Charlotte, N.C.-based ASC Construction Equipment USA, a provider of Volvo construction equipment in the Southeast, last week announced new locations and plans for additional facilities and other accomplishments to expand its customer support coverage.
In December 2004, ASC acquired the assets of the L B Smith heavy equipment dealerships in the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, eastern Tennessee and the panhandle of Florida. Over the past nine months, the company has successfully increased its number of employees by 33 percent, from 225 to 300, in key areas of customer support, service technicians, sales and other critical areas.
ASC now plans to add two branch locations, bringing its total number of branches to 14 in 2005. One of the new branches is for customers in the Greenville, S.C., market. The company is renovating and improving an existing 6,500-square-foot facility and is scheduled to open doors there Dec. 3. The company is renovating a second facility for customers in the Huntsville, Ala., market, and expanding it to 15,000 square feet. It is also scheduled to open on December 3, 2005. ASC has begun the recruiting process to staff these new locations.
Additionally, throughout this year, ASC completed significant makeovers and improvements of branch facilities in Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh, N.C.; and Savannah, Ga. Renovation work is continuing at the facility in Columbia, S.C., and is scheduled for completion in mid November. Remaining branch locations will be renovated throughout 2006. These makeovers have been designed for ASC employees to welcome customers and convey the quality values of ASC and Volvo, the company said.
"The investments, hiring, expansions and renovations to date, along with additional planned investments are a clear reflection of our mission to provide products and services with a high level of customer satisfaction," said Ron Huibers, chairman and CEO of ASC Construction Equipment. "The market can expect — and our customers can anticipate — even more aggressive expansion as we grow within our territory in order to increase customer contact."
Over the past nine months, the company also invested $3 million for 32 new service trucks, increased parts inventory and service technician training, hired an additional 25 new service technicians and upgraded its computer system. Huibers said that investment plans for 2006 include continued hiring, further improvement in spare parts availability, expanded training and additional branch locations, including construction of two new branch facilities in Atlanta.
