Kawasaki Engines, UPS expand parts distribution partnership

Kawasaki Engines, a division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., is once again expanding its relationship with UPS Supply Chain Solutions and adding a full-service warehouse in Florida to stock and ship parts to authorized dealers in the Southeast.

The UPS facility that is joining Kawasaki’s broadened distribution network is located in Jacksonville, and it will be providing enhanced support for dealers in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Measuring approximately 15,000 square feet, the unit will be fully operational by the middle of August.

“We regularly evaluate tools for strengthening our dealers’ relationships with their professional lawn care customers, and as our reach with UPS has continued to grow, we’ve seen benefits by significantly increasing our speed to market for time-sensitive service and maintenance parts,” said Nelson Wilner, vice president, Kawasaki Engines.

Last year, Kawasaki added a Dallas, Texas, warehouse to the existing distribution points in Hebron, Ky., and Reno, Nev. By expanding even further with this Southeast regional facility, it is expected that the dealers in the states being serviced from Jacksonville will be able to benefit from speedier parts delivery, usually just one or two days.

“Kawasaki recognizes the importance of minimizing equipment downtime for professional landscapers,” Wilner said. “When we get our customers back on the job quicker, it positively influences the financial viability and ultimate success of our customers. Our vision is to be our customers’ most essential partner.”

The Jacksonville warehouse will focus on stocking items that are specifically relevant to dealers in the four-state area. Among the more than 2,000 SKUs that will be housed in the facility are maintenance items, including oil (2-cycle and 4-cycle), air filters and oil filters.

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., Kawasaki Engines distributes gasoline engines for landscape, industrial and consumer markets. It sells to and services customers through a network of more than 40 OEMs; 15 distributors; and more than 7,500 independent dealers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, select countries in Central and South America, and the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, including Guam.