BIA and Komatsu strengthen their presence in the Netherlands

2019 will be an important year for BIA and Komatsu in the Netherlands. Both partners have high ambitions and a clear vision to break further into the Dutch market: "The Netherlands is of strategic importance to achieve the BIA Group's growth objectives. We are already in a positive evolution, but the time has come to pick up the pace. Our name will become much more visible in the coming months. With Komatsu as a partner, we are resolutely committed to innovation, proximity and service," said Gregory de Jacquier General Manager BIA Benelux.

CEO Vincent Bia: "The BIA Group aims to be a reliable partner and leader in the various sectors in which we operate. The investments in the Netherlands are a logical consequence of this mission. With these developments, we not only strengthen our own market position but also our ability to help our customers achieve their goals."

New Sales Manager BIA bv
On 02/01/2019, Bernhard Zoutewelle will be appointed Sales Manager at BIA bv. With over 16 years of sales and marketing experience in the world of construction and earthmoving machinery, Bernhard Zoutewelle is no stranger to this particularly dynamic business. With his extensive market and product knowledge, he will therefore provide great added value in achieving BIA's ambitious objectives in the Netherlands.

BIA bv bets firmly on rental market
After the very successful experience in Belgium, BIA will expand its rental activities in the Netherlands under the MATRENT label starting this spring. Customers will be able to choose from a fleet of Komatsu machines distinguished by their thorough innovation and legendary reliability. Eventually, about a hundred machines will be offered. With this, BIA meets the growing demand for flexible and cost-efficient solutions in the short and long term. MATRENT will be managed by Arjen van Gangelen who has more than 18 years of experience in the sector, a large part of which in machine rental. This important new activity will be further developed into the future as one of the strategic pillars of the BIA offering.

New headquarters BIA bv
BIA is building a new headquarters and workshop in Apeldoorn. It involves an investment of more than 5 million euros. The building will be occupied in early 2020.
Thanks to the better accessibility along the junction of the A50 and the A1 in Apeldoorn and the very spacious workshop of 1400 m², BIA bv will be able to respond faster and more flexibly to the needs of its customers. Patrick Schothuis, Country Manager BIA bv: "In order to follow our growth perspectives with adequate service, it is necessary to expand the workshop. Something that is impossible in our current premises. The offices are also somewhat outdated. The new office facilities and state of the art workshop will enable us to focus even more on our customers."

New service center
To better serve the western part of the country, BIA will open a totally new service center in the region between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The brand new workshop of more 500 m² is not only bigger and better equipped but, thanks to its central location in this economically strong region, is a lot closer to the customer. The new service center will also be a MATRENT rental point.

Extensive Utility Partner network
BIA is also expanding its Utility Partner network for the sale, rental and service of the lighter Komatsu machines (up to 13 tons). This year, spread across the Netherlands, ten Utility Partners will be active. Each of them will be professional players who, each in their own region, will put the light Komatsu range on the map.

Technology and Innovation
BIA and Komatsu are both pioneers in technology and innovation. The globally proven Komatsu intelligent Machine Control technology allows for more precise, faster and more efficient work with the end result being a particularly refined finish and productivity up to 30% higher.
Komatsu is also the absolute leader in hybrid technology. The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the Hybrid excavators are up to 40% lower; a not insignificant factor in the Netherlands given the MIA and Vamil regulations. Moreover, the machine operates a lot quieter.
The BIA SmartFleet platform is an in-house development that gives the customer a total picture of the performance and location of all his machines at a glance, regardless of make or type. Important KPIs such as consumption, CO2 emissions, load, idling, operating hours, etc. are displayed on one dynamic dashboard. In this way, the owner has perfect control over the total cost of ownership of his fleet.