Industrial products supplier Dowson & Dobson will showcase its range of Mighty Seven (M7) pneumatic air tools at this year’s Automechanika trade fair, which will target trade visitors from sub-Saharan Africa and will run from May 8 to 11 at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg.

Introduced to the country in 2011, the international trade fair is organised by German events coordinator Dogon Exhibitions & Events and is aimed at the automotive industry. The fair experienced its most successful launch in South Africa since the brand went global in 1997.

“This will be the first time M7 is showcased at the event and we believe it will provide great exposure for the product range in the country and across Africa – M7 is sending out a team from Taiwan to join us in manning the stand,” says Dowson & Dobson director Terry O’Kelly.

The event is currently held in 12 cities in 11 countries worldwide, with Russian shows in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

O’Kelly says the company has been South Africa’s major distributor of M7 tools for almost five years.

The company, which is part of the American tool manufacturing group, King Tony Group, stocks a range of the Taiwanese-manufactured tools, including impact wrenches, ratchets, air-die grinders, angle grinders, sanders, drills, screwdrivers and hammers.

“The M7 tools provide high quality at a good price, compared with most other high-quality pneumatic air tools. “The portability and versatility of the tools have increased their popularity, which is evident in the growth of their portfolio over the last five years,” says O’Kelly.

He adds that the tools are popular in local manufacturing applications in the automotive industry and the mining sector, as well as in sheet-metal manufacturing and woodworking.

“The range is also becoming popular for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, as its small- capacity outlay provides substantial overhead savings,” he says, noting that all M7 tools are International Organisation for Standardisation- and European Commission- (Conformité Européenne-) certified consumer electronic devices.

As part of its exclusive partner support package, the company also supplies a complete set of maintenance manuals and training videos to authorised service partners such as Dowson & Dobson.

“To meet the immediate requirements of its clients, M7 also offers e-learning, which provides its marketing partners with 24-hour online support,” says O’Kelly, noting that Dowson & Dobson offers demonstrations to all clients interested in buying M7 products.

Dowson & Dobson also offers maintenance and repairs on all M7 tools, which can be carried out at the company’s Johannesburg workshop or nationwide through the com- pany’s five sales centres.

Dowson & Dobson sales manager Johan Janse van Rensburg notes that M7’s research and development department is committed to technological advancement to provide its customers with more ergonomic, comfortable and efficient tools and equipment.

“M7 is constantly adding technological advancements to its range and is distributing new catalogues or videos of the products with which they are experimenting. “The company always asks for our input, which is something we do not come across often in the industry. It looks at what the market requires and ensures it produces products to suit those needs,” he says.

Future Expansion

O’Kelly and Janse van Rensburg are positive about the future of Dowson & Dobson and the M7 range of tools.

“The South African economy is showing signs of recovery, which presents the possibility for growth in the industrial and DIY sectors of the economy. “We are constantly looking to expand our offering, whether through M7 or the other products we distribute.

“This year, we also plan to expand our business north of South Africa’s borders and M7’s tools will be part of that, as the range will assist us in gaining market share in 2013 and beyond,” concludes O’Kelly.