Contractors Sales 100 (FINAL)

Contractors Sales’ Expertise Positions Firm for Next 100-Year Run Over the past 100 years, the state of New York has added a seemingly endless array of infrastructure projects — streets, sidewalks, highways, freeways, bridges, airports, humanbuilt waterways — that have kept the state and its economy moving.

Very few construction equipment distributors in New York can boast of having been in operation that long, but Albany-based Contractors Sales Co. Inc. not only marks a century in business in 2023 but has supplied machines to many of the state’s most important building efforts over that time.

Decades ago, Contractors Sales had a hand in constructing such iconic Empire State projects as the New York State Thruway, the Twin Bridges project over the Mohawk River near Albany, and the St. Lawrence Seaway separating New York from Canada.

In recent years, the company has helped its customers upgrade New York City’s vast reservoir and water supply system, clean up hazardous PCB chemicals polluting the Hudson River, and build the Albany Airport Connector at Exit 4 of I-87 (the Adirondack Northway).

Many more municipal, county, state and federal projects have been created using the distributorship’s lineup of excavators, wheel loaders, surface drills, haul trucks and other heavy equipment that Contractors Sales’ customers have bought, leased or rented in the past century.

Two full-service equipment locations make up the company, employing a total of 30 people, and cover the needs of contractors, materials producers, municipalities and their projects throughout the eastern third of the state.

The main store is in the Albany area just off Interstate 87’s Exit 2 at 121 Old Karner Rd. in Colonie; a second, smaller branch operates in Middletown at 1283 Dolsontown Road., less than two hours south of the New York Capital Region District.

The heavy construction and aggregate equipment dealership is regarded as being staffed by one of New York’s finest teams of construction equipment professionals. Each of its major departments — sales, service, parts — have been molded to meet the needs of Contractors Sales’ customers as quickly, safely and efficiently as possible.

Among the many heavy equipment brands it markets and services in 2023 are Hitachi wheel loaders, Link-Belt excavators, Rokbak articulating haulers, Midland road wideners, Rawson portable screening plants, Rammer hammers, Sandvik surface drills and Anaconda crushing, screening and conveying units.

Contractors Sales’ current ownership group, Contractors Equipment Companies Inc., is headed by Zachary Manz, the dealership’s president

Very few construction equipment distributors in New York State can boast of having been in operation for 100 years, but Albany-based Contractors Sales Co. Inc. has done so and the company and team look forward to another 100-year run.

and CEO. The business was acquired in 2018 from Gerard Calamari, only the fourth proprietor in its history.

A sister distributorship to Contractors Sales was added this past January when the parent company announced the acquisition of Baschmann Services Inc. in Elma, N.Y., just east of Buffalo. Although it carries some of the same products as Contractors Sales, Baschmann works independently from the Albany-based dealership.

Company Choses to Stick to Its Albany-Area Roots When Contractors Sales first opened its doors in 1923 as an industrial tool and supply company in Green Island, N.Y., on the outskirts of Albany, all indications were that it was just another business riding the wave of the vigorous post-World War I American economic boom.

Depending upon how it was managed, it may have stayed in operation for a few years, or it could quickly become a total bust.

But under the leadership of its founder, Albert J. Mantica, Contractors Sales was still growing six years later, along with the U.S. economy.

Then the stock market crashed, ushering in the Great Depression that shuttered many businesses forever. The economy did not improve until the outbreak of World War II, when manufacturing for the war effort led to a massive economic expansion and helped make America the world power it is today.

During the lean years of the 1930s, though, Contractors Sales beat the long odds and was able to keep the lights on to serve its customers

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throughout the Hudson River Valley.

Mantica transitioned the business to sell construction equipment, according to Manz, and the distributorship “has been a customer service business for the industry ever since.”

Later, Mantica moved the dealership south to Menands, closer to Albany, then west to its current home in Colonie during the 1950s. It was during this time that he started a practice of opening temporary branches of Contractors Sales in areas where its customers were involved in building major infrastructure efforts.

By supplying heavy machines to contractors in its Syracuse branch, for example, the dealership contributed to the building of the state’s thruway, encompassing parts of I-87 and I-90, in the 1950s and ’60s. Additionally, a Watertown, N.Y., office and equipment yard for Contractors Sales kept the work moving on the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Over the course of the past 100 years, Contractors Sales Company has been skillfully managed by Ocean and improving the flow of goods for different ownership teams, three of whom were present at the event. (L-R) Steve Seaboyer, past president and owner; Gerard Calamari, past president and owner; and Zach Manz, current presiboth the United States and Canada.

Albert Mantica ended over 40 years as dent and owner.

Contractors Sales’s owner when he was succeeded by his son, John, in 1969. The company continued to flourish under the younger Mantica before he sold it to Steve Seaboyer, the first non-Mantica family owner, who ran the company for several more decades.

Zach Manz Calamari, who served as Seaboyer’s vice Contractors Sales president, became the distributorship’s next owner, operating it until Manz led the team that bought it five years ago.

Decades of Experience Shapes Company’s Future Manz said his family is proud of the mark the company has made on The 100-year-old New York equipment provider and its team still New York throughout its history by assisting with some of the state’s benefits from the solid foundation built by the owners and employees colossal efforts and wants to continue adding to its legacy.

“Those projects undoubtedly helped the company to expand and that came before them.

Among the key lessons the team learned was establishing an become more successful through the years, but our most recent growth has come about when we have had an additional permanent location for approach that would achieve the goal of total customer satisfaction.

To help facilitate that objective, Contractors Sales employs several Contractors Sales rather than just a temporary satellite location,” he said.

“Throughout the decades we have certainly provided a physical pres- current team members with 20 or more years of experience with the ence where and when it was needed to support the significant projects in company, according to Manz.

“That level of experience and tenure breeds deep-rooted relationships both New York and the Northeast.”

The distributorship’s sales territory primarily covers the eastern third and allows us to deliver the best support for our customers as a true of New York State south to New York City and includes all the New equipment partner,” he said. “Employee longevity and retention have England states — with the exception of Maine — and five counties of always been and will continue to be a major focus for the company.”

Manz’s own personal experience as a former customer and now northeast Pennsylvania for Sandvik surface drills, Manz said.

The emphasis at Contractors Sales leans primarily on its heavy, president of Contractors Sales, he said, has helped the team design a rolling stock inventory. In addition, it also now focuses attention on its vision for the company and execute its day-to-day operations.

“We are always looking to create long-term success for our cusaggregate equipment lines.

“That’s because our customer base is made of heavy highway con- tomers, employees and manufacturers,” he said. “Decades of insight tractors, material producers, quarries, developers, utility contractors — from our most experienced people also helps shape part purchasing really anyone that needs a true equipment partner for heavy machinery strategies, make maintenance and repair efforts more efficient due to like excavators, wheel loaders, haul trucks, surface drills, etc.,” he said. their equipment knowledge and ensures we are evaluating the right “More recently, we have also done some business with Anaconda equip- equipment to have in the fleet for our customers’ purchase, lease and ment on the crushing and screening side. We want to continue to have a rental needs.” hand in assisting our customers with the various types of work that needs continued on page 6 to be completed for safe, successful projects.”

“We are always looking to create long-term success for our customers, employees and manufacturers.”

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Congratulations

Contractors Sales Company

Douglas Industrial Co. 811 10th Street Watervliet, NY 12189 518-274-5091

Bolts • Nuts • Screws • Chain Wire Rope • Metric • USS & SAE Flats Stainless Steel Tytalloy Drills, Taps & Dies

Tony Scanu 518-339-1510 sales@douglasind.com

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felt we were ahead of our competition with inventoExpert Leadership Guides Dealership ry.”

Through Difficult Times He added that a “lot of credit for that goes to our Just as Manz and his team felt they were hitting team for having the vision to be able to adapt to what their stride in operating Contractors Sales in early was going on and at the end of the day feel comfort2020 after the 2018 ownership transition, the COVIDable that the decisions we were making were the right 19 pandemic aimed a sucker punch squarely at the ones despite the risk of spending millions of dollars to company and the U.S. economy as a whole. get that equipment coming without knowing just what Rather than playing offense, a solid defense against the economy was going to do.” the unknowns of the pandemic needed to be planned

by Contractors Sales. Fortunately, a few things broke Company Focuses On Strengthening the dealership’s way and coupled with strategic thinkPartnerships ing and experience, the company was able to meet the Among the plans Contractors Sales has in mind for challenge, Manz said. its continued growth as it begins its next 100 years is “Shortly after the pandemic hit, we were desigto carry on with facility remodeling and expansions of nated by the state as an essential business given our its Albany and Middletown branches in order to support for other essential companies building improve their features and capabilities. infrastructure and needing equipment,” he said.

Included in that is continuing to upgrade its parts “We were fortunate that many of our customers had that kind of work going on. As a result, we stayed Contractors Sales’ current own- and service departments to ensure they remain highly busy with supporting projects involving transporta- ership, Contractors Equipment responsive to customer needs, Manz said, as well as tion, utilities, housing and other essential construc- Companies Inc., is headed by focusing its efforts to have the right product lines that tion. Providing equipment, parts and service for Zachary Manz, the dealership’s fit well with what the dealership’s customers need.

Already, he noted, Contractors Sales is expanding companies working on those projects deemed us president and CEO. its inventory of equipment offerings to continue to essential.”

Many of the normal day-to-day practices at Contractors Sales needed best serve its customers as a premier partner.

Another avenue of future success, Manz believes, will likely come adjustments to keep its employees safe and adhere to the state’s guidelines, Manz added, “but we remained a team that worked together, from Contractors Sales “finding areas that make sense for us to grow despite in some cases being separated to maintain all the necessary safe- into so we can be closer and more responsive to the needs of our customers and the growing areas they perform work in. ty protocols to meet our customers’ needs and expectations.”

“Everything we do is with the intention of increasing the critical supAlthough business remained generally steady at Contractors Sales, a second major challenge presented itself to the distributorship in the form port for our customers as they continue to take on larger projects in varof the potentially devastating U.S. supply chain shortages that followed. ious areas of New York and the Northeast,” he added. “Any expansion The inability to obtain equipment and parts on a reliable basis could of one of our customers into a new territory may lead us to say, ‘OK, we have made for an existential crisis for any equipment dealer, Contractors can consider that same area to operate in.’ That also holds true if our Sales included, but though it could not have predicted the worldwide manufacturers need coverage in a certain area. We believe that the nature spread of COVID-19 and the resulting impact on supply chains, the of the industry has changed, and you need to have more than one or two company’s team found a way to keep itself and its customers stocked locations to be stable and really provide a nice breadth of products and services in a larger area.” with machinery.

Could that mean more expansion in western New York and “Going back to pre-COVID, it was pretty often if there was a need that came up, let’s say, where we needed a specifically equipped exca- Northeast, parts of the region that Contractors Sales has not ventured vator that we did not have in stock and needed it for either a long-term into with a physical location, Manz was asked.

“Expansion throughout the state and the Northeast is always evalurental project, a lease or a sale, we could usually locate one in a timely ated depending upon the need, the demand, and the opportunity,” he manner from Link-Belt,” Manz said.

“When COVID struck, we ramped up our purchasing because, for answered. “The way we look at things is we are open to, as I said, one thing, we had gone through a lot of our equipment and needed to meeting the demands of customers and our manufacturers to find rebuild the fleet; and two, we saw the writing on the wall that with so opportunities that may arise for expansion, whether it be through many shutdowns coming down the pipeline, the manufacturing capabil- merger or acquisition or through green fielding a new location.”

As the leadership at Contractors Sales continues to make its plans, ities at that point would put some kind of strain on the ability to get Manz and his team feel that, for the near future, the construction industry equipment in a timely fashion,” he added.

“Our team had ordered a fair amount of machines at that time and due in general will continue to have bright days ahead. They also keep a to a continual inflow of equipment it gave us the ability to be pretty close watch on economic trends and forecasts when considering how and where to steer the company. proactive identifying customers’ needs and meeting them.”

“Oh, certainly, and that’s why I use the word ‘responsible,’” he said.

The company’s fleet size was already growing prior to the pandemic, Manz said, so the Contractors Sales team continued to be bullish on the “We want to make sure what we are doing is also in the best interests of all our manufacturers, customers and employees. We don’t ever want to need to order more machines given the strains on the supply chain.

“We were proceeding with the thought in mind that, ‘Well, if this put ourselves in a position where we are in a precarious spot due to irrekeeps getting off the rails and there are extended manufacturing shut- sponsible and irrational decisions that were made. We very much have a downs, we want to make sure we have enough equipment for our cus- strong team mentality at Contractors Sales that is geared toward taking tomers,’” he said. “We stayed ahead of the game in terms of ordering and care of our customers, employees, manufacturers, and other relationalthough we definitely would have liked to have had more inventory, we ships. CEG

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Contractors Sales — Well-Stocked With High-Quality Equipment Lines When the current ownership bought Contractors Sales in 2018, they inherited a heavy equipment dealership that has provided contractors in New York State and the Northeast with many of the finest brands of construction and aggregate machinery available over the past 100 years.

Today’s lineup of top equipment in Contractors Sales’ inventory includes Link-Belt Excavators; Hitachi wheel loaders; Sandvik rock drills; Rokbak haulers; Rammer hammers; Rawson screen plants; Anaconda crushing, screening and conveying units; Midland road wideners and a variety of quality excavator and wheel loader attachments.

Contractors Sales also has the exclusive territory for the premier brands of equipment it offers to its customers, according to company President Zach Manz, backed by superior parts, service and customer support staffs at its locations in Albany and Middletown, N.Y. “Typically, our sales territory is defined as New York State, particularly its eastern third, as well as some counties of western Massachusetts, southern Vermont and northeastern Pennsylvania, depending on the brand,” he said. “We cover the Northeast, with the exception of Maine, for Sandvik surface drills.”

Anaconda offers a range of well-engineered portable crushing and screening machines, including jaw crushers, impact crushers, finishing screens, direct-feed screens, conveyors and some washing equipment as well.

ically designed to be adaptable to all types of materials.

The Irish manufacturer specializes in designing and making a diverse range of portable crushing and screening products for the construction and material handling industries, including jaw crushers, impact crushDealership Works Hard to Maintain ers, screeners, scalpers, feeding conveyors Its True Relationships and mobile conveyors.

One key point of emphasis for Manz and his Manz and the leadership team were interteam since acquiring Contractors Sales has been A Link-Belt excavator sold by Contractors to build on the legacy of being an equipment deal- Sales is hard at work on a project at West ested in growing the company’s equipment offerings, but before deciding on adding the ership that operates as a true partner to both its Point, N.Y. Anaconda line, they wanted to get some customers and the OEMs it represents. That means maintaining an inventory of premier equipment brands to meet input from its potential end-users.

“Our team spoke with customers to see what crushing and screening customer needs as well as helping its manufacturers make inroads into equipment needs they typically have, as well as their experiences with new markets.

Manz noted that Contractors Sales has long supplied excavators, certain product lines,” he said. “Another thing that went into it was what wheel loaders and haul trucks to highway contractors, material produc- was available to us. There were a lot of competitor products that were ers, quarries, developers and utility contractors, and will continue to being distributed in our area. We did some research on available options, but what eventually led us to Anaconda was that our new sister compafocus on doing so at a superior level.

But since he took over as president of the company, Contractors Sales ny, Baschmann Services in western New York, already had a relationhas looked to expand its offerings and diversify the breadth and depth of ship with the manufacturer.”

He added that Baschmann also covered New York for Anaconda, its overall product line to meet the project needs of customers and create and with its machines now marketed at both Contractors Sales locations additional opportunity for the team.

A good example of that is the decision to bring Anaconda in the eastern third of the state, the manufacturer’s products are now available at physical locations from one end of the state to the other.

Equipment’s products to Contractors Sales earlier this year.

“It is a good example of how we are expanding the dealership’s A global leader in the screening and stockpiling of materials for use in various aggregate industries, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, equipment offerings to continue to grow our footprint and better support slag and recycled concrete, Anaconda’s machinery is robust and specif- and partner with our valued customers,” Manz said.

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Contractors Sales has a longstanding, successful relationship with its wheel loader partner Hitachi, formerly Kawasaki/KCM. For decades, its team has worked hard to be a leader in its market, especially with utility and quarry size loaders.

Together, we have continued to deliver a quality product backed by preDiverse Line of First-Rate Equipment Available The Albany-based dealership distributes both new and used inven- mier support for our customers.”

Eastern New York area customers served by Contractors Sales often tory, Manz said, adding, “We have high utilization of our quality equipment fleet, so it is a combination of product offerings that lead to run the robust Hitachi loaders in quarry operations, although they also our success. Our fleet is always available for rent, lease, or sale — work well in other applications such as snow removal, waste disposal whatever a particular customer’s needs are at the time. We are always and highway construction.

Helping to perform those tasks more efficiently is the fact that Hitachi focused on creating a winning solution for our customers.”

The roster of equipment and machinery that Manz and his team of features wheel loader bucket capacities of between 0.5 cu. yd. and 12professionals offer their customers is impressive. Many of the compa- plus cu. yds.

Within the cab of each model is a comfortable operability designed ny’s top brands have been stalwarts of the distributorship’s product lineup for decades and have been a major reason for its continued for high work rates. Additionally, Hitachi wheel loaders are equipped with a range of technologies that reduce fuel consumption. growth over the past few years, he said.

For example, their Active Engine Control Systems employ sensors “Contractors Sales has had a relationship with Link-Belt Excavators for over 20 years and we put a lot of effort into being a strong partner for installed in multiple locations on each machine to instantly determine them,” Manz said. “LBX excavators are a premier product and we have mechanical motion and control engine rpms to assist the operator to run found that Link-Belt also has a first-class team and approach in their the loader with little wasted effort to achieve fuel reductions.

Midland Machinery, based in Tonawanda, N.Y., has produced a relationship focus with its dealers.”

The distributor currently offers more than two dozen different models variety of specialized road maintenance equipment for 50 years. Now, of the Link-Belt excavators, from the smaller machines to heavy-duty however, it concentrates its efforts on manufacturing eight different units with long-reach capabilities. All are adapted to perform in a variety road widener models. The offerings include six self-propelled units of applications including tight, urban spaces, highway work and quarry and Midland’s SA and WA series designed to be attached to the front of a bucket loader or motor grader. applications.

The newer self-propelled machines are proving to be innovative, pro“Link-Belt Excavators are a very popular product among contractors, especially in our markets,” he said. “Due to the quality and the support ductive and efficient. Each size has a specific market from municipal users to private contractors. of the brand, it will only continue to grow in popularity.”

A key component of that support is the five-year, 5,000-hour warranty continued on page 10 that comes with all Link-Belt excavators, giving customers peace of mind in knowing that the well-built machines are fully backed by the manufacturer through its quality dealers.

“It is a product line that is very effective and efficient,” according to Manz. “Operators of these excavators also really enjoy the feel of the machines. Plus, they are powerful and very fuel efficient at the same time.

Another of Contractors Sales’s major heavy construction product offerings is the Hitachi wheel loader, of which the New York distributor offers a full array of models.

Manz said the wheel loader line has been sold through Contractors Sales since the 1990s, when Kawasaki still made it.

In 2015, Hitachi Construction Machinery acquired Kawasaki’s wheel-loader manufacturing line.

“Contractors Sales has a longstanding, successful relationship with its wheel loader partner Hitachi, formerly Kawasaki/KCM. For decades, our team has worked hard to be A Rokbak RA30 articulated hauler and a Link-Belt 490 excavator are kept busy a leader in our market, especially with quarry size loaders. by a customer in New York State.

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Midland Machinery, based in Tonawanda, N.Y., has produced a variety of specialized road maintenance equipment for 50 years.

Contractors Sales sells and rents several portable screening plant models made by Rawson Manufacturing Rawson, including this Model 38304.

“Midland offers a specifically designed and unique niche product,” said Manz. “They have different variations — some are attachments, some are standalone self-propelled units — that are used by contractors, municipalities and other customers to back up a road’s shoulders, whether it is with asphalt or putting shoulder material down. Contractors Sales has enjoyed a long relationship with the company.”

It is hard to imagine a rougher and tougher off-road truck than the Rokbak articulated haulers sold through Contractors Sales. As a result, these vehicles are very popular in the dealership’s New York territory, Manz said.

“The Rokbaks are very workman-like trucks that are efficient at the same time,” he added. “The manufacturer offers two models, the RA30 and the RA40, and we have a number of units for sale and in our rental fleet at any given time for utilization by our customers. We continue to increase the amount of business with Rokbak in our area of responsibility.”

Both the RA30 and RA40 models were bred to take on hard-to-reach projects no matter how challenging the site — from quarries to infrastructure developments to commercial construction efforts.

The RA30 features a standard true independent front suspension that comes offering more operator control and comfort for operators to boost productivity, despite the conditions. For maximum safety, the RA40’s modulating transmission retarder couples with an efficient exhaust brake and oil-cooled multidisc brakes for total control — even on steep inclines.

In addition, the maximum payload capacity for the RA30 and RA40 is 31 tons and 42 tons, respectively, while the heaped capacity is 22.9 cu. yds, and 30.3 cu. yds.

Yet another of Contractors Sales’s highly-rated product offerings is the Rammer line of hydraulic hammers, specially crafted to work well in all rock-breaking applications. The product line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sandvik, a premier maker of surface drill rigs and longtime partner of the New York distributorship.

“Rammer manufactures a very powerful hammer and we have had great luck with them over many years as their dealer partner in our region,” Manz said. “Those units hit extremely hard and are most efficient at performing their tasks. Not only that, but they hold up extremely well given the applications they work in.”

He added that Rammer hammers are the ideal choice for working in the area the dealership covers due to the diverse types of geology in the region.

“We have a lot of hard rock like granite in our territory in New York, as well as limestone and shale, so the rock really varies in this area,” Manz said.

Contractors Sales has supplied Rammer’s tough and durable hydraulic hammers to virtually every breaking application in its territory,

A Sandvik Ranger DX800 drill rig at work.

Sandvik is among the many quality lines of equipment Contractors Sales carries.

whether it is a demolition, recycling, mining, construction or quarrying project.

Contractors Sales also sells and rents several portable screening plant models made by Rawson Manufacturing in Putnam, Conn.

“The Rawson screeners are another niche product for us,” he said.

“We have been able to enjoy a long relationship with the manufacturer.

They build a select number of units per year. It has been another solid product for us that has helped a lot customers to meet their smaller scale screening needs.”

Durable Aggregate Equipment Also Available Top-tier aggregate equipment is crucial for producing construction materials of superior quality and plays a vital role in ensuring that these materials meet the required standards for strength, durability, and safety.

With that in mind, under Manz’s leadership, Contractors Sales has been working to expand and improve its inventory of aggregate machines over the past several years.

For now, though, it already handles two of the more popular aggregate brands in Anaconda and Sandvik surface drills.

As noted earlier, Anaconda offers a range of well-engineered portable crushing and screening machines, including jaw crushers, impact crushers, finishing screens, direct-feed screens, conveyors and some washing equipment as well.

Manz and his team brought on Anaconda just last winter, but Contractors Sales established its relationship with Sandvik in the late 1990s as the manufacturer’s representative of its line of specialized and powerful surface drill rigs.

“We have a very deep-rooted partnership with Sandvik,” Manz said.

“We have well over 130 units in our area of responsibility that we currently support in some form or fashion. A big part of our history with Sandvik has been with its line of DC Commando surface top hammer drill rigs — multiple generations of smaller units typically used in dimensional stone and construction applications.

“Additionally, we have recently taken on more territory for these surface drills. We now cover the entire Northeast, with the exception of the state of Maine, including the entirety of New York and five northeastern counties in Pennsylvania,” he added.

Through Contractors Sales, Sandvik offers 30 different drill rigs in its portfolio, including surface top hammer, surface ‘down-the-hole,’ dimensional stone, and rotary blasthole units.

“We handle a variety of customers from those that drill and blast for quarry applications, to bluestone producers, to firms that are doing construction and performing services for projects that have the types of rock that require drilling holes for blasting or other reasons,” Manz said.

CEG

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Congratul ulations tions

on n 100 years from everyone at

Tim im Collins,, VP VP,, Comm mmercial Rela elationship p Manager

(518) 8)363-8123 | Tim.C im ollins@ s@bsnb.com www.bsnb.com o

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Success is a team effort.

Thank you to our team of employees and their families, our valued customers, OEM partners and vendors who have helped make the past 100 years a success for Contractors Sales. We look forward to the next century together as we strive to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction possible.

Zachary Manz, President

contractorssales.com

Albany, NY

121 Karner Road • Albany, NY 12212 (888) 412-0537

Middletown, NY

1283 Dolsontown Road • Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 956-0222

CONTRACTORS SALES COMPANY INC.

A CENTURY OF SUCCESS

100 years of incredible service doesn’t happen without steadfast dedication to your customers and your values.

We’re proud to continue to work with such inspirational partners and to be a rock-solid supporter of this iconic organisation. Congratulations – here’s to 100 more!

rokbak.com

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Contractors Sales Continues Investment Into Parts, Service While devising the blueprint to upgrade the main dealership for Contractors Sales in Albany, N.Y., the idea was to create and optimize space for every department, including its parts and service operations, and improve the company’s overall efficiency.

Since the purchase of the construction equipment distributor in 2018, ownership has placed an emphasis on improving the facility’s aging physical space, which the company has occupied since the 1950s at 121 Old Karner Rd. in the Albany suburb of Colonie.

It was part of their desire to continue to ensure Contractors Sales is the most responsive partner possible to both its customers and the equipment manufacturers that sell their products through the dealership.

The expansion brought an additional 3,800 sq. ft. of space to move the sales and administration teams to the same building as the parts and service teams. By doing so, the company is creating a path for future revamping of the parts and service department space. This brings the total space at the Albany location to close to 25,000 sq. ft. with 20,000 sq. ft. dedicated to shop space and parts warehousing.

Indoor Shop Space, Service Trucks Always Busy The indoor shop space in New York’s capital city includes a vast repair area equipped with overhead cranes designed to lift heavy equipment like Hitachi wheel loaders and Link-Belt excavators for technicians to make repairs. Nearby is a hammer pit to rebuild all sizes of hydraulic hammers and a full-size cylinder bench for repairs and Through Rammer, Contractors Sales has access to hydraulic hammers, reassembly of a variety of cylinders. pulverizers, grapples and shears.

Almost two hours south of Albany, the Middletown branch of Contractors Sales, located off Interstate 84, features another three service bays equipped to fix machinery brought in to quickly get them back on site. In total, Middletown features approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of shop and parts warehousing space.

Zach Manz said that the company’s shop and service departments are geared to doing “whatever is needed to get the job done properly, safely and efficiently for our customers.”

“Right now, for instance, we have 50-plus excavators in our fleet, and of those 50, almost every single one is out working,” he said in late September.

“To provide a premier level of repair and maintenance of the brands that we represent as an OEM dealer, we focus on training and developing our team regularly. Our shop and field technicians perform work from general PM services to warranty work to large scale engine and transmission jobs, along with everything in between. All that Contractor Sales’ shop and field technicians perform work from general PM services to warranty work work is performed between our two to large scale engine and transmission jobs, along with everything in between. shops and the field, and our technicians

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Drills await repair work in the Albany shop.

Many of their customers, too, continued to work on essential projects during the crisis, meaning they needed access to equipment, parts and service.

“We did implement a parts pick-up system because we obviously wanted to keep our team safe and follow proper government guidelines,” said Manz. “We were fortunate that a lot of our team had sufficient space to work that allowed them to come in and be in their own safe space.

“Additionally, we have a vast area for our service technicians that gave them the room to work by themselves, if not out on the road,” he added. “Our entire team did an awesome job at being adaptable to something nobody ever thought they would have to prepare for.”

are always busy.”

Manz added that Contractors Sales responds to equipment problems at its customers’ work sites by dispatching one or more of its well-equipped service trucks.

“Companywide, we have a fleet of five heavy-duty service trucks, and two support pickup trucks for our personnel to utilize when called,” he said. “We are always evaluating our service truck fleet to make sure we have high quality, safe and reliable vehicles with which to respond to customers’ needs.”

Parts Availability Never Wavered During Crisis When asked to describe the capabilities of the company’s two parts departments, Manz said that like Contractors Sales’s large equipCompany Keeps Large ment inventory, the parts team keeps a sigAttachment Inventory Close nificant amount of inventory on its wareat Hand house shelves to meet the demands of its Along with an extensive parts facility to loyal customers.

“We also have very good relationships Seen here is Contractors Sales’ hammer rebuild compliment the dealership’s diverse inventory of machines at both its Albany and with all of our manufacturing partners to center, including the hammer pit, in Albany.

Middletown locations, Manz said obtain what parts we need, and our that Contractors Sales is always people use technology to the greatmindful of keeping a sizable est extent possible to forecast what assortment of attachments on hand our stocking level requirements may be.” for use with its bigger machines.

That kind of agile thinking by “For instance, we have a large variety of buckets from different Contractors Sales seems to coarse manufacturers, given the scale of throughout the company as it also came in handy during the COVIDour wheel loader and excavator rental fleet,” he said. “Plus, all util19 crisis. ity size loaders and excavators are Although the distributor of construction equipment and machines equipped with quick-attach couplers.

Through Rammer, was able to stay open during the pandemic, it skillfully adjusted its Companywide, Contractor Sales has a fleet of five well equipped, Contractors Sales also has access business to keep its personnel and heavy-duty service trucks and two support pickup trucks for its person- to hydraulic hammers, pulverizers, nel to utilize for infield service and repairs. grapples, and shears.” CEG customers protected and healthy.

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Albany Facility Upgrades Create Welcoming Customer Experience To better serve its lengthy roster of constructure behind that which houses another tractors and customers, the leadership 10,000 sq. ft. of shop space. In all, we have team at Contractors Sales, led by Zach over 25,000 sq. ft. of covered space in Manz, its president, CEO and co-owner, Albany.” decided shortly after buying the company That indoor space includes Albany’s in 2018 that the facilities at its main locarepair shop where seven service bays are tion in the Albany suburbs needed continavailable, along with a dedicated hydraulic ued upgrades and expansions. hammer rebuild center and custom-built After all, the century-old heavy equipcylinder rebuild bench, both of which ment dealership has been operating from Manz described as having the capability to the same site in Colonie Township for perform rebuilds for almost all hammer close to 70 years. and cylinder sizes.

When Manz joined the Contractors In addition, the service bays in the Sales team, he began formulating a plan to Albany facility possess overhead cranes to invest in making upgrades that would work on the weightiest construction enhance the overall experience for cusmachines for its customers. tomers stopping by the dealership as well That means that Contractors Sales’ as help improve the facility for its employservice departments are always a hive of ees. activity, Manz said, to get both its cus“That property and facility was occutomers’ machines and rental fleet machines pied from the 1950s, and then just this past repaired, cleaned and rejuvenated as year, we made a significant investquickly as possible to reduce their ment to build a new sales and downtime and get them back to administrative space that also ties work. together all of Contractors Sales Albany’s departments — sales, Renovations Make Albany rentals, and product support — to Branch More Dynamic be a single location rather than the The result of the efforts to modmore segmented one that it had ernize the headquarters for been,” Manz said.

Contractors Sales over the past few “The project provided us with years is the company is now not additional space, meeting capacity only more capable in how it proand a more welcoming environvides solutions to its regional cusment for customers,” he added. tomers but also is more adept and “We had been interested in building dynamic in doing so. onto the main location for a while, That includes continuing to as had the previous owners, and by The office, sales and administration space alone in Albany now respond more quickly to contracdoing so it turned out wonderfully makes up 3,800 sq. ft. tors’ needs in times of crisis. for our customers, the manufacturFor instance, from its state ers and the entire team at Contractors Sales.”

Capital District Region location, located off Exit 2 of the New York Prior to initiating the renovation and construction effort, the original Thruway/I-87, Contractors Sales’ technicians are well-positioned when sales and administrative space encompassed roughly 1,500 sq. ft. and six called to hit the road to repair equipment breakdowns throughout eastern offices, Manz said. The expansion built an additional 3,800 sq. ft. onto New York State, areas west of Albany, or east into portions of the existing front building, shop space and service and parts departments Massachusetts and Vermont. where its technicians and parts professionals carry out their duties.

And although the expansion of the Old Karner Road dealership was “Our office, sales and administration space alone in Albany now not designed to add more space for excavators, wheel loaders or other makes up 3,800 sq. ft., and that is connected to the current 10,000-sq.-ft. heavy construction, aggregate and mining pieces to Contractors Sales’s building that includes the parts department, the service department, parts inventory, Manz said that “it does allow us to be more effective and effiwarehousing and service bays,” he said. “Additionally, we have another cient with our operations to maximize the usable space we have at our

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The Albany facility expansion consisted of an additional 3,800 sq. ft. onto the existing front building, shop space and service and parts departments where its technicians and parts professionals carry out their duties.

Albany location. Our team is always looking at how to be most efficient in delivering complete customer satisfaction.”

Contractors Sales Albany now boasts of a sizable base of operations on 3 acres, half of which is devoted to its outdoor equipment yard where the distributor’s entire inventory of products is lined up for review.

The range of machine brands and types is impressive, from heavy equipment products like Link-Belt excavators, Hitachi wheel loaders, Sandvik surface drills, Rokbak articulating haulers, and Midland road wideners, to aggregate pieces such as Anaconda’s line of portable crushers and screeners and Rawson’s portable screening plants, and a wide variety of excavator and loader attachments like Rammer hammers and MB brooms. CEG

In addition, the service bays in the Albany facility possess overhead cranes to work on the weightiest construction machines for its customers.

Contractors Sales’ addition to its Albany headquarters allows for the focus to remain on continuing to respond quickly to contractors’ needs in times of crisis.

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The Middletown branch’s proximity to the vibrant construction scene in that area of New York State made it an ideal location for the company’s newest operation.

Contractors Sales’ Middletown, N.Y., Branch Supports Areas Closer to NYC In its continuing effort to broaden Contractors Sales’ territory and offer its products and services to more customers, the dealership management team opened the 100-year-old company’s first permanent branch in Middletown, N.Y., in late 2019.

The company’s satellite location in Middletown is approximately a one-hour-and-45-minute drive south of the dealership’s main office in Albany via Interstate 87 and I-84, said Zach Manz, president and coowner of Contractors Sales. That places it squarely in the heart of the southern Hudson River Valley, and much closer to the northern suburbs of New York City, which include Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Sullivan counties.

The branch’s proximity to the vibrant construction scene in that area of New York State made it an ideal location for the company’s newest operation, he said, once Contractors Sales was able to finally get the facility ready to roll out a full team of talented personnel there in early 2020.

“Many of our core customers do a lot of work down in that part of

New York,” Manz said. “We saw there were many projects upcoming that our customers may bid on. Plus, we have done some business in the lower Hudson Valley, and I am a believer that we need to be dedicated and show our commitment to all our customers.”

Additionally, customers in northeastern Pennsylvania needing equipment from Contractors Sales can now be tended to via multiple locations.

“I felt that having a physical presence there would make us more accessible for the customers with whom we have had long-standing relationships. It has since turned out to be a good next step in the growth of Contractors Sales.”

Although a smaller version of the Albany dealership, Middletown’s approximately 8,000-sq.-ft. branch still offers all the same products and services as the main location of Contractors Sales.

Its team of six professionals, including sales, rental, parts, service and shop personnel, is well-versed in handling any and all customer needs, Manz said.

The Middletown branch’s shop area has three service bays and two dedicated service trucks equipped with truck cranes.

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service bays and two dedicated service trucks equipped with truck Company Not Shy About Making cranes to work on machines like the Link-Belt excavators, Hitachi wheel Operational Investments After researching just where the right place to open a satellite office loaders, and Rokbak haul trucks that Contractors Sales represents.

When asked if each of the two dealerships offer similar products and should be, Manz and his team settled on buying a relatively new building in Middletown on property just north of the I-84/U.S. Highway 6 services, Manz said, “Yes, are all primarily the same. Obviously, we have a dedicated team in Middletown and our area of responsibility is interchange.

“We acquired the building, shop space and property and then we saw specific to the counties around Middletown, but we stock the same types that there were some investments that needed to be made in the facility of equipment for rent and sale there that we do in Albany.” CEG in order to get it up and running effectively,” he said. “And obviously, we will always continue to invest in our locations and our team to improve our operations to support customer success.”

Manz added that the Contractors Sales team was fortunate to find an existing location that had a very functional layout with enough property to be able to house its fleet and other related equipment.

“There was some sitework that needed to be completed upon purchase of the facility and property, but it was much timelier to finish that work instead of constructing a new facility from the ground up,” he said. “This allowed us to be operational at that location within a matter of months after the purchase, as opposed to a year or more.”

The Middletown branch’s shop area has three Contractor Sales’ Middletown branch boasts an impressive lineup of Hitachi wheel loaders.

CONGRATU ULATIONS TO

Contracttors Sales Compa any Inc. ON YOUR Y

100 Ann niversary! th

FROM YOUR R FRIENDS AT

SERVING THE E NORTHEAST

1-800-334-LUBE (5823)) | www..polsinello.com

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SOME THINGS ARE JUST

Congratulations to Contractors Sales Inc. on 100 years of excellence and service to the heavy construction industry.

We’re proud to call you our client.

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