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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
FEBRUARY
2016
Production machines are designed
to operate 24-hours per days and
seven days per week in almost
any type of operating condi-
tions. For this reason they are built to be far
stronger and more durable than the average
construction-type loader with easy-to-reach
service points that allow quicker access for
field servicing.
It is precisely for this reason that high
production machines traditionally command
a significant cost premium over ordinary
machines and puts them largely out of the
reach of smaller mining, quarrying and mate-
rials handling-type applications.
Building momentum
According to Ernest Human, Dura Equipment
Sales marketing manager, since taking over
the lucrative agency in 2012, the Du Randt
Group of Companies has turned the brand
into a household name within its target
market. Sales have increased steadily and are
gaining momentum as positive sentiments of
the owners of the nearly 150 machines begin
Sales of Foton Lovol
wheel loaders are rapidly
increasing as word-of-
mouth referrals bring
potential customers to
investigate the merits of
a manufacturer whose
machines cost nearly
half the price of new big
brand machines while its
advanced new engines use
significantly less fuel than
competitor machines.
PRODUCTION
driven loaders
EQUIPMENT
>
to provide proof of the machines’ abilities.
“Foton Lovol is the first Chinese manu-
facturer to build its machines especially for
South Africa to our exact standards and speci-
fications using the best materials and compo-
nents. As a result of this commitment we
invested in over R14-million worth of spares
to ensure we can support the machines going
forward. We also put in place infrastructure
in the form of full workshop facilities at our
main branches, as well as investing in people
and equipment required to sell, maintain and
service our machines wherever they operate
within South Africa or even further afield
across our borders.
“Our flagship machine, the Foton Lovol
FL966-II loader accounts for most of our sales
so far especially in coal mining applications
where it’s standard 3,8 m³ or oversized 5,5 m³
bucket size is able to make short work of coal
stockpiles. Likewise the FL958-II machine has
found favour among quarry operators where
its rugged ability and fuel-sipping consump-
tion makes it ideal for this type of application
where low resource prices requires a low
cost-of-ownership machine,” says Human.
Mine ready machines
The reasons for Foton Lovol’s success are easy
to see. The two top of the range machines
come equipped with all the necessary gear
to operate on mines. This includes fall on
protection (FOPS) and roll over protection
(ROPS) cabs, as well as 23.5" L5 tyres that
are required for durability in productive envi-
ronments. Powerful Weichai engines provide
more than enough power and the proven
technology of the motors allows unsurpassed
fuel consumption of approximately 15 ℓ per
hour during production.
This represents at least a 2-3 ℓ per hour
saving over most previously used engines
and adds up to 72 ℓ of fuel saved over a
24-hour period.
Comprehensive range
The range of four loaders includes the Foton
Lovol 920-II loader, which is the smallest in
the range and is ideal for small industrial
applications, agriculture and yard work such
as for hardware stores etc.
The larger Foton Lovol FL936-II has
an operating weight 10 600 kg and a load
capacity of 3 tons. The loader comes
standard a host of features that includes
dual brakes, Fitted with a Weichai Deutz
motor, industrial type L3 tyres, ROPS/FOPS
cab, pilot joystick control as well as a comfort-
able air-conditioned cab for maximum oper-
ator productivity.
The production proven Foton Lovol
FL958-II & FL966-II machines are five and
six ton machines respectively with opera-
ting weights of 17 400 kg and 20 640 kg.
Both have mine specification features that
include 23.5" L5 tyres to last longer in produc-
tive environments.
Successful introduction
“Our machines have already proven them-
selves in a number of high production appli-
cations and can be found at Ubuhle Bemvelo,
a contractor working at Black Wattle Colliery,
Just Coal in Middleburg, Pentalin Trading and
Benoni Gold and a growing number of other
sites where they have racked up thousands of
hours of reliable operation among them.
“Foton Lovol machines fill the gap
between high-end machines and the used
machine market and are ideal for emerging
and medium sized operations that cannot
afford premium brands, but want the reas-
surance of a comprehensive warranty backed
up by professional service support. Our
machines are robust, reliable and supported,”
concludes Human.
Ernest Human of Dura Equipment Sales.
Foton Lovol front end loaders are built for high production environments.
The Foton Lovol 966-2 is proving to be a highly capable and
reliable machine for coal mining and quarrying applications.
I