Dutch LM Trac dealer becomes part of large machine company

Finnish built LM Trac multipurpose machines have been sold in the Netherlands for almost 40 years. What was once a short encounter at an international trade fair eventually became a decades-long success story, and there is no end in sight.

The dealer's name has changed a few times along the way, but the people who have operated with LM Trac have largely remained the same. In recent years, Pols B.V. has been responsible for import and resale, which became part of the large SMT group last summer through acquisitions.

SMT's massiveness is best described by its turnover, which is around 1.5 billion euros. The group has 2,500 employees around the world. The operations that began in the Netherlands after World War II have expanded to the current representation in 22 countries. There are also over 20 machine brands represented. SMT Netherlands aquired Pols and belongs to SMT Group

The Kuiken group started in Netherlands as oldest independent Volvo CE dealer worldwide in 1946 and was aquired by SMT in 2015. Another major brand, Sennebogen, joined the company in 1994. SMT reports that it has already delivered over a thousand of these material handling machines for ports and various terminals to nearby markets.

In addition to sales, SMT is also a significant player in the rental of large machines. There are several hundred items available for rental. SMT Netherlands advertises itself as a full-service company for earthmoving, material handling, compact machines and recycling in the Dutch market. The company's growth over the past ten years has been tremendous. SMT initially focused on African market and bought the Kuiken Group who focussed on Benelux market. Company has since expanded to include representation of the aforementioned machine brands in the United Kingdom, a few states in the United States and almost a dozen African countries. This, if anything, is proof that the Dutch are a trading nation.

Pictured above : Jorik Kuiken (right), Managing Director of SMT Netherlands B.V. visited the manufacturing of LM Tracs in Rauma. Rob Teunisse (left), Managing Director of Pols B.V., which is responsible for the distribution of LM Trac machines in the Netherlands, also accompanied him on the trip. In the middle is Lai-Mu CEO Ari Lindholm.

Pols B.V.

Pols has now been operating as an importer and distributor of LM Trac multipurpose machines manufactured in Rauma since 2021. The basis of the operation is the already sold stock of over 1,500 LM Tracs, mainly in the Netherlands. The brand therefore has a strong foothold in the market, which employs maintenance and spare parts operations and partly supports sales.

The company employs 85 people and generates turnover of 55 million euros. In addition to the property maintenance and greening sectors, Pols is a significant player in the recycling sector, which fits well with SMT's visions. Pols represents about a dozen machine brands in the aforementioned industries. The operations are focused on the Benelux countries, but with this acquisition, some of the brands represented by Pols may have opportunities to expand to other countries where SMT has representation, such as LM Trac.

Factory visit

In February, Rauma saw prestigious guests when SMT Netherlands Managing Director Jorik Kuiken and Pols Managing Director Rob Teunisse visited the manufacturing of LM Tracs. The men were pleased with what they saw and believed that the cooperation would deepen even further with the acquisition last summer.

“Synergy benefits can certainly be achieved, especially for the Rauma brand,” said Jorik Kuiken.

For example, SMT’s strong involvement in machine rental creates new channels for the availability and delivery of LM Trac machines. Kuiken believes and also promises that Pols’ efficient maintenance and spare parts service will ensure that the country’s LM Trac fleet is always in working order. All of this now comes with the support of a larger company.