Construction World March 2015

EQUIPMENT

COMMITMENT, RELIABILITY PASSION and

the exact MPa required. The mixers set the user free from timing issues and it allows the contractor freedom to mix only the volume of concrete that is needed. Who are your customers? We are at the initial phase of selling the product: our target market will be any contractor involved in low cost housing, those doing construction in rural areas as well as bigger companies. In South Africa there has been limited competition, thus far in respect of this kind of solution but we are confident that we will achieve significant market share. What products do you offer? We offer self-loading concrete mixers from 1 m 3 to 4m 3 . Some of these are in stock while others will be sold on an order basis. Gener- ally speaking the 4 m 3 concrete mixer is the product that interests our market most. How does the machine do in the South African context? When a machine operates in a rural environ- ment, everything must be uncomplicated. The D’Avino complies with this criteria, it is uncomplicated, includes components locally available and is easy to maintain on site and as such is ideal for South African operations. We piloted a machine and utilised it for 1 250 hours which enabled us to do our own tests to make sure that it functions optimally in the South African environment. The reason why the machine is ideal for particularly the rural context, is that it is built with standard parts. This makes the fixing of these machines in remote areas easier as such parts are normally readily available. After-market support? Our philosophy is that the salesman sells the first machine and after-sales service the rest. The brand offers parts availability. We also have support from Italy – if it is a warranty issue we fly parts in. As far as support is concerned, I am satisfied that customers will get the best service. We are also a dealer for Doosan in Middel- burg (Mpumalanga), which is in the middle of

For over six decades, D’avino, the Italian self-loading concrete mixer manufacturer, has been building strong relationships with their clients through its exemplary product and after-sales service.

the mining area: so we are on duty 24/7/365. We therefore have an acute understanding of the need for excellent and speedy after-sales service. The infrastructure for after-sales support therefore already exists. Most of our competitors do not have a similar infrastruc-

ture to service that type of market. Are there plans to have a wider footprint?

Construction World spoke to Tienie Ferreira, director of D’Avino South Africa, who is importing the D’Avino equipment to South Africa.

It w ill be increased to Cape Town and Durban while an appointment has already been made in Bloemfontein. The latter was important as it is in the middle of a rural environment. The appointed dealer, JIT Exploration has an existing footprint into the northern and southern Cape, and is well- known and trusted. What sets you apart from other players in this market? The D’Avino product has conventional and unc onventional machines. The 360 Delta 4 rotates 360° – it is the first concrete mixer that operates on a 360 degree basis. All the machines have excellent maneu- verability and can get into small spaces, while the weighing system is integrated into the steering column – the operator has a running total in front of him at all times while raw materials are being loaded. It is an extremely safe machine, offering good visibility for the operator. I also regard our after-sales services as something that sets the brand apart. We will ensure that a prospective customer has peace of mind that he will be looked after. Do you offer prospective clients financing? We do. Our associate company is Fast Forward Fi nance. It is an inter-group asset based finance and related services sales organisation which was founded in 2005. There are sale, rental and hire options – this will be worked out for clients based on their needs. What training is offered? We have an operator trainer available who also was the operator during the piloting phase. We also will be able to give technical assistance as our main technician has been to Italy for training on the complete D’Avino range of mixers.

Put the the D’Avino brand in context? D’Av ino was established in Italy in 1950. The D’Avino self-loading concrete mixers now available locally, are being built by the D’Avino family. This family-owned business is based in Naples, Italy. They distribute their equipment worldwide, particularly to devel- opmental regions such as South America, Asia and Africa where batch plants may not be available close to construction projects. I was first introduced to the D’Avino brand when I attended the Bauma 2013 show in Germany. D’Avino subsequently exhibited at the Bauma Africa show in 2013. Why a self-loading mixer? D’ Avino builds self-loading concrete mixers that enable customers to mix concrete according to the desired concrete design on site. If one gets concrete from a batching plant, this plant will use the concrete design to get the desired MPa. This concrete is then transported to site. These mixers cost-effectively negate the necessity of a batching plant. The D’Avino mixers allow you to produce concrete on-site using raw materials – to

52

BACK, FROM LEFT: Derek Gerber, Tienie Ferreira, Salvatore D’Avino and Dominico D’Avino. FRONT: Gianluca D’Avino (left) and Pasquale D'Avino.

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2015