STAYING ON TRACK

Awesome Earthmovers visits Scottish HQ of Astrak, one of the industry’s leading suppliers of excavator undercarriage and wear parts

From its headquarters at Kirkcaldy in Scotland, Astrak has grown over the past 20 years to become a much respected market leader in the construction equipment, undercarriage and wear parts arena, with a continuously expanding international reach.

Its growing customer base includes dealers and machine owners in over 25 countries. Awesome Earthmovers recently travelled to Scotland to find out more about how this company is meeting the needs of an ever changing industry.

The company began as a small operation in 2003, with just a handful of employees. Its expansion over the last two decades has been remarkable as its reputation for quality products, service and support grew. Today, around 100 people are employed at the busy Kirkcaldy HQ.

Astrak stocks a full range of steel track groups for mini excavators, a complete range of OEM quality rubber pads for steel tracked machines, wide-spread steel track groups for low ground pressure applications and many more quality undercarriage products. On top of that, it has a huge range of standard undercarriage and GET products.

Its product ranges support a wide array of models from the world’s leading manufacturers such as CAT, Case, Daewoo, Doosan, JCB, Kobelco, Komatsu, Hitachi, Hyundai, Liebherr, New Holland, and Volvo, while its highly respected brands include TerraTrack rubber tracks, DuraTrack heavy duty undercarriage parts, DuraLine rubber pads, and GeoTip & GeoXD cutting edge bucket teeth.

Tailored Customer Support

During our visit, we met a number of key personnel, including account manager Michael Liness who looks after the company’s regional sales managers who are strategically located throughout the country and are responsible for bringing hundreds of customers tailored support, industry expertise, and efficient solutions right where and when they need it.

“A lot has changed in the industry. Not only is our sales team based here at Kirkcaldy, we also have our own undercarriage service, repair and fitting workshop to meet the needs of our customers,” Michael explained, “in addition to fully stocked warehouses.”

Logistics manager is Olav Uringa, who oversees a highly efficient team responsible for customs coordination, logistics planning, international deliveries and much more. Olav’s experience has boosted an already effective team to even greater heights.

“We have multiple warehouses and facilities across the UK and Europe, including France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland, as well as in the USA and Canada,” said Olav. “It is my responsibility, working in conjunction with the warehouse and workshop, to ensure orders leave on schedule and that customers receive their products within the agreed timeframe.”

“RIGOROUS QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES ENSURE THAT EVERY COMPONENT IT PRODUCES MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY…”

Efficient Logistics Network

Its efficient logistics network and a streamlined distribution process guarantee rapid and reliable deliveries. Whether you’re facing an unexpected spike in demand or need to adjust your production schedule, Astrak’s supply chain is equipped to handle these challenges seamlessly.

Its advanced stock management system ensures it has the right components available at the right time. The company maintains a large inventory of components, ready to be dispatched at a moment’s notice. This proactive approach allows it to meet tight deadlines and adapt swiftly to any unforeseen changes.

It is also constantly improving and upgrading its IT and communication system to ensure it stays at the cutting edge of technology. “Investment not only safeguards our future but our customers’ future too.”

Astrak has established relationships with multiple manufacturing partners across different regions, which allows it to source components from various locations. This not only helps in avoiding potential supply chain disruptions but also provides Astrak with the ability to offer competitive pricing and timely deliveries.

Quality Standards

Astrak is also committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality and transparency. Just take a look at its ISO certifications:

ISO 9001: Demonstrates its commitment to quality management and its ability to consistently provide products that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

ISO 45001: Highlights its dedication to occupational health and safety management, ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for its employees.

ISO 14001: Reflects its commitment to environmental management and sustainable practices, aimed at reducing its environmental impact.

ISO 27001: Ensures the protection of information security through comprehensive risk management practices and data protection protocols.

Rigorous quality control procedures ensure that every component it produces meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. From raw material selection to final inspection, Astrak implement stringent quality checks at every stage of the manufacturing process. This comprehensive approach to quality control ensures that its products consistently exceed customer expectations.

Astrak is also constantly growing its team through training and personal development programmes, fully recognising that they are its most valuable asset. “Our team continuously improves and increases our product range to give our customers even more choice and assurance. We are continually improving our facilities and processes to keep pace with our growth aspirations.”

Strategic Acquisition

Those growth aspirations were recently given a significant boost with the acquisition of West-Trak, New Zealand’s foremost supplier of Wear Part solutions for heavy machinery.

This strategic acquisition marks a major milestone in Astrak Group’s global expansion, extending its presence beyond Europe and North America into the Southern Hemisphere. With this move, Astrak strengthens its position as a truly global leader, ensuring customers worldwide benefit from its industry expertise, operational excellence, and growing digital capabilities.

West-Trak, established in 1993, has earned a strong reputation as New Zealand’s trusted supplier of wear parts for the mining, quarrying, forestry, civil, and engineering industries. Operating from its bases in Auckland and Westport, the company provides an extensive range of undercarriage parts, ground-engaging tools, heavy fabrication, and abrasion-resistant steel solutions.

West-Trak’s success is built on deep industry knowledge, a customer-first approach, and its ability to deliver high-quality parts with rapid service.

Richard Paterson, CEO of Astrak Group, commented: “This is a natural fit for both businesses, bringing together two companies that share a deep commitment to product quality, innovation, and customer service.

“This acquisition not only strengthens our presence in the Southern Hemisphere but also empowers West-Trak to leverage Astrak’s extensive sales knowledge, world-class logistics network and growing digital expertise.

By combining forces, we will drive new efficiencies, accelerate growth, and continue setting the benchmark for excellence in wear parts solutions.”