Case Equipment

[GeoffD]

A Friend of mine has an chance to start working as a Sales Rep Selling Case and Kobelco Equipment.

What are your thoughts on Case and Kobelco?

Geoff

[cat320]

I like case but i might be bias because I have one Kobelco have never run so can not give an opinion on it .

[Dirtguru]

For many years Case TLB's were the industry standard but that has changed in the last 15 years. Cat and Deere have made major strides claiming market share in the TLB arena. That said Case still makes an excellent TLB. Have a good friend and occasional competitor who has a 99 Case 1150 dozer with a PAT blade and winch/arch combo, has been very happy with it and the price was right. I have put a few hrs on his machine and found it to be a good machine, independent track speed control is a nice feature. Blade control lever a little uncomfortable and his machine is equiped with an accelerator pedal?? This is a bit strange.
Don't have any exp with Case excavators and don't see to many around the Pacifac Northwest. Have rented and operated Kobelco's for a number of years and have been very impressed, almost purchased an SK160 late last year but the store manager who was also my rental rep changed the deal two days before new years, won't be buying a Kobelco anytime soon. Have been told that Case, Kobelco and Sumitomo are all now under the same umbrella. Case and Sumitomo excavators are the same and will be built at the Sumitomo plant in Korea. Kobelco's for the time being will continue to be built by Kobe Steel in Japan. Kobelco's parts and service have been good in my exp. Can't speak for Case and have only seen one late model Sumitomo around here and it's dead so I would be inclined to have concerns in that regard.

A Chapman