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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
JUNE 2017
22
a segment that has many other players
offering much larger engines on their truck
offerings. The smaller engine capacity
translates into better fuel economy, but
still offers maximum power for the task at
hand.
Meanwhile, the aerodynamic cab on the
FJ 26-280C reduces wind resistance, thus
improving the truck’s fuel efficiency. It
also comes with an Intelligent Instrument
Cluster, with Green Band and Trip Mileage
Indicator, as standard. The variable green
band in the instrument cluster shows the
zone in which the truck is operating at
maximum efficiency. The new offering also
comes with Power Take-Off (PTO) as one
of its several standard features. “This is
a regular requirement in the construction
industry, as PTO supplies power to other
equipment,” says Makitla.
With versatility in mind, the FJ 26-280C
can be used as a tipper or mixer. The engine
service intervals have been increased
from 15 000 km on previous offerings to
20 000 km on the new truck. Transmission
service intervals have also increased to
45 000 km or 1 200 hours.
Construction conditions are often char-
acterised by challenging underfoot condi-
tions. To meet FUSO’s reliability promise,
the FJ 26-280C comes with a durable chas-
sis frame to handle heavy loads. The chas-
sis has full depth long members with 9 mm
thickness and flange depth of 284 mm.
The heavy duty suspension and axles
with diff-lock allows it to handle difficult
underfoot conditions. “The multi-leaf bogie
type suspension allows the truck to han-
dle all type of loads. Its heavy duty crown
wheel (390 mm in diameter) with thick
teeth allows for more contact area for long
life,” says Makitla. “The truck comes with
inter-wheel and inter-diff locks for con-
struction conditions.”
Safety was also paramount in the design
phase of the truck. The standard front and
rear anti-roll bars increase the vehicle’s
stability, while the differential lock assists
to reduce one wheel from spinning, mak-
ing the truck safer and easier to operate in
conditions that offer little or no grip.
Strategy and outlook
Hafkamp tells
Capital Equipment News
that FUSO’s ambition in southern Africa
is to double its share of market (SOM) by
2020, compared with that of 2015. The
brand has enjoyed continued increase of
SOM growth in recent years, recording
a 0,6% increase in the 2014-15 financial
year, before its 1,3% in 2015-16 and 0,7%
increase in the year-to-date.
A roadmap for doubling its SOM by 2020
is based on six key elements: sales growth,
customer centricity, digital solutions, brand
awareness, FUSO dedication and best people.
With a rapid evolution of digitisation as
companies realise that digital transformation
is critical to survival in the new world
order, Hafkamp says introduction of fleet
management solutions to the FUSO range
ranks highly among key initiatives towards the
envisaged growth of the brand.
In terms of brand awareness, Hafkamp
believes while FUSO leverages the strong
repute of the Daimler family in the mar-
ket, there is an increased need for a FUSO
dedication in the dealer network to further
drive the growth of the brand. “To grow the
brand to the heights we envisage, we will
also need qualified people. As a result, we
will continue to invest in people and skills
to further capacitate the strength of our
workforce,” says Hafkamp.
Product expansion, informed by market
needs, is a key strategy for FUSO’s future
growth. “We will continue to expand the
FUSO family to 2020 and beyond in the
different segments of the market,” says
Hafkamp. “The focus is on filling the prod-
uct gaps, where necessary,” adds Hassim.
In terms of outlook, Hafkamp is
encouraged by the prospects of growth
for the local truck market at large. He
notes that the market has seen a steady
3% increase in the first four months of
2017 compared with the same period
last year. He looks forward to a positive
year overall, on the back of decreasing
inflation, increasing consumer spending
and favourable exchange rates.
Felix Homburg, Head of Production
at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles,
considers Africa as a great market to be
explored, and believes that South Africa
will become the biggest volume driver for
FUSO’s CKD assembly among some of the
developing markets.
b
Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa has expanded
its FUSO family with the launch of the new FJ 26-280C
heavy duty truck for construction.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa invested
in excess of R3 million into its East
London plant to ensure it was ready for
the increase in FUSO CKD production.
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