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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

FEBRUARY 2016

35

the acquisition endorsed the economic val-

ue of the move which enabled the company

to meet and exceed its targets for the year.

The production at Kanu/Act is not totally de-

voted to Isuzu Truck and also supplies the

general market where necessary.

“Kanu/ACT is doing well and so far is filled

to capacity. This acquisition has enabled us

to get the solution to the market in the most

effective manner possible. As we grow in

volume, Kanu/ACT grows with us. This has

meant great savings for the dealer who re-

ceives a complete vehicle from the factory

and eliminates the need to move the vehicle

around for the fitting of the various acces-

sories thereby eliminating unnecessary ex-

penses and shortening the turnaround time

once the sale has been concluded. As far as

the specialized market is concerned, Isuzu

Truck continues to maintain a high level of

activity in the tipper and dominate in com-

pactor business as well”, explained Uren.

“For Isuzu, Africa is a huge market oppor-

tunity. Around the world Isuzu does well but

Africa needs a lot more work to entrench

the product. We have established a good

customer base in Zimbabwe and in 2015

we exported more vehicles there than we

had done in the last five years. Generally

Isuzu Trucks footprint in Africa is expanding

especially now that at the assembly facili-

ties in Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. Isuzu

Motors Japan shipped more than 20 000

vehicles into Africa last year and it is antic-

ipated that this number will grow consider-

ably in the next five years”, said Uren.

The increase in market share and the ex-

pansion of the variants in the Isuzu Truck

range have brought a new dimension to

the support structure for the product. The

parts and service backup has been sim-

plified with the introduction of common

components that fit the range of vehicles.

There are only four engine derivatives and

four transmission models used in the en-

tire range. Also common components have

been incorporated in the cab design, simpli-

fying the replacement of body parts.

“Looking ahead we have not changed the

game plan but require mastering the plan to

build on the base that has been set to support

the client, from body building, parts and ser-

vice and warranties. Our results are there but

we require extending the journey further. Ex-

tending the journey for our customers means

also extending the economic life of their ve-

hicles. For this purpose we have a compo-

nent replacement exchange programme in

place called “ISUZU DRIVETRAIN” for dealers

to utilise. The product range will not undergo

any major changes except for some minor

cosmetic adjustments so the emphasis will

be on extending the value of the brand ‘For

the Long Run’, said Craig Uren.

In 2015 Isuzu Trucks achieved another

milestone in the next phase of their South-

ern Africa strategy when they moved from a

commercial OEM to an entrepreneurial-type

business entity on acquiring a 100% stake

in two Port Elizabeth-based entities, Kanu

Commercial Body Construction (Pty) Ltd

and Automotive Chassis Technologies

(ACT). These acquisitions will enable ITSA

to initiate and build products according to

client specification, enabling them to have

a more integrated relationship with current

and future customers in the life cycle of

their trucks.

“The acquisition completes our growth

strategy as we believe that Kanu and ACT

will definitely enhance our business struc-

ture. The move to acquire these entities will

centralise the process of buying our trucks,

where everything will be processed from one

central point of contact,” said Craig Uren.

“The next few years will be even better for

us as the platform we have created with the

new strategies in the pipeline, which is one

of the consolidation and enhancement. We

can now focus on people skills development

and concentrate on attaining leadership in

aftermarket support factors for Southern

Africa. Isuzu Trucks will also expand its

footprint in the Sub-Saharan African mar-

ket,” concluded Uren.

Craig Uren, chief operating officer

TRANSPORT