YELLOW
CEN DEC
26
MINING
INTO AFRICA
SHANTUI VICE GENERAL MANAGER
for equipment in Southern Africa, Garron Troskie,
explains that the SE480 excavator was launched by the company at the bauma Africa Trade
Fair in September, in response to increasing demand from the local market for a larger and
more powerful machine.
He elaborates on the specifications of the new excavator: “The Shantui SE480 excavator
is powered by a Cummins QSM11 254kW engine. It boasts a heavy duty boom and short
arm with a 2.3m3 double radius bucket for an increased breakout force of 256kN, making
it ideally suited to moving large loads,” he explains. “In addition, it comes equipped with
segmented roller guards; a deck guard; window guard and belly plates, to ensure that it is able
to withstand the most hostile terrain and operating conditions.”
An adjustable track frame allows for the extension of the track width by up to 600mm,
ensuring increased stability during operation in challenging underfoot conditions. This feature
ensures savings on transportation costs, as the track width can be reduced to such an extent
that the excavator can be transported on a standard lowbed truck, as opposed to a specialised
and more capital intensive, transportation vehicle.
Garron continues, “The excavator features specifications required for mining applications, with
performance meeting, and even exceeding, that of better known brands,” he attests. “This
robust and high quality production machine is available at a substantially lower price than its
competitors, which is a considerable factor for operations seeking maximum productivity in a
challenging economic climate.”
The Shantui SE480 excavator has been well received by the local market since its official launch
at bauma Africa, according to Garron and he believes that the introduction of the machine
will result in measurable growth in Shantui’s mining market share, “especially considering
the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from the industry to date,” he claims.
Africa has proven to be a fundamental contributor to the continued success of the Shantui
brand, which currently has a total machine population in excess of 5500 units throughout the
continent, of which more than 550 units are in southern Africa.
Although current market conditions are challenging, Garron is optimistic of the long-term
outlook for the local industry and for Shantui. “Growth plans for Shantui in Africa are
expansive and calculated. We are currently in the process of implementing
a long-term strategy for building a mature distributor network on
the continent via our three principal local subsidiaries,” he
concludes.
Showing its
Chinese earthmoving
equipment manufacturer,
Shantui, has displayed its
commitment to expansion
in the African mining and
quarrying sectors, following the
local launch of its new 48-ton
SE480 excavator.
Packed with features to cope in arduous and
challenging underfoot conditions, the new
Shantui excavator is made for Africa.
mettle
