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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2016
30
Apart from the LiuGong units, Afrigrit also
has several other loader brands in its stable.
Pick tells
Capital Equipment News
that
the performance of the LiuGong machines is
prompting the fleet owner to consider replac-
ing some of the existing wheel loaders from
some premium suppliers. “We will probably
replace some of the existing brands in our
stable with LiuGong loaders. Some of these
units are becoming too expensive, both to
buy and maintain them,” says Pick.
Apart from the ruggedness and sound
service provision, fuel efficiency is said
to be one of the biggest benefits of the
LiuGong loaders. The two CLG856 units
consume between 12,3
ℓ
and 13,5
ℓ
per
hour, according to Pick. Powered by a
Cummins CLG856H engine said to be a low-
consumption motor that doesn’t sacrifice
power with its 162 kW at 2 200 rpm
capacity, the CLG856H also comes with the
tried and tested ZF 4WG200 automatic shift
transmission with kick-down for energy
saving and efficient operation.
The CLG856H’s improved carrying capac-
ity was another key attraction for Afrigrit.
Thanks to a redesigned and reinforced
axle housing and main transmission, the
machine’s carrying capacity has been en-
hanced by as much as 40% compared with
the predecessor model. The changes have
also increased the average lifecycle of
the machine by 250%, according to Wally
Ackerman, sales manager at Burgers Equip-
ment & Spares.
Strict service routines
To get the best machine availability and
increase the lifecycles of its equipment,
Afrigrit sticks to a strict fleet maintenance
regime which Pick says has been, over the
years, a winning blueprint for a company
that runs a strong 50-unit fleet.
For all its yellow metal equipment, a
250-hour service interval, followed by a
major 1 000-hour overhaul, is the norm.
Due to the 24/7 nature of the operation,
the 250-hour intervals, in most circum-
stances, translate into weekly service pe-
riods. At a time when money is this tight,
Pick believes the relentless focus on pre-
ventative maintenance continues to save
the company large sums of capital through
reduced fleet replacement programmes.
“For every piece of equipment we own,
strict maintenance schedules are always
adhered to. This helps extend the lifecycles
of our equipment. We run our gear until it
becomes too costly to own,” says Pick.
Speaking of lengthy equipment lifecycles,
a case in point is one of the company’s Bell
B25D articulated hauler units. The company
runs a total of four Bell B25D articulated
dump trucks, but the jewel in the crown is
one of its haulers which has clocked in ex-
cess of 40 000 hours, and counting.
Operator training
Another key intervention is the appointment
of an onsite agency conducting operator
training for all Afrigrit equipment operators.
Pick reasons that properly trained operators
on the job site can benefit the company’s
bottom line in a number of ways, including
overall efficiency and job site safety.
With the newly-acquired CLG856H are Marius Pick,
owner of Afrigrit (left) and Wally Ackerman, sales
manager at Burgers Equipment & Spares.
A LiuGong forklift carries out various material
handling duties at Afrigrit’s Witbank workshop.
One of Afrigrit’s Bell B25D articulated haulers
has clocked over 40 000 operating hours.