Keestrack enter the Japanese market

Belgium-based mobile crusher and screen manufacturer signs dealership agreement with Japanese distributor

IN March 2018, Keestrack – specialists in mobile processing technology – signed a dealership agreement with JCE Co. Ltd., based in Kanagawa, near Tokyo, whereby JCE will distribute Keestrack’s entire range of tracked mobile crushers and screens and provide full customer service through their nationwide after-sales network.

‘The Japanese mineral recycling industry is one of the most advanced sectors worldwide attaining recycling rates of more than 90% in almost all typical construction waste categories,’ said Michael Brookshaw, global distributor manager with the Belgium-based Keestrack Group.

‘Technical and environmental standards are very high, resulting in a very competitive market situation for both local and global manufacturers. Keestrack are now entering the Japanese market with a full range of mobile processing technologies – world leading in terms of modern hybrid drive concepts – and with their new distributor, JCE, offering professional and nationwide service and support for all relevant sectors.’

Founded in 1984, JCE have a staff of 33 and a turnover of approximately 1 billion Yen (€7.8 million). Since 2017 the company has been part of Hiroshima Hino Motors, Japan’s largest distributors of medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

JCE’s offering for the recycling industries consists of mobile processing plants and attachments for organic and mineral waste, including shredders, crushers, screens and stackers for both highly mobile urban applications and semi-stationary production at stockyards or recycling centres.

The company’s product portfolio covers both Japanese brands and leading international manufacturers. As exclusive distributors, JCE invest substantially in reliable after-sales structures, including wear and spare parts, nationwide support and comprehensive fleet rental.

‘Introducing Keestrack into the Japanese market, we’re definitely boosting our recycling portfolio for customers requiring highly productive mobile plants in excess of 150 tonnes/h,’ said JCE’s general manager, Yuji Yoshisako.

‘Japanese customers are very quality-conscious and have a great appreciation for state-of-the-art technologies. With Keestrack we meet both demands throughout all product families, which makes us a one-stop-shop for smaller, medium-sized and even large recycling contractors requiring more than 600 tonnes/h in combined processing lines.

‘Accordingly, the advanced Keestrack hybrid and electric plug-in drive concepts are a key argument for JCE’s sales experts: a fuel saving of up to 30% in stand-alone diesel-electric operation, even while supplying power to a secondary screener or stacker, is a direct benefit for our customers. Switched to the grid – as full electric units – Keestrack plants save up to 70% on energy costs compared with conventional diesel-hydraulic drive systems and allow emission-free operation in urban districts or sensitive areas.’

A full hybrid tracked mobile Keestrack K4e scalper made its Japanese premiere on the JCE stand at the 27th New Environmental Exposition Tokyo in late May 2018. The K4e is one of seven models from Keestrack’s scalper programme, ranging from 150 tonnes/h (K2) to 1,200 tonnes/h (K8). Unique in the market, all models are available in full hybrid plug-in ‘e’-versions.

‘All our scalpers are very flexible as highly mobile stand-alone units. With their innovative design and highly efficient screenboxes with a great variety of screen media, they also ideally complement our full hybrid jaw, impact and cone crushers as either a primary or secondary screen,’ said Michael Brookshaw.

‘With significantly low operational cost, when driven through the crushers’ diesel/generator units or switched to mains, these combinations guarantee high output rates of defined end products for both recycling contractors and small-to-medium-size pits and quarries.’