WHAYNE-WALKER GO UNDERGROUND

(Published February 21, 2013)

Dealer Day One brings Hopeful message to Mining Industry

BELLE – A celebration took place, recently, at Walker Machinery and Whayne Supply companies.
As of Nov. 1, 2012, Whayne Supply and Walker Machinery companies had acquired, from Caterpillar Global Mining, LLC the Bucyrus equipment distribution and support business for their territories.
Whayne Supply and Walker Machinery are authorized Cat® dealers in Kentucky, southern Indiana, southeastern Ohio and portions of West Virginia. Monty L. Boyd, Owner and CEO of Whayne Supply and Walker Machinery companies, has established Whayne-Walker Underground Mining as the business unit to meet the distribution and support needs for those new products. This newly formed division has been integrated into the current operations to provide the best mining machines and support in the industry.
“Previously, we supplied equipment just to the surface mines,” Boyd said. Now, we have additional products in draglines, rope shovels, hydraulic shovels, hydraulic drills, former unit rig trucks and highwall mining machines that are added to our surface products we already offer to those customers. But, in addition to this, the biggest and most exciting thing is that we now have a full line of underground equipment, a market that we’ve never really participated in before that we are able to offer our customers.”
Nov. 1, both customers and employees were invited to several branches of both Whayne and Walker, for a Grand Opening to showcase the new line.
Tim McLean, Executive Vice President of Walker Machinery Co. is also excited about the opportunities the underground line brings.
“Whayne Supply and Walker Machinery companies have been providing the right machine, right parts and professional service to the surface mining market, for decades,” McLean said. “With the acquisition of Bucyrus, we will be able to provide more products and increase our support for the mining industry.
“Our expansion into the underground market is a game changer. We will continue to look forward, helping mining companies succeed. Whayne-Walker are now a one-stop shop for mining customers, including support and equipment for all types of surface and underground mining.”
Kevin Barnhouse, Walker’s Mining Division Sales Manager, which was surface only, has been appointed manager for the new underground mining division. He brings a lot of experience and is confident in the division’s new staff members.
“We added a lot of talent and experience to our team by hiring existing account managers and technical service representatives,” Barnhouse said. “These guys know the machinery, know our customers and they know how to support them. Our goal is to provide a very high level of service and support to our new underground customers.”