Wajax and Hitachi to expand Canadian distribution

Starting in March 2022, Wajax Corporation and Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. will expand their current Canadian direct distribution relationship to include construction excavators, mining equipment and related aftermarket parts.

Since 2001, these products have been supplied to Wajax via a third-party joint venture partner of Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM). That joint venture will be dissolved, with an expected dissolution date of February 28, 2022.

The expansion of the direct relationship between Wajax and Hitachi is expected to strengthen the competitive positioning of both companies in the Canadian construction and mining markets.

“Hitachi is Wajax’s largest manufacturing business partner and a very important contributor to our strategy,” said Wajax’s president and CEO, Mark Foote.

“We are very pleased that our direct relationship will be significantly strengthened. Working directly with our partners at Hitachi will provide Wajax with enhanced access to product development and improved market responsiveness. We look forward to building on this already strong partnership in the core markets of construction and mining, as well as in additional areas in the future.”

Simon Wilson, Hitachi’s vice-president of sales, noted that the Canadian market is key to Hitachi’s strategy. He said he expects the change to increase the company’s market share.

Founded in 1858, Wajax is one of Canada’s longest standing and most diversified industrial products and services providers. It proves sales, parts and services to a range of customers in diverse sectors of the Canadian economy, including construction, forestry, mining, industrial and commercial, oil sands, transportation, metal processing, government and utilities and oil and gas.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, a manufacturer of construction and ultra-class hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, rigid frame dump trucks, compaction equipment, applications and mine management systems.