Could you introduce yourself and your company?
My name is Hercules Styliaras. I work for INTERKAT S.A.
It is one of the leading companies within the Papaioannou Group—one of the most established and fast‑growing groups in Greece and Europe in the fields of construction, mining, and infrastructure projects.
Founded in 2003 by brothers Michael and Panourgias Papaioannou, INTERKAT combines strong technical expertise with a bold strategic vision.
Today, the company is able to execute complex projects with high levels of efficiency, reliability, and compliance with international standards for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
INTERKAT operates across a wide spectrum of activities, including:
The group employs around 600 professionals and operates more than 500 machines and vehicles, in partnership with brands such as Caterpillar, Volvo, Mercedes‑Benz, MAN, Sandvik, Metso, Kleeman, Hamm etc.
It implements a full suite of ISO systems (Quality, Health & Safety, Environment, Energy, etc.) as part of a sustainable development approach with a “Zero Accident” objective.
What has been your personal journey in this field?
My journey with heavy equipment started early, growing up in a mechanical workshop environment where Caterpillar machines were part of daily operations. That led me to study Mechanical Engineering at NTUA, specializing in hydraulic systems of earthmoving equipment, and later to complete a master’s in Fluid Power Systems.
Over the past 20+ years, my role evolved from hands-on engineering to executive leadership in heavy mining operations. I have overseen fleet performance, asset lifecycle strategies, OEM negotiations, and high-value equipment acquisitions across multiple sites.
Today, I combine technical depth with operational and commercial judgment — evaluating heavy equipment not only as machinery, but as long-term capital assets critical to performance and profitability.
How do you perceive the Caterpillar brand today?
The heavy equipment market today is highly competitive, with several strong manufacturers. However, Caterpillar’s advantage extends well beyond the machine itself.
What differentiates Caterpillar is the strength of its ecosystem — global parts support, structured service networks, complete machine documentation, and consistently high residual value.
Having operated and invested in large fleets, I’ve seen that lifecycle cost, uptime, and predictability matter far more than initial purchase price. In that context, Caterpillar maintains a structural advantage that few competitors can replicate.
What has been your experience with Bergerat USED?
I have acquired several machines through Bergerat USED, including two Caterpillar 993K units. These are the second-largest wheel loaders I have purchased in my career, following the three Caterpillar 994 units I acquired a few years ago. Both models rank among the largest wheel loaders in operation globally.
My experience with Bergerat USED has been consistently positive. They operate with transparency, technical rigor, and structured inspection processes, providing full and verifiable machine history.
I maintain a strong professional relationship with Sergio Touris, whose deep understanding of both the equipment and the operational requirements ensures that the machines align precisely with our specifications.
With Bergerat USED, you purchase equipment that is properly inspected, fully documented, and supported — which is critical at this investment level.
In your opinion, what are the key strengths of Bergerat USED?
The key strength of Bergerat USED is transparency backed by technical credibility.
In high-value equipment transactions, the primary risk is uncertainty — hidden wear, incomplete history, or inaccurate operating hours. Bergerat minimizes that risk through structured inspections, verified documentation, and full machine history disclosure.
For buyers investing at this scale, that level of transparency and technical assurance provides essential security and protects capital.
Do you have an anecdote related to a purchase from Bergerat USED?
Yes, the story behind the purchase of the 993K loaders is a great example.
After completing the inspection, everything met our expectations. However, just before dismantling for transport, the team encountered a critical issue: the lift-arm pins could not be extracted on both units.
Without resolving this, the machine could not be properly dismantled and shipped. Replacement would have cost approximately €50,000, and to make the situation even more critical, the required parts were not immediately available.
Sergio informed me immediately and addressed the issue transparently. Together, using Caterpillar documentation and field experience, we identified a safe and technically sound extraction method.
The issue was resolved within days, the machine was dismantled correctly, and shipment proceeded without compromise.
What stood out was not the difficulty of the problem — mechanical challenges are part of our industry — but the commitment to resolve it properly before delivery.
