48 / 56
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MAY
2017
46
EQUIPMENT
Johnson Crane Hire has an established
reputation as a lifting specialist which gets
the job done. The company operates a fleet
of cranes that offers the necessary depth
and range of movement, but it is the heavy
lift capability that really sets them apart from
other crane hire operators.
Operating the largest heavy lift fleet of
cranes in sub-Saharan Africa, the company
undertakes complex heavy lift assignments
with ease. Steve Robson, executive business
development at Johnson Crane Hire, is
quick to point out that this is not just
because of the enormous investment in
its fleet of cranes but also because the
company has the depth of resources to
underpin its service offering.
“Having such large and comprehensive fleet
is without doubt a major differentiator, but
we believe that the proficiency of our people
is just as important,” he says. “Undertaking
such a complex and specialised activity
requires the ability to engineer the lift from
the initial assessment through to the actual
completion of the job.”
“Importantly, Johnson Crane Hire can
undertake these mammoth projects in a
seamless operation,” Robson says.
The heavy lift division makes use of
3D CAD software for both the design
and engineering of the lift as well as the
simulation thereof. “Full time, dedicated
mechanical engineers form part of the
team, and understand the implications and
requirements that go into the planning and
execution of these complex lifts,” Robson
says. “This level of attention to detail is
essential during the planning stages.”
Mammoth lifting seamless
Development in Africa continues and
this has seen an increased need for a
capable lifting specialist.
FAW in South Africa was recognised this
year on 27 and 28 February in China, amidst
representatives from all the active FAW
regions worldwide. It was during the FAW
Import and Export Corporation’s annual
Global Sales And Marketing Conference in
Chengdu, that Richard H. Leiter executive
director from FAW SA who attended on
behalf of FAW SA, was called up to receive
the special honour of the ‘FAW – Best
Distributor Award 2016’.
Wang Zhijian, President of the FAW
Import and Export Corporation who was
proud to announce the award explained:
“This award stands for the united spirit of
FAW employees and Dealer partners who
jointly tackle regional and global challenges.
It is awarded in recognition of collaboration
between all teams working for the company
or dealers in: sales; aftermarket; service and
support; parts and maintenance; and finance
and Insurance.
“It acknowledges these teams that have
worked according to a co-ordinated strategy
with a single unified vision.”
While the award mainly recognises
the efforts of a particular year, the fact
remains that FAW SA is continuing with its
growth strategy into 2017. FAW SA set new
benchmarks and company sales records in
both January and February this year.
First were the astounding 107 units sold
Recognised in the global arena
The commitment by FAW Vehicle
Manufacturers SA to the African
region and its successes this and
last year, have not gone unnoticed.
Recognised as the most determined
and successful Export and Import
business units of the massive FAW
Group worldwide, the local company
has received a sought-after accolade.
in January setting the highest benchmark yet
for FAW SA, regarding year-on-year growth
comparisons.
As if this in itself was not astonishing
enough FAW SA further proved another
record in February. This achievement was
even more exciting for all the employees and
partners when the company and its dealers
together racked up 134 units sold, the most
ever recorded in a single month.
One of these 2016 highlights happened
in the second half of last year when the
Coega-based plant near Port Elizabeth
saw its 2 000
th
locally built truck roll-off
the production line, after just two years
of production, giving rightful claim to the
company’s motto – ‘Built in South Africa,
for Africa.’
It was in the export market that FAW SA
was particularly prominent and flourished
in 2016, having one of the most consistent
month-on-month export drives in the SA
truck building industry. The company
exceeded the 200-unit mark in exports into
African countries in just a year of exports.
A growing number of Africa truck dealers
who traditionally placed their orders from
FAW China continue to move their orders to
originate out of South Africa owing to the
shorter lead time for delivery, the high levels
of quality from the South African plant, and
the reduced cost of sourcing FAW vehicles
on the same continent.
The Coega-plant has also been the
bedrock for further investments in the region
as a number of China-based industrial giants
have visited Coega to see first-hand what the
region can offer in infrastructure, logistics
and labour. The FAW SA plant, at a start-up
cost of USD60 million, was the first massive
investment by a China-based company in the
Eastern Cape region. A number of China-
based companies are considering following
suit, based on FAW SA’s successes.
Richard H. Leiter executive director
from FAW SA.