Construction World January 2016

TRUCKING

In addition Isuzu is South Africa’s top-selling, chassis-cab, forward-control configuration truck – excluding panel vans and heavy buses – selling over 4 000 units per annum for both 2013 and 2014 with a sustained and steady growth over eight years. Isuzu truck South Africa is utilising its South Africa success to drive opportunities on the African continent. And establishing market leadership in Africa is far more than playing the role of a traditional truck OEM to send large volumes of semi-finished truck product outside a factory gate. Isuzu Truck SA chief operations officer, Craig Uren states, “As an enterprise, we are now involved in the delivery of complete truck product solution to that ensures product quality/design is suitable for African market conditions where we serve nine countries.” AMT entrenches Isuzu product leadership AMTs (Automated Manual Transmission) a hard-working, proven and reliable technology and has been a standard feature in long-distance, line-haul, extra-heavy rigs since the nineties on South African roads. Now AMT is rapidly becoming both an entrenched and preferred truck drive-line technology that fleet owners specify across all segments for medium, heavy and extra-heavy trucks. Isuzu was the first truck manufacturer to introduce in medium and > with an African geographic footprint. Operating out of Johannesburg, a new venture has been established, Isuzu Motors sub-Saharan Africa (IMSSA), in support of Isuzu’s objective of being the No 1 brand in Africa. During 2013 and 2014 Isuzu Motors of Japan supplied over 25 000 Isuzu trucks into Africa. 2016 DIRECTION In a revolutionary change of strategy, Isuzu Truck South Africa has moved away from the traditional role of dedicated truck OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to that of an ‘Enterprise’

heavy trucks with outstanding success. Isuzu AMT transmissions were launched the medium range N-Series during 2008 and in the heavy F-Series in 2011. This has resulted in Isuzu AMT equipped models now attaining 51,7% of Isuzu Truck South Africa total volume sales in 2014. Full control of KANU & ACT In an integrated move to improve the logistical for complete trucks with cargo bodies, Isuzu Truck SA has taken the lead in becoming the first major brand-leading truck manufacturer in South Africa to offer a complete solution. Says Uren, “We have now invested in a totally owned truck body builder subsidiary – KANU Commercial Body Construction to focus on rear truck bodies.” Uren goes on to add: “In addition we have acquired 100% of Auto- motive Chassis Technologies (ACT) that conducts off-line customising and chassis modifications as an extension to the Isuzu truck produc- tion line. Both KANU and ACT are Port Elizabeth-based. This provides centralized control over design, quality and warranty plus the ability to schedule the supply chain into our dealers without distressing over- stocking in limited dealer facilities. It requires an ‘Enterprise’ approach.” Unique body-builder quality project With the exception of vans over 3 500 kg gross vehicle mass – vans are sold as a complete finished product - all new trucks enter the SA road transport industry as an unfinished product. This means they have to be completed with cargo-body and equipment by local suppliers. This applies in addition to many truck tractors that require mobile cranes, power-take-offs, hydraulic fittings, fifth wheels appropriate to the task and other equipment. A truck chassis cab is useless without the cargo-body or productive equipment to complete the vehicle for a specific application. Isuzu Truck SA has launched a unique, unilateral program to improve the engineering quality, durability and on-road safety of cargo bodies and all equipment that is chassis-mounted or fitted to Isuzu trucks in Africa. Genuine original parts Trucks will use parts – they are working machines with work outputs measured in ton/kilometres. It’s all part of the total cost of ownership (TCO) and Isuzu Trucks have recognised this as an important factor in sustaining market leadership. In line with this Isuzu Trucks have launched an aggressive parts marketing campaign to align prices that reflect real value coupled to quality standards ensuring replacement parts deliver full service life for lowest TCO. “It’s not just about price,” says Wayne Morgan, Isuzu Truck national

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Isuzu Truck SA chief operations officer, Craig Uren.

Sipho Sandla, general manager of the KANU/ACT operation in Port Elizabeth.

CONSTR UCTION WORLD JANUARY 2016