AROUND THE
INDUSTRY
October - November 2013
MODERN QUARRYING
41
EQUIPMENT,
P DUC S & SERVICES
An indication of the growth achieved by
crushing and screening specialist Pilot
Crushtec International’s adoption of a
regional marketing strategy is evidenced
by its new appointment of a field techni-
cian to service its customers in the Eastern
Cape province.
According to customer support man-
ager Willie de Kock, this is a natural pro-
gression following the establishment of a
dedicated marketing and sales presence
in Port Elizabeth. “We have experienced
exceptional growth over the past 24
months off a relatively high base and so
we believed the time was right to augment
our service offering.”
The decision has precipitated a classic
‘win-win’ situation as service teams will no
More DAF trucks for
Bethal transporter
Bethel-based NJP Transport recently pur-
chased 15 additional DAF CF85 trucks from
Babcock, the sole importer and distributor of
DAF trucks in the Southern African market.
Co-owner Nico Pieterse says the trucks have
been performing so well that his company
will remain with the brand for future pur-
chases. To date NJP has 25 DAF trucks in its
fleet, which are used for transporting coal to
the Eskom power stations in the area.
“These trucks offer superb driving prop-
erties and excellent manoeuvrability, good
fuel consumption and increased service
intervals,” Pieterse comments. “The sleeper
cab is very comfortable, with a first-class
bed that ensures that our drivers get a good
night’s rest during long journeys.
“We’ve been very impressed with the
standard of the driver training and the quality
of after-sales service we’ve received. Babcock
service representatives call on us every two
weeks and I can honestly say that I haven’t
come across this level of loyalty before. It’s as
if this team has become part of the NJP fam-
ily. They’re willing and able to solve any issues
that come up and they actively want to be a
part of our business.”
Babcock’s Dave Black says this is one of
the biggest single orders for the mining sec-
tor in recent months. “We were competing
against stiff competition for this order and
although the capital purchase price was an
important factor, total cost of ownership and
fuel consumption were vital issues in the deci-
sion. Ultimately DAF CF85 came out on top.”
“The timing of this order is a perfect com-
plement to the opening of our new state-
of-the-art DAF dealership in Middelburg,
Mpumalanga. Our Middelburg team is an
ideal position to support NJP and our many
other Mpumalanga-based customers with
world class servicing, parts and technical sup-
port,” he says.
Designed and tested rigorously to
Caterpillar specifications, Cat Premium
High Output (PHO) batteries are built for
the toughest jobs and the harshest cli-
mates, delivering dependable and con-
sistent start-up.
“PHO applications cover Cat earth-
moving and power generation systems,
meeting demanding specifications to
provide industry-leading Cold Cranking
Amp (CCA) capability up to 1500 CCA, and
maximum vibration resistance,” explains
Barloworld Equipment group product
specialist, Reuben Phasha.
Due to their high CCAs and reserve
capacities, Cat PHO batteries claim the
highest performance ratings in the indus-
try. That equates to vibration resistance
levels that are five times the industry
standard and easier starts because less
capacity is used.
Built for hard work, heavy-duty,
forged terminal post bushings provide
maximum strength and resistance to acid
seepage, while thicker internal posts with
extra corrosion resistance provide built-
in overcharge protection and higher CCA
output. In turn, rugged partition connec-
tors, anchored to resist vibration, shorten
the electrical path and maximise starting
power. The battery’s impact-resistant,
reinforced case further provides extra
strength in all temperature extremes, and
helps prevent flexing and punctures.
Cat batteries built for hard work
Caterpillar’s 100 hour vibration test lasts over
five times longer than the industry standard of
18 hours.
To ensure durability, Caterpillar uses
72-hour deep discharge/recharge cycle
test, run five times, to simulate the most
demanding field conditions, which
requires batteries to recover to 25 charg-
ing amps within 20 minutes and meet
industry electrical performance standards.
The associated 30-day complete discharge
test demands batteries recover to 25
charging amps within 60 minutes, after
being completely discharged for 30 days.
Because vibration is the number one
reason batteries fail, Cat batteries must
withstand tremendous vibration forces
– without suffering mechanical dam-
age, loss of capacity, loss of electrolyte or
developing internal/external leaks.
Adds Phasha: “You can’t buy a battery
with too much power and Cat batteries
ensure that there’s always enough crank-
ing power, reserve capacity and vibration
resistance to get the job done.”
The tried and tested DAF hub reduction axles on
mechanical suspension provide the optimum
solution for the Mpumalanga coal transport
business.
Pilot Crushtec establishes EC presence
longer have to make costly and time-con-
suming round trips from Johannesburg
while operators will benefit from greatly
reduced reaction times. “We know very
well that when a customer needs help on
site he needs it now,” says de Kock.
Field technician Graham Reeves
Reeves has many years of experience
working on heavy duty equipment in
the mining and quarrying industries.
Having undergone an intensive product
training and familiarisation programme,
including both current and previous
generation products, he will be assisted
by on-site support from Pilot Crushtec
International’s state-of-the art technical
communications network.
