utequip.com » Sole Agents For Caterpillar

United Tractor & Equipment Limited is your Sole Authorized Distributor for Caterpillar products in Sri Lanka

Over the last 62 years, we have introduced many products and value added services that have helped our customers improve their productivity and profits. We represent many internationally reputed manufacturers of equipment to cater to the needs of customers involved in all aspects of infrastructure development, logistic support services, manufacturing, commercial and residential building operations.

Through our latest strategic partnership with ABC Computers who are a Premium Business Partner of HP in Sri Lanka we are now providing state of the art products and services to the delight of customers involved in all aspects of information communication technology

We are implementing 6 sigma methodologies to ensure that the service we provide moves toward perfection and our people can continuously enjoy a higher quality of life.

We have received ISO 9001:2000 certifications for our subsidiary company, Ecologic Systems, which provides waste management services to our customers, in our efforts to move towards a cleaner and sustainable environment.

By ensuring that we meet the needs of all our stakeholders we can ensure that Our Journey Continues…

Pioneering Days

While being a Ceylonese pioneer of the road transportation industry as far back as 1919, Warusahennedige Daniel Fernando established United Motors Limited in 1945.

This company imported Jeeps from USA. Very shortly after that, with independence from the British rule imminent, the new Ceylonese Government was planning to control the 62 mile long Gal Oya river and thereby develop for agricultural purposes its catchment area of 700 sq. miles. W.D., as he was fondly called, once again was able to anticipate that mechanized construction & irrigation equipment would be required and sought to obtain the Caterpillar Tractor franchise.

In order to meet Caterpillar's requirements a separate company had to be formed resulting in the birth of United Tractor & Equipment Limited (UTE) in 1947.

After the death of W.D. in 1953, Pin Fernando succeeded him as Chairman. Until that time Pin was known more as Sri Lanka's best golfer than as an entrepreneur.

Expansion and Diversification

UTE's fortunes fluctuated with diverse economic and development policies of consecutive governments.

In order to introduce stability through expansion and diversification, several franchises were negotiated for various types of industrial & agricultural equipment. Large-scale civil construction projects required heavy investment in Capital equipment and therefore it was only the Government Departments, which were able to carry out this work. When the opportunities to sell to these departments dwindled, UTE had to find other ways to increase turnover to meet its fixed overhead costs.

This led to Pin Fernando displaying his new skills as an entrepreneur, combining with M.S.M. De Silva, an outstanding civil engineer, who was then the General Manager of UTE, to take Sri Lanka's engineering skills to great heights by venturing into the construction industry.

Ceylon Development Engineering Company, which was formed by the family members of Pin Fernando in February 1959, very soon became the largest private sector fleet owner of Caterpillar equipment in Ceylon. CDE's success naturally encouraged other private sector contractors to follow suit. Thus a new market was created for UTE.

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The Dark Year

The introduction of import controls by the SLFP Government in 1970 affected UTE's franchise agreement with Caterpillar.

Therefore, it was not possible to officially carry out business as their distributor in Sri Lanka. However, through an agreement with the State Trading Tractor Corporation, UTE was able to import spare parts and thereby continue providing a limited service to its customers.

During this dark period in UTE's history, survival depended on other franchises, which catered to the agriculture and marine industry. Even the Government Railway became a customer when UTE achieved success in marketing locomotives to them.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

With the liberalization of the economy in July 1977, UTE purchased its present property at Union Place and 2 acres at Wattala.

This was a commitment that had to be made when applying for re-appointment as the official distributor for Caterpillar.

The speed at which progress was taking place in Sri Lanka created more opportunities than UTE could handle. International Contractors involved in the several multi purpose hydropower and irrigation projects under the accelerated Mahaweli Development Scheme, were pouring into Sri Lanka, bringing with them Caterpillar machines that were literally as big as houses. It was these International Contractors who demanded a standard of service unheard of in Sri Lanka at that time.

UTE had to make large financial commitments in tooling, training and spare parts, in order to respond to these needs. Although resources were depleted, by December 1978, land values had soared and the Bank of Ceylon had sufficient confidence to provide the required capital to UTE. However by 1981 and after the death of Pin Fernando, UTE's management skills had to be supplemented by expatriate experts who were familiar with the new systems and procedures required of a modern Caterpillar Dealer. It was this extra commitment that has today made us the leaders we are, in the field of Product Support Services for industrial equipment.

Leading the Industry in the 21st Century

In keeping with the changes in the marketing environment, UTE now has several business units, which cater to the special needs of the industrial sectors.

One of the business units is involved in Environmental Engineering, which is yet another pioneering effort by UTE.

Although the Industrial Products Division continues to produce steadily increasing turnover and profits, the main thrust of UTE's income is still derived from the sales of Caterpillar products. Caterpillar now manufactures a wide range of engines for electrical power generation, marine propulsion and locomotives and other industrial applications. Equipment Rental Services and the availability of reliable used equipment also support the ever increasing range of Caterpillar Construction Machinery and Value Added Services.

The privatization programmes of the Government have created opportunities for UTE to supply premium products into the large plantation sector and the ever growing food, beverage and manufacturing sector. With infrastructure development being the priority for the government over the coming decade, UTE is well placed to continue in its position as the leading specialist in providing equipment and related engineering services to the industry.

UTE with over 62 years in business recognizes that "Change is the only constant" and continues to improve its level of service by making appropriate investments in the ever changing field of Information Technology.

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