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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
FEBRUARY
2016
EQUIPMENT
“We’re not new to the pressures of
transportation in Gauteng – highways with
high traffic volumes, extended peak time
congestion, eTolls, and generally aggres-
sive driver behaviour. Key to our efficiency
formula is the net cost-per-cube of our
concrete product. We intend to continue
securing contracts, offering competitive
pricing by ensuring we have a high volume
throughput from our West Rand opera-
tions,” says Petzer.
Not prepared to disclose the planned
output for the West Rand plants, Petzer
was willing to say that the volume targets
are ‘aggressive’ and will demand superior
customer service on the part of Scribante.
In turn, the demand on the FAW truck fleet
will be for maximum uptime, easy and effi-
cient driving, highly effective parts supply,
and lowest cost of operation.
A history of working together
“We’re up for it. We’ve been in the
business for over 16 years, we have the
advantage of a strong foundation through
the Scribante Construction Group and
we have the experience and know-how
needed to distinguish ourselves in this
highly competitive industry.
“With respect to our transportation
requirements, we have ‘walked the road’
with FAW and ironed out many ‘bumps’.
Our relationship today is a highly collabo-
rative one.”
The specialised truck modifications
required and designed by Scribante have
been incorporated by FAW SA into their
offering. “These specifications can be
applied to the benefit of other FAW clients
for their ready-mix concrete mixer trucks,”
says FAW regional manager, Vernon
Rudman, who is the main point-of-contact
for Scribante Concrete, looking after their
needs regarding the FAW fleet.
“The changes requested by Scrib-
ante were approved by our parent plant;
applied to the mixer trucks, chassis and
mixer bodies. The continuous improve-
ment we were able to incorporate once
again underpins the value of pursuing and
maintaining a close relationship with a
customer. They know their business best
and we know our trucks best. Together we
can improve and provide solutions that
satisfy our customers’ needs.
“Together with Scribante Concrete,
we at FAW SA have literally ‘refined’ our
robust and durable mixer trucks to provide
even stronger and longer-lasting oper-
ational efficiency. This serves both our
customers’ and our own interests; really a
win-win situation.
“As Scribante has shown continued
support of our brand, so too will we
continue to develop and improve, not
only our product, but our personal service
and aftermarket support,” says Rudman.
“Scribante’s planned strategy and its
success in Gauteng, depends partly on our
FAW vehicles – a challenge for which we
too are fully prepared.”
A Zambian consortiumof entrepreneurs
wholly owns the new dealership, CLA
Lusaka Truck & Bus, with executive
director, Felix Siakamwi, providing hands-on
leadership at the new facility.
Situated alongside the capital city’s main
logistics arterial, Kafue Road, the new modullar
workshop, which makes use of four shipping
containers under-roof on a concrete slab, boasts
a reception office, parts warehouse, admin office
and an engine room. The workshop floor can
accommodate four trucks or buses at a time to
undergo servicing and/or repair work.
The modular concept facilitates rapid
construction at a fraction of the cost of an
equivalent brick and mortar workshop.
According to Siakamwi, who addressed over
100 guests, including Zambia’s deputy minister
of mines, Richard Masukwa and acting director
general of the ZambiaWildlife Authority, Andrew
Kombe, there to welcome the ‘ONE MAN kann’
Journey on its Lusaka stopover, as well as
commemorate the opening of the dealership:
“All of us at CLA Lusaka Truck & Bus are proud to
be commencing operations for our official sales,
repair and servicing of MAN trucks and buses,
and Volkswagen trucks and buses in Zambia.
It is indeed a great milestone for our country.”
The new modular concept workshop is
designed in Germany and CLA Lusaka Truck
& Bus is the first commercial vehicle operation
in Africa to construct the MAN-approved plan.
“We are extremely proud to be the first deal-
ership in Africa to commence operations with
this plan that until now has only been a concept
for MAN Truck & Bus.
“Up until now, MAN Truck & Bus has not
been adequately represented in Lusaka or in
the central and southern regions of Zambia. The
lead-up to representation has been through the
support of MAN sub-equatorial Africa operating
out of South Africa, as well as local MAN dealer-
ship, Turnpan Zambia Limited, situated in Kitwe.
“From a global product competitiveness
point of view, this paucity of representation
has allowed competitor brands to gain market
share in Zambia, at the expense of MAN. In some
cases, this has resulted in the monopolisation of
certain transport applications,” Siakamwi added.
“Lusaka is a very important market for MAN
Truck & Bus, specifically for its location in the
region, as well as due to the economic growth
it is experiencing. Zambia’s economy remains
strong, with an expected GDP growth by the
end of 2015 of over 6%. Inflation is expected to
fall below 7%.”
MAN’s extensive dealer network of 45 deal-
erships throughout southern Africa with fully
trained technicians and off-the-shelf genuine
parts provide around-the-clock support to
customer fleets.
The prospects for rapid growth at CLA
Lusaka Truck & Bus are extremely promising,
concluded Siakamwi: “We have identified
a German finance partner who is keen to
work with us and the Zambian Ministry of
Transport and Communication on the prospect
of a women-owner-driver transport opera-
tion scheme.
“Working in conjunction with the Develop-
ment Bank of Zambia and other key industry
players, such as mining, manufacturing,
farming, construction, fuel, retail, this project is
expected to commence with at least 400 trucks
and 100 buses, and is designed to empower
Zambian locals who are currently working in
the transport sector. This new facility will play
a pivotal role not only in the empowerment
programme, but in the growth of Zambia’s
transport sector as a whole.”
MODULAR CONCEPT IN ZAMBIA
MAN Truck & Bus sub-equatorial Africa celebrated the opening
of Africa’s first Modular Concept Workshop for heavy commercial
vehicles in Lusaka, Zambia, in October.
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