Swiss dealer Probst Maveg commemorates 40 years as partner of Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV

Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) wishes to extend its congratulations to Probst Maveg on their successful 40-year partnership. With origins dating back to 1945, Probst Maveg officially became a HCME dealer in May 1983, following the delivery of a UH033 medium excavator.

Forty years later, the family-run business is led by President Jean-Marc Probst and son Nicola, who joined the company in 2012 and became CEO in 2022. It serves the French-, German- and Italian-speaking parts of the country from its offices in Crissier (headquarters), Lyss (largest branch), Embrach and Osogna.

Years of quality…

The dealer brands itself as a high-end market supplier and always ensures that the machines it provides are of the highest quality, which explains its synergy with Hitachi Construction Machinery (HCM). Jean-Marc says: “The Hitachi name is synonymous with quality. We have found that the proportion of Hitachi Construction Machinery warranty claims are half that of our other suppliers.”

Probst Maveg has always opted for a personal approach to its customers, who specialise in road and general construction activities, and range from small independent contractors to large national companies. Together with HCME, it leads regular customer trips to the Far East, including HCM facilities in Japan, to create closer working relationships.

The company also prides itself on investing in its employees and apprenticeship schemes to recruit talented people. It’s important to Jean-Marc that the business embodies respect and employee care: “We’re a family company and every employee is a ‘name’ as opposed to a ‘number’.”

Committed to the future

The first construction machinery dealer in Switzerland to introduce a full-service package, Probst Maveg has further prioritised after-sales activities in recent years. It has dedicated significant personnel to this area of the business and made additional investments in spare parts.

“The emphasis on after-sales activities is vital to our business model,” says Jean-Marc. “You can sell the first machine to a customer through the sales process, but their next machine is more likely to be sold by a high standard of after-sales service. We’re therefore proactive in terms of selling our after-sales services and we receive a high level of technical and promotional support from HCME.”

Commenting on the company’s 40^th anniversary this year, HCM Chairman and Executive Officer, Hirano Kotaro says: “Probst Maveg has had a huge impact on the Swiss construction machinery market over the last four decades, increasing our market share considerably. It has been a pleasure working with them over the years, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership.”