of the audience were clearly comfortable sharing tips and comparing their experiences. According to Griffin, the success of the financial seminars can be measured by the high attendance but also, as Griffin concluded, “in the high number of requests for more information on the topic, as well as for follow-up appointments with the speakers.”