Machinery Row

Bandit Receives Presidential Award

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker presented Bandit Industries Inc. with the President’s “E” Award for Exports at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 16. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. This year, 123 awards were presented, with 72 awards going to manufacturers.

Bandit Industries President Jerry Morey and International Sales Manager Felipe Tamayo accepted the award for Bandit during the ceremony held in the U.S. Department of Commerce building.

Peterson Awards Komatsu Forest Dealer of the Year

Peterson Pacific, a Eugene, Oregon-based manufacturer of horizontal grinders, drum and disc chippers, blower trucks, and screens, announced Komatsu Forest Pty. Ltd. of Australia as their 2015 Dealer of the Year. This is the second time that Komatsu Forest Pty. Ltd. has won this award.

Peterson presented Komatsu Forestry Pty. Ltd. this distinguished award at the 2016 AusTimber Show in Victoria, Australia.

Barko Launches New Website

Barko Hydraulics announced the launch of its new website at www.barko.com. The website offers simplified navigation and extensive information on the company’s product lines, including loaders, harvesters, feller bunchers, forwarders, industrial wheeled tractors, and whole tree chippers. The site offers customer testimonials, product selection content, and feature and specification information for each machine.

Rotochopper welcomes new SE Sales Manager

Rotochopper, Dave Whitelaw, known to many in the wood and organics recycling industry as “The Grinder Guy,” to the sales team and is regional sales manager for Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. He has over 20 years in the business and his expertise includes high-speed grinding equipment, slow-speed shredders, screening equipment, and more.

Forest2Market Rebranding

Forest2Market Inc. announced a corporate rebranding initiative. This rebranding includes a revision of Forest2Market’s visual identity to more directly reflect the company’s expansion internationally.

Forest2Market began operating in the southern United States in 2000. The company’s current markets and expansion plans include the following timber-rich regions of the world: North America; Latin America—Brazil, Uruguay (2016), and Chile (2017); Europe—Scandinavia and the Baltic States (2016); Russia (2016); and Australasia (2017).

This global expansion will open the door to additional product and service offerings.

James Robert Pendergraft

“Jim”

July 7, 1945 – April 7, 2016

Jim passed away April 7th after a heroic fight with cancer. His will to live and effort last year to work hard to take care of his family and support his customers was simply unbelievable at best. From the onset of the illness, the first Doctors were floored by the sight of him sitting by the window in his hospital room working on quotes and deals. He hid his health concerns from customers for most of the year and would schedule chemo towards the end of the week so he could recover over the weekend to be ready to go on Mondays. Remarkably, he had one of his best sales years ever with Bejac in 2015.

We would speak every few days and it was tough not to find him in a very upbeat and positive mood. While he definitely loved his family, especially wife Patty, he truly enjoyed his customers and while Bejac was his employer, he had only one concern—taking care of his customers. Drinks always in tow, and lunch for the side rods when in the woods—his attitude was that you needed to know the guys on the job as well as the owners. Having spent time in the truck with Jim, it is safe to say everyone in the woods knew Jim.

Jim will definitely be missed. He leaves a legacy of dedication, ethics, and perseverance that will certainly leave a hole in this world where strong values seem to be the exception. I personally will truly miss him and hope that if my health were ever to falter, I would have the guts, determination and strength to fight as Jim did this past year.

Services were held on April 14th at the Ullrey Memorial Chapter in Yuba City, CA. Along with our Anderson staff and employees from other branches, over a hundred family, friends as well as past and present customers attended the service.

Provided by Ron Barlet/President

Bejac Corporation