Construction World April 2015

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

APRIL

2015

EQUIPMENT

Yusheng Zhang, CEO of FAW Vehicle

Manufacturers SA, says: “FAW

continues its trendsetting path in

local truck manufacture. Not only

have we managed to produce our FAW trucks

at the best quality levels, comparable to our

FAW parent company in China – but we’ve

been able to do so in a very short run-in

period for a plant that only came on stream

six months ago. Nowwe are also building our

first tipper bodies from SKD packs imported

from our parent plant in China.”

While the first FAW ‘full-bodied’ tippers

roll off the assembly plant and body shop,

the production team is already assessing

the viability of producing drop-side bodies

for their range of robust and durable vehi-

cles spanning the medium, heavy and extra-

heavy commercial vehicle ranges on offer in

Southern Africa. Other bodies, such as mixer

drums, may also be assessed and consid-

ered in the future.

The layout of the Truck Body-building

facility has been designed in accordance

with environmental recommendations and

standards. The build and logistics flow is

highly efficient and cost-effective.

The 3 300 m

building is well equipped

with abundant ventilation, natural light and

wide aisle space.

Once an SKD pack is

off-loaded it is thorough-

ly checked for component

quality. The bulk of the

pack, namely the bin, is

checked for preparation to the

assembly line.

Other components, once

checked, are moved to the

‘in-sequence’ stations where

their fitment will take place –

these include all hydraulics,

lift arms and shafts.

Once the tipper body is

carefully fitted, the completed

vehicle is prepared for the

Paint Shop. With the all the

required hydraulics and the

body fitment complete the

FAW vehicle is primed, painted

2015 off to a

FLYING START

FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA has started the new year with

another milestone added to its already remarkable track record.

The truck manufacturer has officially started up its own Body

Shop facility, adjacent to the Coega-based Assembly Plant, in

order to build its own truck bodies.

and finished through the impressive Paint

Shop, and parked in the Drying and Final

Inspection lanes.

FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA is one of

few local OEMS to have built a large-scale

Truck Body-building Shop, together with

an appropriate Paint Shop Facility on this

magnitude. It is equipped using the latest

and best global technology for long-lasting

truck body paint and finish.

At present the company projects that

it will build approximately 100 tipper

bodies in the first quarter 2015. It will

progressively expand its truck body offering

to possibly include other configurations,

even customised trailers, depending on

demand from FAW customers through the

FAW dealer network.

“We have experienced a positive

response from numerous of our long-

standing customers who have indicated

that they prefer a complete vehicle direct

from FAW SA. Besides the cost advantages,

the warranty and maintenance of their FAW

vehicle are also simplified,” says Zhang.

The first-phase of the Coega plant,

covering 103 000 m

of land and a

28 000 m

plant – complete with

training facilities, allows the com-

pany to provide its extensive client

base with a sense of pride and patri-

otismby ‘buying local’. The plant will

eventually ramp-up to produce 5 000

trucks per annum, supplying trucks

to the region, in both right-hand and

left-hand-drive derivatives. Plans in

place estimate that 40% of produc-

tion will be destined for the South

African territories, while 60% will

be exported.