Construction World March 2017

40 / 64

CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2017 38
TRUCKING
Afrimat Ready-Mix Division forms part of the larger JSE-listed
Afrimat Limited group which is active nationally and moving into
neighbouring states, with the view to moving strategically into the
Southern African region.
Ricus van Heerden who is responsible for Afrimat Ready-Mix
Division’s Western and Northern Cape region, emphasises how
crucial logistics, planning, collaboration and trust are in a business
such as theirs.
“While we concentrate on our core product, its quality
manufacture, we also rely on our outsourced transport teams to
uphold our customer promise and thus our reputation.”
“The example of 500 000 m3, could be a substantial mall or huge
multi-storey building in the heart of a metropolis. On such sites an
on-site concrete batch plant is not feasible, so it has to be driven in
from one of Afrimat’s fixed batch plants in the region. This is when
you may see a row of seven or more FAW 33.330FC mixers with
6 m3, or 35.340FC mixers with 8 m3, waiting in line to drop their
loads, each load with only around three hours margin between them
to place the concrete in a specific sequence.
“Let me assure you, it is in situations like this that you do not
want one of those trucks to suddenly have mechanical problems,”
explains Van Heerden.
Van Heerden cites this example to show how critical the
collaboration is between the clients normally represented by a chief
contractor of the project and Afrimat on the one hand, and between
Afrimat and its subcontracted transport suppliers on the other.
“We make use of a large variety of transport subcontractors, from
big transport company mixer truck fleets, to smaller two to six truck
operations, to LODs (lorry owner driver). In this way we put together
the most cost-effective team for each individual project we get.”
“In the case of the smaller subcontractors and the LODs we
partner very closely, from providing surety to finance their vehicles,
to providing business skills support.
He says that one of the requirement for all their transport
subcontractors is that they buy FAW mixer trucks because not only
does this brand offer the combination of one of the lowest cost of
operation and the one of the highest records for uptime, but they
have the actual manufacturer, FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA’s full
service and maintenance backing.
“The construction industry is extremely price sensitive. This
is why the entire logistics chain has to be 100% networked, have
to collaborate on best solutions for our client and then with the
greatest precision implementing the plans.
“This is one of the many reasons we advocate that our
transporters run FAW mixer trucks. FAW SA is prepared to engage
with us, and listen to ever-changing demands from our clients and
regulatory bodies. If certain clearances and protective adjustment
needed to be made on the mixer trucks, FAW didn’t hesitate to work
with us on solutions. A partner like this is a partner we can trust,”
says Van Heerden.
Afrimat subcontractor
Situated in Worcester is one of the Afrimat’s subcontractors, RUKO
Investments that runs 13 FAW mixer trucks and one tipper, six
33.330FC 6 m 3 mixers and seven 35.340FC mixers with
8 m3 capacity.
Kobus Smit, one of the partners, says that they enjoy a great
relationship with Afrimat, who provides them with the majority of
their contract work.
“Wherever our drivers have to collect and dispatch the Afrimat
concrete we have a single mantra ‘be ready, do it right’.
“Our drivers love the FAW mixers because they’re easy to drive –
quite something when you have up to 15 tons of concrete churning
in the drum behind you. As we have our own inhouse technicians,
they too praise the simplicity and speed with which we can service,
maintain or repair one of our units.
“Being a mid-sized operation we need our vehicles out and
working. Our margins are tight and our customer like Afrimat takes
no prisoners when it comes to staying on plan.”
Smit concludes, “What we like best about FAW is that their
vehicles are evolving. We see continuous improvement and this
assures us that they are customer-centric.
“FAW makes the time to understand the construction industry
and is prepared to collaborate with everyone involved to find the
best transport solutions.” 
“When you’re contracted as a concrete supplier
on a 500 000 m3 project you can comprehend
the importance of reliability from each and every
partner in your ‘team’.
RELIABLE, NETWORKED partners to depend on