The appointment of Grant Smith comes on the back of significant momentum in tooling sales recorded by Wood-Mizer since the company’s launch of its tooling range in 2017.

Wood-Mizer used its global leadership in sawmilling technology as the basis for the development of its tooling range that is now challenging competitor brands in terms of quality, precision, price and availability.

Leading engineering together with a dealership and after-sales service support network in Africa that few competitors can match, allowed for further gains. 

“Grant Smith’s appointment now brings added momentum to this process,” Gavin Prowse, Wood-Mizer Africa’s Regional Director for Sales in Africa said. 

“Wood-Mizer prides itself on putting our customers first. With Grant’s appointment, customers in Africa now have a highly experienced and knowledgeable tooling expert available to assist them to grow their businesses,” Gavin Prowse continued.

“In these tough markets, it becomes even more important for our customers in the sawmilling and manufacturing sectors to work faster and more efficiently. 

“With Grant’s experience, together with competitive pricing and innovative ways to sell and distribute tooling, Wood-Mizer now has the expertise and range available to assist our tooling customers in Africa better,” Gavin Prowse concluded. 

Expertise 

Grant Smith’s track-record in tooling is built on a solid foundation spanning 25 years.

The first 16 years were spent with the South African branch of global tooling manufacturer Leuco.

Hands-on experience in sharpening blades, manufacturing and re-tipping cutters, as well as tool cutting and grinding and saw doctoring, provided the basis for successful sales to the woodworking, aluminium and plastics sectors.

A further nine years with Austro as part of their tooling sales team cemented his experience further.  Sales of sawblades, cutter blocks, routers and CNC tooling made up the bulk of his portfolio during this time.

Speaking about joining Wood-Mizer, Grant Smith said, “the tooling sector in South Africa and Africa is ripe for innovation.

“Assisting sawmillers and manufacturers across Africa with tooling that can grow their businesses is a key objective. Wood-Mizer’s reach into Africa, together with our solid tooling sales team, is an important first step to achieve this goal.

“We’re also focussing on providing new, more customer-friendly and affordable ways for customers to buy tooling. In this regard, Wood-Mizer’s Online Store that allows for remote tooling purchases from wherever, is set to reshape the tooling sales landscape in Africa going forward,” Grant concluded.