Capital Equipment News May 2015

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

MAY 2015

ustomers today chase profitability by

reducing operating costs, regardless

of whether their business is trans-

porting passengers or goods. Fluctuations

in the price of fuel, one of the largest cost

factors in transport, have necessitated a

shift towards looking at transport in a more

sustainable light. Sustainable transport is

profitable transport and, based on this con-

viction, Scania continuously introduces new

technology and services to ensure that it re-

mains at the forefront of providing customer

benefits.

Over a period of time Scania has developed

products, services and systems that contrib-

ute to its customer’s total financial position.

Construction vehicles are no exception to

this concept as the industry has come to

rely on Scania trucks as robust, durable and

ingenious solutions guaranteed to provide

uptime, productivity and fuel efficiency.

In an exclusive interview with Capital Equip-

ment News, the Directors and Management

of Scania South Africa revealed their new

range of construction trucks, which is being

introduced into the market and which will

allow the company to further increase its

footprint with additional transport solutions.

“Scania works closely with its customers

to ensure that the right combination of

chassis, wheel configuration, powertrain

and cab are matched to the job require-

ment. Not only does this allow Scania to

provide customers with the right specifi-

cations in a cost effective way but a ve-

hicle with the right specification is more

efficient and has less of an impact on the

environment,” says Ivan Stefanovic, Sales

Director of Scania South Africa.

In the Scania construction truck range,

there are several wheelbase options avail-

able for each axle configuration, which

equates to a larger choice of bodies than

can be accommodated. “As part of the

solutions offered by Scania, chassis can

be supplied with standard type bodies that

are immediately available from our appoint-

ed bodybuilders. This allows customers the

opportunity to reduce delivery times by not

having to wait for bodies that sometimes

have a long lead time,” explains Stefanovic.

“Scania has appointed selected bodybuild-

ers, all approved to meet the requirements

of the Scania factory and, as a result, ser-

vice on the bodies forms part of the service

package of the vehicle. When a vehicle goes

in for service it is a one-stop shop for the

complete vehicle,” adds Stefanovic

Theuns Naude, Key Accounts Manager-Con-

struction, explains some of the technical

aspects of the vehicles, “The new Scania

construction trucks have special features

to ensure their optimum performance in the

field and to provide the necessary driver

comfort and safety. The frontal styling in-

corporates a heavy duty grill with protective

mesh, a solid steel bumper which includes a

35 tonne tow pin tucked in behind the num-

ber plate, and a 25 degree approach angle

which is a result of the high chassis design.

The choice of rear bogie ranging from 19-32

tonne, depending on the application, which

incorporates high placed brake chambers

and the combination of hub reduction and

disc/drum brakes, ensures the new con-

struction truck is well equipped for off-road

conditions.” Naude expounds on the fea-

tures of the new cab adding, “Cabs too are

a feature of the Scania construction range

with three variants for the P, G and R series

models, all available in different heights and

lengths. The G series cabs are particularly

well suited to construction operations as

they offer easy entry and exit, good close

range visibility, low engine tunnel and plenty

of storage space.”

The choice of engines in Euro lll configu-

ration ranges from the 5 cylinder 9 litre,

SCANIA ‘CONSTRUCTION TRUCK SOLUTIONS’

contribute to maximum uptime

By Pierre Sanson