A family-owned business, KD Parts & Machinery has been involved in the heavy diesel industry for more than 40 years
Like a lot of Kiwi businesses, KD Parts & Machinery Ltd is a family affair. Dave Tennent, his wife Kathy, and son Bret, all have a part to play in the interesting and varied running of their parts and machinery business.
Dave has been involved in the heavy diesel industry for more than 40 years and is passionate about parts. Over that time, he has built up a network of contacts and suppliers all over the world and has travelled to the US, Japan, and China looking for companies who can help him in the search of sometimes hard-to-find parts, engines, and attachments.
Bret, who has worked as an engine reconditioner and mechanic, helps in the day-to-day handling of the importing and associated paperwork, while Kathy who’s an accountant by trade keeps an eye on things in her spare time at weekends.
“We’re not limited to some of the constraints that bigger companies face where they have several steps to go through before they can even begin to search for an item,” says Dave.
“Usually, it’s a simple matter of emailing the supplier or picking up the phone and letting the customer know about the options available, often within a few hours, thanks to the contacts we have built up.
“Airfreight has changed a lot over the years, and we have gone from taking a week to fly something in from Australia to where a part is often in Dunedin within 24 hours of ordering it. Usually, two days if it is ex-Australia and three to five days out of the US.”
A global network
Right: EDT rockbreakers
KD Parts doesn’t carry a large amount of stock. As the business services different makes and models, Dave says it would be impossible to stock it all. “Even the OEM dealers are often ex-Australia or further afield,” says Dave.
“Most customers can still have their parts from us before they are ready to commence a repair or rebuild.”
EDT rockbreakers and attachments have become an important part of the business. Dave has been importing from them for more than 10 years and has a lot of happy customers around the South.
“We are such a small market here in New Zealand, but we still get treated the same as their multi-national customers,” he says.
“EDT produces an excellent quality product and has made over 20,000 units as an OEM supplier for Caterpillar.”
KD Parts says they’re able to pass them on at competitive prices on an indent basis.
For engine parts, KD Parts sources a huge range from suppliers such as IPD, Reliance, PAI, Maxiforce, SBi, and others around the world. They can also obtain genuine OEM parts for some makes and models at competitive prices. In addition, they also source complete engines and components at prices that are often less than rebuilding back here. Old core engines are stripped, and the parts are stocked to help keep the costs down on rebuilds.
Dust control is another line that Dave has carried parts for over the years, and KD has a range of spray valves and attachments to assist manufacturing watercarts of all shapes and sizes.
“I love the business we are in. You are dealing with down-to-earth, hard-working people, and you never know what the next phone call enquiry might be for. Bring on the next challenge.”
For more information, contact Dave 0274 818 292, Bret 027 24 24 007, or dave@kdparts.nz