South Africa suffers from a dearth of trained heavy machine operators. The Contractors Plant Hire Association (CPHA) has embarked on an initiative to rectify this imbalance through an innovative training programme. Capital Equipment News speaks to CPHA CEO Clive Wicks for an update on progress.

Komatsu Southern Africa has had an operator training programme for many years. The company’s training section includes a transportable simulator, which has proven invaluable to Komatsu’s customers. By providing assessment and training to both its customers’ training officers and operators, it ensures that users of its machines obtain the best possible life cycle costs from their equipment.

Barloworld Equipment spent R600 000,00 on an initiative known as the Streetwise 50 project, an exciting project that helps individuals to find jobs and provides customers with much needed equipment operator skills. A further R1,5-million will be spent in the 2006/07 financial year to train some 200 more people who are in need of employment. Between June and September 2006, the Barloworld Equipment Operator Academy recruited and trained 66 unemployed people as earthmoving equipment operators, most of whom are now employed.

Trevor Adams, a director of the MCC Group, explains some of the factors involved when equipping a large surface mining operation. The choice of the correct equipment capacity is one of the factors determining the level of future success. Adams explains that with a booming mining industry, it is vital to place orders for very large equipment items well in advance.

After much debate, the R21,9-billion Gautrain project is now underway. The Bombela Consortium, through its subsidiary, Bombela Civils Joint Venture (CJV), is busy with the first stages of construction. Now the race is on to complete the project to a point that it can serve the many visitors expected for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.