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of the price of a new engine. When a reconditioned engine is sold to the customer, the
old engine is exchanged and sent back to the Recon facility, where it is stripped down to
component form.”
He states that critical component features are inspected against stringent reuse standards
developed by Cummins, by a team of highly qualified and experienced technicians. “Any parts
that do not meet the company's internationally recognised specifications are discarded and
replaced with brand new parts. This ensures that once the reconditioning is completed, the
customer is effectively provided with a brand new engine, complete with a factory warranty.”
Although there are numerous advantages to purchasing a reconditioned Cummins engine,
Gerhard warns that customers should be wary of uncertified engine fitters. “An uncertified
engine fitter may compromise the quality and integrity of the engine, and this would result in a
forfeit of the warranty. If the reconditioned engine is fitted by a Cummins dealer, the customer
has the option of receiving a full quality inspection, in addition to the stated warranty.”
Buyer beware
In an economic climate where cheap and inferior counterfeit imports entice fleet owners
with limited budgets, he stresses the importance of realising that any heavy duty machinery
is only as reliable as the engine that powers it, and he advises local contractors to take into
account the long term cost implications of purchasing engines and parts with unrealistically
low price tags.
“Looks can be deceiving when it comes to critical parts for Cummins engines. Although
injectors for example, may all look similar, a closer inspection will reveal dramatic differences
in design, tolerances, craftsmanship and quality of materials used in Cummins genuine parts,
which deliver improved performance and longer life spans between overhauls,” he notes.
As a result of the continued influx of engines that are manufactured in Asia and fitted to
numerous vehicles and equipment locally, he admits that Cummins has been faced with
challenges to keep the supply of genuine parts flowing. “With this in mind, local OEMs have
been encouraged to purchase through the authorised Cummins SA channel, which provides
full product coverage for service, warranty and Cummins genuine parts supply,” he advises.
With particular focus on future growth prospects, the construction and mining industries in
Africa will play an important role in Cummins' expansion plans. He says, “Cummins sees the
South African construction industry as a growing market, and it is a definite focus point for
the company moving forward. Looking beyond our borders, I believe that the most growth
for Cummins in Africa will be generated from rapidly developing construction and mining
industries in Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe,” Gerhard
continues.
Alan concurs with this sentiment, and says that HPE Africa is aiming to
increase the footprint of its range of Hyundai wheel loaders and
excavators in these markets. “As investment in Africa looks set to
increase, I am confident that HPE Africa can enter new markets
in East and West Africa, while consolidating on its established
presence in southern Africa by ensuring that it is always available
to offer a personalised and tailor made service for each of its
clients,” he says in conclusion.
mutual growth
