Newsletter - November, 2008

View the PDF (2.8 Mb)

In this Issue

• A Letter from the President
• Product Update : Elgin and UD Trucks
• Welcome to the Team: New faces at Owen Equipment
• Elgin's new WEARMAX Carbide Drag Shoes
• Nozzle Schools - Call today to get in!
• Specials

A Letter From the President

Everywhere you look, things are changing. Summer is gone and fall leaves are already hitting the streets. The fluctuating economy is on everybody’s mind and by the time you read this, we may have elected our next American President. Whoever wins the race has a huge job to do and I’m sure there will be many more changes for all of us over the next four years. Let’s just hope they are all good ones and we can get our economy and world in a better place than it is today!

At Owen Equipment, things have been changing for the last two years. We have been working hard to build and solidify our Team, and our service, in our quest to be the industry leader. I believe we are well on our way and there’s no doubt that we are far from the company we were just 26 months ago. Here are a few of the changes we have made since our last newsletter:

Van Brandtner has joined our team as Corporate Parts Manager. Van has been in parts management for over 25 years and has been a great addition. Van’s goal is to continue to strategically build our parts inventory so we have the right parts when you need them. He is also tasked with working with our manufacturers for volume pricing so we can pass more savings along to our customers. If you have any questions or input please feel free to contact Van at any time; he can be reached at our Portland office or on his mobile at (503) 539-3469.

You may have heard a new voice on the phone in Kent as well. Joining Vicki Blomquist in product support sales is Aubrey McCarney. Both Vicki and Aubrey have proven to be thorough, energetic, customer-service focused and highly committed to providing the very best service possible.

Joining our outside sales department in Kent is Dereck Case. Dereck is responsible for full product line sales In King County and north to Canadian border. Dereck has been in Equipment sales for twelve years and he has already been to the facilities at Vactor and Elgin getting fully trained on those products. I am confident you’ll find that he has great knowledge of the industry and our product line, and that he’s committed to you, our customer! You can reach Dereck at our Kent office or on his mobile at (206) 304-2953.

Dave Armstrong, Western Washington Manager, is now directly responsible for sales and support for our full product line from Pierce County south through Lewis County. Many of you have met Dave and have seen first-hand his dedication to taking care of the customer and providing superior levels of service! You can reach Dave at our Kent location or on his mobile at (206) 304-1185.

As Owen Equipment looks forward into 2009 we will be adding several new lines to round out our environmental and maintenance product offerings. Our business plan dictates that we sell only the very best products available so we are researching and talking with several manufactures. A lot of manufactures are offering exclusive distributorships; however, our goals and standards will not change: we will only sell the very best products backed by the very best service. With this goal you can rest assured that when you choose Owen Equipment as your vendor, you will be investing in the very best products available! You can also rest assured that we will be here to back those products with the service that you deserve and have come to expect from us.

In closing I would like to say thank you for making 2008 a record year for Owen Equipment. Our entire team understands we must earn your business and we know every sale we make is due to a choice you make! We sincerely appreciate it every time you choose Owen Equipment! So, again, thank you for your business and as we move into the fall and winter let me the first to wish you a SAFE and happy Holiday Season.

Elgin and UD Trucks

Earlier this year, Elgin partnered with UD Trucks to make available the most optimal cab over commercial chassis that has ever been available to the sweeping community. This chassis is built exclusively for Elgin Sweeper and boasts more comfort, safety and productivity features than any previous sweeper chassis. UD TRUCKS bring years of work truck experience to the UD 3300. Below are some of our favorite features of the new UD Chassis. Click here for a complete product brochure (2 MB PDF).

Unbreakable, economical Nissan Diesel engines
The UD3300 model features the inline six cylinder MD230 engine as standard, producing 230 horsepower and 506 pound feet of torque. It features four valves per cylinder for easier breathing versus the ordinary two-valve design. The engine has turbo-charging, intercooling and a common rail fuel system for outstanding performance and economy. For outstanding longevity the engine incorporates a rugged cast iron cylinder block with replaceable dry liners, offering time-saving, cost-saving in-frame overhaul capability if needed. The Allison RDS 2500 5-Speed overdrive automatic transmission is standard.

Shock-absorbing driver seat, cab suspension
All UD TRUCKS include an independent cab suspension system as standard equipment. Designed to handle rough country roads and city streets.

Greater aerodynamic efficiency
UD TRUCKS efficiently manage airflow over and around the cab with windshields curved top to bottom and side to side, smooth round cab panels, flush-mounted turn signals and streamlined clearance lights. These aerodynamic features help save fuel on the highway where overcoming air resistance can consume a large percentage of a truck’s horsepower.

Comfortable and secure entries and exits
The UD TRUCKS entry system makes climbing into and out of the cab smooth and easy. The corrosion-resistant aluminum steps are set low for easy reach; their deep, self-cleaning surfaces promote sure footing even in bad weather. Grab handles are right where they should be. And the doors open wide – 86 degrees. Keyless entry is standard equipment on every UD TRUCKS model.

Dual OR Single Steer
This Elgin exclusive chassis is available with single right hand steer. This right steer configuration that has been the standard for sweeper trucks all over Europe, is finally available in the United States.

• 3 Year Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty - INCLUDES TOWING! Standard on Every UD Chassis
• Huge Dealer Network (two dealers in Portland, three in the Seattle area)
• Increased Cab Space
• Right Hand Steer Only Option Saves on Total Cost of Manufacture

Welcome to the Team

In our continual effort to improve the service we provide to our customers, Owen Equipment has recently made some very valuable additions to our team.

Van Brandtner joined Owen Equipment this May to lead the Parts Department to new levels of efficiency and customer satisfaction. He has twelve years of inventory management in both the dealer and rental center arenas; eight of those years included working directly with municipalities and contractors to provide timely deliveries given the purchasing requirements for these specialized industries.

Already, Van has proven himself to be a “working” manager, having rolled up his sleeves to streamline the stock rooms and improve internal communications for follow-up, accuracy and timeliness of parts deliveries.

Van has lived in the Portland area his whole life and enjoys boating, fishing, Nascar and drag racing. Married for 33 years, Van and his wife, Diane, have five kids.

Dereck Case joined the Owen Team in August and is now responsible for customer support and product development in King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom Counties. Born and raised in the Puget Sound area, Dereck has a great understanding and knowledge of his territory which will enable him to maintain his dedication to excellence in customer service.

With twelve years experience in the sales and rental industry (eight of those years dealing directly with municipalities), Dereck is sure to be a great addition to the Owen Team. After work Dereck enjoys spending time with wife Jennifer and 8 month old son, Cooper.

Nozzle Schools are BACK!

Nozzle School is a great way for your organization to educate new hires and update your more experienced operators on some new technologies in sewer cleaning. We’re gearing up for our next round of nozzles schools in November and December. Watch the web site for updates, or call (800) 992-3656 to make sure you don’t miss out on this valuable training tool!

• Flow vs. Pressure - maximizing your nozzles’ performance
• Nozzles - choosing the right tool for every job
• Cutters - what to use to “cut it out”
• Nozzle Technology - the power of simplicity
• Jetting Safety - tips... and stories of close calls
• Up close and personal with an above ground demonstration