A joint-venture that will distribute Komatsu machinery between Saudi Arabian giant ALJ and Sumitomo has been officially launched in Riyadh.

A ceremony to mark the official launch of Abdul Latif Jameel Heavy Equipment (ALJHE) was held at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh with the Japanese Ambassador Jiro Kodera joining senior Saudi government officials and representatives of many of the leading companies in the Kingdom’s construction and industrial sector.

ALJHE paves the way for a fresh start in the Kingdom for the famous yellow machines. Mohammed Arif Chishti the managing director at ALJHE explains that the company’s entry into the heavy equipment sector would benefit from the continuing construction boom in Saudi Arabia.

“ALJ was a name that was missing from the very buoyant construction segment,” he said. “Recent investment into the heavy equipment sector is aligned to Abdul Latif Jameel’s commitment to advancing the development of the region. By providing world-class construction and allied equipment coupled with top-quality guest support standards, as well as Sharia-compliant financing, we are doing more than just supplying products.”

ALJHE will provide both sales and service support to customers. There are currently 4,000 Komatsu machines in the Kingdom and

While ALJHE began operating in 2013, the ceremony served as both its formal entry into the market as well as an opportunity to outline its plans for sales and service network expansion.

“Four custom-designed facilities are also under construction,” said Chisthi. “These new facilities will open to guests during 2015 and are designed with the most modern concepts; with specific attention to relation between core functions (sales, service and parts). Speed of parts supply is critical to equipment up-time, hence we have provided for adequately-sized parts warehouses with each facility.”