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CUMMINS SAWHOLEGOODS LEAD,
Gerhard Potgieter,says that the company is committed
to empowering local OEMs and distributors by certifying their technicians. “Cummins places a
strong emphasis on sharing its diesel engine expertise with tried and trusted OEM distributors,
such as HPE Africa, in order to provide the end user with the greatest return on investment.”
According to HPE Africa Sales Manager, Alan Straw, the company is registered and certified to
undertake maintenance on Cummins earthmoving engines. He says, “Today, HPE Africa has a
number of certified technicians, who are provided with comprehensive support by Cummins
with regards to the servicing of engines. In order to reduce turnaround times and add further
value to the end user, HPE Africa also boasts a comprehensive stockholding of Cummins
engines and spare parts.”
The partnership between the two companies will be further strengthened by the fact that
Cummins has entered into a joint venture agreement HPE Africa's flagship OEM brand –
Hyundai Heavy Industries. The Hyundai Cummins Engine Company (HCEC) joint venture
operation, will be located in Daegu, South Korea, with engine manufacturing due to
commence in 2014. The new facility will have the capacity to build more than 50 000 engines
per year, at full production.
HCEC will supply engines spanning the 5.9 to 8.9-litre displacement range for Hyundai
excavators, wheel loaders and industrial equipment. The joint venture engines will power
Hyundai equipment in markets with high growth potential, not only in Africa, but also Russia,
the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Gerhard adds: “The formation of the HCEC joint venture
takes Cummins’ working relationship with Hyundai, and HPE Africa for that matter, to a much
closer level.”
According to Alan, the most popular engines in the local Hyundai range are currently the
B-Series, C-Series and Q-Series models. “These engines boast highly reliable, durable rotary
fuel pumps that deliver a steady stream of pressurised fuel for strong performance across a
wide range of African terrains and operating conditions. The engines have proven themselves
in some of the most remote locations and harshest working environments in Africa,” he
maintains.
Another benefit of these engines is that they are compliant with Tier II standards
set out by the US government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Gerhard
says that compliance with EPA specifications ensures that all Cummins engines
minimise environmental damage by generating clean power, while increasing fuel
efficiency and lowering operating costs, without affecting the power of the engine.
“EPA laws are world class and, although the specifications are not a legal
requirement in a number of African countries yet, it places local contractors
in the perfect position to stay one step ahead of the game by adopting
the new technology at an early stage.”
Rebuild option
Once a Cummins engine has reached the end of its lifespan, the customer
has the choice to opt for a rebuild, to purchase a factory reconditioned
engine or a new engine, adds Gerhard. “Cummins boasts state-of-the-art
facilities in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and Cumbernauld, UK, where the company’s
entire range of engines is reconditioned to the highest standards of quality, at a fraction
The South African
division of Cummins
– a global leader in
the manufacture,
sales and servicing
of diesel engines and
related technology –
continues to expand its
geographical footprint
across Africa through
service agreements with
authorised partners such
as HPE Africa, the sole
distributor of Hyundai
earthmoving equipment
in southern Africa.
partnering for
