Diesel America News

To celebrate its new location in San Antonio, Texas, Laborde Equipment Services (LES) opened its doors to customers and associates at an open house. The facility was overflowing as the company welcomed over 125 guests at the event. Participants were given a facility tour, while also learning more about LES and its extensive line of products and services available to the South Texas market. Laborde's senior staff, including Tracy Laborde, Brian Laborde, Doug Oehrlein, Joe Manning, Jr., Trace Laborde, and Marc Laborde, was also on hand to welcome customers.

Laborde Products of Covington, Louisiana, observes sixteen years in business in 2014. During this time, the company has expanded both its product line and staff, as well as its reach throughout much of the Gulf Coast area. Growth has brought changes to Laborde's staff. Stepping down as president, Tracey Laborde remains company CEO. Brian Laborde now fills the role of president, with Doug Oehrlein as VP of sales and marketing. More diesel technicians and a new service manager augment the company's dedicated service department.

Building on its mission statement, "The Right Product, The Right Service, The Right Support", Laborde Products, Inc., headquartered in Covington, Louisiana, is opening a new division, Laborde Equipment Services (LES) in San Antonio, Texas. This new facility will provide service to the rapidly expanding San Antonio metro area and the exploding oil and gas Eagle Ford Shale market. LES will provide fast, on-time service for all makes of diesel and gas engines and engine driven equipment, as well as hydraulic and electrical service. They will also stock and provide parts for a broad range of support. Laborde said it has employed highly qualified and experienced technicians to meet the 24/7 demands.

Helping round out its industrial salesforce, Laborde Products welcomes two new salesmen. Cody Dean will handle industrial engine and equipment sales in southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, while Chris Wright will respond to the needs of northern Louisiana and northern Mississippi. Dean previously served as territorial manager at Woolf-Harris. He will provide customers with the information needed to select the best diesel engine for on/offshore operations, standby and backup generators and all diesel industrial engines for land or permanent applications.

Expanding its sales force, Laborde Products brings on a new salesman. David DiSalvo will handle diesel equipment sales and marketing. He will serve the Gulf Coast and inland rivers territories. "In this position, I hope to establish a presence in new areas, generate new business and grow existing accounts," said DiSalvo. "This is a great opportunity to provide customers with the right product, the right service, and the right support. DiSalvo brings 20 years of marine industry experience. He previously spent 15 years as a senior sales consultant with Green Marine selling major equipment.

Deep in the Louisiana Cajun Country, LA Carriers was founded in 1986 as a small barge management firm. Now shipping in excess of 275,000 net tons of cargo annually, LA Carriers chooses Laborde Products to supply powerful Mitsubishi engines. The third such installation for LA Carriers, it allows the company to fulfill its promise of just-in-time delivery. A recently built 98' tug, M/V Karen Koby, was fitted with twin ABS-certified S12R-Y2MPTK Mitsubishi engines rated 1,260 hp at 1,600 rpm, as well as 50kW FPT generators.

Already a big fan of industrial engines provided by Laborde Products, American Rental Equipment general manager Jonah LaLonde was eager to become a Laborde certified dealer. The Lafayette, Louisiana, company now services and performs warranty work for Diesel America, Yanmar and Hatz products. Founded in 2004, American Rental serves the construction, utilities, oil and gas industries and municipalities. The single-source retailer offers 140,000 products from 600 of the world's most recognized manufacturers.

Laborde now has the ability to supply builders on the US Gulf Coast with the complete line of Yanmar 360-1,822 hp commercial engines for export. Laborde recently supplied six Yanmar 6CX-GTYE engines to Neuville Boat Works for crewboats headed for Trinidad. Inland and Offshore Contractors Ltd., a diversified transportation company serving the petroleum industry, will take delivery of three 47' boats to carry crew and cargo to offshore installations. The fully mechanical Yanmars were chosen for their reliability and durability and because they can be easily serviced in the West Indies.

Laborde Products teams up with Diesel Power Equipment, LLC, a sister company to Diesel Propulsion Company, a longtime Laborde marine dealer.  Diesel Power Equipment, LLC will support Diesel America, Mitsubishi and Yanmar products in industrial applications in the Southwest. Diesel Power Equipment is locally owned and has over 30 years experience in the industrial diesel engine field.  The company provides diesel engine repairs and preventative maintenance, supplies spare parts and offers on-site service and warranties on their sold products. (www.labordeproducts.com)

Laborde Products added National Maintenance and Repair as a service and sales dealer. It supports the river and rail industries with facilities in Hartford, Illinois; Paducah, Kentucky; and Harahan, Louisiana. National Maintenance and Repair will provide sales and support for Laborde Products' Mitsubishi marine propulsion engines in all three locations. It will also provide sales and service for Laborde's packaged product division, Diesel America. Offering a wide range of diesel-powered equipment, including pumps, generators, pressure washers, barge pumps and other special diesel equipment, the line is powered with FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies), Yanmar, Mitsubishi and other quality products distributed by Laborde.

Fiat Powertrain Technologies of North America, Inc., (FPT NA), has expanded Louisiana-based distributor Laborde Products Inc.’s distribution territory to include Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in addition to their current territory, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. Laborde Products supplies FPT marine, power generation and industrial engines. FPT industrial engines are fitted with mechanical and electronic injection systems, and meet current and some future emissions standards. Laborde Products distribute FPT NA, Mitsubishi, Yanmar and Hatz diesel engines and also package their own diesel powered equipment under Diesel America.  (www.labordeproducts.com)

Fiat Powertrain Technologies of North America, Inc., (FPT NA), has expanded Louisiana-based distributor Laborde Products Inc.’s distribution territory to include Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico in addition to their current territory, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. Laborde Products supplies FPT marine, power generation and industrial engines. FPT industrial engines are fitted with mechanical and electronic injection systems, and meet current and some future emissions standards. Laborde Products distribute FPT NA, Mitsubishi, Yanmar and Hatz diesel engines and also package their own diesel powered equipment under Diesel America.  (www.labordeproducts.com)

Three Vericor Power Systems' TF50 marine aeroderivative gas turbines have been selected to power the 118 Wallypower high-speed yacht being built by Intermarine Shipyard, Sarzana, Italy for Wally Yacht. This is Wally Yacht's first foray into high-speed power yachts, and the company's initial application of gas turbines. Wally Yacht, based in Monte Carlo, Monaco, is a world-renowned designer of high-speed sailing and power yachts. The 118-ft. yacht will feature three TF50 gas turbines in a Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) turbine configuration. Two TF50s will be used as side or "wing" engines, with one small auxiliary diesel engine connected to each wing engine. The diesels will provide for very slow maneuvering only.