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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
DECEMBER 2015
23
LIFTING
T
he harsh operating environment of a
container port has placed exceptional
demands on the design parameters
and construction of the equipment used
to move goods timeously to meet ship-
ping deadlines. Technology has allowed for
greater progress and sophistication and
that’s a good thing for ports and harbours,
as there are a number of issues related to
heavy-duty machinery, such as operating
costs, durability, reliability and safety that
need consideration.
The intensity and demands of port opera-
tions are of the biggest challenges facing
operators in the container and stevedoring
ports. Each loading and unloading operation
must be performed quickly to fit in with the
port’s busy schedule and firm deliveries, of-
ten 24/7 and 365 days per year.
A market well endowed with competitive
brands requires manufacturers to take the
lead and develop their equipment to provide
more versatility with a lower initial invest-
ment compared to other equipment.
Sany’s range of port equipment, from reach
stackers to the empty container handlers,
have proven uptime and availability so crit-
ical to the busy operation of a container
port where operating temperatures often
range from tropical climates to -40°C.
Manufactured by Sany Heavy Industry Co
−
a Chinese multinational heavy machinery
manufacturing company, headquartered in
Changsha Hunan Province
−
it is the sixth
largest heavy-equipment manufacturer in
the world and the first industry in China to
enter the FT Global 500 and FT Global 2000
rankings.
In South Africa, the Sany port equipment
range is represented by Gijima Heavy Ma-
chinery (GHM), a 100% owned South Afri-
can company based in Gauteng. In the five
years since its appointment, GHM has made
tremendous strides in establishing and sup-
porting the brand. With the full support of
Sany Southern Africa in Johannesburg, a di-
vision of the Sany Group, GHM has strategi-
cally positioned itself to supply and service
a niche market in the container, transport
and port operations.
GHM specialises in the supply, service and
parts of the full Sany range of port equip-
ment which comprises: Reach Stackers,
Empty Container Handlers, Gantry cranes,
Forklifts and Haulers manufactured by
Sinotruck. GHM is represented by dealers
throughout the country and has plans in the
pipeline to establish its own branches in
Durban and Cape Town in the near future.
GHM was founded on a tender received from
Transnet Freight Rail sector and, from small
beginnings, the Transnet fleet stands at 45
units situated at various depots throughout
the country from Phalaborwa to Cape Town
and from Lohatla to Durban. The units were
supplied on a full maintenance programme
and subjected to a stringent planned main-
tenance schedule, which has resulted in a
minimum downtime for the units. GHM is
justifiably proud of its record with Transnet
as some of the units have now completed
14 000 hours of service with minimum
downtime, except for routine maintenance.
Specialised equipment requires specialised
technicians and GHM has an unblemished
track record in this area. With the full sup-
port of the Sany Group, technicians receive
training in China on a regular basis and
this is supplemented with in-house training
from local Sany personnel who are based in
Johannesburg.
In an interview with Monir Walters, Nation-
al Sales Manager of GHM, he stated, “GHM
has come to believe in its team of guys who
have committed to the company since its
inception and with this confidence behind
us, we are looking to expand our business
to cover more of the private sector require-
ments. We are already making our presence
felt as companies like MSC, Grindrod Inter-
model and Ceres Rail Company have pur-
chased units, with more units in the pipeline
for other corporate groups. We are fortunate
to have third party finance available, which
will cover any rental requirements as an al-
ternative to outright purchase.”
“In looking at the future development of
GHM, I believe that there will be some
growth in the heavy duty machinery mar-
ket as more private companies will be using
equipment outside the port areas with more
logistic centres, intermodal hubs and termi-
nals etc, established to cater for the needs
of growing applications. We will be well
placed to meet those demands as we will
have refurbished machines available that
will represent considerable savings over the
price of new units. With the uncertainties of
the exchange rate at the moment, this will
make any deal of this nature more attractive
to the purchaser,” concluded Walters.
SANY TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE
of port container handling
By Pierre Sanson