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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
AUGUST
2016
TRUCKING
Fleet operator and contractor on the project, Willie de Beer and his
son, Michael, are themselves as rugged as they come when it comes
to running the fleet with their staff of 24 people deployed as drivers,
loader operators, technicians and administrative support.
Since being re-assigned the contract, Willie de Beer purchased the FAW
28.280 10 m
3
tippers early last year. These ‘dirt monsters’ are moving a
massive quota of about 4 200 ton sand, grit and loose stone mixture a day;
roughly between 108 000 to 110 000 ton a month.
Mining and moving andalusite, which is an extremely hard nesosilicate
mineral, is highly abrasive on any equipment involved. This presents all the
vehicles and heavy equipment with one of the toughest environments to
work in. The residue sand and stone, after separating the core minerals, are
no easier on the vehicle and equipment either.
What made Willie de Beer decide to buy the FAW 28.280FD was the
brand’s reputation for strength and durability.“These tippers have exception-
ally good torque – 1 160 Nm between 1 400 and 1 700 rpm – they also have
a strong chassis, great steel tipper bins and offer a solid payload at 28 t GVM.
TheWeichai WDB615.50 engine has proven its capabilities over and over.
We are very happy with the combination of this engine and the manual
9-speed FAW gearbox giving us a grade ability of 36%@V. We are able to
move quickly and efficiently with these tippers across the hills and valleys
of this terrain.” Since changing to FAW tippers, de Beer reports a 22% drop
in fuel consumption.
The site’s major obstacles are heat, powdered dust and extreme gradients,
with the FAW taking all of these obstacles in its stride.
“We enjoy the support of the FAWPretoriaWest dealer and Pieter Gerber,
the dealer principal, in particular, when it comes to keeping the tippers
moving. The dealer is responsible for servicing our vehicles on site, the
supply of parts and the training of our drivers. Invaluable service and support
when we have these types of site challenges to deal with,” saysWillie de Beer.
“Another major selling point was affordability, as this is especially relevant
when you run a relatively small fleet like ours. That’s why I’ve been buying
FAW since 2008 and certainly plan to continue with the brand that has not
let me down to date.”
2016 is Isuzu Truck celebration of 10 years independence as Isuzu
Truck South Africa coupled with a proven track record of being the
leading local brand for three successive years.
The Bidvest industrial conglomerate is extensively involved in freight
management, logistics services, terminal operations, and marine and
aviation services. The profile of the Isuzu truck range ideally suits the fleet
requirements of Bidvest’s freight operations. With both impressive profiles,
Bidvest McCarthy and Isuzu Trucks is an excellent match.
Isuzu Truck’s chief operating officer, Craig Uren, emphasises the impor-
tance of truck service and parts supply. “Isuzu Truck dealers are a service
organisation that also sell trucks and this new dealer is a further develop-
ment that flows out of a truck marketing study conducted in 2002. There
are Isuzu truck dealers in Pretoria North, Pretoria West and Midrand. The
Bidvest McCarthy Pretoria East investment now closes the service loop for
this region in addition to a route presence on the N4,” he added
At the helm of the new operation is Bidvest McCarthy dealer principal
Liza-Marie Gibson, who has seven years of truck retail experience. Gibson
comments,“We are a lean, mean teamwith a strong focus on the distribution
sector where Bidvest industrial has a strong presence.”
Steve Keys, group chief executive officer of Bidvest Automotive,
concludes, “It’s a service business and with Liza-Marie Gibson who is a
high-energy person, which fits perfectly the Bidvest profile and benefits
customers. While South Africa is experiencing economic hard times, we do
not see the market segments that this new dealership will serve contracting
as much as the economy. Business success comes from co-operation and
collaboration, and this is what we have established with Isuzu Truck South
Africa today.”
Bidvest McCarthy Isuzu Truck is offering on-site, after hours and Saturday
servicing. In addition, there is a drivers’ lounge where drivers can relax
comfortably while their trucks are being serviced. It matches Uren’s vision
of “being a service organisation that also sells trucks”.
STRATEGIC DEALERSHIP
Two companies with a
100-year history met
on the stage of a brand-
new, Pretoria-based
Isuzu Truck franchise.
Bidvest McCarthy has
now invested in an
Isuzu Truck dealership
strategically sited just
off the N4 at Gateway
Industrial Park in
Pretoria East.
Isuzu Truck’s chief operating
officer, Craig Uren.
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ROUGH AND TOUGH
OPERATION
Dust, dirt, loose sand and corrugated roads are
‘all in a day’s work’ for the fleet of FAW 28.280FD
6x4 tippers operating on the andalusite operation
of Imerys Refractories at the Rhino Mine site near
Thabazimbi in Limpopo Province.
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